Newsletter 9, Week 7 Term 2
Waiau School ⎪ 16th June 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora koutou,
Since 2016 our school has been part of a bigger cluster of schools called Tipu Māia Kāhui Ako - or a community of learners. The community spans from Akaroa through to Hanmer and includes 13 schools:
Akaroa Area School
Amuri Area School
Cheviot Area School
Greta Valley School
Hanmer Springs School
Hurunui College
Omihi School
Oxford Area School
Rangiora New Life School
Rotherham School
Waiau School
Waikari School
Waipara School
The network or structure of Tipu Māia includes a Lead Principal, two support Principals, three Across School Leaders (operating across the 13 schools), and 17 Within School Leaders (allocated and operating within a school). In 2022 this includes:
Lead Principal: Mike Hart (Principal of Oxford Area School)
Support Principals: Maree Lucas (Principal of Omihi School) and Anne Batt (Principal of Greta Valley School) Across School Leaders: Penny Vincent (Omihi School), Gavin Cate (Amuri Area School), and Julia Steel (Amuri Area School).
What is the purpose of Tipu Māia? The purpose of Tipu Māia is to allow the teachers of this school to be able to collaborate / connect with teachers in the other member schools to continue to improve our practice to ensure all of our students are brave, capable, and confident learners.
How does Tipu Māia work? Achievement Challenges are formed and shared across schools who carry out a plan to address those challenges. We are currently establishing challenges around Literacy, Numeracy, Wellbeing and School Culture.
Why does Tipu Māia exist? To break down our geographic isolation by sharing the best teaching practice across the 13 schools. Tipu Māia is well resourced both financially and with people dedicated to work across and within the 13 member schools.
Over the next few weeks a few families may receive a 4 question survey to complete on Google Forms. All information is anonymous - you will not be asked for your name and the school’s name. This survey will be collated by the senior Tipu Māia staff to gain a sense of the strengths and challenges for our students across the Kāhui Ako, in Literacy/numeracy and student wellbeing.
At Waiau School we are working on the Literacy Achievement Challenge this year and that is where our staff will access additional professional development through the Kāhui Ako.
Thanking you in advance, if you are one of the randomly selected families asked to participate!
Last week I was fortunate to attend the Learning Networks conference for Leaders in Wellington. While the weather left a lot to be desired (a lot of lightning and torrential rain, accompanied with the famous Wellington winds!) The topics covered in the conference were wide and varied. The keynote speakers addressed topics such as developing resilience, Neuroscience of self care for staff and students, equity in education and learning styles. I found this opportunity very worthwhile and over the next few staff meetings I’ll share key points with my colleagues. It was a great opportunity and I would like to thank the Board for supporting me to attend and for the staff for keeping the home fires burning.
Friday was a very busy day, our students came all dressed up to support the mighty Crusaders, flags were on display, Serina from HDC came and we learned about compost and worms as well as making a worm farm then as an extra bonus, some students were able to help Jamie McFadden and his planting crew pop in some new native trees behind the Tennis/Netball clubrooms. Thanks to Ben and Courts for coming down and lending a hand with the planting. So many great opportunities to engage with our local environment. I believe the ‘young arborists’ were very skilled at planting the trees. In a few decades time they will be able to show their children the trees they helped plant. What a positive contribution to our community.
Last week was ‘Support Staff’ week, an opportunity to thank our wonderful support staff who add so much value to our school. To Amanda, Hayley, Liv & Pam thank you, we appreciate all that you do at Waiau School.
Good luck to Issy, Miah, Quinn and Tori who are representing Waiau School in the Canterbury Cross Country championships next Wednesday. We are very proud of you all.
Kia pai tō rā whakatā.
Have a great weekend.
Megan
Student Led Conferences - 27th - 28th July
Student led conferences are set for the last week of term.
Students will be actively involved in the learning and reporting process, they will also share their strengths, goals and next steps. Our students are developing the process of reflection and self-evaluation.
This year we will be trailing a new booking system through our school website. We will be sending you an email this evening with a link to the booking system. Please select a time that suits. If you have a child in each room you can select corresponding times. (eg. 3.30pm with Mrs Macfarlane 3.45pm with Mrs Ferguson)
School Buses - Seat Belts Required
Please remind your children that it is a requirement to wear seat belts on the school buses for their own safety (if they are available).
