Rākau Nui Newsletter
Term 2, Week 1
Newsletter 03 May 2022
Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome Back
Welcome back to Term 2. This term we will be starting new STEAM topics. Students will be learning about the following:
The Chelsea Flower Show - Science and Maths (Jenni and Andi)
Volcanoes - Science and Maths (Trelise and Kath)
Te Marae - Social Sciences and Learning Languages (Ali)
Art History - Social Sciences, Art and Maths (Sarah)
Inventors and Inventions - Technology, Social Sciences and Maths (Christine)
Mask Update
As mentioned in last week’s mask update, all students in Year 4 and above are now strongly encouraged to wear a face mask at ‘orange’ under the Covid Protection Framework, which covers all students, and adults, in Rākau Nui.
We are confident that our mask wearing and hygiene procedures have successfully minimised transmission within school so far and we are looking to continue this going forward. For this reason, we strongly recommend students continue to wear face masks and we will be continuing with our hand washing and sanitising procedures.
If we have an increasing number of cases within school and feel compulsory mask wearing is necessary for everyone’s safety, we will let you know more information as that decision is made.
Cross Country
Our school cross country will be held on Tuesday 11th May. This is Week 2 of Term 2. As such it is important that the students continue to work on their fitness. Going for walks, jogs or runs, getting out in nature or playing games and sports are all great ways to keep their fitness up. All the students know the school cross country course and are welcome to come and run it anytime. We suggest that being supervised by an adult is the best and safest way to do this.
Life Education Trust and Harold
Just after Queen's birthday weekend, starting on Tuesday 7 June, Life Education and Harold will be coming for a visit. Class lessons have a health focus with all children taking part in this programme. Please give a $6 donation per child towards the costs of running the Life Education programme. Payment can be made on Kindo or please send a named envelope to the office with $6 inside.
New Zealand Sign Language
Next week is New Zealand Sign Language week. In addition to our regular teaching of sign language, we will be learning a new sign each day. Have a talk with your child(ren) to find out what signs they already know and the new ones they will be learning.
Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day is a global day that celebrates diversity and promotes environments where people can feel safe, valued and respected. Pink Shirt Day began in Canada more than ten years ago when two students took a stand against bullying after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Paparangi School will be taking part once again with other New Zealanders to end bullying and spread kindness on the day and all year long so wear something pink on Friday 20th May to celebrate Friendship Week with us. Children are invited to come to school in pink - wear a pink shirt, scarf, socks, hat, ribbon, badge or any item at all! There will be prizes for the most creative pink outfits!
Donations
As part of a STEAM topic this term, students have the opportunity to ‘tinker’ with broken or old, unwanted technology. If you have any unwanted items, we would really appreciate them! Please send them to school with your child and tell them to bring them to room 12 or message christinel@papaprangi.school.nz.
Seesaw
Seesaw is a simple way for teachers and students to record and share what's happening in the classroom. Seesaw gives students a place to document their learning, be creative and learn how to use technology. Each student gets their own journal and will add things to it, like photos, videos, drawings, or notes. Each week more and more learning is being shared there. We highly recommend you check it and engage in conversation with your child about their learning.
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing choices…
As the weather starts to change, the type of clothes students will need at school will also change. In order to continue giving everyone the much needed breaks from mask wearing, we will be continuing to spend as much time as possible outside and this will include when it is drizzling and there are rain showers. We would appreciate it if students could have a named rain jacket and, if possible, a change of named clothes in their bag just in case. We will be taking a common sense approach to being outside when it’s wet and won’t be outside when we’re experiencing heavy rain, or if it is very cold and wet, as student well being is important.
Valuables
For many reasons, we do not permit digital devices to be brought from home and used in the classroom or around the school. These reasons include controlling student access to the internet, removing unnecessary distractions from learning time and ensuring that valuable items are not left lying around. We would encourage families to leave these items at home, however any digital devices, or valuable items, brought to school MUST be taken straight to the office for safe keeping. These items include cell phones, money, tablets, games, Apple watches and other smart watches. It is ok for students to wear simple step counters (no bluetooth, filming or internet connection) and basic watches.
Homework
Each week we provide homework for all families, which is optional. There are lots of things you can do as homework. You can learn basic facts and times tables, you can play a maths game (either online or on paper), you could do some baking, thinking about the quantities in a recipe, or you could play a board game that needs you to think about maths, such as Monopoly. There is also the question of the week to get you thinking about problem solving.
EnviroSchools
As an Enviro School we are so impressed with the zero waste lunch boxes that children bring. Many thanks for your help with this. With reports coming out in the news about the amount of plastic that is infiltrating our oceans, land and drinking water we are very keen on being zero waste and wrapper free.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything with us, please remember that your first point of contact is your child’s home class teacher. Our email addresses are:
christinel@paparangi.school.nz
Hei konā mai
Jenni, Trelise, Sarah, Christine, Ali, Judy, Kath, Andi, Leah, Kuini, Haley, Min and Megan
Useful Dates - Please note that all dates are subject to COVID restrictions and events may be cancelled or postponed
Monday 02 May- Term 2 starts 8.55am
Monday 09 May - NZ Sign Language Week
Tuesday 10 May - Whole School Cross Country
Friday 20 May - Pink Shirt Day
Tuesday 24 May - Northern Zone Cross Country Tournament (pp 26th)
Monday 30 May - Samoan Language Week
Friday 03 June - Teacher Only Day (school closed)
Monday 06 June - Queen's Birthday (school closed)
Tuesday 7 June - Thursday 16 June - Life Education Welcome Harold!
Tuesday 14 June - IZ Cross Country (pp 16th)
Friday 24 June - Matariki (school closed)
Tuesday 05 July - Regional Cross Country (pp 07)
Friday 08 July - Term 2 ends 3.00pm