Puketapu School Newsletter
Week 10, Term 4, 2019
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
From our Principal
Thank you for an outstanding year. We have loved being a part of your family and having you as part of our Puketapu whanau.
We are really excited about 2020 having continuity with staff, new learning spaces to design and build, new families joining and us and growing ourselves as professionals.
Our Te Matauranga o Puketapu (Our Puketapu Curriculum) will focus on this statement:
"At Puketapu School we believe that our students contribute to their learning, their whanau & their community, they are communicators, they are kind to themselves, others and their environment, they are learners, they have a strong sense of belonging and they look after their own wellbeing."
We wish you all an enjoyable summer and encourage everyone to spend quality time with each other.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou.
Matua Ngatai
From the Board
In summary:
What are we doing well?
- A strong sense of community
- Living example of our school values with kindness actively promoted and diversity celebrated
- Committed staff, management and Board to the school and the wider school whānau
- A focus on the whole child and their well-being
What people have said
- “Supportive community, a strong sense of identity, committed staff, strong leadership”
- “Kindness is a focus, acknowledging that children need to move and play, providing a variety of opportunities”
- “Connection to local hapū and kapa haka”
- “Too much school growth so fast, makes it super hard for our teachers”
- “Managing change – its constant in our community”
- “Communication – late notice of events and sharing how/why to community, seesaw is awesome but nothing for the rest of the school”
On Our Radar:
Managing our rapid roll growth and the rapid change that has brought:
The number of enrolled students at Puketapu school has increased over the last few years. Our “school zoning” is nearing finalisation and early planning for our new learning spaces is underway. While change can be unsettling, change has also presented opportunities to our school community. We are excited to be heading onto 2020 with stability in terms of our staff.
Ways to communicate effectively and efficiently with our community
Although many aspects of our communication are strong, we know we can always do better. Parents have indicated the timeliness of some communication could be improved. We value the feedback from our school community and will aim to actively work on maintaining and improving systems for communication.
Finalising the Puketapu curriculum and Strategic Plan
Our leadership team have been busy developing a distinctly Puketapu curriculum. The feedback given at our community hui and through the online survey collated by Auckland University’s Dr. Melinda Webber has provided rich data for this. The Board of Trustees is also task of reviewing our strategic plan and the community korero will help shape the direction of this plan.
Thank you to all those who provided feedback and their thoughts to the Board as part of this process. We look forward to developing these areas and others in 2020 and beyond.
Our End of Year Showcase
Thank you to Emma and Ayla who sang so beautifully, to our Kapa Haka group for their excellent performances,
to Kirsty and Areiana for their speech on climate change and to our current Kaitiaki Tama and Kaitiaki Kotiro, Nga Motu and Serennah for hosting.
We were delighted to recognise Mr Lindsay and Mrs Gibson-Harris who recently completed their studies and are now fully qualified teachers.
We were also delighted to recognise Mr Barrientos and Mrs Johnstone, who have now completed their two years as provisionally registered teachers and are now fully registered teachers.
Trophy Winners
Citizenship
Donated by former Principal, Mr Alan Smith, first awarded in 2006 to Misikei Fonoti.
This award is offered to the boy and girl, or boys and girls, in Year 8 who meet the following criteria:
They exhibit a respectful attitude towards themselves, and in their dealing with others
They exhibit high standards of personal conduct and of personal effort in their learning and in their social relationships.
They are an excellent role model to other students in the school
They have evidence of strong school involvement
They have a positive attitude towards the philosophies of the school and to the people they work with, teachers and students
They exhibit the principles of ‘fair play’ in all sporting and cultural activities
They prove to be a ‘good friend’ to their peers
Congratulations... Vinny Sturmey-Christiansen
The Arts & Culture
Puketapu Arts Award
The purpose of this award is to encourage and celebrate the arts and performance. Students eligible have made an Exceptional Contribution to Performing Arts:
Demonstrate an understanding of what a Performing Arts really is
Be an inspiration to others and have the ability to coach younger, less experienced students in the skills of Performing Arts.
Able and willing to take part in any formal or informal, production, concert or play.
Confident in fronting an audience.
Congratulations to... Troy Perry
Sports
Excellence in Sports (School, Provincial, National Representative Teams)
Participation in and out of school
Team member – acceptance of rules and other persons
Attitude - Giving back to sport e.g. coaching), determination, self-drive
Leadership qualities
Role Model
Fair play
Individual commitment
Pride in achievement
Congratulations to.... Caesar Davis
Academic
Mainfreight Duffy Award for Academic Excellence
Donated by our Duffy major sponsor Mainfreight. First awarded to Jeremy McMillan in 1997.
The purpose of this award is to encourage academic success in the classroom. It will be awarded to the highest achieving Year 8 student based on their educational and academic achievements. This award is based on the following criteria:
- Achievement in school-based assessment and evaluation
- Results of standardised testing
- Demonstrate commitment to learning in all academic areas (i.e. all seven learning areas)
- Demonstrate high motivation, initiation, integrity, intellectual depth and leadership judgement
- Participation and success in external curricula events
Congratulations to... Hana Ashworth-Hall
Kapa Haka
Mataatua Taonga
Tamariki must
Be secure in the knowledge of his / her ancestral links
Positively model leadership in Maori Culture through a variety of opportunities, eg Tikanga, te Reo, Kapahaka etc.
