Newsletter T2W6
Tuesday 7 June - Term 2 Week 6 2022
Talofa lava (hello in Samoan)
We hope you all enjoyed the long weekend.
Last week was Samoan Language Week and the theme was: Fa’aāuāu le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai - Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean. 2022 is also a significant year for the Samoan community, being the 60th anniversary of Samoa's Independence. Communities organised activities to commemorate this milestone, which coincided with Samoa Language Week.They did it!
School Photos
Parking and Whitney St Gate Safety
As parking is very restrictive on streets around the school please try to fill in gaps to allow as many parks as possible. Alternatively park a wee bit further down the block and encourage your child to walk a couple of hundred metres. This promotes a healthy active lifestyle and removes congestion from the school gate.
Please, please, please do not stop on the yellow lines to drop off and pick up children. The Whitney Street gate entrance is particularly dangerous as cars parked in the wrong place obscure the vision of children trying to cross the road, and there have been some close misses recently which we are very concerned about.
Concerns and Complaints
Each year we put a reminder or two in the newsletter about the correct procedure to use if you have a concern or complaint related to school. We have an open-door policy where we ask you to communicate any concerns with us immediately so that we can address them in a timely manner.
Basically in the first instance contact should be made with the teacher to highlight any concern and agree a way forward to resolve the situation. If the concern is not resolved through this course of action then the matter should be raised with the Principal who will provide further assistance. If the concern is in relation to the Principal then this matter can be raised with them directly or with the Board of Trustees through contacting the Board Chairperson, Kate McEntee.
If there is still no satisfactory resolution then a formal complaint can be laid by following our Complaints Procedure which can be viewed on SchoolDocs (Username: whitneystreet Password: learners) and a hard copy is in the school office.
A reminder too that we ask you to refrain from using social media to discuss your concerns, as it can often get out of hand, and leave lasting messages that may not be reflective of the actual situation, and could be quite damaging. Please ensure that you approach school directly with any concerns you may have, as per the procedure mentioned above.
Hopefully good, open, timely communication should resolve the majority of concerns that may arise during the school year. We all want to provide the best possible learning environment that caters for all our students emotional, physical, and social well-being allowing them all the opportunity to be safe and successful at school.
Colder Weather
Teacher Union Meetings
The NZEI has scheduled teacher union meetings throughout the country this month. To lessen disruption to classes and whānau these meetings will be via zoom. It means school will remain open with a skeleton staff supervising while teachers attend their online meeting on site.
These are government approved meetings and they allow teachers to ‘meet’ as a group, and to hear and be part of important decisions going forward.
Tumeke Choice
Unfortunately last week we had to postpone the Tumeke Choice afternoon, and luckily we were able to reschedule for today. The children chose something fun they wanted to do from a variety of activities the teachers organised. Ask your child what they did today.
Well done to our tamariki who have achieved this reward for fantastic behaviour!
Support Staff Week
Whitney Street School has an amazing bunch of Teacher Aides (Kaiawhina) and Support Staff who work with individuals and groups of students throughout our school. They assist in so many areas including one-to-one work, special programmes, adapting learning, general classroom support, office work, first aid, grounds keeping, maintenance, sports, etc.
We want to acknowledge and thank them all for the amazing job they do. Thank you Adele, Michelle, Kelly, Carla, Clive, Graeme, Tracy, Kirsten, Rina, Ashleigh, Debbie H, Debbie C, Jules, Julie, and Whaea Connie.
Westpac Helicopter Fundraiser
School Disco
Whakataukī
Save the Date
Our Mid-Year Parent Progress Meetings will be held in the last week of this term on Wednesday 6 July and Thursday 7 July. Keep an eye out for the notice that will be sent out next week.
Have a great week everyone. Tōfa soifua (goodbye in Samoan) Whitney Street Staff
Our school calendar is often filled with trips and events and sometimes the dates and details change. The BEST place to keep an eye on what is happening is on the school App in the calendar section.
Download our school App
We encourage all parents to download our school app from the Playstore or Apple Store, as we find this the most effective way of sending out Alerts to parents/caregivers. You can also access a wealth of information from the app as it has links to the school calendar, newsletters, etc.
Please subscribe to Alerts from the classes/groups that your child belongs to. If you want to subscribe to groups later on, you can do this via the ‘Alerts Subscriptions’ which is in the Menu (top left). Please do this to ensure you are subscribed to the classes and Teams that your child or children are in for the 2021 school year.
This is also the way we would like you to inform us of absences. This system streamlines the morning routine for Tanya and Michelle so that they can easily see who is away and why.
Please click here to download the School App.
