Oratia District School Newsletter
Week 2 - 4 August 2022
Message from Ms Linda
Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whanau o te Orātia. Zdravo. Talofa lava. Ni hao. Kia orana. Namaste.
Greetings Orātia whānau. It has been so wonderful to have blue skies shining on us the past few days. What a change from the previous weeks. Our grounds are very soggy so we have had to close the school fields and ask students to stay off the grass. Fortunately we do have good areas of court space so I see our teachers taking their students out for games and PE/Fitness regularly throughout the day, and intervals provide good outdoor play time too. Tuakana syndicate are working towards their Winter Games event and are out each week playing different sports. Matua Ben has been training up his rugby teams - even in the wet, and they are loving it. We have a strong girls team this year which is wonderful to see. We will be playing some matches against Henderson Valley School later in the term, which will give them all the chance to put their training into practice.
As I was visiting classes in the senior end of the school today I was interested to see many preparing for their student led/3-way conferences. I also got to read a number of excellent stories, persuasive speeches and descriptive sentences, and chat to the children about their writing. I really enjoyed engaging with our students.
Our caretaker Ian Julian handed in his resignation over the school holiday period and has worked out his 2 weeks notice with his last day being Tuesday this week. We are sorry to see him go, but he had other opportunities come his way that he felt he couldn't pass up. Fortunately, we have had Steven Reddington join us in his place. He starts on Monday 8 August and we look forward to working with him. Steven comes to us with many years experience in looking after teams, the care of public spaces across West Auckland, and renovating skills. He and Moira will look after the school buildings and grounds, so please say hello to him if you see him around.
3-way/student led conferences are Thursday August 11. School closes early that day at 12.30pm before lunch. Information about these conferences came home in an email to you on Monday. Please book your slot as we look forward to meeting with you and your child to discuss their learning and progress against goals.
Nominations for the triennial board elections close August 10. Please contact Michelle Muir in the office (michellem@oratia.school.nz; 818 6216) for application forms or for any information you would like about this. We are looking for more nominations.
Whaea Gemma and Mr Coenradi are working hard with the Kapa Pasifika group preparing for the Fia fia night planned for August 25th. Save the date and head to kindo to purchase tickets.
Take care and stay well. Kia kaha, kia atawhai.
Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda
Friday lunch schedule
Friday 5 August - Subway (Order by 8.30pm Thursday)
Friday 12 August - Sushi (Order by 9am Thursday)
Friday 19 August - Jesters Pies (order by mid-day Thursday)
Friday lunches can be ordered on Kindo and will be delivered to your child's classroom at the beginning of lunchtime. Please contact the office to make arrangements to collect lunch orders if your child is absent on the day.
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, the child and anyone in their household with similar symptoms should be tested for COVID-19.
If any household members are COVID-19 positive, other household members are at high risk of becoming infected. Everyone should isolate for at least seven days from the day that the first person receives their positive test result or becomes symptomatic (whichever is earliest).
Once you have recovered from COVID-19, you do not need to isolate again for 3 months if someone you live with tests positive. This is because the risk of reinfection during this period is low.
All household contacts, including children, should take a rapid antigen test (RAT) on day three and day seven, or sooner if they develop symptoms. A person who has had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, does not need to isolate again as a household contact.
Anyone who experiences symptoms 29 days or longer after previous COVID-19 infection should test and will need to isolate if they test positive.
If your child:
has been isolating with COVID 19 and is feeling well after seven days, they can return to school
continues to be unwell and/or has symptoms after their seven-day isolation period has ended, they should remain at home to recover until 24 hours after their symptoms end
still feels unwell or their symptoms are worsening after ten days, they should not return to school. Call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for medical advice.
Find detailed information about COVID-19 symptoms on the Ministry of Health and Unite Against COVID-19 websites.
GET ON BOARD! Could you be our newest Board of Trustees member?
Three Way/Student Led Conferences - Thursday 11 August
These conferences are for your child to share their learning with you based on goals set at the beginning of the year. Teachers will be available to speak alongside your children.
