School Newsletter
10 February 2023 - Week 2, Term 1
Dear Parents, Whānau and Caregivers
Naumai, Haere Mai, Talofa, Kia orana and Welcome
We have welcomed many new students to Paparangi School at the start of this year. We're looking forward to getting to know our new tamariki and supporting them to grow as Adventurous Learners. Welcome family and whānau to our friendly school!
Uenuku: Anahera, Connor, Esmae, James, Lewis, Lila, Mason, Maya, Melakai, Vian, Zoë, Amarey and Zoey.
Pounamu: Lino and Vhari
Rākau Nui: Rose and Shall
Meet the Teacher Evening
Thanks to the families who came along to our information sessions. We enjoyed talking about the upcoming learning programmes planned for the year. Teachers explained class routines, extra curricular activities and the new ways we are exploring our GROW values this year - through tuakana teina buddy classes, digital citizenship, enviro and art projects. The presentations will be emailed home for parents who were unable to come along in person.
The notice about the 'Getting to Know You' meetings running next Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons was emailed this week. It's easy to book online and we ask that students come along too. The 'Getting to Know You' questionnaire is being sent home to Y1-4 classes today and Rākau Nui will send home the Goal Setting forms early next week. If you need help to book an appointment time please call the office.
Exciting news follows ... we have a few special projects underway this year - and a new playground is one of them! We will share updates and news through newsletters and the app. You can check the online calendar for upcoming special events at anytime on the website or app.
Ngā mihi nui
Tracey Arthurs
Principal
New playground on the way!
Wonderful news Paparangi! After working with students to hear their feedback about ideas for the new playground, the final design is ready and our classes have given it their seal of approval!
The playground will be situated outside R12 and R13, and sprawling around the corner onto the grass at the end of the senior block. We're planning for the installation to start as soon as the supplier is ready and able to.
Funding for the playground has been made possible because of our generous school community and our hard working Home and School Committee. We were also fortunate to receive a substantial grant from The Trusts Community Foundation last year.
The new playground is a combination of climbing nets, rope and 'UFO' swings, overhead climbing and swinging equipment, balance beams and stepping stones. For a close-up view, you are welcome to check out the display in the office.
Wheels and Meals Night - NEW DAY is Friday 24 February!
Our first family fun night of the year is next Friday - come along between 5pm-7pm.
Join us for some riding fun and yummy food. Eftpos will be available but cash is preferred. Families are welcome to bring their own picnic dinner. Gold coin entry per child - collection at the gates.
Bring your favourite wheels and a helmet (no helmet, no ride). Courses will be set up around the school and prizes will be given out for the best dressed (decorated) wheels.
PB4L - Positive Behaviour for Learning
Over the past two weeks, our teachers and tamariki have been enjoying getting to know each other and setting up routines for the start of the year. As part of this mahi, in classes across the school the children have been learning more about the school values and thinking about how they can use them throughout the school day (and even at home too!).
In Rākau Nui, each of the teachers ran a lesson on grit, respect and wonder before finishing with a syndicate lesson on others. Pictured is the final activity in which each student filled a balloon, threw it into a pile and then tried searching for their own one among them all. After failing to find their own balloons individually, the children were all asked to pick up any balloon and give it to the right person. The balloons in this activity represented their happiness and the idea that if you can find ways to bring someone else happiness, then happiness will return back to you. We then discussed simple gestures of how you can make someone else happy, to help us all consider how we can apply this lesson in our everyday lives.
We are having an excellent start to the year and it is great to see that so many children are earning GROW tokens. They are doing such a great job that the GROW tower is now already over half full! Classes have all been asked to suggest ideas for the next reward and we look forward to sharing the chosen reward with you when all the ideas are in. Watch this space!
Sports News
Touch
Touch is back this term starting 20 Feb at Alex Moore Park.
Games start with the Year 1/2's at 4pm, games are 30 mins and it's super fun for all ages and genders. Easy game to pick up for players and volunteer coaches alike. 6 week competition, approx $25-$35 per child depending on registration numbers.
Please register your child using this link by 10 Feb if you're keen - that's today! Looking forward to the season ahead! Queries to Bronwyn Jahnke at Total Touch, 021 2868 240
Netball
Netball registrations are now open for students in year 3-6 who are interested in playing netball in Term 2 and 3 this year. Games start in Term 2 and the cost is $60 per child for the season. We also need coaches, managers and umpires. Please click the link and fill out the form to register by Friday 3rd March.
