Week 5, Term 3 2020
Tauranga Primary School Newsletter
Final reminder - Teacher Only Day on Friday (21st August) - School will be closed
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
Kia ora koutou,
Warning, this is a sizable newsletter, find a quiet spot, grab a cuppa and please take time to read thoroughly as there is a lot going on presently.
Firstly, thank you all so much for working with us to adjust to school at Level 2. Once again we have been so impressed with the independence and confidence our students have shown entering school by themselves and organising their own gear ready for the school day ahead. Their skills as a self-managers are definitely improved due to this experience.
We will continue to ask parents, who need to come onto the school site, to only enter the school site via the Fifth Avenue gates, either signing in or using the QR code until we return to Level 1. As "pick up and go" is the only option from 2:50pm, the traffic congestion and parking available has noticeably improved - a silver lining to our current reality.
We are super excited to see the Middle Hub building project draw to a conclusion. We hope to have the children using this space by next Thursday. It has been a 2 year+ project and we are thrilled with the final result. Once we return to Level 1 we will host an opportunity for parents to wander through and see the new spaces.
Today, we are having a tuakana-teina morning where classes across the school team up to work together. We primarily use this day to build relationships and our sense of school community. The tuakana–teina relationship, is an integral part of traditional Māori society, and provides a model for buddy systems. It is based on the concept of an older or more expert tuakana (brother, sister or cousin) helping and guiding a younger or less expert teina (a younger sibling or cousin).
Sadly, we have made the decision to cancel our school Hangi as we were unable to guarantee that we could meet the hygiene demands of Level 2. Kelly Savage and Nick Adams have been working hard behind the scenes for the past few months as leaders of this event, thank you both so much for all the mahi, it is appreciated.
Unfortunately, after hours on Thursday last week, a scooter was taken from the school bike shed ( it was accidentally left at school). It is a timely reminder to lock all bikes and scooters in the shed with a robust lock each day.
A very warm TPS welcome to Brooke Inskeep, Reid and Mia Dempster Rivett-McLennan, Olivia Shilton and Nathan Lang who started recently at our school. We are glad to have you and your family as part of our TPS TEAM.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Noho ora mai
Fiona Hawes
Learning Conference information
Cohort Entry proposed for 2021
Relevant for new entrant (5 year old) enrolments only.
We are investigating the introduction of cohort entry at the start of term 1, 2021. Cohort entry refers to new entrant children starting school as a group, at the beginning or mid-point of a term, AFTER THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY as opposed to starting school on their fifth birthday. Parents will continue to have the option of not starting their child in school until their sixth birthday, regardless of whether or not TPS has a cohort entry policy.
Supporting students to have a great start at school is very important for their early success. Starting a child on or close to their fifth birthday has been the most common practice, however, schools can now use a cohort entry method.
What are the potential benefits of cohort entry for children?
Cohort entry may help children to settle better in school.
- There is evidence to suggest that starting school at the same time as a group of other children helps children build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school.
- New entrant teachers can prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis throughout the year. This will mean more continuity for learning programmes.
- Cohort entry will allow us to provide an increasingly targeted NETTS, New Entrant Transition To School (NETTS) programme.
- It helps us, as school leaders, to better plan to meet our staffing needs as we will have two designated start dates each term, which then ultimately ensures a more settled learning environment for your child.
How it would work
- We would have two intake periods each term - at the start of term and at mid term.
- All new entrants who turn five before the start of the term can start at the beginning of that term, or at a later mid term or start of term date before their sixth birthday.
- If their birthday falls after the start of term but before the mid term date, they can enrol on the mid term date, or at a later start of term or mid term date before their 6th birthday.
- Children must have turned five before they can enrol in school.
This will mean that we will have eight dates during the year where new entrants start in the classroom. Students won't be starting school on their birthday, they can start on the closest date after their fifth birthday.
Term 1
Proposed start of term date 4/02/2021
Proposed mid-term date 15/03/2021
Term 2
Proposed start of term date 3/05/2021
Proposed mid-term date 8/06/2021 (Tuesday)
Term 3
Proposed start of term date 26/07/2021
Proposed mid-term date 30/08/2021
Term 4
Proposed start of term date 18/10/2021
Proposed mid-term date 15/11/2021
If you are receiving a child care subsidy this can continue until the relevant cohort entry date, please go to the following link for more information on support.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online-services/cohort-entry/index.html#null
If we change to cohort entry for Term 1 2021 we would notify families by week 10 Term 3 2020.
As part of the process for potentially implementing cohort entry we need to consult with staff, our current school community and also parents of prospective students to our school.
If you have any questions, thoughts or comments you would like to make on this potential change to how we enrol our New Entrants please email rcaley@tauranga.school.nz.
Ngā mihi nui
Robyn Caley
Assistant Principal
FOTS (Friends of the School) update
- Due to the current COVID situation we are postponing all Donut Fridays until we return to Level 1.
- We had hoped to offer a pizza lunch option this term as well, however this also will wait until we return to Level 1.
- We hope to host the School Disco on the 24th of September, this event can only be hosted if we are in level 1. Heads up the theme is "Kiwiana"
School Production - The Space Project
In Term 4 we are presenting our school production "THE SPACE PROJECT". All children except our newest New Entrants (Room 18) will be involved in this production.
We will be performing in the Performing Arts Centre at Bethlehem College. The evening shows will be held on the 18th and 19th of November. It is essential that all children can perform; please diary these dates now.
A school production is a considerable undertaking, with significant costs. We will be looking for businesses to partner with our school as sponsors for the show. Please contact Fiona Hawes if you are interested in this opportunity.
You can access the show songs online if children want to practise at
GO TO – Login for Scripts & Music
Username: taurangaprimary
Password: gsmack20.
Thank you Health House!
Health House recently donated 48 boxes of tissues for our learners to use in their classes. We appreciate their support especially with items such as these during this time of increased health concerns.
- 21st August - Teacher Only Day - school is closed
- 24th August- International Students' Trip
- 26th August- Tauranga Intermediate School Information Evening-Year 6 only
- 28th August - Whole school hangi - CANCELLED
- 31st August - Funky Fun Day - Year 3 and 4 only - CANCELLED
- 1st September - Friends Of The School ( FOTS) meeting 6:30pm
- 8th September - Board of Trustees meeting - 7:00pm
- 11th September- Donut Friday - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 14th September - Reports go home
- 16th September- International Student Conferences
- 17th September - Learning Conferences 8:00am -7.30pm
- 18th September - Pizza Friday ( FOTS) - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 23rd September- Photolife class and student photos
- 24th September - FOTS school disco - Kiwiana theme - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 25th September - Last day of term
- 18th and 19th November - School Production week
- 14th December - Last day for school instruction 2020 ( School finishes at 12:00 noon)
21st August - Teacher Only Day - The school will be closed for instruction
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD
Contacts
Principal
Fiona Hawes
07 578 6222
Deputy Principal
Cathy Ediker
Assistant Principal
Robyn Caley
Junior Team Leader
Pam Wilkins
Middle Team Leader
Jason Morgan
Acting Senior Team Leader
Jo Howard
International Student enquiries
Cathy Ediker
Business Manager
Susan O'Neill
Office Administrator and Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley