Puketapu School Newsletter
Week 7, Term 1 2020
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
From our Principal
Kia ora koutou,
The topic everywhere this week is COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a very fluid and unprecedented situation and as things are constantly evolving, we will continue to base all our decisions on the latest advice from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and relevant authorities and experts.
We will keep you informed as we know more.
Let's continue to work together, be alert, and let's keep each other safe.
Nga mihi
Matua Ngatai
KIA KAHA - KIA MĀĪA - KIA MANAWANUI
SCHOOL TRIPS & LEARNING EXCURSIONS
After the hui this morning with the New Plymouth Principals Association and Medical Officer for Health, Dr Jonathon Jarman, Puketapu School has made the call to postpone out of school group trips, excursions as of this morning.
What this means is that any group trip outside of our school will be postponed or cancelled unless it is a small group of 5 or less travelling by foot within walking distance of our school.
What this looks like for our next few weeks:
- Thursday 19th March - Year 2 & 3 Try-Athlon @ School (STILL ON unless poor weather).
- Friday 20th March - Year 5 - 8 Swimming Sports @ Bell Block Pool (POSTPONED),
Women's Institute performance @ Fred Tucker Hall - Year 7 & 8 Group (POSTPONED) - Wednesday 25th March - Weetbix Tryathlon - (CANCELLED),
Duffy Role Model Assembly (Northpoint) - (CANCELLED) - Monday 6th & Tuesday 7th April - Kauri Year 7 & 8 Marae Overnight (POSTPONED)
As our Learning Partnership Hui is at our school we will continue with this unless new information comes to us from the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education.
Hygiene in our School
Educating our Learners about good hygiene: On Tuesday our staff taught an interactive lesson on “The science of germs and hand washing to school kids”. Look at this lesson on Nanogirl's website https://www.nanogirllive.co.nz/. Do the lesson as a family and have your child lead. It is a really informative way to learn about soap and germs.
Cleaning our Hands: We have made sure that all bathrooms at our school have full soap dispensers and are installing soap dispensers in the classroom wet areas also. We are looking into the best solutions for drying our hands in our bathrooms. Paper towels are one option however there is a lot of waste and the cost of these are approximately $150 per month for each bathroom or classroom. We are currently getting quotes on purchasing and installing hand dryers in each bathroom.
Cleaning in our School: We have communicated with our cleaning company, Crest Clean, about the importance of making sure all surfaces are cleaned and high usage areas (door handles, light switches etc) and are monitoring this.
Learning about Keeping Clean
In Totara 1 we learnt how germs attach themselves to our hands by taking part in a science experiment using water and grounded pepper. We were fascinated when we applied liquid soap to our finger and the "germs" were repelled away from our finger when dipped in water.
Happy Birthday to you...
If your child is anxious/worried about the virus:
Talking to children about coronavirus gives some guidelines about how you might support your child. At all times we believe it is about being aware and speaking honestly.
For more information please visit:
Ministry of Health
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
Ministry of Education
Learning Partnerships Hui - Week 9
As our Learning Partnership Hui is at our school we will continue with this unless new information comes to us from the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education.
These are for 20 minute meetings with the student, their teacher and whanau. Your child's teacher will be sharing with you the learning progress of your child, evidence of their learning and what their next steps are.
We also want to have a korero with you around how you can enhance their learning journey outside of school too.
Just like the Head Start Hui in February, Friday will be for meetings only. There will be no school, only your child's meeting. You come in to school, have your meeting together, then go home again.
Book a time that suits you using SchoolInterviews. The event code is: 9z7zz
(If you are unable to book online yourself, please telephone the office.)
What's that on the field?
Hats, Hoodies and Ts
Hats (black only) are in stock now - $10 each
The next order for T's and Hoodies is being put together now. Come in to the office to try for size and to place your order.
Ts are $20 in a range of colours and sizes from child XS to adult 5XL
Hoodies are $45 (or $55 with a personalised name on the back) also in lots of colours and sizes..
Please note that both Ts and Hoodies must be paid in advance and delivery will be in early Term 2.
Super Stars
Kia Kaha - Do Your Best
- Losa Fonoti
- Harmony Lambert
- Roam Harvey-Smith
- Kayden Tango
- Rayne Morehu
- Reeve Hunt
- Goo Pham
From The Tech Room - STEM
Thursday modules this term are for innovators and problem solvers.
The STEM modules are based around several small activities. We normally start with a quick Lego challenge. Some of these might look simple but given a 4 min time slot, it can be hard!
We are currently looking at renewable energy and how we can harness the energy of the wind. To do this we are investigating Americas Cup boats and using these to design our own Waka Moana. These are at the planning stage, with the trial sail happening on Thursday of week 7.
FOOD TECH
Kia ora.
