Week 1, Term 2 Newsletter
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Tēnā koutou katoa! Greetings everyone!
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope the holiday break has been a restful one, or at least a time to enjoy - whether it was family, friends, fun times, fellowship, or all of the above.
This week we had Mr Richard Wilkinson and Mrs Maude Wilkinson officially join us. Their whānau, and some staff and students from Miller Avenue School in Paeroa, were made welcome with a pōwhiri and hakari on Monday. Whaea Liz, who was part of the manuhiri, wrote me an email with thanks to say: “We felt welcomed throughout the whole process and knew that is was a special day for all involved.”
Some of the Year 11, 12 and 13 students who were learning at home in Term 1 have returned onsite to continue with online learning and face-to-face lessons. This has been a wonderful addition for our school. While we are still working on continuing to recruit staff in Secondary, we are able to support students with core subjects and some options.
We have also welcomed some new students to Primary and Secondary this term. It has been wonderful to have more whānau join our kura, and we look forward to the journey and blessings ahead.
This term is already planning to be an eventful one - please keep up to date with notices being sent home in the coming weeks.
One thing I know to be true is - the Lords plans for us and our kura are good. His plan is to prosper us, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We know that God’s intent for creation, for humans, is abundant living. Fruitfulness and growth, multiplication and expansion, as well as structure and organisation. These are all part of God's plan.
Blessings,
Mrs. Tina Takimoana
Acting Principal
Verse for the week:
“The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
Psalm 33:11
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Year 11, 12 and 13 students returning to school
Those students who were learning from home in Term 1 have returned to school this week. It has been exciting and also busy as we try to navigate timetabling of subjects to align with Online Learning Community courses and onsite classes.
We have also had some students return to us who attended other education institutes in Term 1. We are working hard to provide subject choices from the selection we have available. This is taking a longer time than expected to process and finalise.
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Parent Teacher Association - PTA
Are you looking to make a difference in your child’s learning? We need you.
The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a committee of dedicated and enthusiastic parents and teachers, who volunteer their time to support the children of Kaitaia Abundant Life School.
The PTA work to fundraise throughout the year to provide resources and equipment for your children to assist them to learn, play and grow in their school environment.
There are many jobs behind the scenes in which the members of the PTA volunteer their time, including book fairs, organising sport and Kapa Haka uniforms, sausage sizzles, raffles, market nights, calendars and many more.
We want to warmly welcome parents to form a new PTA Committee, and to have fun while supporting our children, the school and the wider community. It is a very rewarding experience being part of the PTA, and it is also a great opportunity to get to know other parents from the school.
If this sounds like you, please contact Bobbie and let her know you are interested. A meeting will be planned within the next few weeks.
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Covid-19 Protection Framework - level Orange
We are currently operating under level Orange - what does that mean here at school? Our teachers and students are encouraged to continue to maintain good hygiene and stay home if they are sick. We also continue to use well-ventilated indoor spaces.
Face masks at Orange
At Orange, face masks are no longer required at school. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a face mask at Orange should be encouraged and supported to do so.
Face masks also continue to be required for students aged 12 and above on school and public transport.
Gatherings of large numbers of students
At Orange, we are able to have assemblies, kapa haka, praise and worship, and other activities with large numbers of students.
Visitors
There are no restrictions on numbers of visitors on site at Orange. Visitors must sign in at the office if staying longer at school than for a usual drop off or pick up.
Visitors, including parents and caregivers, are strongly encouraged to wear a mask when indoors.
Important Dates to Remember
- Monday 16th May - MoE Teacher only day
- Friday 27th May - Primary School Book Fair
- Monday 6th June - Queen's Birthday - Public Holiday
- Friday 24th June - Matariki - Public Holiday
- Friday 8th July - Last Day Term 2
- Monday 25th July - First Day Term 3
Sports News
We want to congratulate the following students on their outstanding achievement in sport.
Kassidy Murray - U15 Northland Reps Basketball
Brodie Takimoana - U15 Northland Reps Basketball
We are also proud to announce that we have 3 teams entered in the Thursday night and Saturday morning mangonui netball competitions;
1 x Intermediate team that has their 1st Saturday morning game tomorrow
2 x Collegiate teams that played their 1st Thursday night competition game last night against each other - 1 mixed team & 1 all boys team, the 1st all boys team ever in the Mangonui Collegiate competition. It was a hard fought battle with the all boys team coming out with the win.
Netball practices:
Collegiate teams - Wednesday 3-4pm
Intermediate teams - Thursday lunchtimes
Are your details up to date...........................
To ensure we have the most current and up to date information for your tamariki please check the list below and call 09 408 2671 or make contact via the School App or email office@abundantlife.school.nz if you want to change or check any details we currently have on file. Your attention to this request is greatly appreciated.
- Street Address
- Contact phone numbers
- Email Address
- Emergency Contacts
- Medical Conditions
- Allergies
- Special Dietary Requirements / Food Allergies
A couple of house keeping reminders
Please call, email or use the APP to notify absences
All students must hand their phones into the office at the start of the day if they bring them to school
If your child is not in the correct uniform, please send them with a note so a uniform pass can be issued
We have a large number of 2nd hand uniform options available from the school office (heaps & heaps of senior school sized jackets) for a koha, please see the office to see what is available
Past Due
All Attendance Due's should have now been paid. Please make contact if your dues are still outstanding or if you are unsure. Your urgent attention to this request is greatly appreciated - Dues Contact: A.K by email or ph dues@ktabundantlife.org.nz or 020241394591.
School App
If you haven’t already loaded our School App to your phone or mobile device - the instructions of what to do is in the poster provided. The App some very useful features such as notifying student absence, calendar events, notifications and more.
Meet the Team - Dr Sue Dow - HOD English & Yr 7 to 10 Science Teacher
Ko Tohora toku maunga
Ko Houhora toku awa
Ko St Pauli toku waka
Ko Sophie Subritzky toku whaea
Ko Bill raua ko Rosemary Wagener oku matua
No Pukenui ahau
Ko Allan Dow taku hoa rangatira
Ko Jon, Tim, Matt, Bex ratou ko Andy a maua tamariki.
Toko tekau ma rua a maua mokopuna.
Ko Sue Dow ahau
Hello everyone,
I've been teaching at Kaitaia Abundant LIfe since its very first day, albeit with some time out over the years. I was acting as the Assistant Principal of Secondary in Term 1, and I am the teacher in charge of English and the teacher of Years Seven to Ten Science. These roles give me a wonderful opportunity to help strengthen our school as we navigate these different days. I love teaching and learning, and I especially love teenagers. I love the energy and diversity they bring and I love supporting them as they learn to stand firm in the knowledge of God and their own place in His world. When I am not busy at school you will most likely find me running, swimming, biking, gardening, helping out at church and of course loving my growing family. I look forward to getting to know you and your children well over the course of this year, especially as one of my greatest leadership passions is breaking down the barriers between the world of school and the world of home for our tamariki mokopuna o Muriwhenua. Feel free to come and chat to me about this!
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.