Toko School Newsletter
Thursday 6 August 2020
Kura Tuatahi Toko
Quality learning for all in a caring community.
Kounga ako mo katoa i roto i te taiao e atawhai ana.
Dear parents and friends of our school Kia Ora/Bora Da/Hello
Kia ora Koutou
Thank you to all our school families that attended child/teacher/whanau interviews last week. It was great to see you all, chat about your children and especially for your children to share with you how they are progressing and what they are learning. This three way partnership is a very important part of your child's learning journey.
Our revised learning journey report is one of many ways we report learning to our families. These are to be read in conjunction with our Mutukaroa meetings - Year 1 - 2 and via the learning journey that is shared on a regular basis via Seesaw. We still have a few families that are not subscribed to their children's Seesaw accounts. Please make contact with your child's classroom teacher asap to get this sorted.
As always we value your feedback. If you would like to provide feedback on any aspect of our reporting to parents processes we welcome your response.
We had such a great start to the week with a MIGHTY MORNING TEA SHOUT from Toko Rural Women. Not only did they bake us morning tea, they donated three picture books and some new gardening equipment to support our schools enviro initiatives. We feel very honored to have been shown such kindness.
Ngā mihi nui
Kim
COLOUR RUN
On Friday 21st August (Week 5), the Student Council and the Sports Council are organising a fun run. This will take place instead of the Toko School Cross Country for this year. In this fun run, we will have a range of activities for children to take part in. We encourage all children to participate in this event. This is not only a fun run, it is a colour run. So we would like everyone to dress up in white. Please remember that this does not mean everything you are wearing has to be white, just try to wear something white or alternatively some old, light coloured clothing. Children will have coloured powder thrown on them while they are completing various activities. This is a fundraising event and we will be raising money to go towards care packages for the Taranaki Base Hospital, so it would be great if you could bring a gold coin or if you would like to bring something to fill up a care package, for example a blanket, toy or book etc, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The Student and Sports Council.
KAPAHAKA GROUP
SCHOOL PRODUCTION
Once again we would like to put together a team of parents/community members/ex students to help make props, costumes and assist with anything else that crops up along the way. If you are interested in joining this team we would be really grateful. Could you please phone the office to express your interest.
CHESS CLUB
Also there are two competitions coming up, and permission slips were sent home with those children who were interested. These notices need to be returned by Monday please, so we can confirm the teams.
PIANO LESSONS WITH CLAUDIA BLUETT
STRATFORD CHOIR
ENVIRO UPDATES
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
Y7 & 8 Taranaki Trophy 2020
A note is being sent home for those children involved in this competition.
TOKO STAR CHALLENGE
So this involves making a new creation for the enviro area at school. For this task, we will need support from the community. We will be looking for around 30 of the 420g cans. The 420g can are similar to the Watties Spaghetti and Baked Bean cans. If you could get these washed and the paper peeled off, that would be great - if can can't that's fine too.
We are looking for some black weather proof paint that is spare. Please drop off to Room 6. Thank you every much for your support with this.
Amy S and Tessa S
RAT TRAPS
Jared and Zack.
HELPING YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME
THE LEARNING PIT
At Toko school, we acknowledge that learning can be difficult, but it is these difficulties and through mistakes, that we grow the most. At Toko School we show and explain to the children the "Learning Pit'.
The idea is that in order to grow children’s brains, students should find themselves in the Learning Pit every day. They should have hard problems to work on. There is a point when they may become frustrated, but in order to get out of the pit they have to find a strategy that works. This is what helps to grow their brain. They have to ‘take risks’ ‘show resilience’ and maybe ‘work together’ in order to get out of the pit. This metaphorical pit is where the learning takes place. Gifted or bright students who have never been extended may have never experienced ‘The Pit’ at all, and this can sometimes show why they have no resilience at all in their learning if they get something wrong. We acknowledge that COVID19 increased some children’s (and teachers) anxiety levels, and so being in the learning pit was proving to be very difficult. (Below is the picture of the Learning Pit that every class has on display). Ask your child about what it means, and let them explain to you, maybe a time when they were in the learning pit and how they felt afterwards.
