West Park School
Friday 18th March 2022
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora, Talofa, Kia orana,
Greetings Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers,
Hard to believe that we are now well into the second half of Term 1. At school, COVID has certainly presented us all with a number of challenges, but none that we haven’t yet been able to manage or work through.
Earlier this week the Prime Minister announced that rapid antigen test kits (RAT kits) were being distributed to state and state-integrated schools, kura, and early learning services to allow the provision of RAT kits for children, and staff who are symptomatic at school, kura, or an early learning service.
Please note that this is a short-term measure by the Ministry of Education to complement those already in place (including vaccination, face masks, sound hygiene practices and ventilation) during the peak of Omicron in a region. Supply to the school when received will be limited to four weeks.
The RAT kits will not be replacing existing advice to stay home and seek advice about testing, or go home, if unwell.
When the RAT kits are received by the school they will be used for symptomatic staff, and will be sent home with a child if they develop symptoms when at school.
For children we expect that tests will be administered at home. We will be expecting that children with symptoms are collected by a parent or caregiver and a test will be provided to the parent or caregiver to administer at home.
MOST RECENT CORONAVIRUS CORREPONDENCE
(With figures updated to the 17th of March)
Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,
Over the past two weeks we have seen an increase in the number of student/ staff confirmed COVID-19 cases, and the number of students/ staff isolating by being household members of confirmed cases. On each occasion the school has sent out individual correspondences to families of the affected class, however, as the number of cases grow the volume of correspondences needing to be sent and received will become significant. This correspondence is to let you know that as of today individual classroom updates will no longer be being emailed out, instead you will be able to find a COVID-19 update table on our school website (www.westpark.school.nz). The table will go onto our website tomorrow and be updated every forty-eight hours to show the number of confirmed cases, and the number of students isolating by being household members of confirmed cases. This will significantly reduce the number of correspondences and allow each family to be kept as up to date as they wish to be. Today’s number are as follows:
The only exception to the above will be if your child’s classroom teacher is required to isolate, in that event I will send a correspondence informing you of the isolation and explaining how the classroom will be catered for during the teacher’s isolation period.
Please note that following the new Ministry of Health Red Traffic Light Phase 3 guidelines, any person testing positive or is a household member of a positive case, is required to isolate for 7 days from having received the positive result. Those living with the positive case are required to test on day 3 and day 7.
Please note that at Red Traffic Light Phase 3 your child is not considered a close contact if they are in a classroom with confirmed cases, however, I ask that you please monitor your child’s health, keeping them at home and having them tested if they are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
Symptoms of COVID-19
· A new or worsening cough
· Sneezing and runny nose
· A fever
· Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
· Sore throat
· Shortness of breath
Less common symptoms include: diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.
For more information, go to covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/
What we will be doing if your child is a confirmed case or a household member of a confirmed case:
· We will record the case on our website
· We will provide distance learning for the isolating period
· We will make a device available, if required
· We will continue to ask that masks are worn by Year 4-6 students
· We will continue to follow Ministry hygiene, physical distancing and ventilation advise
· We will continue to ask all parents and caregivers to please keep their child at home if they are unwell
Luis Echegaray
Principal
Kindness
ONE OF OUR SCHOOL VALUES
KINDNESS
“I was shopping at my local supermarket, as I normally have for years. One particular day, I had done about 2 weeks’ worth of shopping and was headed toward the register to pay for my groceries. After the cashier had scanned my items and bagged them up, she stated that the total was $150.
I reached into my back right pocket to grab the money to pay and noticed that there was no money in there. I started to get nervous. I knew my purse was in the car and I was sure I had put the money in my back right pocket. I looked at cashier with wet eyes and a confused look not knowing what to do. There were people behind me on the line. She told me to speak with the person at the customer service desk. I laughed and said, "Really? It's cash, no one would hand that in!”
I said I would be right back and ran to my car and purse to get out more money to pay my bill, money that was to be used to pay another bill. I ran back inside and handed money to the cashier. She again prompted me to ask at the customer service desk, "You never know..." she said. I laughed and said "okay".
I decided that there was no harm in checking so I walked up to a woman behind the desk and said "I have to ask, did anyone turn in cash by any chance?". She asked "How much?". My face then lit up. "$200 in the form of two, one hundred dollar notes." I replied. She said, "Actually, yes, someone did!". I was so surprised! "Who? I want to thank them." She pointed to a young girl about 10 years old and said, "She did."
I walked over to her mum and hugged her. She said, "It wasn't me, it was my daughter". I said "I know, I wanted to thank you both, although she found it ... it's because of you that I got this back." I was so happy; I was almost in tears.
The next day at work, a person in another department offered me tickets to the circus. He handed me 5 tickets. Almost instantly that young girls face popped in my head. After work I went back to the supermarket and stopped at the customer service desk and asked if they had any idea who that women and young girl were? She smiled and said, "Yes, actually I do. She is a friend of mine". Oh good, I was so happy. I asked her to do me a favour and pass along these 5 tickets to her and say thank you from me.
She told me that the family of the little girl who found my money didn't have very much so they would really appreciate this. She also said that they had 3 children, so five was the prefect number of tickets! "Wow," I thought.
At first, I had I felt a little weird taking those tickets to the store but I am SO glad I did!’
