Term 4, Week 1 14/10/2024 - 18/10/2024
From the Principal's Desk
Greetings Parents, Caregivers and Whanau, Week 1, 18th of October 2024
Welcome to our new families and students to the school. A special welcome to Whaea Cassie a student teacher working in Room 6 this term. I have been around to all classes to explain that the most important term for learning is in term 4, as we move into completing teaching and final assessments to gain a better understanding of abilities and skills for reporting to parents on progress and achievement. This allows the senior leadership team and BOT to start to make critical decisions regarding grouping students for 2025, staffing, and gaining support for next year. For this reason, I am asking that parents help at home with their child’s learning by reading with their child, going over some writing, trying some basic facts for maths and asking their child questions in regards to their learning. Playing board games, card tricks and fun everyday learning is the best.
🌞 Summer time – As we move into the warmer parts of the year, could all students please bring a spare named hat to school for the break time play. Every class has sunscreen that is optional and we recommend that students choose the right options with some play undercover during the hottest parts of the day.
Property work updates - Quotes/Estimates needed
The following are our projects for Term 4 or in the holidays for completion. If you are a tradesperson interested in putting a quote in for the work please send an email to principal@whenuakite.school.nz.
- Decking projects
- Re-configuration of office/admin desk area
- Adding an internal wall/door for a classroom.
- Changing out windows (5) for bifold or stacker doors
- Fencing
Enrolments for 2025
In 2025 we have 7 classes and we are working on the best possible balance for each class. As we have predicted the roll to sit around 150 students for the next few years we do have spaces for students out of our enrolment scheme area. If you are interested in coming to our school, please request an enrollment pack from the office and visit our amazing school. I am more than happy to show you around and to look at our achievements.
Nga mihi, Gary Veysi, Principal Whenuakite School -principal@whenuakite.school.nz
Hot Summer Fun!
Lunch under the trees!
Just remember your Sun Hat! woof, woof, woof or you may get burnt!
Property and Environmental Projects
Carparking/Roading
We are finally getting the last quotes for the carparking upgrades and the design drawings out for consultation and feedback. While we are going through this process we are painting the yellow lines - This is clearly NO PARKING AT ALL TIMES.
We have also listened to the community and are removing some of the safety bollards along the front car parking hedge so cars will be able to park and then exit straight onto the main road. However please ensure all passengers get into cars from the passenger side by the fence, be very careful when you turn out onto the road.
Chicken area and Room 1 sensory garden.
These areas are being completed next as part of the vision map. Any help or support is much appreciated.
Community Notices
Cooks Beach needs your help!
My name is Sophie and I want to do a big clean-up for Cooks Beach. Can you help? We will meet at the FIRE STATION on 1st of November 2024 at 8:30am. (teacher only day at Whenuakite school)
Please bring:
- Gloves
- Collection bucket
- Good walking shoes
- Water bottle
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Hi-vis vest
- Gold coin for the sausage sizzle afterwards (and to cover dump costs)
We will provide:
- Utes with trailers to collect the rubbish
- Big rubbish bags
- Sausage sizzle at the Fire Station afterwards
Welcome to new students and whanau
A big welcome to the following students and we will have a special assembly on Monday at 2.30pm to welcome them.
- Mika Illingworth
- Zahlayn Alexander
- William Dozell
- Thea Dozell
- Kyra van Beynen
Excellence in Being a K.I.T.E Kid Awards
Certificates presented to: -
- Room 1 - Daisy Land, Ryder Coombe
- Room 2 - Mika Illingworth, Chase Hayward
- Room 3 - Brock Norriss, Mariah Baroro
- Room 4 -Kate Walker, Seth Black, Noah Goodwin
- Room 5 - Seazyn Tanzy, Archie Hansby
- Room 6 - Mitch Walsh, Isla Bowen
- Room 7 - Nate Walsh, Harsimrat Kaur
Principal Awards presented to:
-Mika - room 2 for demonstrating excellent Gymnastic skills.
- Olivia- room 4 for the amazing magic tricks!
- Corey and River - room 6 - Helping with building projects around the school, we really appreciate your mahi as it is making our school environment even better.
New Students:-
William Dozell in Room 1
Mika Illingworth in Room 2
Thea Dozell in Room 5
Zahlayn Alexander in Room 4
Kyra van Beynen in Room 4
Photolife
Photolife will be here on Tuesday 22nd October 2024 for all photos. We don't have a timetable but going off last year's one - they will arrive around 8am to set up. Sibling photos will be taken first anytime from 8.30am followed by class, staff and sport team photos. Sibling forms can be collected from Donna in the office. These must be filled in and returned to Donna by Tuesday morning.
Year 7 and 8 Camp
Our students at Totara Springs Camp - Congratulations to the team with all the learning and fun you are having.
Coromandel Speech Competition
Last week of term 3 the Eastern Coromandel Speech competitions were held at Opoutere School.
Noa, Maddie and Reiver competed. Noa placed 2nd in Year 5/6.
Sports Corner
House Groups - House events happen throughout the year, where the House groups engage in all sorts of fun and challenges as they work towards the winning the House Shield. Points so far for the events we have completed.
Finally, a huge thank you to Ginney Deavoll a parent and an amazing artist, who has painted murals for all the House Groups. At the moment these are on display in the Activity Room before we decide where they will be put up. This is where the House groups will go for meetings and events.
New School House Group Signs
The Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club had their end of season prizegiving on Saturday 28th September. And it was a big night for Whenuakite School kids Jaxon Walker and Levi and Hunter Nicholson. They took out the top 3 spots for the club for the New Zealand Youth Nationals! Jaxon came 1st, Hunter 2nd and Levi 3rd. Jaxon was also awarded the Collier Trophy for the last marlin of the season and Hunter for the 2nd year running was awarded the Kerr Trophy for the Small Fry Angler Scoring the Most Points for the Season, a trophy that Levi had for the 2 years prior to Hunter! It was a really great night and wonderful to see the Whenuakite kids dominating in their favourite sport. Hoping for another great season with Levi currently sitting in 8th place on the clubs top 10 angler board for the adults!
Up and coming events
Term Four
Next week
NZ Waterwise Sailing programme – lessons (theory only at this stage) at school start for Rooms 6 and 7. Parent practice on Wednesday 3-4pm. We will also need parents from week 4 (November) to help with transport and support at Flaxmill Bay.
PhotoLife – School and individual photos are on Tuesday, the 22nd of October! House Leaders Trip – Trip to the Coromandel as a team-building exercise
Events coming up in week 3
The Boy with Wings - Puppet show for students and community. BOT Meeting – 5 Year property plan updates - process, project/activities, planning for improvements. New upgrades/prices for the carparking area. The budget started for 2025.
School Working Bee - After an amazing Working Bee in term 1, we hope we can get more support on Saturday 2nd of November, 9am - 12pm. This is to complete some of the student's ideas/projects that sit outside of MOE funding. Further information on specific jobs will come out soon. "More hands, make light work"
