School Newsletter
24 March 2023 - Week 8, Term 1
Dear Parents, Whānau and Caregivers
Naumai, Haere Mai, Talofa, Kia orana and Welcome
We have welcomed many new students to Paparangi School at the start of this year. We're looking forward to getting to know our new tamariki and supporting them to grow as Adventurous Learners. Welcome family and whānau to our friendly school!
Uenuku: Rory, Lincoln, Liana and Jessica
Pounamu: Kenna and welcome back to Sasha and Varunavi
Rākau Nui: Oscar
Strike School Closure
A big thank you to our community - we really appreciated your support last Thursday when school was closed due to the industrial action taken by NZEI teacher members and the principal. We all believe that tamariki are taonga and every child deserves to reach their full potential and this was the clear and united message that was delivered at parliament last week. The Tomorrow’s Schools Review identified that primary schools receive significantly less funding for staffing than secondary schools, meaning that schools in New Zealand are experiencing a staffing crisis. There are too many children in classes, not enough teacher aides and specialists, including counsellors to support the learning and wellbeing of our children. More staffing is needed to alleviate the demands that are currently stretching principals thin.
Sharing the footpath
Last Friday a child walking to school was hurt outside school when a car door was opened knocking the child to the ground. We ask drivers and their passengers to take care when opening their car doors as it is a narrow pathway with lots of foot traffic at drop off and pick up times. Thank you for helping us to look after 'others'!
Jiggle in the Jungle PB4AL reward!
Giraffes jiving, tuataras twirling and dinosaurs dancing - thanks for sending along all the animals on Wednesday to the PB4AL disco! Well done to tamariki for showing grit when learning gets tricky, for caring about others and being curious in the classroom - we're really proud that tamariki have filled the bucket twice this term! Check out photos from the day below from a few of the classes.
Ngā mihi nui
Tracey Arthurs
Principal
Cross Country - Friday 31 March
We are running the school cross country on Friday the 31st of March. Students have been training for this during school time. Parents are invited to come at 11.30 and watch from the courts outside Uenuku classrooms. The students will be based on the field, starting and finishing their races there. Students will run in this order but there is no set time for each race. Year 6 will run first, then year 1, year 3, year 2, year 4 then finally year 5. Please ensure your child/ren comes to school with appropriate running shoes and clothing, a full lunch and a drink bottle filled with water. We look forward to another great event!
Reminder Enviro-Day is next Monday!
Our first Enviro Day for 2023 is on Monday 27th March, with the postponement date on Monday 3rd April. Our mission is to tidy up the areas around the school that each class is responsible for. We always love support from our whānau so if you're keen to get involved, let your child's teacher know. Tamariki will need suitable clothing for wearing outdoors, as they may get dirty. If you have gloves, buckets, spades and any other gardening equipment they can bring them along. Please ensure everything is named for ease of bringing things home.
JOIN THE BIGGEST HOUR FOR EARTH
This week our school assembly was all about Earth Hour. We encourage our community to switch off their power for an hour during this weekend to do their bit for the planet. The official time is Saturday 25th March at 8:30pm so if you can join the movement with planet lovers all over the world, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, switching off those devices and getting out in nature at any other time this weekend will still make an impact. Switching off our power means we can save our precious resources for when it's needed the most. Imagine how many hours of power we would save if every household in the world turned off their power for an hour! Check out the website https://www.earthhour.org/ for more details. By Rūma Mānuka and Rūma Rāta
HighLight Carnival of Lights - Low Sensory Evening
HighLight: Carnival of Lights is running once again, for the first time since 2019! And in keeping with tradition there is a Low Sensory night to make sure that as many of the community are welcome to this fantastic event as possible. On this night we will have reduced sounds and much smaller crowds for those with disabilities and sensory needs. Not all of our performances will be running, but you may get a sneak peak of some doing a final rehearsal. The HighLight organisers have partnered with Autism NZ to help them raise awareness and funds for their charity.
The session on Wednesday 5th April, from 7pm – 9pm, is open to anyone and their families who prefer our lower sensory environment and want to experience the sites of HighLight at their own pace. This evening is ticketed but at a reduced rate for ages 15 and over and free entry to those under 15. Tickets are available here: https://tickets.ticketspace.co.nz/tickets/highlight-sensory-evening
Movin' March
It's week 4 of Movin’March already! A new week means a new theme, and this week we're celebrating confidence. This is broad and encompasses the sense of pride and independence tamariki get from making their school journey independently or with younger tamariki. It also refers to building up children's skills and confidence on and around roads. It's not too late to have a go at walking or wheeling to or from school. Walking, biking and scooting are great ways to improve well-being, kick start learning for the day and it’s also great for the planet! Don’t forget your WOW Passport so we can stamp your trip!
Whānau can enter a photo of their journey to or from school and be in to WIN 1 of 5 x adult or child Micro Scooters! We’re also giving away family passes to Staglands Wildlife Reserve or Zealandia. WOW… that’s 15 prizes to be won! Go to the Movin’March Facebook page and share your photo in the comments under the weekly theme post. Winners announced by 12th April.
Let’s get stamping! We’ll stamp your walk or wheel trips at school and all entries will go in the draw to win one of 12 x $400 MYRIDE vouchers (you don’t have to complete your whole card to go in the draw!). If your family lives too far away, why not park a short distance away from the school gate and walk or wheel the rest of the way?
We’re taking part in a Pilot
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has created a fun online tool that tracks student travel and is running a pilot for Movin’March schools. Some classes at Paparangi are taking part in this programme which students will use to record how they travelled to school that morning. Data collection is anonymous and finding out how students travel will give teachers the opportunity to create graphs that show trends over time. It will also help class discussion and awareness around school travel and bigger issues such as the environment.
These dates are published in the online school calendar which can be found on the school app and the website.
Mondays
Welcome Goodtime Music Bus and Kelly Sport!
Tuesdays
Marrzipan Drama, after school in the library
23 MARCH - END OF TERM
BEE HEALTHY MOBILE DENTAL VAN
Board Meeting at 6pm in the Staffroom
28 March or 30 March postponement day
NS Football tournament for Y5 and 6 students
31 March
Cross Country Race Day
5 April
Bake Sale fundraiser by Rākau Nui
6 April
- Assembly hosted by Pounamu classes, 9:15 start. Parents and whānau welcome.
- Home and School fundraiser - lunch day.
- Term one ends. School closes at 3pm.
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Term Dates These dates are published on our website for your convenience.
- Term 1: Tues 31 January – Thursday 6 April (Easter)
- Term 2: Wed 26 April (after Anzac Day) – Fri 30 June
- Term 3: Mon 17 July – Friday 22 September
- Term 4: Mon 9 October – Friday 15 December
Teacher Only Days (school is closed)
- Term 2: Mon 24 April (before Anzac Day) and Friday 2 June (King’s Birthday weekend)
- Term 3 or 4: The MOE is yet to advise schools about when other Teacher Only Days may be scheduled. We will let you know as soon at the information becomes available.
Community Section
Goodtime Music Academy
Goodtime Music Academy wants to say a big welcome back to all of the whānau at Paparangi School. GTMA is now taking enrolments for 2023 in-school music lessons now. Lessons are on Mondays during class-time, starting 13 February. If you want your child to be a part of these award winning music lessons, and want to be a part of their new curriculum and performing opportunities, then in-school lessons may be the solution for you. Learn in a group setting, and choose between Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Ukulele. Or try their 'Intro to Music' course. Please visit www.goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz/learn-at-school to enrol and enquire. You can also call GTMA on 04 568 2237. Spaces are limited so get in quick!
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