Writer: Anonymous
Lesson: Never think twice about doing something nice for someone’
Junior School Update
Middle School Update
Senior School Update
Over the past few weeks Team Kahikatea have been learning about New Zealand History.
Room 14 and 15 have been focusing on learning about how Māori lived before European settlers arrived. We have watched videos, read information and looked at photographs to create our own Pā sites in Minecraft Education. Some of us have worked in teams to create our Pā sites while others have chosen to work on a solo project.
Through this activity we have learnt to work collaboratively and think creatively to display our learning.
School Notices and Upcoming Events
Road Patrollers
A reminder about road patrols. Our road patrollers are year 6 students who give up their own time before and after school to help others cross safely at tricky crossings. These students have been trained by New Zealand Police and when in their roles as road patrollers are representing the Police. Some of us who have been out on patrols with them have noticed a small number of parents ignoring instructions from our road patrollers. Their routine is quite specific. When they see a space in the traffic the leader calls “signs out” and both patrollers put their signs out. At this point their left arms will be up to indicate that people should not cross yet. The leader then calls “check”, and both patrollers check that it is safe. In their training, by the police they are specifically told to wait for cars to come to a complete stop if the cars are nearby. The reason for this is that although cars may look like they are stopping, it is possible to slip on the gas pedal. The second patroller will then say “clear” and if the leader is satisfied that it is safe to cross, they will say “cross now” to let those waiting know it is safe to cross the road.
At this point we are still early in the year and our road patrollers are building experience so some of them may take a little longer to decide it is safe to cross. Please understand this is them taking extra care to make sure your children cross safely. Please support our road patrollers in helping to keep your children safe and let others know to wait for the “cross now” before stepping onto the road. This of course goes doubly for cars going through the crossings. If the signs are out, even if just one sign is out, respect the crossing and wait until the signs have been brought in to go through the crossing. Thank you!
Library Notice
Sunhats/Sunscreen
Absent or Late Students
School Donations
The 2022 donation being requested is as follows.
One child - $220 for the year
Two children - $440 for the year
Three children - $660 for the year
2022 Term Dates
Term Dates 2022:
Term 1 Thu 3 Feb – Thu 14 April (11 weeks)
Term 2 Mon 2 May – Fri 8 July (10 weeks)
Term 3 Mon 25 July – Fri 30 Sept (10 weeks)
Term 4 Mon 17 Oct – Fri 16 Dec (9 weeks)
Upcoming Events
- Monday, 11 Apr - BoT meeting (6.15pm, via Zoom) - If you would like to attend the meeting, please email our school board ( board@westpark.school.nz ) to receive a Zoom link to the meeting
- Thursday, 14 April - Last day of Term 1
- Friday, 15 April - Good Friday
- Monday, 2 May - Day 1 of Term 2
- Tuesday, 17 May - Parent/ Teacher interviews 3.15-8.00pm
- Thursday, 19 May - Parent/ Teacher interviews 3.15-8.00pm
- Tuesday, 24 May - Parent/ Teacher interviews 3.15-8.00pm
- Thursday, 26 May - Parent/ Teacher interviews 3.15-8.00pm
- Friday, 3 June - Teacher Only Day
- Monday, 6 June - Queen’s birthday
- Friday, 24 June - Matariki
Community Notices
Junior Tough Guy & Gal Challenge
World Series Indoor Cricket
We wanted to let you know about an amazing opportunity for all your cricketers – both boys and girls.
With the Women’s Cricket World Cup being hosted in NZ it’s a great time to get more girls giving cricket a go in a friendly environment where everyone gets to bat, bowl and field.
You’ll love it and your cricket skills will go to a whole new level.
Indoor Cricket played Saturday afternoons over the winter months.
Check out our website and see what Amelia Kerr has to say about World Series.
Johnsonville Junior Rugby
Attention all Kids and Parents
Come and play rugby for the Johnsonville Junior Rugby Club
Registrations are now open for the 2022 Rugby Season. The season will start on 6/7 May and finishes on 26/27 August. If you are interested and would like more information, please
email johnsonvillejrns@gmail.com.
TO REGISTER GO TO
https://www.sporty.co.nz/johnsonvillerugbyjnr
OR
Our Facebook page ‘Johnsonville Junior Rugby Club’
Kapi-Mana Music Festival 2022
Greetings from Kapi-Mana Music,
We are very pleased to let you know that the Kapi-Mana Music Festival will be held over Queen's Birthday weekend, 4–5 June, 2022 at the Performing Arts Studio, Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua. Open to school students in the greater Wellington area. We have classes for all instruments, and voice, at all levels.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, we held a very successful festival last year. The students thoroughly enjoyed it, and we were treated to many special performances.
Entries will open on 13 April and close on 15 May.
Please visit our website for a full list of classes, and the conditions of entry. www.kapimanamusic.org.nz
Brain Play in Wellington
Brain Play is a future-focused and innovative technology company that aims to introduce students aged 5 -15, of all abilities, to science and technology fields such as coding, robotics, electronics, 3D printing and other STEM topics.
Open for ages 5 -15, no previous learning is required! With such a variety of topics available, this is sure to inspire and engage your rangatahi, exposing them to the endless possibilities within STEM!
Just get in touch at info@brainplay.co.nz for more details.
Contact Us
Email: office@westpark.school.nz
Website: https://www.westpark.school.nz
Location: 97 Broderick Road, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (04) 478 7074
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmcoveintermediateschool