Newsletter Term 4 Week 2
Pekapekarau Primary School - 27th October
Principal's Message
Kia ora ē te whānau
Welcome to Term 4. It has been a busy start to the term already with so many exciting things happening. Everyone is participating in swimming lessons at the Te Awamutu Events Centre, we have our Kapa haka rōpu busy rehearsing for the upcoming festival, a team of Year 5/6 tuakana participated in The Amazing Race in Hamilton yesterday and our kaiako are busy planning trips for everyone! I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but I am excited for us to be able to provide these opportunities at either no or minimal cost. Much of this is due to the fundraising completed in 2021 via the Colour Run, so thank you whānau.
Next Friday morning we will host our Grandparents or special older people to join us for Assembly at 9.15 followed by some visits to classes. Hopefully everyone has seen this event coming up in our calendar/save the date section and can encourage special people along for this time. There are so many other events and things happening this term, so please be sure to note these dates in your diary and further details will come out as needed closer to the time.
As part of keeping everyone safe from the sun, wearing a uniform hat is required this term. We are doing our part in ensuring there are games and activities to play with in the shade and providing sunscreen, and we need your cooperation with making sure they have a hat to wear as they will be doing damage to their skin otherwise.
Thank you to whānau that ensure your children are wearing our uniform with pride. We are a uniform school and this is an expectation, daily. I am having numerous conversations daily as I notice mufti shorts, jerseys, socks, and shoes being worn. This is not teaching our tamariki good habits for the future, so please make sure you set your child up for success and support them with this.
On Wednesday 16th November our teachers will be attending their local Paid Union Meeting. Other teachers will supervise students so there is no disruption to you. Children can come to school as normal.
We have had a number of Covid cases reported since coming back to school this term. Thank you for letting us know.
We welcome to our team Mrs Tovah O’Neill this term - teaching performing arts - check out what she has been up to with our tamariki further down. We also welcome back Megan Hopping to our team this term. Megan is supporting some of our tauira with their learning in the mornings and has been a part of Pekapekarau for many years.
Ngā Mihi
Tania and the Pekapekarau Team
World Teachers Day
Friday 28th October
Stem Curiosity - Bring a change of clothes
Monday 31st October
Grandparents Day
Friday 4th November
Stem Curiosity - Bring a change of clothes
Monday 7th November
Kapa Haka Festival - Whakamana Rangitahi
11th November
Athletics Day
Friday 18th November
Interschool Athletics Day
Wednesday 23rd November
Potato in the Bucket Day
5th December
Year 6 Graduation
Date & Location TBC
Final Assembly for 2022
13th December 9.30am - 10.30am
Reports Go Home
13th December
Last Day of Term 4
14th December 12pm finish
Are you male? Do you whakapapa as Māori?
Are you interested in learning how to do a mihi or whaikorero in a supportive, non-threatening way? If you are beginning the journey of te reo, on the journey a little, or just need a little bit of a confidence boost, then this will be an authentic and safe way to learn and grow supporting your school, our school and the tamariki of Pekapekarau.
Anaru Morgan, our Māori Achievement Collaborative (MAC) Facilitator has offered to tautoko (support) any of our male whānau who would like to learn to mihi, whaikorero in a safe, supportive environment at a time that suits you. These could be during school hours or after work for a few sessions. If it is a group it will be even better as it is easier to support each other.
If this is something that interests you, please contact Tania or Whaea Israel - either pop in or send an email to principal@pekapekarau.school.nz or israelh@pekapekarau.school.nz - don’t be shy!
Sharing from Room 10
Drama at Pekapekarau
Week 1
Kia ora whānau, my name is Tovah (Mrs O’Neill) and I am the Drama teacher at Pekapekarau School.
This week our learners are developing their performance skills. We have been looking at how to bring picture books to life, how to act out stories about sharing, and how to communicate our feelings through Slam Poetry!
I have seen some interesting scenes about sharing chocolate, sharing a basketball, and telling the teacher when someone isn’t sharing well.
