Term 3 - Week 6 - 13.11.2023 - 17.11.2023
2024 Cooks Beach Carnival - We need your help.
Join the Fun and Make a Difference! Volunteer for Our Summer Carnival on January 4, 2024!
As we gear up for the much-anticipated Summer Carnival on January 4, 2024, we're reaching out to our fantastic school community for a bit of help. This is where YOU come in!
How Can You Contribute?
We're looking for enthusiastic parents, or adult family members, to join us for approximately 3 hours on the day. Whether you're a master at grilling sausages, a pro at running games, or an expert in the art of ticket sales, we want your skills!
Why Volunteer?
Your support is crucial! By lending a hand, you're not just making the carnival a blast; you're investing in the future of Whenuakite School and, more importantly, in your child/ren's education. Ready to make a difference? Join us in creating lasting memories for our students – volunteer today!
What's in it for Whenuakite School?
All funds raised during the carnival directly support the needs of our students, contributing to:
- Free shows and performances at school (e.g., Life Ed, Playhouse Theatre).
- Highly subsidized camps.
- Free Activities Week.
- Contributing to the seven support staff we have at school.
- School resources and equipment.
Save the Date - January 4, 2024
Mark your calendars and let Meredith know ASAP by calling or texting at 0272 239 239 if you can be a part of this amazing day!
Ready to bring smiles, laughter, and a touch of community spirit to our Summer Carnival? Contact Meredith on 0272 239 239 to volunteer.
Let's make this carnival the best one yet!
Thank you for your support!
Tumuaki Talk
Kia Ora Whanau
Another very busy, yet successful week at Whenuakite with a lot of engaging learning in and out of the class. As of this newsletter, there are 23 school days remaining. At this stage of the year, children start to become tired and more dysregulated. Please remind them to always show the K.I.T.E. Values. In the final four and a half weeks, we still have a lot of activities. Please make sure you are up to date with these (they are in the upcoming events bar in this newsletter, as well as in the School Calendar.
Child Wellbeing, Safety and Engagement when learning from an online (BYOD) platform.
Student well-being and engagement are paramount when we review learning in an online world. We have been reviewing ways to improve safety for children, as well as ensuring that they are focussing on work, when in class.
Whanau Help
Thank you to all the whanau who have helped out this year. We truly appreciate your support in making the trips and learning activities happen. Thank you to our amazing staff, who spend hours organising and ensuring that the excursions and events are engaging, educational and safe.
Police Vetting
If you are unsure if you are vetted, please call; Donna in the Office. Now is a good time to get vetted, as we will have trips in Term One. It can take 6 weeks for a vet to return, and all volunteers, in and out of school need to be vetted to support the school.
Kauri Trees - Museum visit - in-class sessions
This week we had Rebecca Cox from the museum revisit the kura and we had in-class sessions looking at Kauri Trees, Kauri Gum mining and the history of Kauri Gum Mining and Kauri Tree harvesting in the area. Thank you, Becs for bringing history and local curriculum into our kura. The learning experiences are engaging and tailored to all of our year levels across the school.
MBAS Athletics
Over the last two weeks, we have had our Years 4 - 6 and Years 7 - 8 athletes represent our kura at the MBAS competition. Well done to our tamariki who all represented the school well. Many comments were made by the staff and whanau of MBAS about how well our tamariki represent the school.
Year 8s going to MBAS for College:
There is a KAURI Day this Thursday. Please see the poster below. We suggest that children attend as this is a great way to transition into Year 9. If you intend on going, please contact Jenny Bloom at MBAS to let her know, as well as let Chris know that your child will be away. All parents will need to take their child to MBAS and collect them
Jar Throw:
In the competition to see who can get the most jars for the Jar Throw Game, we have the following results:
1st-Room 3
2nd - Room 7
3rd - Room 2
There are a total of 115 jars so far. This is a great start......let's keep them coming.
Nga Mihi
Eamonn
Week 5 Certificates
Well done to all of the outstanding tamariki who earned a K.I.T.E. Kid Award last week. We are very proud of you all.
- Room 1 - Zoe Dalgety, Jonty Browne
- Room 2 - Raewyn Wallace, Kahu Gemmell
- Room 3 – Valerie Drewitt-Fisher, Israel Matson
- Room 4 – Amelia Riddle, Isla Fogarty
- Room 5 – Owen Sims, Daniel Ford
- Room 6 – Levi Nicholson., Corey Fraser
- Room 7 – Chase Hayward, Brodie Hopkins
Board of Trustees
- A minor procedural error has been identified in the process for selecting new parent representatives to the Whenuakite School Board of Trustees in September.
- You will be aware we are undertaking a byelection process for three further parent representatives following the resignations of Melisa, Davor and Deirdre. The error does not impact on the current byelection.
- Once the full BoT is in place in early December the error will be addressed and there is an option for the BoT to seek the communities views on holding a further byelection. I sincerely apologise for this error.
- If you have any questions or concerns please contact me
- PMBOT@Whenuakite.school.nz
- Ray van Beynen
- Interim Presiding Member
- Whenuakite School Board of Trustees
Events last week
Glass Bottom Boat Trip - Years 5 and 6
Author Visit
We had an amazing author visit our Junior School on Friday. Thank you to the Drewitt-Fisher whanau who put us in contact, and helped make this amazing opportunity happen.
