School Newsletter Week 1 - Term 4
21 October 2021
Nau mai, haere mai
A very warm welcome to tamariki and their families who have started at Paparangi School this week. Welcome to our friendly school: Tristan Tyson and Lily Neill.
Welcome to Term 4
Welcome back to school! I hope it was a fun break for your family. We are looking forward to the term ahead and feel very fortunate that we are open and can have children at school. Our thoughts are with our colleagues, family and whānau up North who remain in Level 3.
It's time to have your say - a community survey will be sent home next week. I encourage all our parents to take time to tell us your thoughts and ideas about school. Your feedback is welcomed and helps us develop our future strategic plan and annual goals.
This term a series of transition afternoons will run for tamariki in Y1 and Y3 who are moving to a new team next year. Later in the term, tours for parents of Y1 and Y3 children will be available so parents can see Pounamu and Rākau Nui learning programmes in action.
School is closed tomorrow
Teacher Only Day is tomorrow which means school is closed for the day. Teacher Only Days are valuable opportunities for all of our staff to come together for professional development. Our focus in term four is our local curriculum 'Growing Adventurous Learners' and quality assessment and reporting. School re-opens on Tuesday 26 October after Labour Day, a Public Holiday on Monday.
Sport and PE
Weekly basketball lessons are starting next week for classes on Thursdays or Fridays. A basketball coach will work with the students to develop their passing, dribbling, shooting and teamwork skills. This activity has been organised in place of swimming lessons which couldn't go ahead due to Level 2 conditions. There is no cost to families for the basketball, with the Board of Trustees subsiding the total cost of running the programme. Please send your child to school in suitable sports shoes on these days.
Home & School News
Great news! The new friendship seat was installed over the holidays. Thank you to Curtis and his dad Conroy who supplied the materials and did this for us. We would also like to thank William Yip and the team at Collective First National, who donated the funds to purchase the seat.
This means the remaining funds can be put towards the new outdoor sound system, which is what we're currently fundraising for. Then in term four each year we fundraise for our annual donation towards School Camp and the Leavers Gifts for Year 6s.
Under Level 2 we will be restricted with what we can do and unfortunately this means there will be no disco or any more on-site events this year. However we have a few ideas which should make the last term a bit of fun and will update you about how you can support us as it comes. Looking towards 2022, if you have any events or fundraising ideas you would like to share with Home and School, please email the team on paparangihomeandschool@gmail.com as we will start planning our fundraising calendar in the near future.
Calendar Art Fundraiser
Last term the children created amazing art work as part of our Calendar Art Fundraiser. A separate notice has been sent home that gives information about the selection of items that can be purchased with your child’s artwork on the cover and how to order them. They make fabulous Christmas gifts!
The closing date for receipt of orders has been extended until Wednesday 27th October. Details for payment are included on the order form. We appreciate that, due to Level 2 restrictions, you are not currently able to come into school to view your child’s art. So that you have an idea of the finished product, photos of each home group’s artwork have been shared using SeeSaw. Thank you in advance for your support. We are fundraising for a new playground.
What's on this term?
Hats on in Term 4
Term 4 is a no hat - no play term - wide brimmed hats must be worn outside. Hats may be purchased from the school office for $25 each. Orders taken on Kindo or pay by EFTPos or internet banking.
Emergency Readiness
Next week on Thursday 28 October we are taking part in the national Shake Out Day when many schools and organisations across NZ practice earthquake drills and ensure their emergency preparedness. It is a timely reminder to check what's in your family emergency kit and that the kid's go-bags are ready! For more information go to 'Get Ready'. During an earthquake drill we practise:
- DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to.
- COVER your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you).
- HOLD on to your shelter until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.
Supporting a local charity
Upcoming Events
Due to remaining at Alert Level 2 for an extended period, we may have to postpone or cancel more school events. We will let you know what events we can and cannot run this term as the term unfolds.
- Junior Parent Information Session - Sexuality Education in Y0-3 - CANCELLED, look out for an email from the junior teachers
- Teacher Only Day, school closed; Friday 22 October
- Labour Day Public Holiday, school closed; Monday 25 October
- Calendar Art Orders Close, Wednesday 27 October
- Basketball lessons, all classes, weekly on Thursdays and Fridays starting 28 October
- Loud Shirt Day, Friday 29 October
- School Photos, Thursday 4 November and Friday 5 November
- Year 6 orientation day at Newlands Intermediate, Friday 12 November
- EOTC Week (weather permitting), Monday 06 December to Friday 10 December
- Last day of Term 4, Wednesday 15 December at 1pm
Dates for 2022
Each year the Board of Trustees sets the days a school is open for. Here are term dates for next year:
T1: Wed 2 February - Wednesday 13 April
T2: Mon 2 May - Fri 8 July
T3: Mon 25 July - Friday 30 September
T4: Mon 17 October - Friday 16 December
There are three teacher only days scheduled for staff development which are attached to long weekends: Thursday 14 April (Easter) , Friday 3 June (Queen's Birthday) and Friday 21 October (Labour Day weekend).
