Term 2 Week 1 29/4/24 - 3/5/24
From the Principal's Desk
Greetings Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,
Firstly a huge thanks to Bevan Clark for running the school in term 1 and to Ray Van Beynen our presiding member who has really helped me settle into Whenuakite school and the wider community.
Thanks to Nicola Reidenger who has given up her own time to work with me and to give me a better understanding of the teaching and learning that happens and how we cater for individual uniqueness! To the whole Whenuakite Team for organising the welcome ceremony, Mihi Whakatau followed by the morning tea. I really appreciated the chance to meet some Parents, Caregivers and Community Members. I was humbled by the effort that was made and I was impressed with the "Pride - Mana" of the students mihi, waiata and haka. Kia kaha tamariki ma!
Already a week down and I am so impressed with what I am seeing in our school, as parents we need to know how amazing the teaching team is! Our students should be very proud of who they are and what they are achieving. If I could sum up my first impressions of Whenuakite School in one word, it would be a place of "Harmony"
"Vision Map" for our future
A big thank you to everyone who has already handed back their ideas for improvements for our Learning landscape. This was a home link task for students to take home for ideas so we can continue to make our spaces around school safer, more fun and linked into what the students can be more engaged in. Once these are returned the senior leaders will help me organise and priortise the first projects and this will be send out to the whole community for consultation and for support. Some projects will be short term, already started with others that will be more a long term process (3 years)
Senior Student leaders
We are in the process of reinstating the House Groups. Whaea Lucy and Shona have set up the groups and then each group will vote for leaders for a variety of roles in and around the school.
Health Survey
The Health survey was sent home with students this week for Parents to give us feedback on. This is only at the consultation phase. We need your feedback to ensure we are teaching the right health units, for the needs of the students that will best serve improvements for the wider community. Please be aware that some units are compulsory as stated under Ministry of Education policy and guidelines.
Mothers Day Breakfast
This is next Friday at school for Mothers, Grandparents and Aunties if needed - just a celebration to all women! Kai time at 8am followed by a show at 9.15am. I will need some help from some of the Dads in the community to help me prepare, cook and do clean up. If you can help on the BBQ or Kitchen I will be at school at 7.30 - 9.30am, send me an email if you have expertise and can help. For this event no Women in the staffroom/kitchen, Dads are on Duty!
Nga mihi,
Gary Veysi, Principal Whenuakite School - principal@whenuakite.school.nzExcellence in Being a K.I.T.E Kid Classroom Award Winners
Welcome Certificates presented to: -
- Room 1 - Ryder Coombe
- Room 2 - Benji Norriss, Thea Pavitt
- Room 3 – Cohen Ryan, Florence Probett
- Room 4 – Elfie Jensen, Noah Goodwin
- Room 5 – Isla Walker, John-Henry Heath
- Room 6 - Noa Jensen, River Sims
- Room 7 - Cale Field, Nate Walsh
Principal Award - Flo for showing Mr Veysi how to complete the learning in the Steps programme. George for having a great idea to run some wheel events at breaktimes
Excellence in Being a K.I.T.E Kid Classroom Award Winners
Whenuakite School BOT Message
Dear Community
On behalf of the Board of Trustees i would like to warmly welcome Gary Veysi as our new Principal. Gary comes with a wealth of experience and the Board looks forward to working with Gary both as Principal and an as an integral part of the Board.
I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Bevan Clarke who covered the Principal role in term one. Bevan did an awesome job and really set a great platform for Gary to build on.
At our most recent BoT meeting a number of key issues were agreed to and signed off. These include the sign off for the Learning Support Coordinator space new build, funding applications for a mini van for the school, student attendance at the AIMS interschool games in Tauranga, funding for school netball uniforms and a Cyclone Gabrielle Trust application for storage containers and a generator for the school.
You will see a couple of events coming up this month including the Mother's Day breakfast and I would encourage all the Dads and Grand dads out there to get involved.
All the best
Ray van Beynen
Presiding Member, Board of Trustees, Whenuakite School
Learning Support Assistant
We are looking for a kind and energetic person to support our learners. Specifically to support the transition of younger children into school. This would be a fixed term position until the end of the year, Monday to Thursday, 9.00-1.00pm. Preferred start date would be as soon as possible, but we are open to negotiation.
Please send an email of interest to nicola@whenuakite.school.nz by 14th May 2024.
Whenuakite School Policies
All of our school policies are available online at:
https://whenuakite.schooldocs.co.nz/
This term, these policies are up for review:
Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club - Junior Tournament
Congratulations on all the students and families who have been enjoying the great weather and getting out there to try and break records!
Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club - Junior Tournament
There were many entries from Whenuakite School for the Kids Comp that lasted the two weeks of the school holidays. The anglers were also entered in the Junior National Competition.
Jaxon Walker - Tagged a striped marlin (estimated 85kg) this was a first in the history of the Mercury Bay Junior Tournament and the National Junior Tournament. This was Jaxon's third time lucky Marlin after dropping two over the last two years. Great perseverance!
Hunter Nicholson - won the heaviest Kahawai and trevally.
Arlo Guilford won the boat spot prize.
Sage Thompson, Isla Walker and Alex McLean all won spot prizes.
Great work over the holidays guys!
My New Gallery
The Ferry Landing Bus Shelter.
29.4.24
Whenuakite School children have kindly been donated a bus shelter situated next to the Ferry Landing car park by the Whitianga Marina Society 2023.
This bus shelter was 2 years in the making, having had to go through council, community board and funding applications before Whitianga Marina Society kindly offered to fund the project.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people for their support:
Dave Munday - Whitianga Marina Manager
Whitianga Marina Society Committee 2023
Cleanline Building - donated concrete
Blair McLean Electrical - transport of shelter to site and project co-ordination.
Builders: the below builders (who are also dads to the kids) gave up a lot of their time to put together the shelter.
Troy Pauling
Jimmy Ryan
Johnny Matson
With the rainy days upon us, it has already been put to use on day one.
For any further comments please contact Chelsea McLean on 021 907 510
My New Gallery
ANZAC Service
Thank you to Violeta Popadich, Reiver Wallace and Ruby Olsen for speaking and laying our school wreaths at the Hahei ANZAC Service.
It was impressive to watch as a spectator how we as a school can be involved with wider community events with the help from parents
From the Whenuakite Team
Up Coming Events
Please check here for any up and coming events this term.
Week One
Monday 29th - First day of Term Two and Mihi Whakatau for Gary Veysi. 10.00am start.
Tuesday 30th - Board Of Trustees (BOT) meeting, 3.15pm
Week Two
Monday 6th - General fundraising meeting, 1.50 - 2.50pm.
Tuesday 7th - Fundraising Team - Cooks Beach Gala, 4.30pm
Friday 10th - "Mothers Day Breakfast @ 8am then Assembly show @ 9.15am
Week Three
Monday 13th - Health and Safety "Lockdown"practice
Tuesday 14th - BOT meeting, 3.15pm
Thursday 16th - Electives start
Friday 17th - Pink Shirt day for anti bullying. Hellers Sausage sizzle fundraiser for senior student camp.
