KTS Newsletter
Term 2, Week 3, Tuesday 17 May 2022
Tena koutou e te whānau o Kohia Terrace School
Our guiding whakatauki for 2022 comes to mind as I reflect on the week that was.
We have much to celebrate in regards to how we cared for our people (manaaki tangata):
Our pōwhiri to welcome new students, staff and families on Thursday was very well attended and received; the sunshine also joined in to add warmth to what had started as a chilly morning. We thank all those families who came to support their students’ start at Kohia Terrace School, in particular Willie Rickards for his words on behalf of the manuhiri.
Also on Thursday was the Kohia Quiztacular, when around 40 KTS families connected online to compete in kahoot quizzes. The technology played ball and both quiz groups ran smoothly, answering questions that required general knowledge and in-depth KTS expertise – something for everyone. Congratulations to the Hall-Khouri and Gibbon families who took out the top places on the podium. We appreciate the mahi of Erica Carey and Whaea Laura who organised the event and also thanks to Nygel Knighton and Lisa Miller who stepped up as MCs for each group. It was a lovely opportunity to gather together within an online setting. Keeping up our community spirit is important to us.
We have cared for our land this week by installing a protective surface in the junior playground (see photo below). It is soft, colourful and environmentally friendly as it is made from recycled jandals. It will protect the roots of our pohutukawa and make it safer for small people to enjoy this area.
Finally, we have begun to see a real increase of positive COVID cases in the school over the last week in both staff and students. Some classes have been asked to learn at home for a few days until reported cases have reduced. Thank you to the parents / whanau of those classes for their support. As Alison highlighted in her update over the weekend, we have reverted to our pre-holiday health and safety measures, in particular mask wearing. We have also stopped cross grouping within year groups. We ask for your continued support by monitoring your children for symptoms and keeping them home when they are sick.
Keep well and stay safe – Catherine
Intermediate open evening
Are you starting to think about where your Year 6 student will be going for Year 7 & 8? Come to the open evening on Tuesday 21 June at 6:30pm to find out more about intermediate education at Kohia. If you have friends who are interested, send them along too. We usually open a few balloted places, depending on numbers.
HERO and SchoolApps
It is vital that you are receiving our communications via HERO and SchoolApps.
If you are not receiving messages on Hero, please delete the app and reinstall. If this does not work, please contact the office so we can try and ascertain the issue.
It is also prudent to have downloaded ‘SchoolAppsNZ’ so you can receive texts. You can download this from your App store, or click here: Download SchoolApps
Stay alert: COVID-19 will still be with us this winter
COVID-19 will still be in the community this winter so stay alert – even if you’ve had it before.
Remember these five important tips from Auckland Regional Public Health Service:
1. Be vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection against getting very sick from COVID-19.
Everyone aged 5 or over can get free COVID-19 vaccinations. It doesn’t matter what your visa or citizenship status is.
2. Keep up healthy habits: Healthy habits can protect you from lots of winter illnesses - not just COVID-19. They include washing and drying your hands well and often, wearing a mask
(especially inside), and coughing/sneezing into a tissue or your elbow – not your hands.
3. Be alert for symptoms: If you or anyone in your household has any cold or flu-like symptoms, stay at home and free-call Healthline: 0800 358 5453. They will tell you what to do, including how to get a test. Healthline is available 24/7, with interpreters available.
In an emergency (for example if someone is having difficulty breathing), immediately dial 111
for an ambulance. COVID-related medical care is free.
4. Stay home if you live with someone with COVID-19: Everyone living in a household with
someone who has COVID-19 needs to isolate for seven days – not just the person with COVID. Please do not send your child in if they live with someone who has COVID-19, even if they are well.
5. Check: is your whānau up-to-date? Now’s a good time to check that your whānau is protected against other diseases like measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis (whooping cough). With New Zealand’s borders re-opening, there’s a greater risk of serious diseases like measles arriving here. Talk to your doctor, or check your own health records (such as your Plunket or Well Child/Tamariki Ora book) to see if everyone’s up-to-date with their immunisations.
For more COVID-19 information and advice call:
Healthline: 0800 358 5453 (a free, 24/7 service with interpreters available)
Or visit:
Unite against COVID covid19.govt.nz
Auckland Regional Public Health Service www.arphs.health.nz
Ministry of Health www.health.govt.nz/covid-19
Northern Region Health Coordination Centre nrhcc.health.nz
KOHIA QUIZTACULAR
Thank you to all the families that joined us for Kohia Quiztacular last Thursday! It was great to connect as a community and learn some new things. We hope you had a fun evening of head-scratching brain teasers.
Congratulations to our overall winners:
Group 1
1st place Kingsview Kings (Hall-Khouri Family)
2nd place Haszards
3rd place MFT (Mistry Family)
Group 2
1st place Gibbons
2nd place Mah Family
3rd place A++ (Ameera’s Whanau)
Thank you once again to our wonderful sponsors:
Park and Walk – Wednesday Walkers
Please join our Wednesday walking bus and earn a special green takoha for your house.
Mornings: drop off at Melville Park playground between 8:20am and 8:40am. Children walk to school with an adult. At least two departures over this time mean you won’t miss the bus!
Afternoons: Meet by the junior gate between 3:00 and 3:10pm and walk back to Melville for pick up before 3:15.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students who received a KTS Learner Competency certificate at last week’s Azoombly:
Library News
Congratulations to Ryan (Rm 10), who received his Bronze Literacy Award at assembly on Friday.
Sports News
Victor (Rm 10) is a very keen gymnast, training at Tristar, currently at Level 2 Mens Artistic Gymnastics. Over the past weekend, the North Harbour Junior Competition took place and Victor competed in all apparatus. He achieved well on all, in particular his favourite: parallel bars, winning 2nd place. Congratulations to Victor on his hard work and success!
Netball
The starting whistle blew for the netball season yesterday. Team Keas had a wonderful first game, with great teamwork! Kohia Keas (41) : Balmoral Blue (2)
Despite only having 6 players, the Year 6/7 Hawks had a close game, losing 5-9. Thanks to Kylie Gibbon and Lisa Wong for coaching and managing the team.
Calendar of events
Community Notices
May Music Carnival
Saturday 21st May from 10am
Location: Mt Eden Village Centre, 449 Mt Eden Rd
We are excited to be presenting a fun filled morning of magic, music and swashbuckling!!!!
Each performance is limited to 100 people to allow for lots of space and comfort for our littlies.
Four performances in one day with tickets to each show costing $5 each or $10 for a family of 4.
Magic show performances with Le Cirque de JP, music entertainment with Little Ripples and Captain Festus McBoyle's Travelin Variety show.
Session 1: 10am - 10.45 - Magic show with Le Cirque de JP
Session 2: 10:30am - 11.15 - Music with Little Ripples
Session 3: 11.30am - 12.15 - Magic show with Le Cirque de JP
Session 4: 12pm - 12.45 - Captain Festus McBoyle's Travelin' Variety Show
More info and tickets can be found through eventfinda: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2022/may-music-carnival/auckland/mt-edenMt Roskill Grammar School Open Day
We look forward to sharing our school with you and supporting your child’s transition to secondary school.
The principal will be addressing families at 3.30pm, 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
Contact Us
Email: office@kts.school.nz
Website: https://www.kts.school.nz/
Location: 3 Kohia Terrace, Epsom, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Phone: 09 630 4525
School Board Election 2022
The School Board elections are coming up in September and it is important that we have the correct contact details for you. Could you please check in Hero that your name, postal address, e-mail and mobile phone number are correct.