Week 1 , Term 4 2020
Tauranga Primary School Newsletter
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
Nau mai, haere mai, a very warm TPS welcome toJudah Hayward, Emmie Helem, Owen Stephens, Ava Olsen, Cian White, Te Koru-o-Te-Rangi Potene, Charlie Drew, Kota Mayuzumi, Bailey Hooper, Samarpit Singh, Harssha Senthilnathan and Michael Lyon who started recently at our school. We are glad to have you and your family as part of our TPS TEAM.
Welcome back to Term 4 everyone.
At TPS our primary focus is on teaching and learning; a key component is understanding that mental health and well-being is essential to make academic progress. We want all children to be happy, feel safe and to be making consistent progress in their academic learning. As a school we invest time and funding into developing the skills and dispositions of our learners to be confident, resourceful and resilient so that they can manage life's ups and downs.
A few ways we focus on well-being at TPS are:
- Know me before you teach me philosophy - where staff work hard to know all of our learners and their specific background, skills and strengths.
- Teaching Mindfulness throughout the school.
- Learning through Play initiatives in the Junior School.
- Health programmes such as Kia Kaha (anti bullying), Life Education and Keeping Ourselves Safe
- Peaceful Playground Initiatives such as Peer Mediators, Sport Leaders, Lego club, building and games clubs (focusing on building social skills), teacher and sports co-ordinator led sports at lunchtime.
- Explicit teaching of our learning model (how to be a good learner) and the learning pit (positive actions we can take when we face a challenge).
- Individual plans for those students who require specific modifications and support to feel confident and happy, so that they make positive choices for themselves and those around them.
- Camps in years 4, 5 and 6.
Our focus this term is on our school production (THE SPACE PROJECT). All children, apart from the youngest in Room 18, will be involved. Thank you to Pollock Cranes who have come on board as the premiere sponsor. Pollock Cranes is a family operated business with a solid reputation. They have branches in the Bay Of Plenty, Waikato and Auckland that operate 24 hours / 7 days giving flexibility, versatility, mobility, reliability and a quality service. They can assist you with your crane hire, truck loader crane, heavy haulage, transport and precast erection needs - 0508 POLLOCK / 07 574 2951/ www.pollockcranes.co.nz
In 2021 we are predicting (from our current student numbers and enrolment data) that we will have several places available for out of zone Year 2 students (children who are currently in Year 1 for 2020) and New Entrants starting in Term 1. We encourage out of zone families to enrol in our ballot for 2021 (if they have a Year 2 or New Entrant student for a Term 1 2021 start). To enrol please contact our school office office@tauranga.school.nz or complete an online enrolment form. Enrolment forms can be found on our school website. The first ballot for Term 1 2021 will be held on Friday 30th October 2020 so new enrolments need to be in quickly.
If you are a current TPS family and have a child due to start school in 2021, please ensure that you have enrolled them, so that we can include them in our planning for next year.
Deciding class placements for the new school year is a complex task. As well as considering numbers of children at each year level and the number of teachers we are allocated, we need to consider the individual learning needs for each child, gender balance, social skill development and peer relationships. We must ensure that all learners’ needs receive due consideration. Where necessary, staff will discuss with parents, the placement of their children.
At this stage, we plan for most children in Years 3 and 5 to remain in the same learning hub they are in this year. We do this to maximise learning opportunities, and reduce lost learning time as a result of transition. The Year 3 to 5 teachers in each learning hub know their learners; their strengths and next learning steps, and are able to continue with current learning goals from day one of 2021.
Please note that one or two teachers may change class or year level due to normal annual staffing changes e.g. career progression. In 2021, due to large student numbers in our 2020 Year 5 cohort, we will most likely have six Year 5 and 6 whanau groups.
While we ask parents to allow us to exercise our professional judgement in placing all children fairly, we do appreciate some input from families where specific needs should be considered. It is not possible for senior staff to meet with all parents and listen to individual requests. However, if there are extenuating or special circumstances that we may not be aware of, please put these requests in writing and ensure they are sent to me by the end of Week 2, Term 4, 23rd October.
If there has been an issue in the past that we need to be reminded of, it is also worth sending an e-mail or talking to your child’s class teacher, as not all information is carried over from year to year.
Only requests made in writing will be considered
Term 4 reminders:
- It is a summer uniform term – please remember to bring a sun hat every day, either plain navy bucket, wide brim or legionnaire design. Baseball caps are not school uniform as they do not provide enough sun protection. Hats can be purchased from local shops such as Kmart and The Warehouse. We hope to have TPS logo sun hats available for purchase in the office soon.
