Toko School Newsletter
7th February 2022
Kura Tuatahi Toko
Quality learning for all in a caring community.
Kounga ako mo katoa i roto i te taiao e atawhai ana.
Dear Parents and Friends of our school Kia Ora/Bora Da/Konichi Wa/Hello
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Meet-the-Teacher hui. It was great to be able to connect with you and start to build a relationship with you and your tamariki.
As we begin the year, I want to acknowledge that we are heading into Term 1 with a lot of uncertainty. I know that through this Covid pandemic, there will be things that have happened that members of our community will disagree with. There will also be decisions that have been made of which our community has been supportive.
Though there will be different perspectives about our nation's Covid response, Toko School's aim is to ensure that our learning environment is safe and inclusive. The protocols we have put in place have been developed from guidance supplied by the Ministry of Education, guided by the Ministry of Health.
There are going to be challenges as we adjust to the current response to Omicron, and these challenges effect everyone. However, if you have concerns or questions, please email or phone us. Our teachers are focussing on creating great learning environments and making the start to the year a really positive one - we want this to be their priority.
Though, we as adults, may carry the worries or concerns about the coming months, the challenge for us all is to remain positive for our tamariki. Let us continue to make sure that we are being kind to one another (whatever our views) while following guidelines to keep everyone safe.
We hugely appreciate your support.
He waka eke noa - we are all in this together.
Kim Waite
Principal
HAPPY TOKO SCHOOL DAYS
HAPPY TOKO SCHOOL DAYS
Welcome to the following new students and their families to our school:
Sophia Room 3, Lexi, Kayden and Gaige Room 1.
2022 SCHOOL ORGANISATION
New Entrant/Year 1: Room 1, Miss Mancer
Year 1/2 - Room 2, Mrs Oliver
Year 3/4 - Room 4, Mrs Fergus (Associate Principal)
Year 4/5 - Room 3, Mrs Coulson
Year 6/7/8 - Room 5, Mrs Fuller
Year 6/7/8 - Room 6, Miss Smith
Acting Principal/Teacher Release - Mrs Hancock
Special Need Education Co-ordonator/Reading Recovery Teacher - Mrs Eagar
Part -time staff - Mrs Wyllie
Office Manager - Mrs Hinton
Library/Resource Manager/Support Worker - Mrs Mason
Support Staff: Treena Cullen, Debbie Stone, Jodene McCowan
School Cleaner - Delwyn Taylor
Mrs Waite still continues in her role as Lead Principal of the Central Taranaki Kahui Ako. This means she will not be working at Toko School two days per week. Most often this will be Tuesdays and Wednedays. Whilst Mrs Waite is absent from Toko School, Mrs Hancock is the Acting Principal.
COULD YOU PLEASE FILL IN THIS SHORT SURVEY
FRIENDS OF TOKO SCHOOL
Please find attached the School lunch order form. Please note that these need to be completed by Wednesday 9th February 3pm. Lunch Orders
Next Committee Meeting - Wednesday 9th February - 7.00pm - School Hall
New members welcome :)
This year we will be meeting in the school hall. We just ask that you QR scan at the school gate before coming into the school hall.
YEAR 3 - 5 CAMP
2022 Bus Monitors
Waiwiri - Amelia and Maisie
Douglas - Holly and Joseph
Huinga - Aleah, Samara
BOT UPDATE
2021 general questionnaire
Below is a summary of the results of our community survey and recommendations. This document is saved on our schools WEBSITE.
Thank you to those in our community who were able to contribute to this survey.
Period Products
Our school has signed up to this wonderful initiative. If your daughter has their period please make contact with your child's classroom teacher or Mrs Hinton in the office and we can arrange for you to access these each month.
This Policy is up for review this term. If you would like to provide any feedback please email: office@toko.school.nz
Board Elections 2022
Later in the year we will be having our three yearly board elections. If you are interested in finding out more about the Board and are considering standing please talk to one of our members and arrange to come to one of our monthly meetings.
Next Monthly Meeting - Tuesday 22nd February
A FEW REMINDERS
This starts this week. Children can bring a pie, pizza, sausage roll etc to be heated in the pie warmer. All items need to be named.
Newsletters
During term 1, while we are at the RED level setting, we will have a weekly newsletter on a Monday morning.
Swimming
The school pool is open please bring, togs, towel, goggles (named) in a bag.
Sunhats
Bucket hats are required to be worn during Term 1.