What we need to build in our children is resilience, effort, grit and tenacity. If you praise a child’s efforts, they will see that you place importance on the effort and therefore will make more of an effort, which over the long haul ensures that the student works hard and is more likely to take risks in the future. This is something you can definitely practice at home. Don’t tell them their painting is ‘beautiful’ or ‘great’, tell them you love that they worked so hard on it. Or that you noticed that they blended the colours in an interesting way or that they drew something they’ve never drawn before. By praising them for taking risks, trying new things and putting in effort, they are more likely to do those things next time they make or do something.
ORAL LANGUAGE IDEAS FOR AT HOME
Below is an excerpt form an article by Love and Reilly, two Australian speech pathologists, on how parents can help develop their child's oral language skills. Oral language is a reliable predictor of literacy development. Key ingredients of positive parenting: the 4 E’s. This week we will share the first 2 E’s- Engagement and Encouragement with you.
Engagement: Perhaps the most vital of the ingredients, engagement sets the stage for all learning, but particularly language learning. Children need the give and take of their parents interaction, accompanied by words, smiles and laughter. The convenient thing about engagement is that it can occur anywhere! Walking to school, waiting in the doctor’s surgery, in the kitchen preparing a meal. Engagement is more easily achieved if parents are willing to follow the child’s lead or attention and focus jointly on the activity or situation at hand.
Encouragement: Children need to be encouraged to explore and try out new ways of doing things. Persistence in the face of difficulty is a character trait that will assist them throughout their lives so we must remember to praise the child’s effort and not just the successes. Children need the ongoing support of their parents as they learn at school.
ONLINE GAMING
Online gaming is enjoyed by many young people, but there are some risks worth thinking about. Netsafe have put together some tips about what to look out for and ideas for staying safe while you play. Click on the link to find out more. Online Gaming Advice
TOKO SCHOOL SLINKS 2020
Hi there, Local Farmers,
Just a short note to inform you that Toko School will not be setting up a roster system to collect Slinks this year again. If you want to support the school by donating your slink calves we would love you to, but require you to transport them to the Slinks Trailer.
Collection days will be TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS.
If farmers wish to drop calves off at the trailer, it will be sited 300m down Ahuroa Road on the right hand side. Please ensure that your calves are no older than 3-4 days old at time of collection and DO NOT drop after the last day of pick up.
This year the collection has started and will conclude on 22nd October.
Slinks will need to be at the trailer by 12.00 o’clock on pick up days. A Daily Casualty Calf Collection Record will be at the trailer for you to fill in.
If you have any questions, please contact Anne Marie on 0272249361
In anticipation of your support please accept our grateful thanks.
Anne Marie Watson
Toko School Fundraising Committee
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Ministry Approved Teacher Only Day - Monday 31st August - School will be closed for instruction on this day.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
ST JOHNS
Do you want to learn about First Aid? Or St John?
We work towards 29 badges, we meet on a Tuesday night between 6.30pm and 8pm and range from 6 year olds to 18 years old
To find out more call Donna on 027 316 4555 after 1pm.
EASTERN DISTRICTS HOCKEY TERM 4
Due to Covid-19, hockey now will be played in term 4.
We welcome everyone who would like to give hockey a go, even if they haven't
played before and returning players.
Year3&4 (mini sticks) Year 5&6 (kiwi sticks) - will play on a Monday
starting on the 12th of October until the 30th of November.
Year 7&8 (intermediate) – will play on a Wednesday starting on the 14th of
October until the 25th of November.
Could you please email edhockey43@gmail.com with your child/ren name and
year at school before the 24th of August please.
FUN STICKS
Registration for Fun Sticks will go through Taranaki Hockey only. Parents are to
register their children with TH and we will invoice them directly after
registration has been received. Fun Sticks will be on Monday afternoons,
starting 12th of October 2020 (7 weeks). Venue: TET Stadium (indoors in the
gym hall), 62 Portia Street, Stratford. We are taking registrations now through
the website and via Facebook.
Toko School
Email: office@toko.school.nz
Website: www.toko.school.nz
Location: 1057 East Road, Toko, New Zealand
Phone: 06 7622849
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokoSchool/?ref=bookmarks