Demonstrate self-worth, self-esteem and personal pride in his or her attitude, behaviour or demeanour
Display physical, spiritual and emotional well-being and knowledge and respect for him/herself and others
Congratulations to... Corban Read and Caesar Davis
Values Awards
Addison Leathley * Alex Cross * Alexander Den-McKay * Amy-Jaide Paki * Bella Neilson * Brianna Edgecombe * Cara Edwards * Chayce Wilson * Connie Upton-Fleming * Deja Tohi * Ella Raupatu * Emma Warring * Esther Poching * Hamu Adams * Harmony Lambert * Horizon Scott * Imogen Den-McKay * Jakaila Hori * Jeosh Rafal * Kayden Burnard * Keanu Tango * Khan Barnard-Perry * Khorus Ihimaera-Te-Waaka * Kierah Hosking * Kyla Dorne * Kylah Neilson * Kyra-Jae Paki * Lajayshea Hori * Layla Read * Mallory Leaf * Marissa Gordon * Mason Waugh * Mika Falaniko * Nixon Gadsby * Noah Ramsdale * Pavihi Ekeroma * Rangi Tau Brider * Serennah Hobin * Sophie Morrison * Taaj Prestney * Taine Mckenna * Tayla Gorrie * Taylor Harvey * Tayte Hancock * Tyson Manu-Millar Aldworth * Yelena Poching
Our Kowhai Values Award winners - just a few of the many wonderful students recognised at Showcase.
Special Awards
Caesar Davis who represented NZ Maori Rugby League
and Maui Walker who represented NZ Inline Hockey
2020 Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki Tama for the first half of the year will be:
Tiki Ngarangi
Kaitiaki Kotiro for the first half of the year will be:
Bella Stainthorpe
Whanau Leaders:
- Tui: Chayce Wilson and Kyla Dorne
- Piwakawaka: Nathan Deacon and Kierah Hosking
- Kiwi: Maui Walker and Emma Lepper
- Kakapo: Jahliyah McLeod-Chard and Jeosh Rafal
Graduation Dinner
It was a really great send off to our Year 8 graduates.
DUFFY AWARDS
- Losa Fonoti
- Chayse Hodson
- Sapphire Kuchler
Our Duffy Awards are sponsored by First Gas.
2020
We hope you have a restful and happy school break.
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year:
Tuesday 4 Feb
- Head Start Hui (bookings open in Week 9)
Wednesday 5 February
- First day in class!
The School Office will be open limited hours the week before for stationery purchases and queries.
Head Start Hui - Tuesday 4 February 2020
Each learner brings their parents/whanau along for a meeting with their teacher. This is about introductions, goal setting and getting to know each other.
We want to hear from you about your child, and hear from your child about what they want to get from the new year at school.
Bookings are made online - www.schoolinterviews
The Event Code is hs8yp
Enter your details and choose a time that suits you.
Stationery
All students should have their stationery before school starts.
To save time and money and earn points for our school, you can buy class packs directly from OfficeMax - www.myschool.co.nz - order online and choose if you pay in December or January and delivery is free for orders over $46. Easy as!
More staff in 2020
We are very fortunate to have such outstanding teachers supporting our Learning Teams on these days. These teachers play a hugely important part in maintaining the consistency and quality of learning in class every day.
Miss Kim Sowman will be part of our Rimu Learning Team
Mrs Marina Collier will be part of our Totara Learning Team
Mrs Flo Gibson Harris will be part of our Kowhai LearningTeam
Mrs Carole Bridgeman will be part of of Kauri Learning Team
We are delighted to have such a strong group of educators across all levels of our school
Birthdays
Happy birthday to all those who have Birthdays coming up this week and over the holidays:
- Summer Wilkinson
- Marley Sutherland
- Rayne Morehu
- Blythe Fadlen
- Mercedez Tagatauli
- Sophie Morrison
- Tyah Taiawa-McKay
- Ari Marlow
- Khorus himaera-Te Waaka
- Emma Lepper
- Elody Perrett
- Kaydince Brill
- Zac Lowry
- Cora Wano
- Taydon Puru
- Rishaal Prasad
- Kaitlyn Veza
- Addison Leathley
- Iona Den-McKay
- Parleen Kaur
- Meshach Murray
- Charlotte Mangin
- Lola Parkinson
- Kyra Herewini
- Chyra Roygard
- Hoani Adams
- Zakaia Martley
- Texira Martley
- Honor Boisen-Rau
- Keanu Suthon
- Parker Smith
- Briar Walthew
- Ayla Gadsby
- Olly Takurua
- Johnny Read
- Kayden Burnard
- Lajayshea Hori
- Ava Falaniko
- Te Waiaurere Mahinekura
- Lydia Walthew
- Toby Ryan
- Amarni Cooper
- Skylah Meston
- Tyson Manu-Millar Aldworth
- Isaac Wilson
- Navanah Meston
- Lucas Tudor
- Zion Teddy
See you Next Year
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973