Oratia District School Newsletter
Week 7 - 1 December 2022
Message from Ms Linda
Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Orātia. Zdravo. Talofa lava. Ni hao. Kia orana. Namaste. Greetings Orātia whānau.
It is hard to believe that we only have 2 weeks left of the school year. At times it has felt like a very long and challenging year, yet this term is flying past - probably due to all the activities and events happening. We had a lovely lunch yesterday for our parent helpers who have been able to come in and support the learning happening over the year. If you were unable to attend due to other commitments, please accept our deep thanks for all you have done to keep our trips and activities happening.
At this time of year we sadly have to farewell some of our staff who are leaving Orātia School for other opportunities. Richard Loten is moving his family to the South Island, and is taking up a senior teacher position at Methven Primary School. Gemma Nortier is moving her family up north to Mangawhai, and is taking up a position as a Year 5/6 teacher at Mangawhai Primary School. Ruth Jackson is leaving us after starting with us 10 years ago as a beginning teacher, and moving to Henderson South School. Although we are sad to see these quality teachers who are an integral part of our community move on, we wish them well on their new journey, and are very proud they have all won such exciting and interesting positions to move to.
People moving on from Orātia provides opportunity for new quality teachers to join our team. Megan Maguire will be joining our Y5/6 team. Megan is a past teacher who is returning after spending a few years at home with her young girls and has strengths in digital tech, literacy and sports. Marissa Slaney is coming to us from Pt Chevalier Primary to join our Y3/4 team. Marissa is an experienced young teacher with strengths in science, maths and sports. Kelly Mills will be joining Whaea Jude in Kohanga Iti to replace Gemma. Kelly is an extremely experienced teacher who has been out at Piha Preschool for many years and will bring strength in play based learning and Te Whariki (Early childhood curriculum) with her to support our transition programme. We feel very blessed to have such quality people join our team.
We are pleased to announce that Lucy Lewis will move into the senior teacher position for Tuakana next year and Ben Coenradi has been successful in winning the Arawhata senior teacher position. Cheryl Hartnell will continue as the senior teacher of Potiki. We know that these people will continue to lead our staff and students well and congratulate them on their leadership positions. Debbie Donaghy has been the senior teacher of Tuakana for many years, however next year she will focus on her STEAM leadership and Science Clubs and EPro8 work. She is an amazing teacher, and we are lucky with all she brings to our students in these areas.
I look forward to seeing you over the next couple of weeks as we wind up the year.
Take care and stay safe. Kia kaha, kia atawhai.
Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda
Friday Lunch Schedule
Friday 2 December - Subway (order by Thursday night)
Friday 9 December - Jesters Pie Day (order by Thursday lunchtime)
Friday lunches can be ordered on Kindo and will be delivered to your child's classroom at the beginning of lunchtime. Please contact the office to make arrangements to collect lunch orders if your child is absent on the day
Crafty Christmas Tree
How cool is his pallet Christmas tree that Jack and Kyle from Room 15/16 have made? We love the way they have repurposed and recycled in this way and can't wait to see it decorated!
Visit from MP Deborah Russell
Local MP Deborah Russell spent time at our school recently chatting to staff and touring our grounds. She was very impressed with our facilities and programmes and said she is looking forward to attending our Country Fair next March.
After school skating fun
We have been very fortunate to have Amber and her team from Girls Skate NZ providing free lessons to some of our Year 4-6 students this term. It has been a great opportunity for those brand new to the sport to give it a go and some of our more experienced riders to gain support and advice from the experts! Please see the link below for more info on Ambers classes.
Superstar writer Emma Trengrove
THE WISH
As the coin soared through the air he looked away. Had it been the right thing to do? It was the last coin he thought, but she had meant everything to him. Her death had made his brain stand still in time. Then a small splash behind him told him that the coin had done its job. He turned and looked into the well and under the surface was a glint of gold. When the old man gets home he sits by the crackling fire, staring into its depths. The next morning the man gets out of bed and looks around eagerly to see if anything has changed but it is the same as usual. Plaid curtains hang in the window’s an the frayed, matted carpet is still neatly lying across the floor.
The old man walks into his living room a few minutes later fully dressed. He turns on the stove and makes a cup of tea. Should I have used up my last coin just to ask for a wish that will never come true. In the evening he sits by the fire, eating his dinner and thinking about his wife who had just passed away. “I wish that she was back with me now.” he says to the cat sitting on top of the mantelpiece. Then with those words he falls asleep.
His dreams carry him back to when he was younger and his wife was still alive. Then in the dream as they grew old together he remembered all of the things that he had forgotten about her. The way she laughed and the smile she reserved only for him. In the morning he wakes up and writes down all the things that he has forgotten about her. He puts them in his bed side drawer so he can remember her every night and then goes back down stairs to go for a walk.
So his wish has come true.
Update from Librarian Jess
We have had a wonderful Term in the Library with another eight Librarians receiving certificates toward their librarian training. It is a great way to end the library year and I look forward to spending time training our new and existing librarians next year. We are officially closed as of the end of this week for stocktake.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL LIBRARY BOOKS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY BY TOMORROW - FRIDAY 2ND DECEMBER
All our overdue notices are sent out on an automated basis, so please let me know if you have any concerns by email jessicak@oratia.school.nz, as this system ticks away in the background on my behalf.
REMINDERS
Visitors to our school
If you are visiting the school during school hours, please remember that you are required to sign in at the office and get a visitor’s badge. This is a Health and Safety requirement and in the case of an emergency, we do need to know who is on school grounds and it also ensures the security of our classes.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
PARENT CORNER
Contact Us
Email: principal@oratia.school.nz
Website: https://www.oratia.school.nz
Location: Shaw Road & West Coast Road, Oratia, Auckland 0604, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 818-6216
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OratiaSchool/