After School Sport
SUPER SUMMER SPORTS! – TERM 4 (Yrs. 0-4) – Monday’s 3.05pm-4.05pm
Kelly Sports will be back in Term 4. Starting Monday 18 October with their fun and exciting classes.
This term we will focus on the following sports: Football, Turbo Touch, Athletics and Cricket!
This weekly programme gives children the skills and confidence in a fun and enjoyable environment.
It encourages their enthusiasm for sport and the life skills that such involvement brings – giving them confidence to join sports clubs and teams in the future.
It’s a great way to try new sports, learn new skills and improve ability.!
For full details and to enrol into our programmes visit www.kellysports.co.nz email adminwgtn@kellysports.co.nz or call 04 972 7201
Paparangi School Touch Teams Year 1-Year 6
Summer is coming which means so is the exciting touch season for the kids (and parents!).
We are now taking registrations for those keen to play in Term 4. Here are the details:
Games are played at Alex Moore Park Monday afternoons from 4pm. Games start 1st November for 6 weeks. Games are 30 minutes and once the draw is done, generally the same time every week.
Each player is $25 for the term and gets a prize at prize giving on the last day. Both boys and girls are invited to play. Once Level 1 resumes we will have some touch sessions before school for students to try it out. Touch is easy to learn, fun and well supported within the Paparangi School community. Come give it a go!
Register your child here - https://forms.gle/k1Dn2yukTV5tZScx6
Newsletter proudly sponsored by
Community Section
Marrzipan Drama
Contact Josh on 022 436 5608 or email wellington@marrzipandrama.co.nz
Marrzipan - After School classes at Paparangi
Kelly sports
KELLY CLUB OCT HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Kelly Club Holiday Programmes focus on giving children aged between 5 and 13 the opportunity to do things they enjoy in a safe, supportive and encouraging environment. This programme are packed with activities to entertain and inspire children. We have some exciting days planned: Dragons & Unicorns Day, Arty Party Day, Under the Sea Day and Battle Royale Day. We have heaps of fun craft, lots of games, cooking and trips to Wellington Zoo and Mini Golf!
Kelly Club is available at: Churton Park School, Amesbury School, West Park School, Island Bay School, Kelburn Normal School. To enrol www.kellyclub.co.nz, email adminwgtn@kellysports.co.nz or ph. 04 972 7201
Contact Us
Parents, please use the App to send a message about a student absence. It is our preferred method of contact for non-attendance and is quick and easy to do.
Email: office@paparangi.school.nz
Website: https://paparangi.school.nz
Location: 57-59 Beazley Avenue, Paparangi, Wellington 6037, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4-478 6617
Education Worker Vaccinations
You may have heard the announcement during the term break that all education workers need to be vaccinated by 1 January 2022. This is a positive step for all of New Zealand, and helps to keep our students and staff safe at school. We are working through the mandate with the Ministry of Education and our staff to ensure we meet upcoming deadlines.
I will keep you updated on changes that will affect parents and whānau in regard to attending school events, volunteering in classrooms or helping run sports. Parents do not need to be vaccinated to drop off and pick up children outdoors, but you do need to wear a mask, scan the QR code and continue social distancing.
Operating at Level 2
We continue to do everything we can to keep our community as safe as possible, which includes seeking medical advice if unwell and encouraging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.
We are making plans that fit with Level 2 requirements for our regular term four events and we will be in touch with more details as the term progresses. Some events may not be able to go ahead in their current format if Wellington is still in Level 2 in November or December. We are doing our best to maintain routines for the tamariki and offer our usual programme.
Our Level 2 Health and Safety plan has been reviewed to ensure we are fulfilling our health and safety requirements. We are making the following changes, effective after the long weekend.
- We are opening drink fountains for term four, but suggest you encourage your child to have a drink bottle at school every day.
- Parents may only enter school grounds if they really need to, such as to collect a sick child or attend an appointment. All adults must report to the office. If you are entering buildings you must sign-in, scan our QR code, wear a mask and sanitise.
- Drop off and Pick up times stay the same.
- We are concerned about the congestion on the footpath between 2:45 and 3pm. Please follow these guidelines to keep everyone safe at the end of the day.
*Arrange to meet your child on the other side of Beazley Road or up a bit further, around the corner.
*Leave the space in front of the pedestrian crossing clear for people waiting to cross the road.
*Wait until it's your child's classes turn before stepping forward. Eg Rakau Nui parents stand back until 3pm. Make room for Uenuku and Pounamu parents at 2:45 and 2:55.
*Park in one of the nearby side streets.
*Buddy up with another family and take turns to collect your children.