Week 8, Term 4, 2022
Tauranga Primary School Pānui
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Tumuaki Pānui | Principal's Newsletter
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
The children will have an opportunity to meet and spend some time with their 2023 class teacher on the 13th of December. A small note will come home introducing your child's teacher for 2023.
There will be a mix of excitement and anxiety if your child is moving class. It is quite normal for anyone to feel anxious when transitioning into an unfamiliar setting. You can help this transition by speaking positively about the new class and teacher with your child/ren. Frame it as an exciting event that is all part of growing up, coping with change and making the most of new opportunities. We cannot place every child exactly where they might like to be, and your encouragement will reassure them that next year will be another great year with a new teacher, an opportunity to make new friends and that they do have the skills to cope, learn and grow with this change. All class levels get the chance to work together at different times and established friendships from this year will also continue in the playground, sport teams, play dates etc.
Please be aware that while the classes are set at this stage, any unexpected changes in student numbers, or personnel changes over the holidays, could mean we need to alter classes and/or teacher placements. This is a rare occurrence but it can happen and we reserve the right to move children if we need to.
Whole school upcoming events:
- 12th December 10:00am - School Awards Assembly @ Memorial Hall (QEII) Class awards will be presented to Year 1-5 students. Parents of children receiving awards will be contacted. Everyone is welcome to attend.
- 12th December - Year 6 social dance from 7:00pm @ Memorial Hall (QEII)
- 13th December 9:30am - Year 6 Leavers Assembly @ Memorial Hall (QEII) Celebrating our Year 6 learners. Parents of children receiving awards will be contacted. Everyone is welcome to attend - it is a special event for all Year 6 learners.
- 13th December - Children will meet their new teacher for 2023.
- 15th December - last school day 2022 - school closes at 12:00pm. Please make a note of this early collection time
2023
- 31 January 2023 - Whānau Connect Day - parents will be sent information in mid-January to make an appointment with their child's whānau/class teacher. This interview will be a chance for you to talk with the teacher and share what your hopes are for the year ahead.
- 1st February - First day term 1, 2023, for children
- Holiday office hours (for uniform sales and new enrolments): 9:00am to 2:00pm 26, 27 and 31st January
School Awards
There are two key school awards that are presented at the end of the year, the Team Player and Learner Awards. One Team Player and one Learner Award are presented to students in each class on the junior site. On the senior site, these are distributed to hubs, for example, Middle Hub 4 (M4) has three Team Player and three Learner Awards to allocate as it is a three -teacher learning space and Senior Hub 2 (S2) has two Team Player and two Learner Awards as it is a two teacher learning space.
Team Player Award
This award recognises those students who are good team players and contributors.
They:
- always give 100% effort
- participate in school life enthusiastically
- encourage others to participate
- are inclusive of others and understand that we are all unique and special
- take ownership of their choices, behaviours and consequences
- build positive relationships with a variety of people
- represent our school with pride
and are generally great role models for their peers.
Learner Award
The Learner Award is for those students who excel as learners. These learners are not necessarily the top academic students; they are good self-managers, thinkers and communicators.
They:
- are curious about the world and fully engage in their learning
- work hard to achieve goals
- are able to make connections between what they know and new learning
- when faced with a challenge, they have a positive ‘can do’ outlook, and persevere
- actively listen and follow instructions, and will share their ideas and opinions
- use critical, creative and caring thinking strategies
- are flexible and inquisitive
At the school awards assembly, we announce the 2023 House Leaders and recognise the contribution of our Kapa Haka leaders.
Class/whānau teachers will contact families this week if your child is receiving an award.
At the Year 6 Leavers Assembly, all Year 6 students will formally receive a TPS leavers certificate and the whole assembly is focused on farewelling this special group of learners. We will also present the TPS Year 6 Awards (Academic, Sport, Te Ao Māori, Arts, Leadership, Contribution to School Life and Principal Awards). It is a very special moment in time, and we invite all Year 6 whānau to attend.
If your child/ren is not returning to TPS next year, please notify the school office as soon as possible so that we can accommodate this change in our planning.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our school.
He waka eke noa
We are all in this together
Ngā mihi maioha
Fiona Hawes
Tauranga Primary School is purchasing a gazebo to be used by TPS groups/teams going to events outdoors.
This presents an opportunity for a community-minded business to partner with the school and support our students. In return, your company can add your logo to the gazebo. The gazebo will be out and about at many community events and will be in operation for many years to come. Our plan is to have this ready to start the 2023 school year.
The cost is $3000 (GST incl.) If you are interested please contact Fiona Hawes principal@tauranga.school.nz
NZ Sign Language
We have recently been getting help translating our school song into NZ sign language.
