Waipawa School
Term 1, Week 6 - 9th March 2022
PRINCIPAL'S Catch up
What a week so far! Covid information is further down the newsletter.
The Year 7/8 Swimming Sports were held on a beautiful Friday last week. While participation rates were not as high as the Yr 5/6 swimming sports we still had a good number of very enthusiastic swimmers who all 'got stuck in' gave it their best effort and had fun. Both sports have been very enjoyable with good swimming and great behaviour and attitude from the children. The Year 7/8 Manu competition was highly impressive as well!
The Ministry of Education Learning Support model in New Zealand is completely and utterly broken. School Bus transport is not far behind! We've had a very sad week where we've missed out on funding and support for a number of children. It is so disappointing and really upsetting. I've had a few days to sulk about it and in the end we will roll our sleeves up and find a way. We are lucky we have a Board that value the work Teacher Aides do, lucky we have a Learning Support Coordinator in Tracey and lucky we have such a great teaching team.
There is a Teacher Only Day on Friday. Please keep your children at home. We have planned to spend the day with Phil Morris learning about the Ngā Ara Tipuna project and visiting the sites connected to this.
Ngā mihi nui
Mr J
TEACHER ONLY DAY THIS FRIDAY 11TH MARCH
New Fitness Trail
To save money I said we would spread the chip around the playground when it was finished. Regretting that now! The fitness trail can't be used until the chip is down so staff are going to spread some chip on Friday from 2:00pm. We've cut our TOD short to do a bit of labour! If you are around, have a wheelbarrow and are COVID free come down and give us a hand please.
YEAR 7 & 8 SWIMMING SPORTS
Swimming Sports Results
We had a fantastic day on Friday for our Yr 7/8 Swimming sports. It was great to see the students get stuck in, and give it their best shot.
Boys Freestyle - Sonny-Bill Barakat, Linkin Hart, Noah Waite
Girls Breaststroke - Tommie-Lee Hunter Pekepo, Skye Perceval, Ashla Holt
Boys Breaststroke - Sonny-Bill Barakat, Lockie Singer, Euan Cruise
Girls Backstroke - Tommie-Lee Hunter Pekepo, Kate Reade, Kortez Hema-Jackson
Boys Backstroke - Sonny-Bill Barakat, Dallas Ross, Legion Hongara
House Relay - Elliott, Ngarimu, Ward, Upham
Manu Competition Girls - Phoenix Curtice
Manu Competition Boys - Nation Walker
Learning Conferences Cancelled
We have decided to cancel this week's Parent / Whanau Conferences. While we are very keen to meet with you face to face we just feel this week is not the best week to do it (should have done it earlier in the year!) It's about reducing the risk of our teaching team contracting COVID. At the moment we have a healthy staff and I would like to try and keep them healthy as long as possible.
We will look to hold these face to face teacher / whanau conferences later this term or early next term when the risk of contracting covid is lower.
We will be bringing forward a written learning post around your child in relation to our school values . You will see these come through over the next 2/3 weeks.
Whanau and Friends Update
The AGM for W & F is set for Wednesday 23rd March 7pm at Skinnys.
Easter Raffle
Mufti Day next week, Wednesday 16th March. Instead of a gold coin donation please bring along an Easter item for the raffle baskets. These will be collected at the front gate on your arrival to school. Easter Raffle will be drawn on 14th April in time for School Holidays.
There will also be a childs bike to give away which has kindly been donated by John Sayer.
From Breakfast Club.....
Thanks Wendy - Due to COVID we've been short of a few helpers for Breakfast Club so Wendy has been filling in and doing more than her fair share. luckily she is getting great help from a couple of students - Brooke and Skye. Thanks Brooke and Skye - you have been a wonderful help to Wendy.
Year 7 & 8 Technology Fees
COVID - Update
A week is a long time in our COVID world!
I've sent quite a few messages via HERO and Seesaw already this week.
We finally had our first school case and at the time of writing we are on 9 positive cases, including one staff member. We have many others isolating as household contacts. A huge thanks to parents and whanau for letting us know and keeping in contact.
I won't be notifying you every time we hear of a new case. It is in our community and school and will be for some time. For the next week or so I will notify classes when a case appears in their room for the first time. So far rooms 3, 7, 8 and Kākano have been affected.
Hybrid learning
This has been happening for a while with a very small number of children however it has ramped up this week. Your child's teacher should be keeping in contact via Seesaw and informing you of what is happening.
Staff absences
The next stage of COVID for us is dealing with staff absences. We will be doing our best to ensure we stay fully open right throughout , however it may not be possible. This is our guide.
Step 1: Waipawa Primary is open and fully staffed.
● There may be some positive cases.
● We are open and all classes are fully functioning.
● Students should only stay home if they are sick or isolating because someone in their house is a positive case.
● Distance learning will be available for those who are sick or isolating.
Step 2: Waipawa Primary is open, but has fewer staff and students.
● There are more positive cases amongst both staff and students.
● School will remain open, but will look slightly different. Classes may be combined to cover staff absences.
● Distance learning will be available for those who are sick, isolating or whose whanau decide they would prefer them to work from home.
Step 3: Waipawa Primary is closed, all learning is by distance.
● There are so many positive cases among staff and students that it is not possible for us to safely remain open.
● All learning will be via distance. This also may be impacted by staff illness.
● If your child requires supervision please contact us.
SPORTS CORNER
Winter Hockey Coaching Clinic
Inter School Tennis Competition
Congratulations to Lachie, Harry, Ruby and Chloe (from Ongaonga School) who represented Waipawa at the Inter School Tennis Competition over the past 5 weeks. You all showed grit and determination when playing as well as good sportsmanship. It was wonderful to watch the standard of Tennis improve as the season went on. A special thanks to Bel for managing the team and ensuring that everyone was in the right place at the right time and playing by the rules.
Sports Academy
STARTING SCHOOL : 4 Year Old Mornings
- We find 4 visits before starting school is usually sufficient. However, if your child requires more we would be in close communication with you.
- Whanau are welcome to stay for the first visit and leave when the child / parent feels comfortable. Subsequent visits we ask that parents be brave and leave so that the child experiences what school is like.
- Please pack a snack for brainfood (fruit, sandwich, muesli bar) and something for morning tea.
- Children can wear mufti clothing or school uniform if they have it available.
Please don't hesitate to pop in and see us if you have any questions or concerns.
Jess Stewart and Karena Finch
Hākinakina - We are fit and active
We have so many adventurous students at Waipawa School. It is so great to see these senior boys creating their very own Mountain Bike jumps! They have been digging, compacting, raking, testing, and redesigning for the past few weeks. Seeing students get stuck in before school. at break times, and also after school shows just how dedicated they are to pursuing their dreams. Perhaps we will have a future Crankworx Mountain Bike champion amongst our students. Great stuff boys! Keep going!
Hungry Students
Calendar Events
- TEACHER ONLY DAY - Friday 11th March
- MUFTI DAY Wednesday 16th March - bring an Easter item for a raffle
- FISH & CHIP FRIDAY 18th March - Rms: Kakano, 1,2,3,4,5,6&7
- Yr 7/8 Immunisations - Friday 25th March
- FISH & CHIP FRIDAY 25th March - Rms: 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12
- Whanau & Friends Easter Raffle drawn today and a bike will be given away.
- LAST DAY OF TERM - Thursday 14th April
Waipawa School Term Dates 2022
Term 1: Wednesday 2nd February to Thursday 14th April
Public Holidays: Waitangi Day: 7th February, Good Friday 15th April
Term 2: Monday 2nd May to Friday 8th July
Public Holidays: Queen's Birthday 6th June, Matariki 24th June
Term 3: Monday 25th July to Friday 30th September
Term 4: Monday 17 October to Friday 16th December
Public Holidays: HB Anniversary Day 21st October, Labour Day 24th October
Teacher Only Days:
Term 1: Friday 11 March
Term 3: Friday 26 August
Term 4: Friday 18 November
CONGRATULATIONS
Prime Ministers Oranga Tamariki Award
Congratulations to Cove Lambert who received the Prime Ministers Oranga Tamariki Award recently from local MP Kieran McAnulty.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Archie C, Sarah, Oscar and Fleur.
Please come to the office on Friday at lunchtime to receive your Birthday Juicy.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Contact Us
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm
Email: office@waipawa.school.nz
Website: https://www.waipawa.school.nz/
Location: Waipawa Primary School 6 Harker Street, Waipawa 4210, New Zealand
Phone: +646857 8761
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waipawa-Primary-School/161520177365904