FROM THE SPORTS DESK
Tennis Lesson Term 1
Bruce Cleland will be back on Monday afternoon’s coaching tennis again from 1-3pm for any
Year 3 and above children. If you have a child/children interested in coaching lessons please e-mail their interest to sports@toko.school.nz by Wednesday 9th Feb. The lessons go for an hour and are $50 for the 6 weeks starting 14th Feb. Details on payment will come home by the end of the once the timetable has been done.
Touch Term 1 - Year 3 - 8
Touch will be going ahead at the red setting under the following rules:
- Fields will be fenced off again so only players and 1 coach per team will be permitted inside the area. This then allows 25 people per field (10 players per team plus one coach per team)
- fields separated by at least 2m
- multiple spectator bubbles with a maximum of 25 in each. We request only 1 parent per family.
- As the teams are representing their schools, coaches will have to be vaccinated
- Different entry and exit points for each team - these will be clearly signposted.
Forms will be sent home this week to those who have showed an interest in playing.
Please look out for this note. Teams and players need to be registered by the end of this week.
HERO - SCHOOL APP/STUDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
All parents will need to email the teacher directly as there is no option in HERO to do this. Staff email addresses can be found on our WEBSITE.
HAVE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS CHANGED? IF SO PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE
If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home. Call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting tested.
PREPARING FOR DISRUPTION TO THE SCHOOL BUS SERVICE
It is important that our families are prepared for the possibility that our school transport service may be cancelled at some point over the next few months. If this happens you will be notified via the school app as soon as we are told. If this occurs you will need to transport your children to and from school.
If you haven't already it might be a good idea to discuss with your children what they should do if they are waiting for the school bus and it doesn't turn up
SCHOOL ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES @ RED SETTING
CHILDREN
Children must not bring sports equipment or toys to school from home.
Wheels can be brought to school on Wednesdays for Wheels Wednesday.
If your child has a brand of sanitiser YOU wish them to use due to allergies etc, please ensure they have that with them also.
- If your child is unable to use sanitiser please contact your child's teacher to inform them
Children must wash their hands before coming to school.
It is our preference that children are dropped off at school between 8.30 and 8.45 if not catching the bus. We realise that for some families this is not possible. Can you please email: office@toko.school.nz if your child needs to arrive at a different time.
At the end of the day the following organisation will apply:
BUS CHILDREN
At 3.00pm children must leave their school bags outside their classroom and collect their bag at 3.20 when the bus bell goes and walk to the bus shelter. Bus children are not allowed in the shelter until this time.
NON BUS CHILDREN
Room1 & 2 and siblings will be walked to the bus shelter to be collected at 2.50
Rooms 3 - 6 will be walked to the bus shelter at 3.00
Mrs Waite/Mrs Fergus/Mrs Hancock or a delegated staff member will be at the shelter to assist with pick ups.
PARENTS
Parents are discouraged from entering the school grounds at this time. We would prefer you to drop off and collect your children at the bus shelter. This means that you are to wait in your car or outside the bus shelter gate, whilst maintaining 2m physical distancing.
If your child has special needs or is Room 1 and 2 and you need to come into school, with your child please do so. Please remember to sign in via the Covid tracer app only.
If you need to come into school we require you to ring first or make contact with your child's classroom teacher. When parents enter the school they must sign in. Parents to bring their own pen. Parents must park out the front of the school. Adults must keep a 2m distance. Parents to do only what is required and leave immediately.
If you or your child are feeling anxious about coming to school please contact your child's classroom teacher. They can arrange to meet you at the gate or make arrangements for you to come in with your child.
If parents want to collect their children outside of the pick up times they must ring ahead and wait at the gate for their child to meet them.
Turnbull Cup has been postponed.
Our plan can be found on our website: Toko School RED settings.
PIANO LESSONS
COMMUNITY NOTICES
STRATFORD NEXANS FUN RUN/WALK Sunday 13th Feb
5km only so no bubbles combine
Group 1 – Runners
Register at 9am – Start 9.30am
This is for anyone running the course.
Group 2 – Families Group
Register at 9.30am – Start 10am
Family groups may run or walk the 5km.
Group 3 – Walkers
Register 10am – Start 10.30am
This if for anyone walking the course.
Please have your vaccine passes ready to present at registration.
For more info and to enter go to
Toko School
Email: office@toko.school.nz
Website: www.toko.school.nz
Location: 1057 East Road, Toko, New Zealand
Phone: 06 7622849
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TokoSchool/?ref=bookmarks