School Newsletter
12 August, Term 3 - Week 3
Dear Parents, Whānau and Caregivers
A special welcome to Alyssa who has started school in Team Uenuku. Kia ora and welcome to our friendly school!
Teacher Only Day - 2 September
A friendly reminder that Paparangi School will be closed on Friday 2 September for a Teacher Only Day for staff professional development. Staff are working on developing our local curriculum and learning new strategies for growing children's oral language.
Covid Update
There have been a lot more positive Covid cases since the start of term 3, so please keep being vigilant about hygiene, mask wearing and monitoring your children for sickness. Whilst we currently have no active cases, we are experiencing lots of student sickness this week with high numbers of student absences each day.
Ngā mihi nui
Tracey Arthurs
Principal
Do you have a child turning 5 soon?
Outcome of School Board Elections
Nominations for Board members closed last week. Paparangi received 5 nominations for 5 places so all five have been elected to the School Board. 4 of the parents were currently Board Members and we welcome Roshane Samarasekera as a new member. You can read their candidate statements below. The Staff Trustee is going to election and the successful candidate will take office in time for the September meeting.
Paparangi School wishes to thank Cameron Sherley, who is stepping down from the Board this month. Cameron joined the Board in 2019 as a selected parent representative and during his term has been a valued member of both the pandemic response and playground improvement teams. Thank you for your mahi and dedication to the Students, Staff and Paparangi School community.
Introducing the School Board
Duncan Kennington
I am a current Board member, having served since 2017. My son has completed his time at Paparangi School and my daughter is in year 5. I hope to continue to serve the school and its community. Being on the Board gives great insight into how our school works to provide a great environment for our tamariki to learn. We set and review school policies, review financial and property activities, and support the Principal in some facets of the running of the school. We review the reporting of educational and operational performance required by the Ministry of Education and discuss what can be done to positively influence these. Being on the Board is a meaningful way of contributing to the Paparangi School community.
Gary Mitchell
I am currently a Constable in the NZ Police based out of Wellington Central. My volunteer roles currently include being a trustee on the Paparangi School Board, White Ribbon Ambassador, Justice of the Peace, member of the Red Cross Disaster Welfare team, Neighbourhood Support Street Coordinator, Grenada Village Community Association member, founder of Predator free Grenada Village and Grenada North, founder of Keep North Wellington Beautiful and Keep Porirua Beautiful, beach cleaner, fundraiser and Honorary Fisheries Officer with the Ministry for Primary Industries. In addition to the Police Woolf Fisher Fellowship, I have received the following awards: Wellington District Crime Managers Commendation, Wellington District Commander’s Letter of Appreciation, Wellington Police District Certificate of Appreciation, Wellington City Civic Award, 2017 New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Medal, two Bronze commendations from the Department of Corrections, the Department of Corrections Minister's Award for Excellence, Hampshire Police Chiefs Constables Award for Bravery, Royal Navy Commander Amphibious Taskforce Group Commendation for saving a life, Commanding Officer’s Commendation for saving a life. I was a finalist in the 2018 Wellingtonian of the Year, Community Services category, 2021 Volunteer of the Year Aroha Mahi Volunteer New Zealand, 2021 Absolutely Positively Wellington Award (Civic Award) 2022 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Medal.
Helen Ashton
Kia Ora, I joined Paparangi School Board in 2019 and have been Presiding Member since February 2021. I firmly believe in Paparangi School’s vision of providing an education that grows adventurous learners and see effective school governance as vital to achieving this goal. I have two children at Paparangi, in Rakau Nui and Pounamu syndicates. I have over fifteen years experience working in the education sector across primary, secondary and tertiary levels, both in the UK and NZ. More recently, I moved into the government sector, working as an improvement and innovation Business Analyst. My professional experiences provide me with a good understanding of day-to-day school life as well as knowledge of wider discussions and policies affecting NZ education. I am passionate about children having positive educational experiences and look forward to once again supporting our Principal and staff with the tools and resources they need to help our children develop.
