7th April 2022, Term 1, Week 10
School Newsletter
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou katoa,
Week 10 has brought some more rain and some slightly colder weather. However, the learning at school continues to go well into the last week of term next week.
Te Wao Nui O Tāne enjoyed Swimming Sports today and the children showed great Whakamana by swimming to the best of their ability. Well done Te Wao Nui O Tāne Children. We will be able to share the results in next week’s newsletter. Thank you to all of the staff involved in ensuring this event could go ahead and that it ran smoothly. Also, a big well done to all of our Te Wao Nui O Tāne children who participated, encouraged, and enjoyed another important event in our West End sporting calendar.
Today, we have 23 positive Covid cases in our school community (including staff). Please continue to be vigilant about monitoring your whānau for symptoms and follow Ministry of Health advice if symptomatic. Once again, thank you West End Whānau for your swift communication and action to isolate when required. As we have done previously, it is by working together that we will be able to continue to provide our tamariki with the best learning experience possible with health and wellbeing remaining our top priority. We are currently reviewing our covid protocols in light of the most current updates arriving from the Ministry of Education in preparation for Term 2.
Another exciting development over the past week is the early stages of a new playground area that is well underway next to the new archgola. This area creates another space for children to play and challenge themselves. We are looking forward to continuing to develop this area in the weeks and months ahead. The children certainly seem to be enjoying playing on the climbing equipment.
As always, we continue to appreciate the positivity from parents, caregivers and whānau and the ongoing support for our children and our school. I wish you a wonderful rest of the week and a safe and happy weekend.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Matt,
Matt Kennedy
Principal
West End School
Te Kura o Urumutu
All West End families have been receiving a School Apps password
All parents/caregivers have been receiving an email with a link to create your School Apps password so you can log in. Thank you to all those who have downloaded our app and logged in. If you haven't set up the app on your device, there will be an easy to download process and quick set up so you can join our new communication platform. If you've downloaded the app already, please just follow the quick username/password set up and for the app users, choose Parent. Once you have set it up, you won't be asked about passwords on that device again. These links do expire, so we will continue to send them out every couple of days to those who haven't logged in.
If you have any problems getting onto the app, please email Dan Minchin dminchin@westend.school.nz.
West End School App
In term 2 we will be sending out all whole school communications and notices via our school app. We hope you are finding our West End School App helpful and the alerts are helping you stay connected with what's happening at our kura. If you could also remind fellow whanau at West End School who aren't on the app yet to sign up! This free mobile app allows parents to receive pop-up reminders and instant messages. These can run on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices and are designed to help whanau keep up to date on school happenings.
SchoolApps also allows parents to report absences online, receive instant alerts, check the calendar for upcoming events, view newsletters, log into Seesaw and this will also be a way to use Kindo.
You will be able to personalise what information you wanted to subscribe to, such as notices from specific area teams, sports news, or groups such as Student Council or kapa haka. Remember to go to Alert Subscriptions (through the main menu - the three lines at the top left hand corner of the app) so you get specific alerts to our different groups within the school. You would only receive information directly relevant to those groups, but you will however receive whole school notifications when they are sent out.
West End School Communication Platforms
West End is enhancing our communication so it is easy for our community to know what's happening at our kura. Below is a table outlining the different forms of communication we use at West End to share a variety of things ranging from classwork to whole school notices.
Contact Information
Please inform the office of any change of address or phone numbers.
It is really important that we are able to contact you at any time of the day.
Thank you.
Kotahitanga in Tipuranga
Tipuranga have been learning about each other and how they can share, care and work together. During Mana Aoturoa, they talk about and model what kotahitanga looks like when they do art and craft activities, building with the blocks and lego. Tipuranga also have been working together through imaginative play when playing with shops and doll houses as well as when they've been using our new mud kitchen.
Mahi from Puawaitanga
Tumeke Ten
As part of our science with Dr A, Tumeke Ten has been drawing realistic images of bees. We had to really concentrate on the parts of a bee and how the legs and wings were attached to the thorax. Just like a real beehive, it was great to see how each bee made a difference to our overall colony.
Room 11
As part of our science with Dr A, Room 11 has been practicing drawing bees so we could make a real beehive. It was great to see the different colours and concentration that the students had while creating these. We have also spent the week working on our bee mural and it looks amazing! Great kotahitanga to get this done.
Room 8
As part of our science with Dr A, Room 8 has been investigating bees.
