Wednesday 10th August 2022          No. 12

Te Kura o Tōtara Grove

Tōtara Grove School

Kia ora koutou

I hope everyone is doing well. It is hard to believe that we are in Week 3 already. Over the last couple of weeks I have thoroughly enjoyed having some one on one time to connect with the wonderful staff here. This school certainly has a team of dedicated professionals who are amazingly talented, kind, competent and hard working. It has been a real pleasure to hear their stories and to get to know them more. I am absolutely loving getting to know our beautiful tamariki here too.

How our tamariki start school each day is important. Being at school on time before the bell goes and having a good breakfast can help to set them up for a successful day. If you need any support around this please let your child’s teacher know. A reminder, the school also has a lovely, relaxed breakfast club each morning between 7.45am and 8.15am where we all chip in to make toast and share in some kōrero with any tamariki who come along. It is organised very well. I have been very impressed with the organisation that happens here at the end of each day to ensure the safety of students, with teachers monitoring the school drop off and pick up zone, and walking with students to ensure they cross the main roads safely.

We are noticing there are a few more Covid-19 cases appearing at school along with colds and flu. If your child is showing any flu-like symptoms please ensure you keep them at home until they are well. Winter illnesses and Covid-19 are also affecting our ability to find relief teachers to cover classes at times too. It is always a last resort for us to have to split a class around other classes and unfortunately we have had to split students among other classes already this term. We are wanting to increase our pool of relief teachers so if you know of any teachers who would like to put their names down to do relief teaching here, please ask them to get in touch with our office.

Have a great week whānau
Ngā manaakitanga

Sharon
Principal Tumuaki

TUPU TAHI – GROWING TOGETHER. STANDING STRONG. REACHING HIGH.

Caught Being Good

Winners of books for the previous two weeks were:

Rm 3: Roman, Harper

Rm 6: Bunny

Rm 8: Johannus

Rm 10: Delivyryance, Lorelai

Rm 12: Kaden

Rm 13: Tizaeya, Braxton

Rm 14: Cameron, Rob Marley

Ngā Mātāpono Awards

Rm 3: Lincoln, Arli, Brandon, Chloe

Rm 6: Kees, Jack, Mauri, Shyloh, Haimona

Rm 7: Grace, Maddison, Kauri, Murphy

Rm 8: Kace, Nikki, Liam

Rm 10: Honey, Yalaena, Anthony

Rm 13: Ava-Leigh, Kingston, Sinaraa, Janie-Marie, Norton-Reks

Rm 14: Teejay, Kora-Rae, Cael, Lorde

Yummy fruit stickers

Our school is collecting yummy fruit stickers to qualify for free sports gear.

Please send your yummy stickers and cut out labels in to the office by the end of term 3. One cut out label is worth 10 apple stickers.

For more info see the website: https://www.yummyfruit.co.nz/schools/

Totara Grove School Board of Trustees Elections: 

Kia Ora Whanau
Our 3 yearly Board of Trustees elections are here now and we need you! Nomination forms were mailed out to each eligible voter.
If you did not receive one please call into the office.
Do you want to have an input into our Kura and have a voice for our community?
If so we want you!
Nominations close on 17th August 2022 and voting will be on 21st September 2022.
Check out this website for more information:  https://www.schoolboardelections.org.nz/becoming-a-board-member/

Nga Mihi
Ngaire Olley
Returning Officer

Teacher’s only day: Friday, 9th September

As part of our required professional learning around the local curriculum refresh and Aotearoa histories curriculum, the school will be having a staff only day on Friday, 9th September.  Staff will be working together on this day to strengthen their understanding of the new curriculum format and local histories around Northland.

Whanau hui

Save the date – whanau hui is coming up on the 21^st & 22^nd September – 15min time slots will be available to meet your child’s teacher in person, via phone or via zoom, more details to come on when and how to book these times. We look forward to discussing the many great things about your child with you.

Free school lunch programme

Please see attached the menu for the next fortnight. A detailed ingredients list is published on the lunch by libelle website: www.lunchbylibelle.co.nz/current-menu.html (click here).

This Fortnights lunch menu:

Winter wellness

Fundraising raffle

We have kindly been donated a wheel barrow by Mitre 10 to kick off our fundraising raffle for the school. If you have any non perishable items that you are happy to donate towards this fabulous prize then can you please bring them into the office and pop them into the wheelbarrow. Those who donate something will also go in the draw to win a bonus prize of a child headphone set and pool admission vouchers.

Raffle tickets are currently being taken home with 1 child per family to sell as many as they can in a night then returned the next day.

Free to a good home

We have surplus school desks that are available for free to those who may want them.

Please contact the office and let us know how many you would like and when you would like to collect them.

Te Manawa Tahi Timetable

If you have a concern about your child’s language development, learning progress, social and emotional wellbeing, or behaviour, TeManawa Tahi have specialists available so you can discuss your concerns directly with them.
This is a free service and each site will be identified by a Te Manawa Tahi flag. Drop into a hub or make an appointment by phoning 0800 5248 4256 or emailing TT.Support@education.govt.nz.

School Term Dates for 2022

Term 1          3rd February – 14th April

Term 2         2nd May – 8th July

Term 3          25th July – 30th September.  TOD, 9th September

Term 4          17th October – 13th December

Community Notices

Does your child require further support, over and above what can be offered at school? 

Would your child benefit from bespoke and nurturing learning sessions from a highly experienced teacher designed to accelerate learning and boost confidence? We would love to help. We are a team of dedicated teachers, specialising in English and Maths support, for primary, intermediate and college students. Visit www.boostyourlearning.co.nz for more information or contact Jenny 021 223 3349 to book a free consultation.

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