Richard Ng
I am a 4th generation Chinese Kiwi and grew up in Johnsonville attending my local schools. My wife Merridith and I have three daughters; Siena, Savannah and Skylar. I have volunteered on several Board Committees for various Community and Educational Groups over the years. My wife and I are currently on the Board for New Life Foundation NZ, a charitable organisation that oversees support for a School and Orphanage in Tanzania with an emphasis on self sustainability. During the week I work as an Optometrist in an independently owned and operated practice serving the public as a primary healthcare professional. Outside of my work, my wife and I have always served our local community as volunteers and we currently oversee the support of around 400 people in our Young Families network. In my spare time I really enjoy hanging out with my kids and extended family, culinary arts, travel, the outdoors, health and fitness and life as an avid sports fan.
The thing that really draws me to the Paparangi School Board of Trustees is the fact that my kids absolutely love Paparangi School. I can also appreciate the importance of having good community, awareness and positive interaction in helping to create strong learning environments. I am currently serving on the Paparangi School Board of Trustees and strongly support the implementation of a distinct set of values and the concept of lifelong learning. I am be grateful to continue with this opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees and am excited to be part of the continued development, growth and success of Paparangi School.
Roshane Samarasekera
Kia ora, my name is Roshane Samarasekera and I am pleased to join the Board of Trustees at Paparangi School because I believe strongly in supporting the education of all students in our community. My wife and I have 3 boys. The older two are in Years 3 and 4 at Paparangi School and the youngest attends day care. We moved to Wellington from the UK in 2019. We love the warm and welcoming nature of the Paparangi community and look forward to being a part of it for many years to come. I work as an Actuary in the public sector and have an eye for detail and a good understanding of good governance and sound financial management. In me you will find someone prepared to listen, communicate and contribute to strategies that will benefit the school community and ensure that our children are well prepared to take on future challenges. I am always keen for a chat, so do tap me on the shoulder if you see me at drop-off or pick-up.
Bee Healthy Dental Van
The Bee Healthy Dental Van is visiting our school to carry out dental checks. These will take place towards the end of this term and carry on in Term 4 on the following dates: Thursday 22 September to Friday 30 September. returning after the school holidays on Monday 17 October to Friday 28 October 2022. If your child requires any dental treatment you will be notified, an appointment made and this work will be carried out at the dental hub at Raroa Intermediate.
What's happening?
- Board Meeting, Monday 15 August at 6pm
- New Entrant Parent Evening Tuesday 23 August at 6pm
- Teacher Only Day - School Closed, Friday 2 September
- DanceSplash at Michael Fowler Centre, Y4-6 students - Wednesday 14 September
- Board Meeting, Monday 19 September at 6pm
- Bee Healthy Dental Van - Thursday 22 September to Friday 30 September
- Last day of Term 3, Friday 30 September at 3pm
- Bee Healthy Dental Van - Monday 17 October to Friday 28 October
Community Notices
Paparangi Scouts
Paparangi Scouts have space for youth (male and female) between the ages of 5-14. Keas age 6-8, Cubs 8-11, Scouts 11-14 and Venturers 14-18years. Every year we help 13,000 young people in New Zealand enjoy new adventures, experience the outdoors, make new connections, and gain confidence. This includes outdoor activities and Leadership. We are also on the lookout for new Leaders in our Group, it is a great and fun opportunity. To make contact with us, please email paparangi@group.scouts.nz
Marrzipan Drama
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It’s a Marrzipan kid dressed as a bird-plane for their upcoming play! Marrzipan is at your school and we would love to have you come and try it out! Come see all the craziness and fun as we run 9 drama-based self confidence lessons a term. Marrzipan is full of games, a wacky play, and an even wackier Joshuwawa!
*Free Trial Lesson* For more information please contact Joshuwawa at: Josh@MarrzipanDrama.co.nz or visit www.marrzipandrama.co.nz
Contact Us
Parents, please use the App to send a message about a student absence. It is our preferred method of contact for non-attendance and is quick and easy to do.
Email: office@paparangi.school.nz
Website: https://paparangi.school.nz
Location: 57-59 Beazley Avenue, Paparangi, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4-478 6617