2023 Newsletter - Week 4 Term 2
Greenmeadows School, 17th May Newsletter #7: 2023
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora whānau,
With the first snow of the year appearing on the ranges it would appear that the cooler weather has definitely set in. I personally quite enjoy these crisp starts to the days, knowing that by lunchtime it will be clear blue skies and sunny!
Around the school we are finally seeing a reduction in the amount of builders onsite as our building works gradually get closer to completion. Over the last couple of years there has been quite a lot of heavy machinery noise and various areas of the school have been fenced off. For some of our youngest children, it probably seems normal to have continual building works going on around them!
Despite this inconvenience, the finished product is certainly very impressive and I know of a couple of other local schools who are rather envious of how our kura is looking right now! The children in Rooms 3 and 5 (the classrooms facing the field) are finally occupying their new spaces and there are some pretty happy students (and teachers) in those rooms.
In other news I caught up with Mr Johnson earlier this week. While he is missing Greenmeadows School, he is also enjoying the challenge of travelling far and wide across our region to help guide other schools. I hope you join me in wishing him a happy birthday today!
Ka kite anō,
Darren Holloway
Acting Principal
WELCOME TO GREENMEADOWS SCHOOL
We have had two new students start with us since the last newsletter - a very warm welcome to Braxton Cunningham and Oliver Tonks.
Our roll at present is 431.
TEACHER ONLY DAY - 24TH JULY 2023
Earlier this term we spent the Teacher Only Day preparing for changes to Te Mātaiaho, The Refreshed New Zealand Curriculum. This was one of two days that the Ministry of Education has granted to schools in 2023 to prepare for the changes.
In collaboration with Arthur Miller School, we have scheduled the second Teacher Only Day for 24 July 2023. This day was chosen due to the availability of Rob Profitt-White, Math and Numeracy Director at The Learner First. He will be helping us to prepare and enhance our Maths curriculum.
Please note that this date is likely to differ from that taken by other local schools, who will probably elect to use a date in mid-November. We hope that our date will prove a little more convenient than placing it during our very busy 4th term.
CLEANER REQUIRED - DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE?
CLEANER
Greenmeadows School requires a hardworking and reliable applicant to fill the above role.
This position involves 16 hours and 40 minutes per week, including school holidays. Hours are flexible during school holidays.
The hours are 3.00pm until 6.20pm, 5 days per week.
Previous experience in a cleaning role would be advantageous.
Please send a covering letter, CV and the names and contact details of two professional referees to:-
The Principal, Greenmeadows School
P O Box 5104, Greenmeadows, NAPIER 4112
Email: admin@gms.school.nz
PINK SHIRT DAY - FRIDAY 19TH MAY 2023
On Pink Shirt Day (Friday 19 May 2023) we are encouraging our staff and students to Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!
Pink Shirt Day aims to reduce bullying by celebrating diversity in all its forms and supporting schools, workplaces and communities to be safe, supportive, welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
To celebrate this important kaupapa we’ll be encouraging our staff and students to wear something pink on the day. This might be as simple as a pair of pink socks, a pink hair tie, or a pink hat. Please note that this is not a general mufti day and we expect that any non-uniform items that your child wishes to wear should be pink. On this occasion, we are not fundraising so no donations are required. Anyone not taking part in the pink theme should just wear usual school uniform, please.
In classrooms, teachers will be leading important discussions around bullying.
GMS ANZAC SERVICE
Thank you to Mr Lima for once again supporting our Greenmeadows ANZAC Service, which was held in our hall this year. Without the distractions of outside noise, our children were incredibly respectful throughout the service. We are so proud of the way the children conducted themselves and so very thankful to families who sent in flowers and donations. Mr Lima was able to take away over $350 for the Greendale Services Association.
ACTIVE CHILDREN
Today we welcomed Alex, from Volleyball Hawkes Bay, to work with our Totara children and help to develop their volleyball skills. Our children really enjoyed working with Alex, and all of us (teachers included) have learned something new. Tomorrow our Year 5 and 6 children head off to Park Island in the afternoon to play soccer against other local schools.
Meanwhile, our Pohutukawa children started their swim programme today. This is an intensive few weeks when children pick up water skills that they will use throughout their lives. Please help your child to be prepared with the correct gear on swimming days.
We haven't forgotten about our Kowhai kids either! Next week two coaches from the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union will be in to work with our Year 2 children.
Whew! That's a lot of sport going on in our kura!
FOOTWEAR
Do you recognise any of these shoes? We are into Week 4 and already these have taken up residence in our lost property.
One way we try to help avoid the loss of shoes is to ask that children wear their shoes when they leave school. This is something we insist on, even when children are accompanied by an adult. It not only prevents shoe loss, but also provides protection from stepping on unsafe or unpleasant items on the way home.
A reminder also that our current uniform policy states that footwear should be black.
ŌTĀTARA KĀHUI AKO NEWS
Today we would like to share with you the image of Sir Mason Durie’s Te Whare Tapa Whā which our Ōtatara Kāhui Ako are using to support ākonga learning and understanding of wellbeing.
The concept of hauora/wellbeing includes;
Taha wairua (ideas related to spiritual wellbeing),
Taha hinengaro (ideas related to mental and emotional wellbeing),
Taha tinana (ideas related to physical wellbeing), and
Taha whānau (ideas related to social wellbeing).
Each dimension influences and supports the others. The purpose of this work is to develop language and understanding of wellbeing with consistency from ECE through to Year 13 so our young people will leave with a huge range of strategies and skills to improve wellbeing for themselves and others.
We feel that with kura, whānau and tamariki on board, our Te Whare Tapa Whā learning journey, our understanding of wellbeing will strengthen.
We will be adding snippets to our newsletters that will support your understanding of Te Whare Tapa Whā and how you can use this wellbeing model to support your tamariki.
Ngā mihi,
Hauora Team
ABSENCE NOTIFICATIONS
If your child is going to be absent from school, please let the school office know before 9.00am on that morning.
To report your child being away please use the school app. Find the absence button then use the email function.
Please let us know why your child is sick so we can track the illness, especially if it is covid or the tummy bug.
If we cannot make contact with you or receive notification, truancy will be called.