Miniball
Although Miniball at Nairnville Rec Centre does not start until term 2, there are already parents who are keen to help organise and coordinate teams so they can be registered as soon as possible. If your child is keen to play, please contact Marsha Chiet mjchiet@gmail.com as soon as possible. We also need coaches for these teams so please let Marsha know if you are able to help.
Enrolment Scheme
Enrolment at our school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available on our website, www.paparangi.school.nz. The board has determined that up to 6 places are available for out-of-zone students in our second enrolment period for 2023. The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.
The second enrolment period for this year runs from 7 April 2023 - 30 June 2023. For students seeking enrolment within term two, the deadline for receipt of applications for out of zone places is Friday 3 March at 9am. If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out of zone places is required, it will be held on Monday 6 March. Parents will be informed of the outcome of their application within three working days of the ballot being held. Details of how applications from out of zone students are processed are available on our school website.
Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend to enrol their child at any time during this year or next year please also notify the school as soon as possible to assist the school to plan appropriately.
This notice will be published on the Paparangi School website, in newsletters and emailed to families who live out of the zone. A copy may also be requested from the school office - email office@paparangi.school.nz or call 04 4786617. Please note a public notice is no longer published in the local newspaper. We ask that families please ensure your contact details, including address, are always up to date. Paparangi School Board of Trustees
Getting ready for the start of the school year
Back to School Stationery 2023
Your child's stationery list is on the website or the app. Please name all items of stationery before bringing them to school. Thanks to the families who have sent stationery to school already.
Qizzle are preferred suppliers of this year's school stationery packs. This is a stress free way to order stationery for your child/ren and ensures they have the correct stationery items at the start of a new school year. Start of year stationery packs can not be purchased at school.
Thanks for using the School App!
There are more than 300 users subscribed to the Paparangi App so the start of the year is the perfect time for a little house-keeping! Please check your 'alert subscription' settings are correct and you belong to the right groups e.g. Uenuku, Pounamu or Rākau Nui, depending on which class your child/ren belong to. App users need to manually change their group settings when their child moves from Uenuku to Pounamu or Pounamu to Rākau Nui. It's easy to check - go to the menu in the top left corner of the app home page. Click Alert Subscriptions. Go to Class Groups and select the groups that are right for you. That's all you have to do. Some people are still in last year's groups so we ask you to check your settings are correct so you don't miss out on useful information.
Absences
Please notify the office before 9am every day if your child is absent. This can be done by email, via the school app (Absences) or please leave a voice message on the office phone - call 04 4786617. This helps us to know your child is safe and means the Office Staff don't have to call as many families to find out where our absentees are.
Sun Safety
While Wellington is experiencing all this sunny weather it’s important that all students have a named, wide-brimmed sunhat to keep at school. A school hat can be purchased from the office for $25. Water bottles (no fizzy or juice drinks please), and sunscreen applied before students arrive at school are also recommended at this time of the year.
Eating at School
The first ten minutes of both break-times is eating time. Classes sit and eat together. We supervise students while they are eating. Any uneaten food is left in lunchboxes so that you can see what your child is eating or leaving. We appreciate families helping us to reduce plastic waste, so reusable containers and utensils are encouraged that your child is able to open independently. We have food in the staff kitchen for those who forget to bring their lunch. Please do not include sweets, chocolate or chewing gum in your child’s lunch and we are a nut-free school. We are already noticing that some children are eating all their lunch at morning tea time, so please check in with your child incase they need some extra snacks in their lunchbox.
A reminder that lunches are available from www.lunchonline.co.nz 2 days per week.
Emergency Packs
Please ensure your child/ren have new emergency packs at school by 28 February. All old packs will be donated to the local food-bank in March.
Health and Permission Forms
These forms will be sent home early next week with all students. Can you please check the contact details on both forms are correct or amend if necessary. It is very important we have the correct contact details on record in case of an emergency. Please return the forms to school no later than Friday 24 February for us to update our system. Thank you.
Bee Healthy Dental Van
The dental van will be visiting on 27 March. At this stage they will be onsite for two weeks either side of the school holidays, finishing on 5 May. We will advise you if there are changes to these dates.
