Newsletter Week 2 Term 3
Pekapekarau Primary School - 4th August 2022
Kia ora ē te whānau
Welcome to Term 3! We have had an awesome start to the term and have so many exciting opportunities for our tauira (students). The introduction of Power Hour every Monday has been really positive - there is still the remnants of the messy fun everyone had with the team from STEM Curiosity on the concrete days later, but the fun and engagement of our akongā (learners) was definitely worth it! Check out our facebook page for the photos. Each Monday for the rest of the term there will be opportunities for experiences, so please have some conversations each Monday evening over the dinner table about what that looked like for your tamaiti (child).
We have had a great response to our Interview Hui for whānau following the Mid-Year Progress Reports which went home. Our kaiako really enjoyed the opportunity to connect with you and strengthen the home/school partnership for learning. Some of the korero in our staffroom during their Dinner break were things like, “We have awesome whānau in The Nest, it was so lovely to spend time with them”, “It was great to connect kanohi ki kanohi (face to face)”, “It was great to hear from whānau what their wishes are regarding home learning” and so many more. Thank you for making this such a positive experience for everyone - I also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with so many of you while you were waiting or departing. If you missed the opportunity, please be in touch with your child’s kaiako directly and arrange a time.
There seems to be some issues with some of our emails getting through. Please check your spam or junk folders as from time to time that is where they end up. We predominantly send all correspondence digitally and always use a combination of seesaw, email, facebook and our app so that the information gets through. If you are not receiving these, please contact our office to ensure we have the correct information. You can email office@pekapekarau.school.nz and this will guarantee we have the right email!
Thank you to our whānau who park along Te Rahu Road or Warburton Crescent or the back of Cameron Avenue and walk in or meet your children between their class and you. We have very limited car parking space in our driveway and our staff are often very concerned about the way in which people are using this. No one wants a tragedy before we make a change and if we keep doing things in the same way, that could happen. PLEASE, if you can, walk and save those spaces for those with other little people and PLEASE, think about each child as if they are your own when you use the space to drop off and pick up. Please think about safety and put our tamariki first.
Lastly, we are really hopeful of a less disruptive term with illness and are hoping to be able to invite whānau back into our weekly assemblies super soon, especially for classes who are hosting these and for our award recipients. This is part of our our risk mitigation that we are required to do by the Ministry of Education. Watch this space! What I can assure you is that when we hold our Cross Country - we are confident we can host all of our whānau safely - so be sure to lock in the dates in your calendar!
Ngā mihi mahana,
Tania and the Pekapekarau team
Monday was so much fun with Stem Curiosity!
Sharing from Akomanga 12
➗💲Maths Week - Next Week! 🔢➕
This year is the 25th anniversary of Maths Week! Let’s Celebrate!
Whānau Challenges
There will be a prize draw for each challenge.
Win a can of M&Ms
Be in the draw to win one of four cans of M&Ms.
Guess the weight of the paint can that’s filled with M&M’s.
Share your answer with your child's classroom teacher through Seesaw, or send it on a piece of paper with your whānau name, child's room number and the answer.
Maths @ Home
Take a photo of your whānau using maths in some way. This could be playing: a board game, cards, or even baking something. Send the photo to your child's teacher.
Code Breaker
Instructions will be shared next week for this.
Mathematics Online
We are pleased to be offering Matific - an online Maths platform that tamariki can both use in the classroom and at home to support their mathematics learning. If you don't have your log in yet, contact your child's kaiako (teacher).
The Eddie Alcock Netball Tournament - Te Kuiti
Our Pekapekarau Stars netball team participated in the Eddie Alcock Netball Tournament in Te Kuiti on Wednesday. We are proud to hear that this team represented our kura well, demonstrating fair play both on and off the court. They most certainly Aimed High and demonstrated what it truly is to be a Team Player as taught in our School Values. Coach Emma had this to say about them:
These amazing stars won all the games in their pool keeping 2 teams scoreless and the third only scoring two points against them. Cross over finals included two awesome Te Awamutu teams, TAPS Silver Ferns and Pekapekarau Stars with our amazing stars coming out on top with a 16-2 win. We had a number of people approach us commenting on the skillset, sportsmanship and teamwork this awesome team is demonstrating both at this tournament and at Saturday netball.
Rerenga kupu ō te rā & Wero ō te rā
School Lunch menus
Lunch menus for Term 3
School Photos
You have all been sent your Photolife access key from Photolife. This is all done online through Photolife Studios. Just a reminder if you wish to purchase the photos, this will need to be done by 21st August to get the free delivery.
Seesaw
Seesaw have recently updated the way that we use Messages. Check the guidelines here:
Notices
School Board Elections
The school board elections are coming up with nominations closing 17th August. Please have all nominations in to school by the 17th August. These can be emailed to accounts@pekapekarau.school.nz, posted to PO Box 233, Te Awamutu or dropped in to the school office. If you have any questions please contact our Board Chairperson Erinna Lane botchair@pekapekarau.school.nz
Masks
Thank you for your ongoing support with the MOE's recommendation of mask wearing for Years 4 and up.
Whaanau Hui/Parent Interviews
Thank you for joining us for parent interviews/whaanau hui. We value having the time to meet with you and share your child's success and next learning steps.
We are welcoming new enrolments to our Kura! Do you know someone who is interested in enrolling their tamariki at our school? This also includes out of zone enrolments.
Share this with whānau that you know.
Save the Date
Maths Week
8th-11th August
Book Week
22nd August-26th August
Character Dress-Up Day
Friday 26th August
Board Meeting
Wednesday 24th August 5-45pm - 7-45pm
Tough Guy/Gal Rotorua
Wednesday 24th August
Pekapekarau School Cross Country
Friday 2nd September
Interschool Cross Country
Friday 9th September
Postponement date - Interschool Cross Country
Monday 12th September
Calendar Art Due
23rd September
Term 3 Finishes
Friday 30th September
Term 4 Starts
Monday 17th October
Have you downloaded our School App?
See the link below
Email: office@pekapekarau.school.nz
Phone: +64 7 871 6025