Term 3, Week 3 – Wednesday 9 August 2017

Dear parents and whanau Our school website has had a ‘tidy up’ so it is more user friendly to the different groups of people using it: existing families, new families and educators. We are still working on a few things but in the meantime here’s what you’ll notice on the front page:

We’ve changed the heading to reflect our values.

We’ve added a brief history of our school and where to go for further information.

Facebook posts and twitter messages can be viewed by clicking on the icons at the top of the page.

OSCAR has its own button now on the toolbar so accessing their information, bank account details etc is much easier.

Other changes:

Our Team: Teaching Staff – this has been more clearly defined by adding what year level they are. This will be helpful for new families who are unfamiliar with the structure of our school.

Our Library: Children can access the library catalogue by clicking on the link ‘Go to Library’. They can make reserves, check to see if we have a book they are looking for etc.

Some information was repeated in more than one place so we’ve removed the double ups. We’re planning to update the photos on the front page too. Keep an eye out. If you have any other suggestions about enhancing the website, I would love to hear your ideas. Enjoy your week. Jacqui Malham Acting Principal

SICKNESS REMINDER If your child is unwell – vomiting, diarrhoea, influenza, cold, virus, etc please ensure they are kept away from school. Please follow these simple steps to help stop the spread of infection. Thank you.

Don’t go to school, early childhood centre or work until well and for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. Don’t prepare or handle food for at least 48 hours after the symptoms stop. Immediately remove and wash any contaminated clothes and bedding using detergent and hot water. Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based disinfectant. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based gel.

POLICIES UP FOR REVIEW Waitākiri School uses Schoolddocs to update our school policies and procedures. Our school

policy “Students with Special Needs” is up for review this term and parents have the opportunity to

rate and comment on this policy. If you would like to do this, please follow the instructions below.

1. Visit the website http://waitakiri.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm 2. Enter the username (waitakiri) and password (waitakiri). 3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed. 4. Read the policy. 5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page. 6. Select the reviewer type "Parent". 7. Enter your name (optional). 8. Submit your ratings and comments.

If you don't have internet access, please feel free to use the computer in the CHOICE Room.

KORIMAKO LEARNING

HERO MORNING TEA

Congratulations to the Learning Heroes from Korimako

Studio who had a Learning Hero Morning Tea with

Miss Reynolds last week. Pictured left are Bradley,

Caleb, Lucas, Alex, Saxon, Aoife, Malena, Maki,

Debra, Akashni, Liam, Brooke, Hannah, Hunter and

Zoe.

PICNIC WITH THE ACTING

PRINCIPAL Congratulations to the Learning Heroes who had a Picnic

with Miss Reynolds yesterday. Pictured right are Brooke,

Adam, Joshua, Ella, Jordan, Ryan, Madi, Keira, Zayden,

Shayla, Evie and Liam.

HALF WAY CERTIFICATES Congratulations to the children pictured below who received their half way certificates for their Home Learning REAL Challenges at Learning Celebration last week.

SPORTS NEWS On Monday our year 5 & 6 teams competed in the Zones Winter Tournament. We had teams playing Hockey, Netball, Rugby and Football. Everyone played well and enjoyed it. We had three teams make it through to the Canterbury Winter Tournament, Netball, Football and Rugby teams. Well done! A big thank you to all the parents that helped on the day.

ENVIRO NEWS Monthly events There are volunteer events and working bees happening all the time, become a regular in your local park or try something new every month!

Activities vary and may include general clean-ups, tree planting, weeding, mulching and planting.

Please read the volunteer guidelines(external link) and then contact the organiser to register your interest in these events.

Next event Travis Wetland Saturday 19 August, 9am to 12.30pm Contact John Skilton on 027 4968 935.

Beeswax Lunch wraps The Enviro Ferns will be selling these again on Friday morning before school. These lunch wraps are very useful for wrapping sandwiches and food products such as a block of cheese or half an avocado.

They are really great to have instead of glad wrap. The best thing is that they are reusable so you can use them over and over again!

They will be selling for $9 each, 2 for $16 and 3 for $24.

CHOICE CAFÉ We are promoting the use of reusable cups in the CHOICE Café and in the first week of using our "cup library" we have saved over 100 disposable single use cups from landfill. Our goal for Waitākiri is to be awarded a Silver Enviro Award – so this is another way in which we are showing how to reuse, reuse, reuse before we recycle. Thank you to everyone who is supporting this.