- Uniform requirements for hair - white, navy, black or hair coloured hair ties only please. Please keep large sparkly, multi coloured items and fluoro hair extensions for after school and weekend wear.
- Please check that your child's uniform is clearly named. Every term we have a mountain of lost property that is unnamed or the name is faded beyond recognition.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Noho ora mai
Fiona Hawes
THE SPACE PROJECT in association with POLLOCK CRANES
Kia ora whānau,
For our upcoming production 'The Space Project: Voyage of the Radiant Scarlett' we need your help.
We are after two people to help out behind the scenes with the Powerpoint and spotlight.
The dates you will be required (including rehearsals) are Tuesday 17th November during the day, Wednesday 18th November & Thursday 19th November both day and evening shows (5:30pm-8:30pm).
Training will be provided.
Please let your child's teacher know, as soon as possible, if you are able to help.
Thank you for your support.
Whaea Jen
Classroom Teacher
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 are 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:
GO TO – Login for Scripts & Music
Username: taurangaprimary
Password: gsmack20.
Please support those businesses that support our school:
Astronaut Supporters of our school production:
Alien Supporter of our school production:
Jon at Industrial Sheetmetals jon@indusrialsheetmetals.co.nz https://www.industrialsheetmetals.co.nz/
If you would like to partner with TPS as a sponsor/supporter of our production - click on this attachment to view options
Birthday Celebrations
As a family you may wish to do something special at school to mark this occasion.
At TPS we have many children with various dietary considerations, therefore please do not send cakes or lollies to school for a birthday. Save these treats for your celebration at home. We will not be able to share cakes or lollies with children, and will ask that you take them home. This can be both awkward and embarrassing for everyone involved.
If you would like to include the school in the celebration of your child's birthday, please donate a book suitable for the school library. This book will be shared with the class and then will be available for borrowing from the school library.
All donated books will have a note added recognising that the book was donated in recognition of your child's birthday.
Cohort Entry - New Entrants 2021
In 2021 Tauranga Primary School will start a cohort entry system for New Entrant students.
If your child is due to start during next year please check with the office to make sure we have their name down on our pre-enrolment list.
New Entrant students will start on the closest date after their fifth birthday.
Cohort entry dates for 2021:
Term 1
4/02/2021
15/03/2021
Term 2
3/05/2021
8/06/2021 (Tuesday)
Term 3
26/07/2021
30/08/2021
Term 4
18/10/2021
15/11/2021
School hall is now available for hire
Rental is $20 per hour plus GST, please contact the school office if you are interested.
578 6222 office@tauranga.school.nz
FOTS (Friends of the School)
- 16th October - Pink Shirt Day - Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying. Māwhero mufti day bring a gold coin if you can.
- 20th October - Friends of the School (FOTS) meeting - 6:30pm-7:30pm
- 21st October- Powhiri for new families to Tauranga Primary - 9:00am
- 26th October - Labour Day- School closed
- 27th October - BOT meeting -7:00pm-8:30pm
- 18th and 19th November - School Production
- 23rd November - Year 6 Wetland discovery day
- 24th November - TIS orientation day (Year 6)
- 24th November - Friends of the School (FOTS) meeting - 6:30pm - 7:30pm
- 25th November - Year 2 transition-Parent meeting - 9:00am
- 26th November - Middle School Athletics
- 26th November - Year 5 Camp Waimarino
- 27th November - Year 5 camp Memorial Park activity day.
- 27th November - Orange Day parade - feet first and road patrollers
- 27th November - Junior Athletics
- 30th November - 4th December - Travel Safe week
- 1st December - BOT meeting - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
- 7th December - School Awards Assembly - 11:00am -12:00pm
- 7th December - Year 6 Leavers Social Dance - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- 8th December - Year 6 Leavers assembly - 11:00am
- 9th - 11th December - Year 6 Camp Totara Springs
- 10th and 11 December - Year 5 Discovery Days
- 14th December - Last day for school instruction 2020 ( School finishes at 12:00 noon)
TPS School Banking with First Credit Union - Thursdays
School Banking Is Back!
We are excited to let you know that we will be starting up our school banking programme again in Term 4! We are really proud to be able to offer school banking in your school and want to thank you for letting us offer this service to your pupils!
What an interesting last few months we have all been through, we thank you for your patience over this time.
The school banking team will be back at your school every Thursday (starting next week -22 October)
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD
Mount Maunganui Beach Junior Surf & Nippers training
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
Senior Team Leader
Jo Howard
International Student enquiries
Cathy Ediker
Business Manager
Susan O'Neill
Office Administrator and Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley