Puketapu School Newsletter
Happy New School Year!
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
Welcome to 2020!
We hope you have had a fun, relaxing and refreshing break with your whanau.
We are looking forward to another great year at Puketapu School!
Corona Virus
As you will have seen in the media the situation is rapidly evolving internationally concerning the coronavirus.
This is a new virus and its specific nature is currently unclear, however it appears that you can have the virus at an early stage and not be showing any symptoms. This incubation period is currently considered to be 14 days. If you have travelled or been in physical contact with anyone who has travelled to China within the past month - please call us to discuss.
Children and young people are currently returning to classrooms. The health of students and staff is a priority for all. We encourage you as parents to err on the side of caution and here are some steps you can take.
As always anyone who is unwell should not be at school or at their early learning service.
If you have a particular concern about any your child, please contact Healthline at 0800 611 116 or their GP for medical advice. Healthline has translators and interpreters available 24/7 in 150 languages and they do have Mandarin and Cantonese speaking staff available.
https://www.health.govt.nz/…/di…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Head Start Hui - Tuesday 4 February 2020
Each learner brings their parents/whanau along for a meeting with their teacher. This is about introductions, goal setting and getting to know each other.
The purpose is:
- To build a partnership of learning between whānau and school (whanaungatanga)
- For our families to share the strengths and dreams for their tamariki
- For our teachers to listen to and get to know their akonga (learners)
We want to hear from you about your child, and hear from your child about what they want to get from the new year at school.
Bookings are made online - www.schoolinterviews the Event Code is hs8yp
Enter your details and choose a time that suits you.
On the day, you come along just for your meeting - there is no class that day. The office will be open to help with stationery, updating contact information or anything else you might need.
Class starts on Wednesday.
The School Day
08.55 - Bell rings for school to begin.
09:00 - Learning Block 1
10:00 - Milk and fruit break / ‘Read and Feed’
11:00 - Morning Eating
11:10 - Morning Play
11.40 - Bell rings to go back to class
11:40 - Learning Block 2
13:10 - Lunch Eating
13:20 - Lunch Play
13:50 - Bell rings to go back to class
13:50 - Learning Block 3
14:50 - Whaiwhakaaro - Reflect on the Day in their class
15:00 - End of the school day
2020 Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki Tama / Head Boy for the first half of the year will be:
Tiki Ngarangi
Kaitiaki Kotiro (Head Girl) for the first half of the year will be:
Bella Stainthorpe
Whanau Leaders:
- Tui: Chayce Wilson and Kyla Dorne
- Piwakawaka: Nathan Deacon and Kierah Hosking
- Kiwi: Maui Walker and Emma Lepper
- Kakapo: Jahliyah McLeod-Chard and Jeosh Rafal
Stationery
All students should have their stationery before school starts.
To save time and money and earn points for our school, you can buy class packs directly from OfficeMax - www.myschool.co.nz - order online and delivery is free for orders over $46.
Packs or individual items are available from the school office.
Hats and Togs
Mr Quince has been working hard over the break to get our pool ready so we will be able to enjoy swimming at school. Learning Teams will have a roster of swimming times and days and there will be some lunch time and after school swims as well. Children should bring their togs and towel every day so we can make the most of our swimming.
Zero Waste / Para Kore
Puketapu School is going ZERO WASTE / PARA KORE from 2020!
What does this mean?
From the beginning of Term 1, 2020 , all our students and staff will be asked to bring as little rubbish as possible in their lunches.
Any rubbish from lunches will be sent home with them. Yoghurt containers can be washed at school but the containers will be sent home.
Food scraps will also be sent home, although some classes may organize scraps collections for chickens or pigs at home.
(If you have chickens or a pig and would like food scraps, please let us know.)
Our shared goal: having no waste to throw away when we have finished eating.
Thank you for your support!
Our Staff
We are very fortunate to have such a strong group of educators across all levels of our school
Kauri Learning Team: (Year 7&8)
- Mrs Amanda O'Dowda (Learning Leader and Assistant Principal, Senior School)
- Mr David Martin
- Mrs Julia Johnstone
- Mrs Claire Wigley
- Mrs Carole Bridgeman
Kowhai Learning Team (Year 4-6)
- Mrs Nicole Perry (formerly Miss Megaw! Learning Leader)
- Mr Brody Lindsay
- Mr Avon Lewis
- Mrs Ana Whelan
- Miss Cara Knuckey
- Mrs Flo Gibson-Harris
Totara Learning Team (Year 2-3)
- Mrs Kellie Minnell (Learning Leader and Assistant Principal, Junior School)
- Mrs Kelly Harvey
- Miss Louisa Sharrock
- Mr Alejandro Barrientos
- Ms Peggy Schwieters
- Mrs Marina Collier
Rimu Learning Team (Year 1 and new entrants)
- Miss Anna Proffit (Learning Leader)
- Mrs Fiona Warring
- Mrs Laurie Edwin
- Miss Kim Sowman
Specialist Teachers
- Mrs Shirlene Paterson (Maths)
- Mrs Caroline Den-McKay (Literacy)
Learning Assistants and Support Team:
- Mrs Diane Benton
- Mrs Jay Lane
- Mrs Judith Jackson
- Mrs Michele Oldfield
- Mrs Siniva Isaia
- Mrs Shaina Moratti
- Mrs Karen Astwood
- Mrs Paula Martin
- Mr Raymond Quince
Senior Leadership:
- Mr Ngatai Walker (Principal)
- Miss Corinne Sattler (Deputy Principal & SENCO)
Making Contact with your Teacher
Please bear in mind that immediately before school is usually not the best time to start a conversation and many teachers have duties and team responsibilities immediately after school, so please arrange a suitable time to meet to discuss things.
Dates for your Diary
Here are some of the main items on our school calendar for this term. Learning Teams will send home more information as part of their Learning Team Newsletters early in the term.
Week 1
Tuesday 4th Feb
- Headstart Hui Day (15 minute meetings for every student)
Wednesday 5th Feb
- First day in class
Thursday 6th Feb
- WAITANGI DAY
Friday 7th Feb
Week 2
Tuesday 11th Feb
- 9.00am-12.00 Road Patroller Training (refresher for all patrollers, new trainees)
- Cricket Coaching (Kauri)
Wednesday 12th Feb
- Whanau Event - Let’s Go Ride Summertime Rolls Programme (4.00 - 5.30pm) - Community Bike Ride & Pool Open
Week 3
Tuesday 18th Feb
- Cricket Coaching (Kauri)
Thursday 20th Feb
- Cricket Coaching (8x Junior classes)
Week 4
Tuesday 25th Feb
- Cricket Coaching (Kauri)
Week 5
Monday 2nd March
- Dental bus on site (2-19 March)
Thursday 5th March
- Puketapu School Try-athlon (10.00 - 12.00 TBC)
Friday 6th March
- STAFF ONLY DAY (Waikato Schools Professional Learning Trip)
Week 6
Monday 9th March
- TARANAKI ANNIVERSARY DAY
Tuesday 10th March
- Year 7 & 8 Immunisations (Round 1) time tbc
- Dental bus on site (2-19 March)
Thursday 12 March
- Kauri overnighter at Muru Raupatu
Saturday 14th March
- WOMAD
Week 7
Monday 16th March
- Dental bus on site (2-19 March)
Wednesday 18th March
- School Photos
Friday 20th March
- Puketapu School Swimming Sports
Week 8
Monday 23rd March
- St John Ambulance - First aid in schools (here all week)
- The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
Week 9
Monday 30th March
- The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
- St John First Aid in Schools (here until Thursday)
Tuesday 31st March
- Year 6-8 Interschool Swimming Sports - Bell Block Pool
Week 10
Monday 6th April
- The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
Thursday 9th April
- Last Day of Term 1
More information about these events will follow closer to the time.
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973