Kia ora parents, caregivers, and extended whanau

Our teachers did some fascinating learning last Friday during our Teacher Only Day. We visited some historical local sites and monuments and made many connections around what makes Patumahoe unique. This was a foundation day of learning that will progressively build towards the official start of the new Aotearoa NZ Histories curriculum in 2023. The ultimate goal will be for all of our tamariki to build a strong understanding of Patumahoe history and then expand this understanding into the wider context of Aotearoa NZ history. I think the learning will be very powerful and I can envisage organic connections with other school's and nearby communities as they unearth their historical and geographical situatedness.

Thank you to all of our families and whanau for making the effort to attend last Thursday's Parent Interviews. We hope you have found reassurance and direction, as we work together to shift your tamariki in their learning.

Nga mihi kia koutou to our parent volunteers who helped us out at the netball days last week. Thanks also to Kirsten Harris, and Sarah Hancock for organising. Our Year 5/6 boys team came out on top again and that makes it 3 years in a row.

School cross country is set for this Friday. Action gets underway at 1pm on the Clive Howe Fields. The Years 6's run first and the showcase event, which is the new entrants, is always the last race of the day. At this stage it looks like a weather bomb is set to hit us today and continue for the next 5-6 days. Alongside that the Clive Howe fields are very soft underfoot. So things are a little bleak at this stage. If we have to postpone the event we will send a schoolAPP on the morning of race day at the very latest.

Kia pai to ra

Jade Tawhiti

To the Patumahoe School Community

As you will be aware, the Board has been working on the recruitment of a new Principal. Following a robust process which included seeking feedback from the community and staff, we have now concluded this process and are delighted to announce that Keryn Grey has accepted the offer to be our new Principal commencing in Term 4.

Keryn is currently the Deputy Principal at Valley School in Pukekohe and has recently completed a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Auckland. She has worked in Pukekohe schools as a DP, SENCO, Team Leader and Teacher for the past 20 years and has been the staff rep on the Valley School Board for the last 3 years. Keryn is married and is a fun loving mum of 2 teenage daughters, one who is in Year 13 at Pukekohe High and one in her first year of a nursing degree. She is the secretary of the Mercer Rowing Club where both her daughters row and she is a member of the Executive Committee at Pukekohe Netball Centre.

Keryn is student focused and highly motivated to ensure that all children achieve to their full potential. In Keryn’s interview her focus on strong relationships and her desire to really get to know the children and their families shone through. Keryn brings a fresh perspective to our school but also a strong understanding of our rural heritage and the importance of maintaining this aspect of our very special school.

We very much look forward to welcoming Keryn at the start of Term 4.

The Patumahoe School Board

Voting papers were mailed out last week.

Please take the time to vote

VOTING PAPERS-

• may be delivered to the school office by 4pm on 7th September 2022, there is a green voting box in the foyer to place them in.
• If posted, your vote must be received no later then 5 days after the date of the election. Try to post it as early as possible as NZ Post has reduced postal delivery days in most areas. Voting closes at 4pm on 7th September 2022.

Results will be announced on 13th September 2022.

Signed

Margaret Stormont

Returning Officer

Patumahoe School Netball club are holding a sausage sizzle on Friday 26th August. Order forms came home with children yesterday, orders need to be in to the office by Tuesday 23rd.

Again we have a nice list of sponsors to add to the week's appreciation post - produce for our stalls, money in the bank, goods for our raffles and food for our stalls - It's all hugely welcome! Look out for this post in our local Patumahoe Community Grapevine :-)

We have some exciting items up for raffle and auction for young and old(er).

The support of our local community and businesses are what make our calf club successful.

If you think you could sponsor or donate, please, reach out to sponsorship.pattycalfclub@gmail.com or Claire on 021967143, or any of the other PTA members.

This weeks Sponsorship Shout out goes to:

Raffle, Stall and Cash Donations:

ASCL Group

Auckland Zoo

Counties Power

Essentials by Fleur

NZ Home Loans

NZ Travel Brokers / Ann Due

The Tractor Centre

Unichem Waiuku

Produce Sponsors:

Farrells Nursery

• 19th August - School Cross Country
  
• 23rd August - BOT Meeting - 5.30pm
• 24th August Central Group Cross Country
• 26th August - Daffodil Day Mufti - Dress in yellow - gold coin donation
• 26th August - Netball sausage sizzle
• 01st September - Zone Cross Country
• 02nd September - Caretakers Cup
• 7th September - Voting closes if a Voting BOT election is held
• 15th September - PTA Grocery Raffle Mufti Day
• 20th September - BOT Meeting - 5.30pm
• 24th September - Calf Club Day (SCHOOL DAY)
• 26th September - Year 5 & 6 Girls Basketball
• 27th September - Year 5 & 6 Boys Basketball
• 30th September - Last day Term 3 - 2.25pm finish
• 17th October - First day Term 4