Kia ora koutou Witherlea whānau,

The first shoutout is to our amazing community as we have seen almost EVERY scooter rider at school wear a helmet this week and walk their scooters down to McKenzie Street. This has blown me away as principal and you need to be applauded as we show value for the precious lives of our young people.

The second shout out is for the way every adult is respecting the Level 2 protocols. So great to see the mask-wearing, the scanning and signing in and so many parents and caregivers dropping off at the gate.

Every student, even if worried at first has loved being back at school. Going into the classrooms in the first week back the children were engaged, happy and appreciative of being with their friends and classmates getting back into the swing of learning and boy there were some happy teachers and support staff too.

Thank you to those families and whānau who reached out whether during the lockdown and Level 3 or following to thank us for the hard packs, the devices or the way the teachers and school communicated - we really appreciate your appreciation. And we would also like to extend our appreciation back to all of our families and whānau who took our learning tasks or challenges and ran with them or created their own. It was so impressive. Your connection on Seesaw was wonderful.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the staff and students for embracing Māori Language Week last week and throughout the last 3 years to see the changes no matter how small to Tikanga at Witherlea School. The changes have seen karakia, waiata, mihi whakatau being embedded at all levels for all students. On Tuesday we participated in the Maori Language Moment at 12pm from every corner of the school. The video is below. Aliana H-T led the school and every student and staff member was involved. It happened with ease because of how far we have come in our journey in the Te Ao space. Such a proud moment as a principal.

If you know me though, you know that stagnancy or resting on our laurels is never good enough. I am a shaker and a mover and I do this for the learners, for communities and for education as a whole. The world is changing rapidly all around us and we need to adapt, shift, improve and change through robust discussions and considered decisions. You see, we have such an important job educating and preparing these amazing students for the future ahead...and we are not sure what it looks like but we are sure if each of them knows their potential and strives to reach it then they will succeed, no matter what.

So, this Friday is our last Teachers Only Day for the year and school is CLOSED. We plan these days a year ahead on our calendar so that we have time and space for the mahi / work we have been doing throughout the year on; our Curriculum Delivery Plan, Mathematics, Dispositions for our learners, Assessment and workshops developing understanding in the Ka Hikitia (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) space. We thank you for your support as a community in recognising the time it takes to shift our thinking, understanding, teaching and learning so that we continue to develop and improve for our learners.

Please note on the calendar below that the Whānau Open Day for Term Three is cancelled due to Alert Level Restrictions and protocols. As disappointing as it is we need to take the lead from our children who have shown such resilience for all the cancelled events through COVID.

We look forward to Alert Level 1 and celebrating our children together.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Andrea Harnett - Tumuaki

We wish to welcome these new students and their families and whānau to our school and community;

Isla F, Sophie H, Sophie M

Welcome to School Certificates are given out at our Flag Raising on a Monday morning at 9am when we are in Alert Level 1.

Week 9 - Wiki Tuaiwa

Monday 20th September - Thursday 23rd September

Friday 24th September - SCHOOL CLOSED

Teachers Only Day

Week 10 - Wiki Tekau

Monday 27th September - Friday 1st October

Friday 1st October

Subway School Lunches

Cancelled Event Due to ALert Level Gathering Issues

• Whānau Open Day and Art Exhibition

Week 1 - Wiki Tuaono

Monday 18th October - Friday 22nd October

Friday 22nd October

Loud Shirt Day - Anti Bullying

Subway School Lunches

School Disco (Alert Level 1) Year 0-2 5:15pm-6:45pm

(Alert Level 1) Year 3-6 7:00pm-8:30pm

Week 2 - Wiki Tuarua

Tuesday 26th October- Friday 29th October

Monday 25th October - Labour Day

SCHOOL CLOSED

Friday 29th October

Subway School Lunches

Week 3 - Wiki Tuatoru

Tuesday 2nd November - Friday 5th November

Monday 1st November - Marlborough Anniversary Day

SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday 2nd November

Athletics Day

Friday 5th November

Subway School Lunches

Week 4 - Wiki Tuawhā

Monday 8th November - Friday 12th November

Tuesday 9th - Friday 12th November

Mistletoe Bay Camp 1 = Room 6 and Room 7

Friday 12th November

Subway School Lunches

Week 5 - Wiki Tuarima

Monday 15th November - Friday 19th November

Monday 15th - Wednesday 17th November = Room 15 & 16

Wednesday 17th - Friday 19th November = Room 17 & 18

Pine Valley Camps = Year 4's Kowhai

Thursday 18th November

Interschool Athletics Champs

Friday 19th November

Subway School Lunches

Week 6 - Wiki Tuaono

Monday 22nd November - Friday 26th November

Tuesday 23rd - Friday 26th November

Mistletoe Bay Camp 2 = Room 9

Week 7 - Wiki Tuawhitu

Monday 29th November - Friday 3rd December

Friday 3rd December

Interschool Football - AMP Showgrounds

Subway School Lunches

Week 8 - Wiki Tuawaru

Monday 6th December - Friday 10th December

Monday 6th - Thursday 9th December

Mistletoe Bay Camp 3 = Room 8 and Room 17 (Year 5's)

Friday 10th December

Service Assembly - Participating and Contributing

Subway School Lunches

Week 9 - Wiki Tuaiwa

Monday 13th December - Friday 17th December

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL for 2021

Monday 13th December

Reports Go Home

Tuesday 14th December

Class Swap. - Meet 2022 teacher

Year 6 Final Assembly: 1:30pm

Year 6 Leavers BBQ and Hui: 5pm

Wednesday 15th December

Year 6 Leavers BBQ and Hui Postponement

Thursday 16th December

End of Year Breakup and Whānau Open afternoon: Time TBC

Friday 17th December

School Closes at 12pm

Ferns Team

Reiner B: always showing integrity and respect to others. Ka pai Reiner, you are a superstar!

Oliver M: always modelling what it means to be a kind, safe and fair Witherlea student.

Punga Team

Ollie S: for showing kindness towards others, taking risks in his learning and participating in all his tasks

Xaver H: for always being kind and fair to his peers.

Zene W: shows compassion when others are not feeling their best

Elizabeth T: she is kind and considerate to all her classmates and to the teachers and is 100% reliable to complete any job she is asked to do. A very self-managed worker.

Lily D: constantly works to a high standard and to the best of her ability, alongside great time management.

Alex H: responsible and thoughtful. Alex works steadily on all tasks and takes pride in his work. He consistently demonstrates our school values - he is a role model to others.

Olivia W: she is kind and considerate to all her classmates and to the teachers and is 100% reliable to complete any job she is asked to do. A very self-managed worker.

Kauri Team

Jake P: for consistently working hard, for showing bravery through adversity and being a great friend in the class.

Stella C: for supporting others on Seesaw during lockdown and always giving positive feedback.

Chey W: for always showing courage and integrity. Chey is an upstander and is never afraid of speaking up for what is right.

These students have been using their kind, safe and fair qualities within our school, towards other students and supporting our culture at Witherlea.

Madison M, Max M, Elena M, Ayden P, Isabella R, Caius T

We are very proud of the effort towards learning that our youngest students put in as the Early Words is the start of mastery at Witherlea School.