These dates are published in the online school calendar which can be found on the school app and the website.
Monday 13 February
Welcome back Goodtime Music Bus and Kelly Sport!
Tues 14 February and Wed 15 February
Getting to Know You Meetings
Booking instructions and information has been emailed to you.
Friday 17 February
Home and School family event - Wheels and Meals 5-7pm
Monday 20 February
- Total Touch starts at Alex Moore Park after school.
- Board Meeting, 6pm in the staffroom
Friday 24 February
Loud Shirt Day - This is to support the organisations who work with people who have cochlear implants. Cochlear implants can give severely hearing impaired and deaf people the opportunity to perceive sound. While they are not suitable for everyone, for those that do benefit from their use they are an invaluable tool. We have a student here at Paparangi School who has cochlear implants. Please help us support these organisations by wearing a loud shirt on Friday, 24th of February and donating a gold coin to this worthy cause.
Friday 3 March
Netball registrations close.
Friday 10 March
School Picnic at Waikanae Pool.
Our popular family picnic is back on the calendar. A notice will be sent home soon. You will be given the option to select whether your child/ren will be travelling by bus or private car. Many parents join us for the day, we hope you can too!
Thursday 6 April
Term one ends. School closes at 3pm.
Term Dates These dates are published on the website for your convenience.
- Term 1: Tues 31 January – Thursday 6 April (Easter)
- Term 2: Wed 26 April (after Anzac Day) – Fri 30 June
- Term 3: Mon 17 July – Friday 22 September
- Term 4: Mon 9 October – Friday 15 December
Teacher Only Days (school is closed)
- Term 2: Mon 24 April (before Anzac Day) and Friday 2 June (King’s Birthday weekend)
- Term 3 or 4: The MOE is yet to advise schools about when other Teacher Only Days may be scheduled. We will let you know as soon at the information becomes available.
Community Section
Goodtime Music Academy
Goodtime Music Academy wants to say a big welcome back to all of the whānau at Paparangi School. GTMA is now taking enrolments for 2023 in-school music lessons now. Lessons are on Mondays during class-time, starting 13 February. If you want your child to be a part of these award winning music lessons, and want to be a part of their new curriculum and performing opportunities, then in-school lessons may be the solution for you. Learn in a group setting, and choose between Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Ukulele. Or try their 'Intro to Music' course. Please visit www.goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz/learn-at-school to enrol and enquire. You can also call GTMA on 04 568 2237. Spaces are limited so get in quick!
Super Summer Sports
Monday’s 3.05pm-4.05pm for 8 weeks, starts Monday 13 Feb 2023!!
Our popular Kelly Sports multi-sport programmes is back in term 1! This weekly programme gives children skills and confidence in a fun and enjoyable environment. It also encourages their enthusiasm for sport and the life skills that such involvement brings, giving them confidence to join sports clubs and teams in the future. At Kelly Sports, we encourage kids to have fun, build confidence and give sport a go. The sports we will be focussing on in term 1 are: Cricket, Dodgeball, Athletics and Ultimate Frisbee.
To enrol to either programme go to www.kellysports.co.nz and in the school box put “paparangi”
Newlands Rugby Club registrations
2023 season registrations are now open!
This year we are excited to again offer a FEES-FREE season for all Y0/1 grade players. A fantastic reason to give rugby a go!
We have something for every age - from Rippa for the juniors, RipRugby from Y3-Y8 and Tackle Y3-Y8.
Register online or find out more details at: www.sporty.co.nz/newlands
Safer Internet Day
Wednesday was Safer Internet Day and is a good reminder to talk to your children about digital citizenship and online safety at home. By talking about these things early, it can help children be better equipped to deal with potential issues as they get older. You can find information about current trends, potential problems and ways to talk to children about it at https://www.netsafe.org.nz/advice/parenting/. For younger children, you could show them this Pause and Think Online video from www.commonsensemedia.org and talk about the ideas there. Google also provides a game-based web app to teach children about digital citizenship and online safety called Interland. If these links do not work or you are reading a paper copy of the newsletter, you can Google search the links instead.
Contact Us
Parents, please use the App to send a message about a student absence. It is our preferred method of contact for non-attendance and is quick and easy to do.
Email: office@paparangi.school.nz
Website: https://paparangi.school.nz
Location: 57-59 Beazley Avenue, Paparangi, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4-478 6617