One of our questions was about the similarities and differences between bees and wasps. We practiced drawing bees and then wasps. We noticed what made them the same or different.We discovered they were quite different to draw and that helped answer the question we had.
Te Wao Nui o Tāne's School Values Inquiry
This term Te Wao Nui O Tāne have engaged in an inquiry around our school values.
One of the activities has required students to choose a person whom they admire.
They needed to choose a school value that BEST represents their person, research them, prepare a google slide and present it to their class.
There were a wide range of presentations, from sports people, activists, singers and politicians to scientists and actors. All students researched their person well and were able to share information about them and give insight to why they chose them. This was a great activity to demonstrate student’s understanding of our school values.
Here are a few examples of the great mahi across our team.
Our swimming timetable will be back to normal next week
It is our final week of swimming for the term next week. We will be commencing swimming again in Term 4. Thank you to all whānau for your support in sending your child in with togs every week. Thank you to Hilton Brown for providing wonderful swimming lessons to our tamariki every week.
Senior Swimming Sports 2022
Our senior swimming sports were held today and there was some amazing whakamana on show as all students tried their best in the many heats and finals held in both pools. We had freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, medley, flutterboard, and relays. We all enjoyed a free swim to finish the day. Results will be posted in next week's newsletter. Unfortunately, due to current Covid restrictions, we couldn't have whānau in to see our amazing swimming, but here is a snapshot of our afternoon in the pool. We hope you enjoy!
Sports Draw
Monday 11th April – West End Juniors Festival day starts 3:45pm. Please meet up at the Pavilion prior to games.
Game 1 – West End Juniors vs Whakarongo, 3:55pm on Court 1B
Game 2 – West End Junior vs Turitea School, 4:07pm on Court 1A
Game 3 – West End Juniors vs Aokautere Juniors, 4:19pm on Court 1B
Tuesday 12th April – West End/Hokowhitu Festival day – games/times TBC, Sports Coordinator/Coach will message.
If you have any questions regarding sport, please feel free to contact: cdrummond@westend.school.nz
CAR PARKING- ADMINISTRATION BLOCK CLOSED TO EVERYONE
Please do not do not be tempted to use the staff car park when dropping off and collecting your children from school. The administration block is closed for building work.
It becomes very busy and dangerous for children. We encourage parents to park on the street and use the walkways coming into school. Please remember to abide by the road markings on Botanical road and park only in designated spaces (not on the yellow lines). This is for the safety of our children and community members.
Thank you for your co-operation.
If your child is absent from school.
It is really important under the current circumstances you notify the school if your child is absent.
PLEASE DO NOT TXT OR EMAIL THE CLASSROOM TEACHER.
ALL ABSENCES SHOULD BE ADVISED VIA THE OFFICE.
Please remember to advise the office by 8.30am if your child is not attending school.
You can telephone 358-2465 and leave a message or txt 021 118 0156.
ABSENCES CAN ALSO BE SENT EASILY THROUGH OUR SCHOOL APP
In both cases please give a reason for absence.
Thank you.
Sunhats
Board policy requires children to wear sunhats during outside play during Terms 1 and 4. So make sure your children have their sunhats at school every day this term. Caps are not suitable as the hat must cover the ears, neck and front of the face.
Children who do not have an appropriate hat will have to remain in the shaded areas during break times
Masks
Parents of children who wear masks please remind your child to bring them to school.
Bikes and Scooters to school
For the safety of our children all children biking or scootering to school MUST wear a helmet. Please also remind your children about road safety - including the safest way to travel to school if on a bike and scooter.
Y-Kids April Holiday Programme: 18-29 April 2022
The Holidays are just around the corner. Bookings are now open for our Y Kids programme, with a 10% Early Bird discount for every child registered before 27th March. (Note this discount does not apply to Holiday Camp) Y-Kids Holiday Programmes offer a variety of fun activities ranging from trips, craft as well as sports and games. We hope to see you there!
Kindo Online Shop
It is very important that families register with Kindo, as this is now the only way to register your child for school sports, and ordering PTA lunches.
Below are the links to register.
If you require help please call the Kindo helpdesk on
0508 454 636
New users need this link
Existing users need this link
Upcoming Events
- Rippa Rugby Tournament (Y5/6) - Tuesday 12th April
- Final day of Term 1 - Thursday 14th April
- Start of Term 2 - Monday 2nd May
TERM DATES 2022
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465