Food tech classes are working towards designing a healthy lunchbox snack.
This week we are making vege pizzas with either a scone base or tortilla wrap base.
Students had to use 3 different coloured vegetables, prepared using 3 different cutting techniques.
This is a easy, cheap and healthy lunch or dinner option.
Kia manawanui in action at Puketapu School
Values Awards
Rico Rauputu
For growing as a leader over the last couple of weeks and is helping those around him with their learning!
Our Values Awards are sponsored by The White Pear Cafe
Kia manawanui
Duffy Awards
Congratulations to our Totara akonga who were Caught Being Good this week:
- Carter Silich
- Unique Davis
- Alexis Gorrie
- Rocky Lomano
- Kasey Judd
- Madie Cadman
- Lucy Nicholas
- Summer Wilkinson
Lucky Book Club Issue #2
The last day for ordering books through school is Thursday 26 March 2020 or order online at The Loop
Sports Corner
As part of the containment actions, many sporting events are being cancelled or postponed.
This has so far included touch, inline hockey, netball, swimming...
We will do our best to keep you updated as we know more.
School Photos
This Access Key will display all the photographs of your child, including sibling photos. It is then an easy process for you to shop online and purchase the photographs you want.
If you place your order within three weeks of receiving your Access Key you will receive free delivery for your photo orders. PhotoLife sends all these orders back to the school and your child will bring their photographs home.
Any orders placed after this three week period will be sent directly to your specified delivery address and PhotoLife will charge you $6.00 delivery.
White Pear FRIDAY LUNCHES
Order and pay at the office before 3:30pm on Wednesday.
(You can order on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday but Thursday is too late)
The lunch menu for the rest of this term is:
Friday 27 March
- Sweetcorn and Bacon Quiche - $4
- Cranberry, Chicken and Brie Panini - $4
- Fruit Salad and Yoghurt - $5
- Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffin - $3
There will be no Friday lunch on Friday 2 April due to the Learning Partnerships Hui
BIRTHDAYS
- Shavorn McLeod-Lackner
- Ariā Wilson-Johnson
- Dayna Adamson
- Sharn Hoeta
- La-Shaye Hoeta
- Nevaeh Hoeta
- Markus Delport
What's On - This Week and Next
Week 7
Thursday 19 March
- STILL ON: Totara Tryathlon 11.40am start
Friday 20 March
- CANCELLED: Women's Institute Performance 10.15am (selected performers)
- POSTPONED: Puketapu School Swimming Sports (BBK Pool) from 11.00am
Week 8
Monday 23 March
- STILL ON: St John Ambulance - First aid in schools (here all week)
- STILL ON: The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
Tuesday 24 March
- CANCELLED: Kowhai Rippa Rugby Skills (with Daniel Waite)
Wednesday 25 March
- CANCELLED :Weetbix TRYathlon to register: https://tryathlon.co.nz/
- CANCELLED: Duffy Role Model Assembly (Author Maria Gill @ Northpoint)
Thursday 26 March
- STILL ON: Rimu Shared Kai 2pm
What's On - Later this term
Here are some of the main items on our school calendar for this term. More information will follow closer to the event.
Week 9
Monday 30 March
- STILL ON: The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
- STILL ON: St John First Aid in Schools (here until Thursday)
Tuesday 31 March
- POSTPONED: Year 6-8 Interschool Swimming Sports - Bell Block Pool
Thursday 2 April
- STILL ON: Learning Partnership Hui - 3.30pm - 8.00pm
Normal School Day - Meetings after school
Friday 3 April
- STILL ON: Learning Partnership Hui - 8.30am - 5.00pm
Meetings only - No School
Week 10
Monday 6 April
- STILL ON: The Wool Shed - outside the tech block (here all week)
- POSTPONED: Kauri overnight stay at Muru Raupatu Marae
- STILL ON: Kowhai Ranui Day
Last Day of Term 1 is Thursday 9 April
First Day of Term 2 is Tuesday 28 April
Community Notices
ST Mary's Diocesan - Open Day
OPEN DAY - Wednesday 25 March
Families are welcome to visit us anytime between 10.00am and 2.00 pm
Engaging Hearts – Inspiring Minds
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
Mentors have a powerful, positive and lasting impact on young people.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand matches young people between the age of 6 and 12 years of age with an adult mentor - someone to spend one-to-one time with each week, after school or at weekends doing things they both enjoy - a few hours, a couple of times a month. Most sessions take place in the community, at a library, a park, the beach or at other free facilities
Many Bell Block children already benefit from having a mentor who spends one hour a week with them.
Do you want to find out more?
Information sessions will be held at Puketapu School to share information and answer any questions you may have. Come along for a cuppa and a biscuit or two and see if BBBS is right for you.
Puketapu School
Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973