Assembly Awards
Our Values Whetū (Star) Student of the Fortnight was awarded to: Kenzie for fantastic effort in her work and showing great responsibility.
Our Class Super Whetū Awards
Room 1 - Billie for being an all round star!
Room 2 - Hunter for amazing writing.
Book Club Orders - Issue 4
The Lucky Book Club Catalogue was sent home last week.
Please order direct at mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz
We are no longer accepting cash payments due to limited bank hours and not storing cash onsite. No online payments to the school.
We encourage parents to order online as this means less processing at our end. The orders will still be sent to the school at no charge. Waiau School earns 20% in Scholastic Rewards on all Book Club orders.
Instructions for ordering:
- Go to - mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz
- Click on the Register tab - add your contact details and your child/children's details.
- Select your school and your child's class select - Whole School
- Add your child's first name & last initial (so the school knows who the book is for)
- Go to the orders tab to start your order. Enter the item number from the Book Club catalogue.
- All orders are sent directly to the school for submission to Scholastic. Books will still be delivered to your child's classroom if you order by the close date.
Orders close Thursday 23rd June
Room 2 Camp - Christchurch Matariki Camp (21-23 June).
Camp preparation… the countdown is on!
Here are some thoughts from our students:
I think camp will be amazing because we are going on the Gondola. I am looking forward to the Gondola because I have never been on it.
Noah
I think camp will be really awesome because of four things. They are the Gondola, QEII, Adrenalin Forest and the camp concert. I am looking forward to going on the hydroslide at QEII because we went there last time and it was really fun.
Miah
I think camp will be fantastic because we will go on adventures and have a fun time. I am looking forward to Adrenalin Forest because it looks fun and scary at the same time.
Anikalee
I think camp will be so much fun with all the great activities we are going to do because there are so many exciting things to look forward to. I am looking forward to going to QEII because I will get to go down the big hydroslide with my friends.
Issy
The final camp email was sent on Wednesday and a paper copy sent home today.
Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page next week to see what adventures Room 2 students get up to on their Christchurch camp.
Matariki
A reminder that Friday 24th June is a public holiday to acknowledge Matariki. We are looking forward to celebrating Matariki in the next few weeks at school with our tamariki, and sharing our learning with you at our final assembly of the term in week 10.
Ski trip 2022
Our annual ski trip has been booked for Friday, 19th August (pp Monday 22 August)
This year we are looking into booking 2nd day skiing although the 2nd day will come at a cost to parents/caregivers.
We are interested to get your thoughts. Please select the following link to fill in a google form survey. Click here
A special visitor
Yesterday morning Room 1 had a very special visitor come along and read some of her favourite picture book ' Fancy Nancy' to the class.
Mayor Marie Black from the Hurunui District Council was able to tie in a visit to our school with other Mayoral duties. We really enjoyed hosting Mayor Black as we know she is a very busy lady. Room 2 students got to have a bit of a chat with her and who knows a future Mayor of HDC could be from Waiau School in years to come.
Room 2
Making music with a banana- yes it is a reality as the students found out this week! We have been working with Scratch Coding and using Makey Makeys to create simple circuits. Lots of problem solving and teamwork ensued and the students were able to turn a humble banana into an object that generated sound on the computer. After the lesson we ended up with 4 bruised bananas which will be recycled into a ‘Makey Makey Banana Cakey’ for camp. This follows the Circular Economy- something we have been learning about in our lessons with Serina.
Room 1 visits Waiau Playcentre
Room 1 managed to have a visit to Waiau Playcentre this week and Mrs Macfarlane and Hayley said that our students were wonderful Waiau School ambassadors. There are more visits to Playcentre planned in the future.
School Absences
Contacting the school if your child/ren are away.
Please let us know via the App or alternatively leave a message on our landline or school cellphone 027 228 8913 before 9am if possible.
Upcoming Events
- Room 2 Camp - June 21 – 23
- Matariki Public Holiday (School closed) Friday 24 June
- NZ Playhouse - Wednesday, June 29
- Student Led Conferences - Monday July 4 & Tuesday, July 5
- Assembly - Friday, July 8⋅2:30 – 3:00pm
- Term 2 Ends - Friday, July 8
- Term 3 Begins - Monday, July 25
Contact Us
Email: office@waiau.school.nz
Website: https://waiau.school.nz/
Location: Waiau School 11 Montrose Street, Waiau 7332, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 315 6027
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Waiau-School/100057444370147/