Puketapu School Newsletter
Week 6, Term 3 , 2018
Empower All People to be Healthy, Lifelong Learners
Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou,
Thank you for your support and kind words in regards to the one day strike recently. We were really humbled by the awhi and manaaki you showed us as a profession.
“At Puketapu School learning experiences are designed with the individual akonga (learner) in mind." This is the first line of our mission. We aim to have "one size fits one" learning programmes not "one size fits all". We do not get it right all the time but we try our best to personalize the learning for each child in classes of 24-29 students. It is actually quite difficult to do under our current resourcing model.
What I would like to see is a profession that gets better resourced to provide our students with the best educational and learning experiences possible. I would love to see our students engage daily with the local community, nature, the beach, our hapu and iwi not as a stand-alone programme once a term or year. We will still try our best to achieve this at our kura, but I believe that we need better paid support staff (so it is more attractive to work in a school), more funding so we can decrease class sizes in schools and have more specialist experts in our Taranaki schools and better resourcing for managing property and finances so we can spend more time leading the learning of our kids.
I think this because I have taught in an international school in Frankfurt and saw first hand the benefits from having strong funding and resourcing for learning. The teachers had time to plan, iterate, learn and reflect on their teaching practice. We were able to go to the gym at lunchtime or our free period to have a run or workout. We were able to achieve what we needed to during our work hours and then go home and spend time with our loved ones and families.
Thank you once again for your support. We love doing what we are doing and while many people think the strike is for a pay rise, I believe the negotiations are around having the best learning environment and having the healthiest and most passionate teachers in front of your children doing what they love most, teaching.
Nga mihi
Matua Ngatai
Our School Role is... 321
Happy Birthday to...
Birthdays this week:
- Kemp Hancock
- Ellayah Atkinson
- Divya Vathada
Congratulations to...
Congratulations to our Puketapu Superstars this week, who have been spotted showing our school values:
Kia kaha - Do your best
- Noah Ramsdale
- Jaxson Davis
- Llashaan Gilligan
- Jahlia Manukonga-Te Uira
- Evie Roberts
- Kallana Bradnock
- Nour Daraghmi
- Justin Michaels
- Waipuia Lomano
Kia maia - Be courageous
- Ryan Allan
Kia manawanui - Have a heart
- Vinny Sturmey-Christiansen
- Carter Taylor
Phrase of the week...
This week Mrs Jackson and the Library team demonstrate Kaiāwhina pai - You're a good helper
Year 7&8 Interschool
Football - Well done team! We may have have lost all three games but we played great football considering it was a team assembled just for the day's tournament! Very proud and so should the players! Thanks to Jason and Coach Barrientos
Taki Rua Show - Tuesday 4 September
Next week we are delighted to host Taki Rua who will be performing Hine Kihāwai for us.
Hine Kihāwai may have left the world of the living, but she lives on in the memories of her children Tama and Te Aniwa.
Against all odds, her tamariki fight to hold on to her teachings, her wisdom, her songs – everything they knew and loved about her. Only through retaining all that she gave them can they truly face the challenges of their turbulent world.
The cost is just $2 per student and whanau is welcome to come along (no additional charge).
Mihi whakatau at 9.15am, show starts at 9.30am
School Hoodies
You may have seen many colours around school this week - now we are opening up orders for our school whanau - students and parents.
Hoodies are $55 with your name on the back or $45 without. They come in a range of colours and sizes. (Not all colours are available in all sizes so get in quick for your choice.)
If you would like your own Puketapu Hoodie, order yours at the office before Friday 14 September. (Payment in full is required before your order can be placed.)
Kowhai and The Water Cycle
The Kowhai Learning Team has been learning all about how humans share and reuse the finite resource of water. Here are some examples of their work:
TJ Weeks-Phillips in Kowhai 1 wrote:
In Kowhai, we have been learning about the water cycle. There are 4 main parts to the water cycle. Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation and Collection. Evaporation is when the sun heats up the water and turns it into vapor which rises into the air. Condensation is when the water gets heavy because the water is gathering up together in the clouds. Precipitation is when the water falls to the earth as rain, hail or snow and finally collection is when the water is collected back on land and the cycle starts again. Now we are are going to show you how we displayed our learning. We got to choose how we wanted to present, these are some of our finished projects.
Sophie Tudor and Nate Stainthorpe of Kowhai 1 created Our Weather Report
Kierah Hosking of Kowhai 2 created this slide story: The Journey of a Raindrop
Emma Warring of Kowhai 3 wrote
The Water Cycle
The Water Cycle has been around for millions of years & there are a lot of things about it that you may not know.
There are 4 main stages to the water cycle.
Evaporation,Condensation,Precipitation and Accumulation.
This piece of writing explains all 4 of those stages.
Evaporation
Evaporation is when water is heated and turns into a water vapour or a gas.
Steam is Evaporation.
Evaporation can take a long time or happen really quickly. It depends on the temperature.
At a hot pool there is plenty of Evaporation.
Condensation
Condensation is when hot & cold meet each other and form little droplets.
Those droplets condensate and form the clouds in the sky.
Precipitation
Precipitation is when the droplets in the clouds get to heavy for it to handle so it precipitates.
Rain,Hail,Sleet and Snow are all forms of Precipitation.
Accumulation
Accumulation is when the water that has precipitated gathers, in one place.
Lakes,Ponds,Rivers,Streams and even the sea are all good examples of Accumulation.
The Water Cycle is very important, because it provides us with what we need to survive.
We are living and so is the Earth because of this valuable resource.
School Notices
Junior Kapa Haka
We are delighted that junior kapa haka (Year 0-3) will be happening every Thursday, starting tomorrow, led by Whaea Siniva.
This is something we know our community has wanted for a while, so we are very happy to have this starting up again.
Rimu students will be from 1.55-2.25pm
Totara students will be from 2.25-3.00pm
Choir Tickets
We have a limited number of tickets for the New Plymouth School Music Festival, on Wednesday 19 September, 7pm. $5 each at the office. First in, first served!
Please, if your child is unwell, keep them home until they are better. There are some nasty bugs going around as well as the usual coughs, colds and tummy upsets.
If you think your child is 50/50 in the morning, please keep them at home.
If your child is sick or away for any other reason please inform the office.
- Phone 06 755 0973 (leave a message on the absentee line)
- Email office@puketapu.school.nz
- TXT 027 755 0973
If they are still away the next day, please let us know again.
Yes! You can still order Sports Photos. Take your form and $$$ to the office. Spare forms available if needed.
Headlice love the long hair super highway... if your child has long hair, please tie it up. It really helps to reduce the spread of these pesky critters.
What an amazing turnout at our Puketapu Home and School Quiz Night!
Thank you all for your support, the helpers on the night with tickets, marking and of course the student leaders of Puketapu, you are all amazing!!!
And of course, Jess and the Quality Hotel Plymouth International for the very generous donation of their fantastic venue.
Year 5 & 6 Tough Kids Challenge is on in November, but we need to get our registrations in right away. Permission forms have gone home today and need to be back by Friday this week please.
A lunchtime Fundraising Sausage Sizzle will be on Friday 31 August - $2 per sausage. Order forms will come home this week or you can order at the office.
Transition to School Afternoon
Sports Uniforms and Team Fees
For the few players who still have borrowed T-Shirts from Touch in Term 1 you need to return these now please or you will be charged $45.
There are many people who have not yet paid their Team Fees:
12 people from Term 1 Touch
5 players from Miniball teams
9 players from Basketball teams
11 players from Netball teams
This adds up to almost $1,000 ... if you owe, please pay. We work really hard to keep costs down for everyone, but it only works if everyone pays their share.
Year 7&8 Camps
Ski Camp fees must be paid in full by Monday 3 September so if you haven't already paid, please do so right away.
There are less than 12 weeks to go until the Year 7&8 Summer Camp... Parent consent and medical consent forms have been handed out to all students - these need to be back this term please.
Fundraising is in full swing, with students selling Nothing Naughty Protein Bars to help reduce their camp costs. For every box of 20 bars they sell, they get $21 off their bill. We have some great salespeople!
There will be another fundraising Sausage Sizzle at lunchtime on Friday 31 August. $2 per sausage.
Thank you to everyone who has already set up Automatic Payments to help with camp fees and other school costs. If you would like to set up a payment please speak to Paula in the school office.
Moving Smart
A Moving Child Is a Learning Child
Understanding why kids need to move and why it’s more important than ever today! exploring the impact movement has on early childhood development from birth – 5 years and its role as the central springboard to future success in school... and life!
Puketapu School is delighted to be hosting Moving Smart Thursday 27th September
3:45-5:45pm. $40 per person. (Spaces are limited) Contact Paula in the office to book.
What's On... the next Two Weeks
Wednesday 29 August
Parent/whanau open session in the Life Education Trust Bus 3.00-3.20pm
Thursday 30 August
Junior Kapa Haka: Rimu 1.55pm, Totara 2.25pm
Friday 31 August
Student Showcase (Totara) including Cross Country results and prize presentations. Showcase starts at 9.15am and everyone is welcome. Totara will be demonstrating the dances they have learnt.
Lunchtime Sausage Sizzle $2 per sausage.
Monday 3 September
Bell Block/Puketapu Year 7/8 Rugby v Inglewood @ Inglewood 12.30pm
Year 8 Ski Trip final payments due
Home & School Meeting 6pm
Tuesday 4 September
Taki Rua Show:
9.15am - Mihi Whakatau
9.30am show starts - ($2 each) http://www.takirua.co.nz/hine-kihawai)
Pre-schoolers Transition to School Afternoon, 2pm, in the Library
Wednesday 5 September
Thursday 6 September
Omata Cross Country Years 7/8
Board of Trustees Meeting 7pm
Friday 7 September
What's On... later this Term
Monday 10 September - Keep NZ Beautiful Clean Up week, Ski Trip - Year 8
Tuesday 11 September - NP Primary Schools Cross country, Peringa Park
Wednesday 12 September - Kaitiaki: Wetlands and lagoon visit, Duffy Role Model Assembly 2pm
Friday 14 September - Student Showcase (Rimu), Last day for Hoodie orders
Wednesday 19 September - Dental Bus on site until end of term, Taranaki Music Festival
Thursday 20 September - Kowhai Pukekura Park Trip 9:30am - 2:45pm
Saturday 22 September - Men in Education - Rugby - Taranaki v Manawatu (Curtain Raiser to Taranaki v Auckland - Mitre 10 Cup)
Tuesday 25 September - Puketapu Road Patrol & Green Team Reward Afternoon
Wednesday 26 September - Taranaki Cross-Country - Hawera
Thursday 27 September - Moving Smart, 3.45pm
Friday 28 September - Last day of term! Loud Shirt Day - Dress up loud! Student Showcase - Performance Special
Community Notices
Do you have good quality children's books that you no longer need? The Taranaki Toy Library has their Children's Monster Book Sale on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 September. They are collecting quality second hand books, so if you have any used but still in good condition books to donate, please pop them in the box in Reception.
Zirka Circus is coming! 30 August to 9 September, cnr Devon Road and Henwood Road. Pick up a leaflet from the office.
Tansi Productions Street Hip Hop Classes Wednesdays at the Bell Block Community Hall.
Beginners: 3.30-4.15pm
Intermediate: 4.15-5.00pm
For more information or to register contact Tansi 027 224 3480
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