Week 7, Term 3 2020
Tauranga Primary School Newsletter
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou katoa - Warm greetings to you all.
Kia ora koutou,
Congratulations to Caleb Nelson for winning the Year 5 South Cluster speech competition, a great achievement.
Level 2 protocols are working well across the school, thank you for your support and positive approach to following the guidelines. Just a reminder that officially the school gates open from 8:30am in Level 2. There should be no parents on site before then, unless you have a scheduled meeting. Students should be at school no earlier than 8:15am. Parents who come on site are asked to be on and off the site within 10 minutes and not to go inside classrooms.
The middle school moved into their new rooms last Thursday. We are super pleased with how they have turned out and look forward to hosting an open afternoon once we move to Level 1. A few photos are shared below.
Deciding class placements for the new school year is a complex task. As well as considering numbers of children at each year level and the number of teachers we are allocated, we need to consider the individual learning needs for each child, gender balance, social skill development and peer relationships. We must ensure that all learners’ needs receive due consideration. Where necessary staff will discuss with parents, the placement of their children.
At this stage, we plan for most children in Years 3 and 5 to remain in the same learning hub they are in this year. We do this to maximise learning opportunities, and reduce lost learning time as a result of transition. The Year 3 to 5 teachers in each learning hub know their learners; their strengths and next learning steps, and are able to continue with current learning goals from day one of 2021.
Please note that one or two teachers may change class or year level due to normal annual staffing changes e.g. career progression. In 2021, due to large student numbers in our 2020 Year 5 cohort, we will most likely have six Year 5 and 6 whanau groups.
While we ask parents to allow us to exercise our professional judgement in placing all children fairly, we do appreciate some input from families where specific needs should be considered. It is not possible for senior staff to meet with all parents and listen to individual requests. However, if there are extenuating or special circumstances that we may not be aware of, please put these requests in writing and ensure they are sent to me by the end of Week 2, Term 4, 23rd October.
If there has been an issue in the past that we need to be reminded of it is also worth sending an e-mail or talking to your child’s class teacher, as not all information is carried over from year to year.
Only requests made in writing will be considered
In 2021 we are predicting (from our current student numbers and enrolment data) that we will have several places available for out of zone Year 2 students (children who are currently in Year 1 for 2020) and New Entrants starting in Term 1. We encourage out of zone families to enrol in our ballot for 2021 (if they have a Year 2 or New Entrant student for a Term 1 2021 start.) To enrol please contact our school office office@tauranga.school.nz or complete an online enrolment form. Enrolment forms can be found on our school website.
If you are a current TPS family and have a child due to start school in 2021, please ensure that you have enrolled them, so that we can include them in our planning for next year.
Nau mai, haere mai, a very warm TPS welcome to Zachary Robertson and Quinn Read who started recently at our school. We are glad to have you and your family as part of our TPS TEAM.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Noho ora mai
Fiona Hawes
Learning Conference information
Learning Conferences are scheduled for 17th September 8:00am - 7:30pm.
Please make an appointment with your child's (whanau) teacher as this is a valuable opportunity to learn about and share in your child's learning.
We aim to have 100% of parents/caregivers attend. Senior and Middle school students will have a student led conference, with a 30 minute time slot. Junior school students will have a 15 minute interview as normal.
To book your interview go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the event code sent previously by e-mail and paper notice.
We ask that, where possible, all TPS children do not attend school on Thursday 17th September, unless attending their Learning Conference with you.
However, if your child/ren will be attending school, please register your child on our School Shop: https://www.tauranga.school.nz/school-shop
Click on Learning Conference, and answer three questions to register your child, so that we know that they need to be supervised on the 17th September. Each child needs to be registered individually.
TPS Heritage Wall
As part of the refurbishment of the middle school we used salvaged windows, roof tiles and weatherboards to create a Heritage Wall on the container located on the junior site.
Through the windows we have retold some historic events related to Tauranga Primary School. Thank you to Susan O'Neill and Robyn Caley who have spearheaded this project.
They have created a wonderful addition to our school cultural narrative.
Cohort Entry proposed for 2021
Relevant for new entrant (5 year old) enrolments only.
We are investigating the introduction of cohort entry at the start of term 1, 2021. Cohort entry refers to new entrant children starting school as a group, at the beginning or mid-point of a term, AFTER THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY as opposed to starting school on their fifth birthday. Parents will continue to have the option of not starting their child in school until their sixth birthday, regardless of whether or not TPS has a cohort entry policy.
Supporting students to have a great start at school is very important for their early success. Starting a child on or close to their fifth birthday has been the most common practice, however, schools can now use a cohort entry method.
What are the potential benefits of cohort entry for children?
Cohort entry may help children to settle better in school.
- There is evidence to suggest that starting school at the same time as a group of other children helps children build relationships and supports a smoother entry to school.
- New entrant teachers can prepare for groups of children arriving on a specific date rather than on an individual and ad hoc basis throughout the year. This will mean more continuity for learning programmes.
- Cohort entry will allow us to provide an increasingly targeted NETTS, New Entrant Transition To School (NETTS) programme.
- It helps us, as school leaders, to better plan to meet our staffing needs as we will have two designated start dates each term, which then ultimately ensures a more settled learning environment for your child.
How it would work
- We would have two intake periods each term - at the start of term and at mid term.
- All new entrants who turn five before the start of the term can start at the beginning of that term, or at a later mid term or start of term date before their sixth birthday.
- If their birthday falls after the start of term but before the mid term date, they can start on the mid term date, or at a later start of term or mid term date before their sixth birthday.
- Children must have turned five before they can start school.
This will mean that we will have eight dates during the year where new entrants start in the classroom. Students won't be starting school on their birthday, they can start on the closest date after their fifth birthday.
Term 1
Proposed start of term date 4/02/2021
Proposed mid-term date 15/03/2021
Term 2
Proposed start of term date 3/05/2021
Proposed mid-term date 8/06/2021 (Tuesday)
Term 3
Proposed start of term date 26/07/2021
Proposed mid-term date 30/08/2021
Term 4
Proposed start of term date 18/10/2021
Proposed mid-term date 15/11/2021
If you are receiving a child care subsidy this can continue until the relevant cohort entry date, please go to the following link for more information on support.
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online-services/cohort-entry/index.html#null
If we change to cohort entry for Term 1 2021 we would notify families by week 10 Term 3 2020.
As part of the process for potentially implementing cohort entry we need to consult with staff, our current school community and also parents of prospective students to our school.
If you have any questions, thoughts or comments you would like to make on this potential change to how we enrol our New Entrants please email rcaley@tauranga.school.nz.
Ngā mihi nui
Robyn Caley
Assistant Principal
FOTS (Friends of the School) update
- Due to the current COVID situation we are postponing all Donut Fridays until we return to Level 1.
- We had hoped to offer a pizza lunch option this term as well, however this also will wait until we return to Level 1.
- We hope to host the School Disco on the 24th of September. Heads up, the theme is "Kiwiana"
School Production - The Space Project
In Term 4 we are presenting our school production "THE SPACE PROJECT". All children except our newest New Entrants (Room 18) will be involved in this production.
We will be performing in the Performing Arts Centre at Bethlehem College. The evening shows will be held on the 18th and 19th of November. It is essential that all children can perform; please diary these dates now.
A school production is a considerable undertaking, with significant costs. We will be looking for businesses to partner with our school as sponsors for the show. Please contact Fiona Hawes if you are interested in this opportunity.
You can access the show songs online if children want to practise at
GO TO – Login for Scripts & Music
Username: taurangaprimary
Password: gsmack20.
- 8th September - Board of Trustees meeting - 7:00pm
- 11th September - Donut Friday - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 14th September - Reports go home
- 16th September- International Student Conferences
- 17th September - Learning Conferences 8:00am -7.30pm
- 18th September - Pizza Friday ( FOTS) - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 23rd September - Photolife class and student photos
- 24th September - FOTS school disco - Kiwiana theme - only going ahead if in Level 1
- 25th September - Mufti day - whole school
- 25th September - Last day of term
- 18th and 19th November - School Production week
- 14th December - Last day for school instruction 2020 ( School finishes at 12:00 noon)
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD
Contacts
Principal
Fiona Hawes
07 578 6222
Deputy Principal
Cathy Ediker
Assistant Principal
Robyn Caley
Junior Team Leader
Pam Wilkins
Middle Team Leader
Jason Morgan
Acting Senior Team Leader
Jo Howard
International Student enquiries
Cathy Ediker
Business Manager
Susan O'Neill
Office Administrator and Enrolment Officer
Barbara Turley