Would you like to know more about our Creative class? Here are some fun questions about our class that you can ask your children:
- What do you do when the teacher says “Ninjas assemble”?
- Can you remember how to say “Every day, Manaakitanga all the way!” in a meaningful way?
- What did your group perform on the stage?
Last Term's Writing Competition Winners - Congratulations!
Term 4 Swimming Lessons
Our tuakana have completed their swimming lessons at the Te Awamutu Events Centre as part of our Health and PE Curriculum, and our teina have started theirs today.Thank you for all parents/caregivers that have helped or are helping over the next week. We could not do this without your support.
Sports Polo Shirt - Pre order yours now $42.50
We are taking pre-orders for our brand new P.E/Sports T-Shirt. Below is the front and back images for you and the sizing is very similar to our uniform t-shirts with a slightly more fitting design. At this stage we don’t have any samples to try on, but we recommend that you order a size up if you are worried about growth. These t-shirts will be worn for sports and physical activity, but are not to be worn instead of our uniform polo shirt to and from school. Please email accounts@pekapekarau.school.nz or come into the office to put you rname on the list for pre orders.
KEY EVENTS
STEM Curiosity
On Monday, we are looking forward to welcoming back Stem Curiosity with new ingredients for FUN!
This Week is Melanoma Awareness Week
Operation Christmas Hampers
In addition to this kaupapa, we have boxes in each class that we would love your support with filling with Christmas treats that will go to families in need in our community.
Rerenga kupu ō te rā & Wero ō te rā
Keep an eye out for notices regarding EOTC Trips - coming home soon!
Celebrating Successes
Congratulations to Bentley who played in the U10 Waikato Māori team at the NZ Māori Rugby League tournament.
Well done to Luca Penny who represented the Mighty 11s in BMX on the weekend - the NZ team girls only going down to Australia by 2 points!
Congratulations to Sophie Penny who won the North Island Title for the 11 year old girls. A successful weekend all round!
We love to celebrate the successes of our tauira outside of school. Be sure to let the teacher know or email kyliem@pekapekarau.school.nz
Board News
The School Board is currently reviewing our Child Protection, Harassment and Sun Protection policies. We invite you to share your feedback on these policies to support our review process.
You can do this by going to https://pekapekarau.schooldocs.co.nz/
Username: pekapekarau
Password: thepekapekarauway
Click on the Current Review tab and follow the instructions.
We appreciate our community input.
This Week's Board Introduction
Introducing Sarah Wrightson
My name is Sarah and I have been part of the Pekapekarau School community for the past 3 years, along with my daughter Erin who is in Year 4. Erin joined the school when we moved to Te Awamutu in 2019, having initially come to New Zealand from Wales in 2016 with my husband and two older children, aged 18 and 19. Looking back, packing up our lives and moving halfway around the world (especially with 2 teenagers!!) seems like a risky thing to do but I can safely say that I have not once regretted it.
Erin has thrived during her time at Pekapekarau and I hope that, by joining the Board of Trustees, I can help in some small way to ensure that the school continue to be a place where its children can develop, grow and, most of all, enjoy their learning experience.
I am currently working in Hamilton as a Licensed Immigration Adviser, having gone for a complete career change a few years ago. Prior to that, I spent 6 months helping to set up a community café and library service in my local village in Wales. This was an incredible experience which saw me doing a bit of everything from setting up the legal business structures, making coffee and cleaning and I would love to be involved in a similar project again one day. I have also worked as an accountant and tax adviser before spending several years as an employment and discrimination caseworker with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Community Notices
Do you or someone you know have a child turning 5 before the end of 2022 or during Term 1 2023? Encourage them to contact us and come for a visit. We would love to meet them.
We have some spaces at other year levels as well. Share this with whānau that you know. We have information on our website.
Have you downloaded our School App?
See the link below
Email: office@pekapekarau.school.nz
Phone: +64 7 871 6025