Term 4 Week 3 Newsletter
4th November 2022
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou katoa,
This week has been action packed as always here at school. We have been happily moving across from the Library into our new administration block. It is with great pleasure that I can share with you that our block will be open for business as of Monday morning. If you are looking for the office, please come to the front of the admin building via the new path straight off Botanical (see later in this newsletter for detailed directions).
This week we were thrilled to host one of neighboring schools for a sports exchange. It was wonderful to have Awapuni Primary School here to visit and play against our Rippa Rugby Teams. It was a great atmosphere while these games were played with children and whānau from both schools there to support. Thank you to Mr. Drummond for his work coordinating this event.
A number of years ago, West End School went through a re-visioning process with our staff and school community. One of the key actions from this process was the desire for Te Reo Māori bilingual learning to be offered across the school for our tamariki. Our very supportive Board of Trustees was able to promote this work by funding the start of our Junior bilingual class in 2021 and are proud to have been able to carry this on for our children this year. In 2023, we are beyond thrilled to be able to offer bilingual Learning with Whaea Karen for (Year 1-3 Children) and bilingual learning with our very own Mr. Lobb (Year 4-6). Later in this newsletter we have included a google form to complete if you would like to express your interest for your child to be included in one of these classes.
Next week we are looking forward to our Environment Day on which will include the opportunity for WES Whānau to partner in the learning (and gardening) as we look after our now established community orchard and create our brand new Powhiri Rongoā which will be located behind the hall and close the gate on Botanical Road. Thank you to Louise Ellis and Whaea Georgie for the planning and preparation that has gone in to prepare for this day including a successful application for grant funding. For further information on our new garden and Enviro Day, please read later in the newsletter.
Thank you once again West End Whānau for your ongoing support of our kura and your tamariki’s learning. I am really proud of the progress that has been made across the school this year.
Have a fantastic weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone next week.
Ngā mihi nui,
Matt
Matthew Kennedy
Principal
West End School
Te Kura o Urumutu
Junior and Senior Bilingual classes available at West End for 2023
West End School are proud to be able to offer bilingual classes throughout our kura - from Year 1 through to Year 6. If you are interested in your child being a part of these classes for next year please register your interest by next Friday 11th November by completing the google form below.
Our new office block is now officially open!
We are excited to now be able to use our new administration and staffroom block, strengthening our kotahitanga, enhancing our school entrance and office space. Thank you to our representatives from Te Rangimarie Marae and Rangitāne iwi for coming in on Tuesday morning to bless our new space.
Our new office will be open from Monday morning, so please remember to use this entrance by walking through the gate, and enter through the door pictured above. Please refrain from coming across the staff carpark to ensure everyone stays safe. We look forward to seeing you from Monday onwards in our new space!
Awapuni School sports inter-school visit
West End School hosted Awapuni School in our first inter school sports exchange on Wednesday. We had our girls and boys rippa rugby teams play each other in 2 friendly games. Thank you to Connor for organising these games and for Awapuni for coming to our kura to share their love of sport and building the spirit of kotahitanga between our schools.
Senior Camp 2022
What an amazing 3 days we all had at Forest Lakes Camp. We were so impressed with the amazing whakamana all students showed during camp, and the fun and learning they all did was great to see. A huge thank you to the Te Wao Nui o Tāne staff for organising the camp, the West End staff for their support and help during this time, the parent helpers who were integral in the smooth running of the camp, and for the support from home to get your child ready to come to camp. It was wonderful to see our values on show - with Manaakitanga between students helping out in many different ways, and their teamwork skills, showing Kotahitanga during the daily activities as well as the evening jobs and routines. What a terrific way to start Term 4.
Enviro Day is next Friday
Next Week on Friday is Enviro Day. The whole school will be helping to maintain our school orchard by spreading another layer of mulch to help slow down weeds and to keep moisture in the soil over summer. We are also using this time to create a powhiri rongoa garden in an under utilised area behind the hall.
If you have any cardboard boxes we can use, please deliver to Room 10. Pulling all tape off and removing staples would be appreciated. Students are encouraged to bring a bucket and gardening gloves. If you can offer assistance for your child's class please contact their teacher. A timetable will be sent out next week with when each class will be involved in these projects.
If you wish to come in for the whole day, please contact Louise Ellis lellis@westend.school.nz and she will let you know how you can help.
Spring is a brilliant time to be thinking ahead and planting for the summer. Some Enviro students and a few keen extras helped plant a different sort of corn. It is a variety called glass gem corn. It's not the ordinary eating corn but corn that can be used for popcorn. As you go passed the orchard you will see the area with string around it. This is so the area where these precious plants are is a "no go" area.