Spring Festival / Cake Day
Year 7 and 8 Annual Cake Day - 2023
The children have outdone themselves this year. The calibre of the cakes was outstanding. Well done to all of the tamariki....we definitely have some future bakers in our school.
Spring Festival Tuesday 14.11.2023
All whanau /visitors must sign in at the office.
On this day we would like to extend a warm invitation to grandparents and parents to come and help with and/or view the creations. It will be a nice time to share together. Please ensure that you sign in and out at the office.
Please choose around three of the below activities:
- Sand saucer (Sand supplied. The sand saucer must be completely covered with a design/pattern created with flower petals, small flowers, leaves).
- Mini Flower Arrangement (Vase or container).
- Floating Bowl (Suitable bowl for flower, leaves or petals to float in without touching the sides).
- Buttonhole (Foil/supplied).
- Flower Necklace (Made like a daisy chain.)
- Decorative hat (Please bring along a suitable hat.)
- Vaseline Lid (Vaseline on an ice-cream lid or similar, flower petals and leaves are then arranged.)
- Wildflower grasses arrangement.
- Create a small scene in a box or container, e.g., road, house, bush with water, mini playground....
- Mini garden in a box or container.
Children need to gather all their own materials for their activities at home and bring everything they need to make them at school on the day.
It all gets made at school. Adult helpers are welcome, but we want the children to do as much as possible themselves.
The Programme for the day is:
9.00 - 11.00 pm Creations are made outside, displays are assembled in classrooms – children to stop for healthy snack at a time that suits.
11.00 - 11.25 pm Morning tea
11.30 - 11.50 pm Classrooms are open to the community to view while children will stay with their
displays. Photos of displays are taken with each child.
11.50 – 12.30 pm Children visit other classrooms with their whanau or teacher.
From 12.15 pm Displays can be dismantled to go home.
Children can leave after 12.15 pm provided their parent/caregiver is at school. They must be signed out and tell their teacher. Children staying at school will have their lunch.
The teachers will talk with the children about individual activities and how to make them. Children are required to bring all their own materials for the day. If you have any questions, please contact us.
DAISY DUNG
Thank you to everyone who has been working so hard selling Daisy Dung Tickets. We truly appreciate your support.
A reminder that ALL tickets (Sold and unsold) need to be returned to the office by 24 November.
MBAS KAURI Day for Year 8
All Our Year 8s attending MBAS for Year 9 are invited to attend the MBAS for the annual KAURI Day.
Hikuai School Market Day
Ok stall holders. It's time to sign up with us if you haven't already!
With 2 weeks to go until market day we are excited to share with you the community stalls we have on offer:
Local authors, artists, woodworkers, baby wear and dolls clothes, flowers, potted plants and herbs, poppy flowers and copper rings, Horse rides, Scalez and Tails- reptile rescue, coffee, food and much more! Our students will be making and selling items with each room having a stall too!
We would love to have you join us and add to the fun! Call Michelle: 078647818 or email: office@hikuai.school.nz to register.
Strep Throat and Impetigo (School Sores)
STREP THROAT:
We have had a number of our tamariki at school off sick with Strep Throat.
Strep throat is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called group A strep (GAS). These bacteria are the most common cause of bacterial sore throat in children and teens.
Strep throat usually needs treatment with antibiotics. With the proper medical care — and plenty of rest and fluids — most kids get back to school and play within a few days.
The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- sore throat that comes on quickly and is especially painful when swallowing
- fever
- red and swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks on them
- painful or swollen neck glands (lymph nodes)
Other symptoms in children can include:
- headache
- stomach pain
- nausea or vomiting
- loss of appetite
- rash. When a red rash that looks like sandpaper happens along with strep throat, the condition is called scarlet fever.
TIME OFF SCHOOL: Until well OR 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
IMPETIGO (SCHOOL SORES):
It's an infection of the skin caused by bacteria. Impetigo is commonly found on the face, often around the nose and mouth. But it can show up anywhere the skin has been broken.
If you have a cut or scrape or if you scratch your skin because of a bug bite, eczema, or poison ivy, germs may find a way to get inside. Once inside, the bacteria cause small blisters on the skin. These blisters burst and ooze fluid that crusts over, a condition called impetigo.
Impetigo usually starts as small blisters that burst and ooze fluid that crusts over. The crust is yellow-brown, or honey-coloured, making impetigo look different from other scabs.
TIME OFF SCHOOL: Until all sores are dried and crusted over OR 24 hours after starting antibiotics.
2024 School Year
2024 School Year:
Term One:
Wednesday 07 February - Friday 12 April
Term 1 Public Holidays:
Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February
Easter: Good Friday 29 March, Easter Monday 1 April, Easter Tuesday 2 April (a school holiday)
Term 2
Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Term 2 Public Holidays:
King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June
Matariki – Friday 28 June
Term 3
Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Term 3 Public Holidays:
None
Term 4
Monday 14 October- Friday 20 December
Term 4 Public Holidays:
None