Week 7 Term 4 Panui
Wednesday - 30th November 2022
Contact Us
Email: office@witherlea.school.nz
Website: https://witherlea.school.nz
Location: 214-216 Weld Street, Witherlea, Blenheim 7201, New Zealand
Phone: 64 (03) 578 5568
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/witherleablenheim
Principal Message
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Greetings to you all.
The school year is moving into the final countdown with only 12 days to go. Please note that school closes at 12.00pm on Friday 16 December.
It was great to see so many children recognised for their ‘super hero’ contribution to the school at our Service Assembly on Monday. Services and leadership our senior students provide to the school include: Road Patrollers, Librarians, Flag Raisers, Choir Leaders, Witherleads (School Tours), Kaikaranga/Haka (Welcome Ceremonies), Jump Jam Leaders, Worm Farmers, Enviro Ninjas, Techie’s, Assembly Presenters, Welcomers, Breakfast Club Helpers, Buddy Readers, PAL’s (Lunchtime Activities), Medical Monitors, Recharge Team, Junk Shed, Sports Shed, Wet Day Monitors. Thank you to all the children that have contributed to the school through these roles in 2022.
A huge thank you to the parents and staff involved in a highly successful Book Week. Books sales for the week exceeded $10,000 and 20% of this will come back to the school to buy additional books for the library - that's a win/win for reading! Kids loved the dress up day on Friday which capped off a great week!
While we're on the thank yous, I would also like to acknowledge the WSPCG for their efforts with the recent calendar and disco fundraisers. These activities have raised a combined $5000 to go towards our new scooter track. We will schedule an opportunity in the new year for new parents to find out more about the WSPCG and get involved in activities that raise funds for the school and foster community spirit. Also a big thank you to Martina Suleiman who has this year has raised $11,000 for our school to date selling second hand clothing using her facebook group 'The Closet Room'
Congratulations to the children that competed in the Marlborough School Athletics Championships recently, we are proud of you all. The following placings were achieved by the Witherlea team:
Year 4
Benson B - 1st in Boys High Jump
Amelia E - 3rd in Girls Shot Put
Ishana M - 2nd in Girls Discus
Year 5
Ryan B - 3rd in Boys High Jump, 2nd in Boys Shot Put, 3rd in Boys 100m Sprint and 1st in Boys Long Jump
Zara W - 2nd in Girls High Jump, 3rd in Girls Long Jump and 3rd in Girls 60m Sprint
Freddie H - 2nd in Boys Long Jump
Cristina F - 3rd in Girls 100m Sprint
Year 6
Maddie H - 3rd in Girls High Jump
Connor W - 3rd in Boys Long Jump
2023 School Structure and Staffing
In response to staff and parent feedback, we have revised our school structure for 2023. An additional teacher has been employed to provide optimal class sizes with room for growth. Our school roll ideally needs to sit in the low to mid 400’s to provide a good balance of funding with physical space. The board will work to grow the roll through further ballots for students living out of zone while lobbying to extend our current zone to increase our school catchment. We have also made a number of changes to maximise continuity for classes and employed additional staff to provide support to children who need it. Class placement information will be shared on Monday 12 December along with your child's report. Below is a summary of staffing changes for 2023.
Firstly, congratulations to Ariana McIntrye who has won a promotion to Deputy Principal at Blenheim School recently. Hazel Halton has also resigned her position to continue further study in 2023. We thank you both for your significant contribution to Witherlea and wish you all the best for the future.
Maree Herdman, Phoebe Quirk, Richelle Henderson, Jordan Schollum, and Matt Robertson have leave approved for 2023.
