Kia Manawanui - Have a Heart

Kia Māia - Be Courageous

Kia Kaha - Do Your Best

Kia Ora - Be Well

I am hugely proud of the mahi that all of our teachers have put in and their resilience, overcoming challenges of staff and student illness, problem solving and working together to help many of our students make great gains in their learning.

I am also hugely proud of our Board of Trustees who have overseen many changes in our school over the past three years. Much of their mahi is behind the scenes but their time, expertise, thoughts and awhi makes a huge difference to our school.

Under their guidance we have navigated almost three years of COVID-19 disruptions and still managed to follow our Vision, achieve our strategic aims and complete some major building projects. They have also ensured that everything we do is compliant with the many laws and regulations that we must follow and that we continue to be in a financially sound position as a school.

The most important thing for our Board, as for all of us, is the wellbeing and learning of all of our tamariki and school community.

This meeting was the last of our current Board as the election is taking place this month. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to:

Paul Rauputu

By now all parents should have received their yellow voting slip in the post. I encourage you all to take a few minutes to read through the candidate statements and cast your vote for the people you would like to have as our new Board.

There was learning in every space in our school this week, digitally, on paper, inside, outside, with friends and individually.

Our kaiako showed they are learners too: Whaea Kelly and Whaea Kennedy using rākau to learni te reo Māori; Rimu tamariki worked together on how to show our values when sitting on the mat, made a Meal Time Treaty.

You're never too old to enjoy going to see Harold the Giraffe in the Life Education Bus.

Kauri 3 had some great discussions around digital safety, what to do, what you shouldn't do, how to be safe and what makes a good digital citizen.

Harold saw us after we did our mahi and we got to see the magic lights!!

Skeletons...

You can open its mouth

The kid was teaching.g us about science

Humans have skeletons

The jaw is in the skull

The jaw has teeth

The jaw can open and close

The spine is at the back

Skeletons are interesting!

Harlem Rangi with some of the skeletons - how cool is that!

Check out all these wonderful young people who have been showing our values this week:

These five boys made a very positive ripple this week when they were out seeking sponsorship for the Cross Country. They made such a positive impression on one neighbour that she was moved to telephone the school to say how impressed she was. Her phone call to the school made staff happy and proud and we know their parents will also be happy and proud of them too.

Living our School Values out in the Community:
Kaydince Brill, Tyreece Joines, Kyzahn Brill, Rihari Hotene and Slade Walker.

On the menu for next week...

Monday... Spaghetti Meatballs
Tuesday... Vegetable Curry with Rice

Wednesday... Cottage Pie

Thursday... Pizza

Friday... Burger Day

Makaia Sherry showing the new re-usable trays with a firm favourite meal: Loaded Wedges! We love the variety of fruit - today was pineapple!

It has been a busy week in Design Tech & Whaea Claire has lots to share this week...

On Monday the BLAKE vr in schools team came down from Auckland. Puketapu was the 1st school in the Taranaki region to try out the vr googles and marine environmental lessons.

"It was cool to see the manta Ray's up close, they had smiles on them"

"Mrs Perry screamed when the sting ray bumped into the camera"

"the sea lions scared me but it was cool to get so close to them"

Thanks to Methanex for funding this opportunity for us.

CIRCUIT MAKING

One of the topics we are looking at in Design Technology is power and renewable energy.

We are starting with paper circuits and also have a small solar panels to collect power from the sun.

For the 2nd part of this project, we will be making wind turbines and will test out if we can power up the circuit board.

This kit came from The Wonder Project, sponsored by Engineering New Zealand to help introduce students to STEM subjects.

Some of our Kauri students are doing Photography as part of their electives. Look at this amazing work from Tess Balsom and Deja Tohi.

A Cross Country Sponsorship form should have gone home this week with every child. Extra forms can be collected from the office. Once money is all collected, please post money and forms together in the Puketapu Home and School letterbox located in the office.

Every form returned goes in the draw to win.

Home and School would love to thank our sponsors for supporting our school cross country and allowing us to be able to buy some awesome prizes.

Thanks too - Bout Time Brownie, Poppet in a Box, Pride Building Taranaki & White Pear Cafe

Brothers Leo and Vinnie Luke smiling under their umbrellas

You know it's going to be a great day at school when you are met by a welcoming committee!

Sophie, Lance and Amant from Bunnings New Plymouth with our keen garden helpers. Watch this space for how we grow!

Ari Marlow and Kasey Judd with Lance from Bunnings, learning how to plant seedlings in our garden.

If you have anything you would like to share or celebrate from home please email it to ksmith@puketapu.school.nz

• Lyric Falaniko
• Sathveer Chand
• Ava Allen
• Dre-Shae'a Awa
• Tylah Taitoko
• Nusaybah Merdj
• Rynal Prasad
• Maria Wano

Please check the Hero App for more dates specific to your child's class - for example, Year 8s have lots of High School Promotional Visits and Open Days coming up in Term 3.

Tuesday 23 August

• Puketapu School Fun Run / Walk Talk

Wednesday 24 August

• Puketapu School Fun Run / Walk Talk (postponement date)

Friday 26 August

• Teacher only day (School Closed)

Wednesday 31 August

• Showcase - parents are invited! (time TBC)

Wednesday 28 September

• Final Showcase of Term 3 - parents are invited! (time TBC)

Swimming Taranaki and Swimming NZ are bringing a Disability Swim Clinic to our region on Wednesday 21 September at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, New Plymouth.

The clinic starts at 4.30pm and there will be food afterwards for the swimmers and parents involved with an approx finish time of 6-6.30pm.