Newsletter LogoWednesday 7th September 2022          No. 14

Te Kura o Tōtara Grove

Tōtara Grove School

Kia ora koutou

I hope everyone is having a great week and is keeping well. Winter illnesses and Covid-19 are continuing to have an impact on our school and our ability to find relievers at short notice. We are very fortunate to have a loyal team of relievers to support us but it still can be difficult to find teachers for every class each day. When this happens we all work together to ensure the best for our tamariki and I would like to thank our wonderful staff for their flexibility and manaakitanga around this.

Every Monday after school, our teaching team meets together to share, learn and strengthen our teaching practices. At this week’s hui we looked at the inquiry process from a student’s perspective and what this could look like at this point in time at our kura.

A student inquiry process in a school context, is all about an approach to learning that is driven by students’ curiosity about the world around them. It involves a process of exploration that promotes questioning, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and making discoveries whilst encouraging connection, co-operation and collaboration. I really love students being involved with us as kaiako in the learning process and am looking forward to further developing our own inquiry model here at Totara Grove School.

Noho ora mai!

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: Rawiri

Rm 4: Mark-David

Rm 6: Haimona, Ava

Rm 8: Precious

Rm 9: Hoki, Khale

Rm 10: Anthony, Tynneal, Ashlyn

Rm 13: Bosba

Rm 14: Cael, Kajahrn, Preston

 

Ngā Mātāpono Awards

Rm 3: Ariki, Arli

Rm 4: Anaya, Hadassah W

Rm 6: Kahvaya, Nikau, Osiris, Sheila-Rose

Rm 7: Boaz, Kauri, TJ, Jayde

Rm 8: Vanity, Lapa, Kason, Johannus

Rm 9: Carter, Kylie, River-Lee, Cailean, Waekamania

Rm 10: Lincoln, Moroni, Mason

Rm 13: Braxton, Zhanica, Noah, Dean, Hemi, Skyla, Shannon

Rm 14: Willow, Eru, Lorde, Phoebe

 

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 next week.

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

 

Teacher’s only day: Friday, 9th September

As mentioned in recent newsletters, we will be having a staff only day this Friday, 9th September.  Staff will be doing professional learning around the Aotearoa histories curriculum.  Staff will work together on this day to strengthen their understanding of the new curriculum format and local histories around Northland.  Please note school will be closed on this day.

 

Whanau hui

A korero in person with your child’s teacher to talk and plan your goals, dreams and aspirations for your child. School will finish at 1pm on Wednesday 21st September, lunch will still be provided.

Bookings are now live on the SKOOL LOOP App – book your 15 min time slots today!
Wednesday 21st Sep, 1:30pm – 6pm (Early finish at 1pm )
Thursday 22nd Sep, 3:30pm – 6pm. (Finish at normal time 3pm)

We look forward to this korero to share all the great things about your child. Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau.

 

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:

 

Waitangi trip

Totara Grove School is excited to announce that we will be heading out on our first school trip in over 2 years. This trip is in support of our schoolwide kaupapa, Ngā Rangatira o Te Tai Tokerau, (Leaders of the North). The middle and senior syndicates will be visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds during the last week of term 3.

Notices have gone home with the children with initial information – more info will be sent home next week.

 

Scholastic Book Club

Any orders for the current scholastic book club brochure (issue #6, 2022) need to be back in to school by Friday, 16th September. Please return the order form with the child’s name, room number, selected books and the correct money owing. Orders past this date can be made directly online, however they won’t be delivered through the school and postage costs will be added to your order.

https://www.scholastic.co.nz/parents/lucky-book-club/

 

KIA MANAWAROA

Kia Manawaroa is the Ministry of Education’s new dedicated pānui for whānau Māori, managed by the Kia Manawaroa team within Te Tuarongo.

It is sent fortnightly via email over the school term to a growing audience of subscribers, published to the Ministry’s websites, and shared via the Ministry’s social media channels.

Kia Manawaroa is about:

  • Opportunities, changes, and milestones in education
  • Celebrating Māori success as Māori
  • Promoting and normalising te reo Māori
  • COVID-19 updates relevant to whānau

If you would like to subscribe to Kia Manawaroa here is the link

Fundraising raffle

Our school fundraising raffle is underway. Thank you to those families who have already donated non perishable items to go towards this fabulous prize. There is still time to bring in your donation if you haven’t done so yet – please bring your item/s 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 booklet child per family to sell as many as they can in a night then returned the next day. Tickets are $2 each. Tickets can also be purchased from the office.

The raffle will be drawn on Friday, 16th September.

 

Lost Property

Kia ora e te whānau,

We have two beautiful taonga pounamu (greenstone necklace) in our lost property.
One was handed in last year in November and another in April this year.
If your child has misplaced a greenstone necklace, please call or come to the office.

 

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

TIKIPUNGA FOOTBALL CLUB: KIDS DISCO – NEON THEMED

Wear bright, dazzling colours or come in your best outfit

9th September

With quite a few cancelled games/trainings this year we thought why not bring all the kids together and celebrate all the teams success they have had.

Snacks and drinks will be available to purchase on the night, so don’t be afraid to send your kids along with some spare change
** non members are also welcomed, bring some friends and enjoy the night