PTA

CALENDAR

CARD

and

DIARY

ORDERS

Calendars, Diaries, Cards and Notepads are all available with your child's chosen art work. Examples of these items are on show in the CHOICE Room. You are able to view your child's art work in their studio between the 14th -18th August. Orders are to be placed in the office drop box by the 23rd August - look out for the order forms being brought home this week. *** Orders will be delivered back to the school with plenty of time to send overseas for Christmas gifts***

REAL CHALLENGE THANK YOU Thank you to everyone who supported our REAL Challenge fundraiser raffle for Orana Park. We raised $128.80 for Orana Park. Ayla from Ruru won the raffle and the goodie basket. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets. It was great to go out to Orana Park and hand the money raised to one of the Orana Park Rangers. From Grace, Tia, Selene, Khushba and Sarah.

PTA NEWS The PTA will be holding

a Community Car Boot

Night on Friday10

November. Could any

members of the school

community who would like

to be a part of or sell/show

case their wares at the

Community Car Boot Night

please contact Lee

Chapman from the school

PTA via

waitakirischoolpta@gmail.

com

We are also looking for

donations for the silent

auction so again if anyone

has product or vouchers

from their business they

would like to offer, please

e-mail

waitakirischoolpta@gmail.

com

Thank you

SUSHI

THURSDAYS

A reminder that Sushi is available for lunch at school every Thursday.

Orders need to be put into the drop box on the Wednesday morning (the day before) to order.

Order forms are also available from the school office.

Colgate Oral Waste School Competition

Please bring the items listed below and put them in the Colgate box at the office. When we have more than 1kg we will send them to the competition and hopefully we will have the most used oral care products. This competition is an opportunity for our school to win $1,000 or a $200 Mitre 10 vouchers with a recycled plastic park bench. These prizes are given out randomly just like a raffle.

SPCA CUPCAKE DAY – MONDAY 14 AUGUST 2017

SPCA COLLECTION ON MONDAY 14 AUGUST

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE ITEMS AT HOME, THE SPCA WOULD LOVE THEM. PLEASE

BRING THEM TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY 14 AUGUST, OR DROP AT THE OFFICE.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

PARENTING WEEK – 21st to 31st August 2017

Speakers and workshops include:

Growing a Great Reader – Dr Amy Scott

The Strong Willed Child – The Parenting Place – Jenny Hale

Simplify Solids Workshop – BabyCues – Philippa Murphy

Tools for Engaging Co-operation – The Parenting Place – Jenny Hale

Your Child’s Changing Brain : Childhood to to Adolescence – Understanding How The Brain Changes – Nathan Wallis

Personalities Unravelled & Getting Our Children to Do As They Are Told – Diane Levy

Your Pantry. Your Food. Your Family. No Strife – Jax Hamilton

What Do I Do When…..? – Laura Hall

How To Say “No” In A Busy World – Karyn Riley

Developmental Dyspraxaia/DCD – Tips and Suggestions – Dyspraxia Support and Socially Speaking – Alison Schroder, Jacqui Scott and Greta Spearing

Kids Safety …. Sexual Abuse…. What Can You Do? Myths, Facts, Strategies – START – Maggy Tai Rakena, Catherine Gallagher and Jo Bader

Family Wellbeing – Looking After Yourself and Your Kids – All Right? Anna Mowat, Anne Gibling and Dean Sutherland

Understanding and Managing Children’s Anxiety – Catherine Gallagher

When To Growl and When to Cuddle & Getting Our Children to Do As They Are Told – Diane Levy

Being a Good Friend in Tough Times – The Importance of Friendship and Community Relationships for Parents – Dr Lucy Hone

Technology Today – Attitude – James Beck

Going Solo Forum – Jenny Purkis, Karyn Riley, Lou Kelleher, Tina Simmons-Bennett

Strengthening Families – From The Top Down – Strenght to Strength – Graham and Jenny Purkis

Building Aweseome Whanau – The Parenting Place – Pio Terei

OMG They’re Teenagers – The Collaborative Trust – Dr Sue Bagshaw

Raising Happy Eaters – The Nutrition Room – Helen Potter and Mikaela Battaerd

Getting On Top Of Family Finances – Kingdom Resources – Julie Williams

A Baby’s Cues – Learn to Read and Respond Knowingly – Philippa Murphy

Mental Health and Your Teenager – What Can Parents Do? – Michael Hempseed

The World of Superheroes, Rough & Tumble & Why? Laura Hall

The Early Years Last Forever – Andrea Dahl

Unravelling The Mystery of the Adolescent Brain – Andrea Dahl