Please be careful. Whaea Georgie has also been planting some sunflowers along the fence line too. It is great to see some student's from Room 10 showing Manaakitanga for our school environment by picking up rubbish. Well done team.
Awapuni Library Visitor
Last term Room 16 read, discussed and wrote about several books as part of the Awapuni Library's 'Book Buds' programme. On Tuesday Laura from the library came and read to us. We selected our own book to keep, and we were also given stickers and a game. At the end of the day, we put it all into our book bags to take home. Thank you so much, Awapuni Library and Central Energy Trust.
Learning about forces
Tipuranga team have been practicing whakamana with a range of exciting learning activities.
With help from Dr A, classes are learning about forces with making balloon rockets.
Upcoming Events
WEEK 4
- Y6 PNINS production - Tuesday 8 November
- ENVIRO Day - Friday 11 November
WEEK 5
- VIBE assembly - Wednesday 16 November at 2pm
WEEK 6
- West End Athletics Sports - Wednesday 23 November (Puawaitanga and Te Wao Nui o Tāne)
- Junior West End Athletics Sports - Thursday 24 November (Tipuranga)
- Road Patrol Training for 2023 Road Patrollers - Thursday 24 November
Sport at West End School
Please see below the sports section for the notices:
Draw:
Football:
9th November - West End Villa TBC - Coach/Sports Coordinator will message
9th November - West End United - Coach/Sports Coordinator will message
9th November - West End Spurs - Coach/Sports Coordinator will message
Hockey:
9th November - West End Goldsticks vs Hokowhitu Gold - 4pm on Turf 1A
9th November - West End Silversticks vs Ashhurst Tornadoes - 4:45pm on Turf 1A
10th November - West End Middlesticks vs CSNS Eagles - 5:30pm on Turf 1B
10th November - West End Mediumsticks vs Ashhurst Mustangs - 4pm on Turf 1A
10th November - West End Funsticks vs Go Kiwi - 3:45pm on Turf 2C
10th November - West End Ministicks vs Whakarongo Dragons - 4:30pm on Turf 2D
Touch:
4th November - West End Juniors vs CSNS Blues - 4pm on Field 11A
- West End Juniors vs Takaro Kaha - 4:30pm on Field 12A
4th November - West End Seniors vs Aokautere Raptors - 5pm on Field 11
- West End Seniors vs Mana Tamariki - 5:30pm on Field 9
Practices:
Please see below the days/times for practices:
Football:
West End Villa - Tuesday 3pm - 3:20pm on West End Field
West End Spurs - Tuesday Lunchtime on West End Field
Hockey:
West End Funsticks - Wednesday 3pm - 3:30pm on West End Turf
West End Ministicks - Friday 3pm - 3:30pm on West End Turf
West End Middlesticks - Friday 3pm - 3:30pm on West End Turf
West End Mediumsticks - Wednesday 3pm - 3:30pm on West End Turf
West End Goldsticks - Monday 3pm - 4pm on West End Turf
West End Silversticks - Monday 3pm - 4pm on West End Turf
Touch:
West End Juniors - Thursday 3pm - 3:20pm on West End Field
West End Seniors - Tuesday 3pm - 3:45pm on West End Field
If you have any questions relating to sport, please feel free to message: cdrummond@westend.school.nz
TERM DATES 2022
TERM DATES 2023
Swimming Timetable
Ruahine Kindergarten Casual Teaching Support Staff
Our not-for-profit organisation is looking for Casual Teaching Support Staff to come on board and join our team.
These vacancies are perfect for parents with school aged children seeking casual work during school hours. Please click on the link below for more information.
iBike 4 Kids
iBike 4 Kids is a cool cycling event run by Manawatu Mountain Bike Club at the Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North on Sunday Nov 6th.
All pre-school, primary and intermediate kids are welcome. Kids can choose between short, medium or hard courses and can also test their talents on the skills course. There is also a 'Balance bike' section, for the little ones.
There are great prizes to be won and a finishers Medal for all. Schools can compete for two $500 Sports Vouchers - one for the school with the most kids and one for the highest percentage of their roll. More info and entries at www.ibike4kids.co.nz
Contact Details?
Does the office have your correct contact details? And do we have an alternate contact number in case of an emergency? If you have moved or changed phone numbers or have a different/alternate email address, please let the office know as soon as possible. It is very important that we are able to contact you if there is an accident or emergency. We are also sending out a lot of information through our school app, which are connected to the email address the office has on file. If you would like to add additional email addresses onto contact information, please give these details to the office.
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
Location: West End School, 196 College Street, Palmerston North
Phone: 06 358 2465