The format is three or four families per 30 minute session in class at the same time. Teachers will move between families to share their time evenly. The level of teacher involvement in the conversation will depend on the age and capability of the child.
As always, if you feel you need more time with the teacher please email them to make arrangements to have an additional meeting at another time.
To make a booking please head to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and put in the event code 26w6j
The book fair is coming to Oratia School next week!
8th - 11th August 2022
The Annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the School Hall from the 8th August, so your
children can start making a wish list with their class, or have a look before and after
school. This event is a great fundraiser for our school library.
Sales will be Tuesday and Wednesday 8.15am – 9.30am and from 2.30pm– 3.30pm
Main sale day is Thursday 11th August 12 till 7pm (approx.) Eftpos only.
- There will be books to give away Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so come to school dressed as your favourite BOOK CHARACTER and be in to win.
- Free bookmarks and cool stationery from $1.
- All books will be for sale starting from $5 and you can purchase and take them home on the day.
- We are still looking for volunteers on the main sale day Thursday 11th August – if you can spare an hour or so, it would be hugely appreciated as the event runs until at least 7pm.
Please email - jessicak@oratia.school.nz
Thanks,
Jess (Librarian)
Lone Kauri school's visit to Karekare house
REMINDERS
Term 2 Lost Property
Can you help?
School Photos
Family Information Evening on our Structured Literacy Approach to Reading
This year Potiki (Year 0-2) teachers have introduced a new approach to teaching reading, based on Structured Literacy.
If you would like to find out more and hear how you could support your child as they begin their reading journey, please come and join us on Wednesday 17 August at 7 pm in the school hall.
There will be a short presentation and then some workshop stations hosted by our Potiki teachers. Please let your child's teacher know by email if you are planning to attend.
Friends of the Parent Network - Survey form
You may not be able to make the regular Parent Network (PTA) meetings (every first Tuesday of the month) but keen to help our school? This group is called 'Friends of the Parent Network'. If you would like to put your hand up to be on call for specific events or activities, or if you have contacts that could provide the school and Parent Network with resources or freebies of any kind we would love to hear from you.
Please add your name and details to the google form below to go into our database. One of the parent network will be in touch with you. We have two events coming up next term - the school disco and a staff appreciation breakfast. If you can help out in any way with either of these events please indicate on the form too.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sCwG11hESOOuaLyx8JnAi4ux_yUMe5o3utny2q7SEEg/edit#responses
Thank you in advance for taking the time to help us all out.
Gloop fun!
40 Hour Famine Pizza Fundraiser
40 Hour Famine Info
This year our school is participating in the World Vision 40 Hour Famine to help make a change for kids who urgently need clean water.
Clean water is a human right. Yet one in every five children don’t have enough clean water to get through the day.
Oratia School is looking to make a change! We’re holding our 40 Hour Famine challenge in the second weekend of Term 3 August 6 and 7. We need enthusiastic participants, so please visit our Fundraising page and join our team!
https://my.worldvision.org.nz/d/ss/vhsySJ/oratia-schoolCELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
Super Skater Grace Hepburn
Grace from Room 09, took part in X*Air last weekend, a skateboarding competition held in Mount Maunganui. It was a two day competition with Grace coming 4th. Congratulations Grace!
PARENT CORNER
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School Open Day and Evening
2022 Intermediate Open Day
- When: Thursday 1 September 2022
- Where: Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School, 131 Godley Road, Green Bay
- Venue: School Hall
- Time: 8.50am-2.55pm (School gates open at 8.30am)
2022 Intermediate Open Evening
- When: Thursday 1 September 2022
- Where: Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School, 131 Godley Road, Green Bay
- Venue: School Hall
- Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm
We offer a full curriculum aimed at Year 7&8 students in order to prepare them for High School. There are exciting initiatives in the pipeline for next year, so come along and meet our Principal, Mr Anand Muthoo, along with our whanau Kauri teachers (Y7&8) to find out more.
Glen Eden Intermediate Open Days
Contact Us
Email: principal@oratia.school.nz
Website: https://www.oratia.school.nz
Location: Shaw Road & West Coast Road, Oratia, Auckland 0604, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 818-6216
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OratiaSchool/