Newsletter 19, Week 7 Term 4
Waiau School ⎪ 1st December 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora koutou,
Well, we are now in the midst of our end of year preparations and our Year 6 students are getting ready to leave our school and venture off to their new learning environment of Amuri Area School. An exciting time with lots of new people, places and programmes to learn about. I am positive that our students are going to continue to demonstrate the Waiau School values of respect, resilience and responsibility when they transplant themselves successfully into their new school next year. It has been lovely to hear from students of the exciting things they have seen when visiting for their interviews with Mr Barlow and Mrs Habgood. 3d printers, gymnasium, playgrounds and the technology rooms- especially the one with the ‘real’ coffee machine like you see in a cafe, have all been topics of discussion. It is a new and exciting chapter for our leaders and we wish them all the very best. We know you will make the most of all the opportunities available to you. On that note, congratulations Victoria and Quinn for competing in the Canterbury Primary Schools' Athletics Championships this week.
This week we have had a new visitor to Waiau School, Alvin the Elf.
Each morning he magically appears somewhere in our classrooms and has a note for us. He is getting us in the festive mood! I wonder where he will be on Monday morning?
Have a great weekend.
Megan
A ride back in time!
End of Year Prize Giving/Celebration Event
End of Year Celebration
Thursday 15th December, 7pm - Waiau Hall
We are looking forward to seeing you all at our end-of-year celebration/ prize giving.
The end-of-year celebration involves all of the children and is a great way to end our school year, celebrating their successes and farewelling the Year 6’s. All parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and wider community members are very welcome to attend. This will be followed by a shared supper.
Please make sure children are at the town hall at 6.45pm wearing school uniform.
Could all families attending please bring a plate to share for supper. It would be appreciated if you could drop your plate off into the supper room before the evening begins.
Year 6 Transition Day at Amuri
Our Year 6 students are going for their transition visit next Monday (5 December). Mr Barlow will pick up our students and take them to school in the minibus. They will return back to Waiau School on the school bus (arriving at our normal pick up time).
Please take your swimming gear, as there may be time for a dip in the pool.
The students will get to meet Hercules, the Amuri Area School security dog.
Stationery 2023
This year the school will be covering the costs for stationery orders for 2023 using our student donation funding so there will be no need to order stationery this year. We will complete stationery orders through Officemax and they will be sent directly to the school ready for next year!
Summer Reading Challenge
Inquiry learning about bees- Room 1
In Room 1 our Inquiry topic is called “What is the Buzz about Bees."
Clara knows that the bee goes from one flower to another. “That was called pollination.” Willy has learnt that there is only one queen bee who commands the bees to do the chores. Our big question is “Why are bees important to us?” and next week we are going to help the bees.
Trip to Highfield
Following on from the success of our recent trip to Lyndon, we are planning to walk up to Highfield Wool Shed on Monday 12th December. This is another opportunity to build our knowledge of and make connections with local places that the tradition of our Waiau School Houses originate from.
Next year we hope to learn about Annan and the associated history of the area. More details will be sent out next week. If you are keen to come along, mark off the morning in your diary and join us as we have our lunch up at Highfield.
Our new sign for the Garden (Mara Kai)
Here are some photos of Mr de Beer attaching our new sign with our 'Working Bees' looking on with pride.
Spot on signage, made by NC Signs from just across the road! Mr and Mrs de Beer came and explained the process for making the sign. Great local learning for our students.
Padder tennis finale
Today was the final of the Catherine Chaffey Padder Tennis Cup. The tournament has been played during lunchtime over the past few weeks using a ladder system to determine our finalists. We have some very talented tennis players coming through. The children are extremely fortunate to have the support and fabulous coaching of many talented locals who coach a large number of the children each week during the summer months!
Our whole school was out to watch our finalists play. Congratulations to Victoria who collected the cup for 2022. Well done to our runner up Quinn and in 3rd place Issy.
Water Safety lessons.
Lots of discussion and practical tasks happened in the pool to support the 'keeping safe in the water' message. A very worthwhile afternoon.
Bus info - Times for end of year
13th of December - Buses will be leaving school early in the afternoon due to Amuri Area Schools closing time - Buses will be leaving Waiau school at 3.15pm (approx 25 mins early)
16th December - Our school will be closing at 12.15pm buses will be leaving school at 12.30pm.
Certificate recipients
Room 1 Values certificate is awarded to Becca Anderson for representing our school values.
Room 1 - Deacon Armstrong- for showing great leadership skills in Kapa Haka
Room 1 - William Lee for always showing enthusiasm in his learning and ready to learn new tasks.
Room 2- Anikalee Leggett for demonstrating a ‘can do’ attitude to all that she does .
Camp Parents
Would you like to come on camp with us to Wainui?
A great camp over on the Peninsula, with lots of fantastic activities and no cooking!
We are on camp from 7-10 February- week 2 and would love to have our Parent Helpers all sorted before the end of this school year.
Please let us know if you are keen.
Return of School Library Books
Takahanga Marae news.
We are so fortunate to have secured regular visits from Courtney, Miri and Aroha for next year. It is a great opportunity to build on our relationship and for our tamariki to participate in activities and challenges that will support our tikanga and te reo learning.
I have heard a rumour that the girls are keen to set up a Kapa Haka challenge with other local kura in 2023! What a great opportunity to showcase what we have been working on with Courts, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Brett- especially in our amazing new outfits.
It is nice to receive feedback and this week I had an email from Courtney saying ‘We had such a good last day with the students yesterday. We look forward to seeing you all on the 15th for Prize Giving.
Thank you for having us come into Waiau Kura this year. We have all throughly enjoyed our time over there and we are all really looking forward to going into 2023 together.’
Upcoming Events
Year 6 Visit to Amuri Area School - Monday, December 5
Year 6 Dinner 6pm -Wednesday, December 7
Highfield Wool Shed walk Monday 12th December
Fish'n'Chip Lunch -Tuesday, December 13
Pool Party- organised by Year 6 Leaders Tuesday 13th December
Top Team with Rotherham School - Wednesday, December 14
End of year celebration - Waiau Hall Thursday, December 15, 7pm
Last Day of Term 4 - Finishing at 12.15pm Friday, December 16
Mainpower Waiau Community Pool
Keys are now on sale at the following locations:
Waiau Hardware-Monday to Friday Waiau On the Spot Supermarket -Weekends & Public Holidays
2022-23 Season Key Prices:
Household season key for residents $100 Single season key $60 Single seniors key $30
Casual swim key same day return -single $5 up to 4 people $15
Casual swim with local resident key holder (honesty box) $3
Waiau Pool Bank Account for payments 03 1582 0102537 00 -please include ‘key sales’ & your name as reference
Note: You must show proof of payment ( a screen shot or print out) when you pick your key up.
Lost keys will be charged for at the end of the season so please look after them.
Note: We know that sometimes the budget can get a little tight, so there may be options for payment by instalment for local resident season keys.
If you would like to request this option, please contact either the President: Cath Ferguson or Treasurer: Brenda Smith to arrange before purchase of a key.
Summer Holiday Swimming - details and dates for lessons & coaching will be in the next newsletter
Contact Us
Email: office@waiau.school.nz
Website: https://waiau.school.nz/
Location: Waiau School 11 Montrose Street, Waiau 7332, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 315 6027
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Waiau-School/100057444370147/