Leadership Team:
Phil Funnell - Deputy Principal (Learning Support)
Angela Clark - Assistant Principal (Ferns Team: Y0-2)
Phillip Johnson - Acting Assistant Principal (Kowhai Team: Y3-4)
PJ Muir - Assistant Principal (Kauri Team: Y5-6)
Ferns Team (Y0-2)
Angela Clark, Y0/1, Room 1
Mel Beattie, Y0/1, Room 2
Amy Lucas, Y1/2, Room 3
Hayley Christie, Y1, Room 4
Larrissa Robertson, Y2, Room 6
Dan Stephens, Y2, Room 7
Kowhai Team (Y3-4)
Catherine Stringer, Y3-4, Room 8
Kelsie Brown, Y3-4, Room 9
Phillip Johnson, Y3-4, Room 21
Aimee Fish, Y3-4, Room 10
Shontell Green, Y3-4, Room 11
Kauri Team (Y5-6)
Tracee Lee, Y5-6, Room 15
Naomi Anderson, Y5-6, Room 16
New Teacher, Y5-6, Room 17
Jemma Herdman, Y5-6, Room 18
PJ Muir, Y5-6, Room 19
Additional Teachers
Matt Robertson - STEM Programme/Classroom Release
Marion Barakat - Reading Recovery/ESL Programme
Aoife O’Shaughnessy - Reading Recovery/Management Release
Rachael Pottinger - Classroom/Management Release
Jane Walkenhorst - Classroom Release/Management Release
Sarah Cowan - Management Release
Kelly Ogilvy - Edible Gardens Programme
Teacher Aides
Lynn Glavin
Kate Higgins
Mel Hole
Deb Moran
Sarah Cowan
Kim Robinson
Rochelle WiRepa
Admin Staff
Jen Sim - Executive Officer
Amber Russell - Office Manager
Rochelle WiRepa - Office Support
Stella Machado - IT Support
Grounds Staff
Dave Smit - Caretaker (Fulltime)
Alan Western - Caretaker (Part-time)
We are seeking an additional Teacher Aide to join the team in 2023. If you are interested in this role, please get in touch with me directly - principal@witherlea.school.nz
Finally a few things to action this week:
Please send your child to school with a bucket on Tuesday as we require an ‘army of ants’ to refill our sawdust pit.
We are collecting wrapped gifts under the Christmas Tree in the office to give to charity. If you would like to contribute, please ensure this is delivered by the end of week 8.
We are keen to take a quick poll to hear your preference around whether school newsletters are distributed electronically or via hard copy in 2023.
All the best for the rest of the week!
Ngā manaakitanga,
Symon Beattie
Principal
Marlborough Athletics
Welcome to Witherlea School
We wish to welcome these new students and their families and whānau to our school and community;
Brooklyn F
Welcome to School Certificates are given out at our Assembly on a Monday morning at 9am.
Last day of term early finish
2023 Term Dates
Term 1 - Tuesday 31st January - Thursday 6th April
Term 2 - Monday 24th April - Friday 30th June
Term 3 - Monday 17th July - Friday 22nd September
Term 4 - Monday 9th October - Friday 15th December.
Witherlea Welcome Hour
Term 4 Events
Week 7 - Wiki Tuawhitu
Monday 28th November - 2nd December
Monday 28th November
Service Assembly
Wednesday 30th November
Newsletter, School Disco
Thursday 1st December
New Entrant Whanau Hui
Friday 2nd December
Bohally Tech Taster
Week 8 - Wiki Tuawaru
Monday 5th December - 9th December
Monday 5th December
Coffee Cart, Assembly
Wednesday 7th December
Year 6 Leavers BBQ
Thursday 8th December
Year 6 Leavers BBQ (Postponement Date)
Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair Shoutouts
Congratulations to these students who have displayed one or all of our school behaviour expectations and are a model to others;
PONGA TEAM
Eleanor H - Showing bravery as you push past challenging situations o be super successful in your learning!
KAURI TEAM
Leni B - Upholding the Witherlea school values and being a respectful member of Room 13
KOWHAI TEAM
Joey W - Your great attitude to school, putting others before yourself, also kind and considerate in all situations.
The awards are for recognition in displaying and modelling our school motto and values; Be Kind, Be Safe, Be Fair.