Kokopu Newsletter

Tēnā koutou Kokopu whanau

We have had a superb few weeks of engaging learning at school. You may have noticed lots of Facebook posts of students doing a variety of learning in different ways. This is part of our broad approach to education and providing opportunities that then can be used in our literacy, mathematics and other curriculum areas.

Welcome to Cora Johnson who has started in Room 1 today. We are sure you will enjoy your time at Kokopu School.

Today we also celebrated Pink Shirt Day. The aim of pink shirt day is to promote anti-bullying and for us to promote our school values of Respecting Ourselves, Respecting Others and Respecting Our Environment. We often use the below poster to help students understand what bullying is. Our PB4L and values help us focus on the preferred behaviours in a positive way while giving a structure to help deal with bullying when it happens.
If your child needs help, please feel free to talk to their teacher so that we can support them and stop the bullying.

A big thank you to the PTA for funding several projects including a gym mat trolley, new oven, two scooters to add to the student council ones and some new chairs for each teacher.

Thank you to all our families for having your children home last Friday on our teachers-only day. We underwent two important professional development sessions on the new Maths curriculum and our first aid accreditation which needs to be done every 2 years.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 23rd the Education Review Office (ERO) will be visiting our school. ERO has changed their method of working with schools from a 3-year check to working alongside schools on a regular basis to achieve their goals. This has been a positive change in their approach and we look forward to working with them over the next few years to continue to build and grow the school.

Regards

Yaron Overeem

Principal

Kokopu School

Please get your child's winter sports permission slips back ASAP and indicate if you can provide transport. Winter Sports is at Kensington Stadium on Wednesday 31st May. Thank you.

The student council, with the help of Lindsey Riley, are putting together a Kokopu School Cookbook. It will be used to fundraise for a new flying fox.

We would like families to contribute to the cookbook by sending in 1 or 2 of your best recipes. It can be any type of cooking or baking.

We would love to have your family’s favourites, most successful, easiest, tried and true recipes.

Along with your recipe, it would be great to have;

1. Some extra notes or tips to make sure it is successful.

2. Why it is special to your family.

3. Each recipe will have the family name on it, so let us know what you would want that name to be.

4. If you have a photo of it, that could be useful too.

The council will also be trying to get some of our local famous community members and past staff and families involved as well.

You can start emailing your recipes to cookbook@kokopu.school.nz

We would like all recipes in by the 9th of June.

If you would like to be part of a team of parents competing in Mathex against the children on the morning of Tuesday 6th June here at school, please email the school office. We need teams of 4. We can organise a team for you or you can sort one out yourselves.

On Thursday 8th of June we will be sending a select team of children in to the regional Mathex competition. The parents vs children will be great practice for them.

On Wednesday 21st June (note date change) we will be holding our annual gymnastics competition starting at 9.30am. The children have been coached every week this term by Ashleigh from Active Attitude. This is a marvellous opportunity for parents to come along and watch the children show off their gymnastics skills.

We had filled this position and welcomed Natasha Balogh to our team. Natasha was helping Loida when we had high numbers of children in after school care. Natasha has had to take over Loida's position temporarily, as Loida has had to go on unexpected leave. So now we will require someone to help Natasha on a casual basis when we have over 10 children. If you can help out anytime, please contact the school office.

• Friday Assembly. On Friday afternoon we have a sharing assembly at 2.30pm for the whole school. Parents are welcome to come along and see what the children have to share.
  

• School Office. Vicki is in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Bexs is in the office on Wednesday and Friday mornings until 11.35am.

• Drink Bottles. Our water issues have be rectified but it would be good to send your child with a drink bottle full of water each day.

• Carpark and gate. Please come to the gate in the carpark to collect your children at the end of the day. We do not want children walking through the carpark without an adult as it is unsafe with the amount of cars and limited parking. We have a teacher on duty at the gate each day to supervise. Can we ask parents and visitors to make sure they close the gates if you use them? We have a few children that may be prone to walking out an open gate. Thank you. Please don't park by the entrance gate or teachers carpark area. Also please avoid parking by the letterbox at the front of the school.
  

• Absences. A reminder that it is important to contact the school before 9.30am when your child will be absent. You can either phone, email or let us know via our Skool Loop app. We need to know where your children are so we know they are safe and can mark them correctly on the roll. See details in this newsletter on how to download our Skool Loop App.
  
• Iceblock Sales. Ice Blocks are for sale again to raise funds for the school. Many children who come to school with $2 like to buy their friend an ice block. Please could you send a note to say they are allowed to do this? The Room 6 children do ask but a note would be easier for them.
  
• Term Dates 2023. Term 1 .. 02/02— 06/04 Term 2 .. 24/04— 30/06 Term 3 .. 17/07— 22/09 .. Term 4 09/10— 15/12

Monday 24 April - Term 2 Begins

Wednesday 31 May - Winter Sports Years 5 & 6

Monday 5 June - Kings Birthday Weekend

Tuesday 6 June - Mathex Children Vs Parents

Thursday 8 June - Mathex

Wednesday 21st June - Gymnastics Competition

Wednesday 28 June - House Day

Friday 30 June - Term 2 Ends

Michelle will be taking bible lessons in the library fortnightly on Fridays, at 8.30am for those children who opt in. If you would like your child to attend, please email the school office.

If parents/caregivers want to visit the website https://kokopu.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm to look over our school policies and procedures, please see the following instructions: Enter the username (kokopu) and password (0179). Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

The Board of Trustees are happy to accept regular automatic payments throughout the school year. All of last years debts should have been paid in full. If you need to have a chat about your account, please contact Vicki. We prefer payment by direct credit if you are able to please; Kokopu School Board of Trustees 12-3099-0419154-01.

Parenting Helpline Do you need specific parenting advice you can implement right away? Are you carrying a lot on your shoulders? Speak to our warm and supportive parenting experts. Call us for support on any parenting issue. Call now for free on 0800 568 856. Available from 9am – 9pm 7 days a week.

• Deans visits to feeder schools: 18th, 19th, 20th , 21st & 24th July
• Y8 Open Evening: Thursday 3rd August - from 4.30pm
• Y8 Interviews: Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th August - (9am - 5pm)
• Y8 Catch Up Interview Day: Thursday 2nd November - (9am - 5pm)

Email: office@kokopu.school.nz
Website: www.kokopu.school.nz
Location: 921 Kokopu Road, Kokopu, New Zealand
Phone: 094346765
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokopuschool