17th March 2022 Term 1, Week 7
School Newsletter
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou katoa,
We have been enjoying another week of powerful learning here at school. Our children continue to show our school values throughout their school day. Classroom learning programmes are now well established and running well despite the disruption of Covid. We continue to implement our West End School Literacy programmes including MSL (Multi Sensory Structured Literacy) and our Mathematics programmes based on our teachers professional learning with Maths Consultant Dinah Harvey in 2020 and 2021.
At this time, we continue to see a number of positive covid cases at our school. Today we have, 18 positive cases of Covid in our school community. Additionally we have a significant number of children at home in isolation as household contacts. Thank you again to our amazing West End Whānau for following the advice from the Ministry of Health and keeping a close eye on your whānau for symptoms. To those families who are isolating, I hope that everyone is keeping well in your household. Please remember you have access to the Hard Copy Learning Packs we sent home earlier in the term. Additionally, there is also the online learning options we have also sent home previously (please click on this link to view/this was also shared via seesaw). Please remember our priority is the well being of your child and your whānau and therefore the amount of distance learning your child completes while isolating should be dictated by what you feel is appropriate for your child and your household.
It is bittersweet for me to share the news that Charlotte Rowland (ORS Team Leader) will be finishing her time at West End School to return home to England to be closer to family and to get married. Charlotte will be missed by children, staff, and parents. I would like to thank Charlotte for her service to West End School over the years and to wish her well for her upcoming nuptials and all future endeavours. I would also like to thank Natasha Bell (Teacher Aide) for her service and many contributions to West End School and wish Tasha all the best for the future. Tasha will also be missed by children, staff, and parents.
Here at school there has been a lot of exciting events going on. Our Te Wao Nui O Tane children have enjoyed their EPro8 learning which culminated in our West End School EPro8 Challenge. I was very impressed with our children's whakamana as they grappled with some tough engineering challenges. We will announce the children who will represent Te Kura O Urumutu in next week's newsletter.
Mr Baynes has done it again! We are really excited about our new mud kitchen that Mr. Baynes has built for our tamariki. We can't wait to share some photographs of children using this during Mana Āutoroa learning.
As we head into the weekend my final words for the week are again a thank you, to you, our West End Whānau. Your amazing and ongoing support is truly appreciated. As we face the most recent challenges that this pandemic has brought to our school's doorstep, I continue to be both very grateful and immensely proud of the efforts of our West End School Community. Together we will continue to do our best to provide our tamariki with the best school experience we can.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Matthew Kennedy
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One of the great things about our newsletter, is that you are able to view it in a variety of different languages. Please click on translate and choose the language of your choice.
West End School App
If you are reading this newsletter, then you have downloaded our new West End School App. Thank you!! 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. You would only receive information directly relevant to those groups, but you will however receive whole school notifications when they are sent out.
All school notices will be sent out through our West End School App, so it would be great if you could download it onto your mobile device so you have all West End related information at your fingertips! If you could also remind fellow whanau at West End School who aren't on the app yet to sign up!
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.
EPro8
MusiClass Lessons with Emma
On Wednesdays and Fridays, Emma is teaching music to our tamariki at West End School. MusiClub works on rhythm, beat, singing and movement. We also have students learning flute, recorder, keyboard, violin and clarinet! It's great hearing all the amazing music coming from the music room and native garden area!
Sci-Fri with Dr. A
Every Friday, Dr. Sandra Accari comes in to teach West End School science concepts. At the moment we are learning all about bees. We are asking questions, building knowledge and exploring our ideas!
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
Sports Draw
Registrations:
A reminder that registrations for yr 3-6 Basketball close 5pm THIS FRIDAY. Please register via the Kindo App if your child is interested.
Draw:
Hockey:
23rd March – West End Funsticks vs Russell Street, 4:30pm on Turf 2B
23rd March – West End Gnats vs St James Silver, 5pm on Turf 1A
24th March – West End Silversticks vs Russell Street, 4:45pm on Turf 2B
24th March – West End Goldsticks vs Milson, 4pm on Turf 1B
Netball:
21st March – West End Juniors vs Cloverlea, 3:45pm on Court 15b
22nd March – West End/Hokowhitu vs Ashhurst, 5pm on Court 15
If you have any questions about sport, please feel free to contact Connor Drummond – cdrummond@westend.school.nz
Swimming Timetable
TERM DATES 2022
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465