Term 1, Week 10, 7/4/2025 - 11/4/2025

From the Principal's Desk

Kia ora kotou katoa, Greetings Parents and Caregivers

We have had a great term with exciting events and activities and I would like to thank everyone who helps our school. The teachers have completed a huge range of professional development, spending extra hours to understand the new curriculum and developing their teaching practice. This will continue to be implemented next term. A thanks to the students who get to school every day to work on their goals and a thanks for parents who support them and our school.

Wheels Day

We had a fantastic Wheels Day, organised by Shona and the Pohutukawa House leaders. 

Tech/Arts for Year 7/8 students

We have been in discussions with Mercury Bay Area School.  Following is the information received from MBAS about technology on Friday and due to class sizes they will be introducing a third rotation from next term - Performing Arts - and therefore a third class. The proposal is one year 7 class, one year 8 class and one mixed class.
All classes will do the new Performing Arts rotation.   Then in Term 3 and 4 the Technology rotation will also change to design work using the Laser and Vinyl cutters to make products, so there will not be a repeat of term 1 or 2 technology for any students.

Future dates and events for term 2

Earlier this week you should have received the Term 2 Overview. The learning in term 2 is celebrating our shared history. This learning will be showcased with a school production in week 8.

Cool Schools Programme

Another focus is on the "Cool Schools" programme. We have a Teacher Only Day on Friday 30th of May 2025. Parents/community are more than welcome to join us, just rsvp to principal@whenuakite.school.nz. We are also looking at programmes that support positive relationships, social development and building friendships.

What is the Cool Schools Programme?

Cool Schools is a peer mediation programme developed by the Peace Foundation, that has been adopted by many schools in New Zealand. Its philosophy is based on conflict being seen as something that can be handled positively and learnt from, without using violence.

It encourages us to learn about situations of conflict, and how to change them from experiences many of us would rather avoid or ignore into experiences to help us grow and learn. It helps us develop problem-solving approaches to conflict rather than denial or aggression.

How Does it Operate?

Cool Schools is part of our school’s health syllabus and will be taught in classrooms each year. To supplement and reinforce the learning which occurs in the classroom, each year a team of children are trained in conflict resolution skills and are appointed as peer mediators within the school.  Mediators are on duty in pairs in the playground every playtime and are available for children to approach to help them resolve any conflicts they have been unable to sort out for themselves.

Mediators meet regularly with the coordinator for ongoing feedback and training.

Thanks, Nga mihi Gary Veysi - Principal

Wheels Day

Fundraising For the Minivan

"Thank you to everyone who brought back their sold tickets already. All sold ticket stubs and cash need to be returned in the box at the office. If using internet banking, please transfer the money in the Whenuakite School Fundraising Team 03 1578 0015991 00 and put your family name and book number (the number on your first ticket). Whole book transfers only, please. Thank you from the fundraising team"

A big thanks to Rachel from the Whitianga Warehouse who has given us lots of main prizes, spot prizes and giveaways as incentives for the students/families to help keep us motivated as we sell tickets. We will do these at Friday's assemblies in term 2. 

Being a K.I.T.E Kid Awards

Certificates presented to: -

Room 1 - Blake Thomson, Jodi Scotland

Room 2 - Jack Carter, Olive Hansby

Room 3 - Aubrey Blomfield, Havana Gordon

Room 4 - Ryder Thompson, Elfie Jensen, Haya von Planta

Room 5 - Ada Roach, John-Henry Heath

Room 6 - George Roach, Valerie Drewitt-Fisher

Room 7 - Israel Matson, Louie Jensen

Principal Awards - Jaxon Walker - For supporting and helping others during the wheels day.

House Groups and Points

Updated House Points

As we completed a Wheels and super hero dress-up day, extra points were given out and changed the leader board. In the end, Kotare was still the winning House for term 1.

Super Hero Dress up day

Well done to all the students who got dressed up and gave a donation to the Westpac Trust Helicopter fundraiser

Soccer

Out and about

Always important to have a Doctor on a "Super Hero -Wheels Day"

Congratulations to all the students in Karate. Kate placed 2nd n her division.

Some quiet reading time.

Up and coming events

Term 2 Week 1

First day back on the 28th of April

Electives on Thursday 2nd of May