Hero
Suggestions Box
Bread Tags for Wheelchairs
In line with sustainability, the Wairau Hub will continue to collect bread tags to help support the Bread Tags for Wheelchairs initiative. Save them up, bring them into Room 1 and we will arrange for them to get to where they need to go.
This cool idea supports The United Nations Sustainability Goals of;
* Goal 1: No Poverty donate what we don't use
* Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
* Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Automatic Payment Option
The Whitney Street School BOT bank details are: 03 0599 0305934 00
Pretty Things Embroidery
Contact Us
Email: principal@whitneystreet.school.nz
Website: https://whitneystreet.school.nz
Location: Whitney Street, Blenheim, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 578 3028
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyStreetSchool/
Community Notices
MATARIKI GLOW SHOW
Please come and celebrate MATARIKI! MATARIKI GLOW SHOW is a giant scale glow-in-the dark puppet show coming to ASB Blenheim SATURDAY JULY 9th - first day of the July school hols! ONE FAMILY SHOW AT 10am!
See flyer below with details.
Kids School Holiday Art Club (see flyer below)
There are two art classes on Saturday 16th July 2022
Dream Catcher Creations is at 9.00am
Unleash your inner creativity using some very cool mixed media art materials.Have fun creating your own colourful dream catcher wall hanging.
Sand and Glitter Art starts at 11.00am
Discover the magic of coloured sand and glitter. Have fun creating dazzling abstract artworks that shimmer and sparkle.
This is a great opportunity for children to explore mixed media and abstract art techniques while having fun creating cool artworks to take home.
Bookings are essential. All art materials are provided.
To book a place please go to https://www.eventspronto.co.nz/artschoolmarlborough
Please see attached poster for more details.
The Marlborough Scout Zone is looking for Adult Leaders to assist in running Scouting in Marlborough. If you would like to learn more please register here, https://tinyurl.com/ScoutsIntro to take the first step in joining an exciting Outdoors Adventurous program, and the chance to positively influence the youth of Marlborough.
Covid support for whānau
Kia ora whānau
Ko Fionna Hughes toku ingoa.
As Covid is about in our community, we wanted to make sure whanau are aware there is support available whilst in self-isolation.
We are mindful that a large number of whanau not accessing the supports available, as the information is only sent to them via the DHB, if their positive RATS test has been registered.
Maataa Waka can support whanau with:
- Picking up and delivering online grocery orders
- Picking up and delivering prescriptions/medications
- Picking up and delivering school work/devices for children
- Picking up and delivering RATS tests
We can also support whanau who are struggling financially, if isolation has affected their income:
- Kai parcels
- Home and self-hygiene packs
- Internet costs (for connecting to school/working from home)
The support is not limited to the above, and will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Whanau can self-refer to these services by:
- completing the online form on the Work and Income website - https://workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/self-isolation-forms/ask-community-support.html and selecting Maataa Waka ki Te Tau Ihu Trust. This referral comes directly to us and we will make contact with the whanau to assess their needs.
- If they don’t have access to a computer or internet, they can call the MSD Covid Support Line – 0800 512 337 or Maataa Waka Community Connectors on 0800 6282 9252
We also offer longer term support for rangitahi, individuals and whanau that have been impacted by Covid. This may be loss of employment, financial hardship, inability to complete study due to lockdowns, social isolation and health issues.
Whanau can access this service by:
- completing the attached referral (see button below) for and sending to admin@maataawaka.co.nz (whanau can self-refer or be referred by you with their consent)
Our support is free-of-charge and available to anyone in our community.
We would really appreciate if you could extend this information to your whanau networks/add to your newsletters.
Any questions, queries or otherwise, please feel free to contact me directly.
Nga mihi nui
Fionna Hughes
Whanau Tuhono | Community Connector
P 03 577 9256 | C 027 576 9717
Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust
P.O Box 1016 | 56 Main Street | Blenheim 7240
Nga mihi nui
Fionna Hughes
Kaitohutohu Putea | Financial Mentor
P 03 577 9256 | C 027 576 9717
Maataa Waka Ki Te Tau Ihu Trust
P.O Box 1016 | 56 Main Street | Blenheim 7240
Scottish Country Dancing
Heart KIds would like to extend an invitation to you and your clients/students to attend the 2022 Kids Day Out Variety Show. Show Dates below.
This is free to you and fully funded by the local business community. We have a great line up this year including magic, acrobatics, stunts and juggling.
See our full line up here: https://www.kidsdayoutvariety.co.nz/entertainment-line-up/
To order your free tickets or if you have any questions please email helen.weller@pds.org.nz