Merge NZ champions the promotion of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) through events, conferences, workshops and community involvement to ensure the preservation and growth of one of NZ's official languages.
Check out their website: https://www.mergenz.co.nz/nzsl-schools
The T.P.S. Way
We are very pleased to announce that our book, THE T.P.S. WAY, written and illustrated by 2022 TPS students, has been professionally printed and we are selling these for $15 each at the office and school shop.
Follow the adventures of George, the skateboarding dog,
who has just moved into Arundel Street.
George decides to explore TPS after hours and gets lost.
Some friendly TPS characters come to the rescue and share some skills and strategies that help George to navigate the challenge he is facing
..... because that's the TPS way.
Every class/whānau group created a page/illustration for the book and a core group of senior students researched and constructed the text. A group of senior students, with skills in art, worked on developing the illustrations of the main characters. See some sample pages below. A copy of the book is available to view in the school office. It is a very special memento of the school year and for our school and it would make a great Christmas gift.
Term 4:
- 7th - 9th December - Year 6 Camp - Totara Springs
- 8th December - Middle school end-of-year picnic
- 12th December - School Awards (Year 1-5 awards) assembly @ 10:00am at Memorial Hall (QE11)
- 12th December - Year 6 Social Dance, 7:00pm at Memorial Hall (QE11)
- 13th December - Year 6 Leavers Assembly @ 9.30am at Memorial Hall (QE11)
- 13th December - Students meet their 2023 teacher
- 15th December - Term 4 ends, School closes @ 12:00pm
2023 Ballot Dates:
Enrolment for Term 1 2023 - ballot was on 21st October 2022
Late enrolment applications for Term 1, 2023 will be considered on 20th January 2023
Enrolment for Term 2 2023 - ballot Friday 3rd February 2023
Enrolment for Term 3 2023 - ballot Friday 28th April 2023
Enrolment for Term 4 2023 - ballot Friday 21st July 2023
Enrolment for Term 1 2024 - ballot Friday 13th October 2023
TPS School Events Photos by Drops Photography
If you are looking for photos of school events taken by Miki, search for TPS School Events Photos by Drops Photography on Facebook - then go to albums and the photos are there. You have to put a comment into the comments area on each photo page that you would like the particular photo and indicate how many you would like. If you place orders now, Miki will be overseas on holiday and will finalise these and deliver them in the new school year.
Kindo - School Shop - Notice for Families leaving the school
School Leavers – Notice re ezlunch / Kindo School Shop If your family is leaving our school and has been using ezlunch or Kindo, please make sure to stop any regular automatic payments that have been set up before the school year finishes. You may also need to transfer or close your account which can be done as follows: If you are wanting to withdraw your Kindo account balance or make a donation that exceeds Kindo’s threshold (currently more than $10,000 total within one year), Kindo may need to undertake some identity checks on you to comply with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Act 2009. Please action the withdrawal or donation in your Kindo account as outlined above and if these AML checks are necessary Kindo will advise of the next steps required in this regard. Kindo has endeavoured to make this process as pain-free as possible and appreciates your patience.
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Community Notices
2022 St Peters Free Community Christmas Dinner
Sit down meal (home deliveries available)
180 Spring St
25th December
5.30pm
All inclusive event, including live music, Carol singing, a full traditional roast dinner, with salads, desserts, and drinks. All guests who attend receive a gift of their choice. If your whānau isn't sure how your going to afford to celebrate Christmas this year, or perhaps you don't have whānau close by - come and join us at St Peters to celebrate. All WELCOME. Taxi service & home deliveries available. Please register your interest as a guest or as a volunteer/supporter online at
https://www.stpeters.org.nz/outreach/free-community-christmas-dinner
We also need donations of food items & volunteers to help serve on the 25th. 300+ meals
The Tauranga Moana Bomb Comp
The Tauranga Moana Bomb Comp is a free event to celebrate the start of the school holidays, with the beautiful backdrop of Te Awanui Tauranga Harbour. The event will take place on Sunday 18 December at the wharf on Tauranga's waterfront, between 12pm and 3pm.
Age categories are:
10-12 years (not judged, spot prizes awarded)
13-15 years (prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and spot prizes)
16 years and over (prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and spot prizes)
Free Mr Whippy Ice Cream and a sausage sizzle will be on offer for those who are there early, with live music from the John Michaelz Black Brothers Band from 3pm to 4pm, after the winners are announced.
Hads Te Huia from Bomblife New Zealand will host and judge the bombing competition, along with some of his respected peers. Entries are limited, so sign up quickly to secure your spot!
Entry forms:
10-12 years entry form
13-15 years entry form
16+ years entry form
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Contacts:
Principal
Fiona Hawes
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
Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley