Wednesday 21 June 2023 No. 10

Kia ora koutou, Namaste, Talofa Lava, Konnichiwa, Ni hao, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Chao, Hallo, Zdravstvuite, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Salam, Suostei, Hola, Annoyong Haseyo, Caio, Nei hou, Suoday, Ni sa Bula, Kamusta, Xin chào, Gutentag, Bonjour

It is hard to believe we are nearly halfway through 2023! Next week, we are all looking forward to our Whānau Open Day and to welcoming you all to see a variety of activities we do and also to see the wonderful mahi our teachers do in their classrooms on a daily basis. More details on times and activities can be found in this newsletter and we will send another notice out next week. I am looking forward to seeing our Kapa Haka performance group in action. They have been working very hard on their waiata and haka with Whaea Tere and Whaea Yvonne. Our junior Teina Team will also be having their usual weekly kapa haka session with Whaea Tere and it is always lovely to see the enthusiasm and kaha they show each week.

This week, I have the last parts of the whakapapa of Te Mātaiaho, our new curriculum refresh to share. The last three parts are: Mātaiaho, Mātaioho and Mātaiahika. Mātaiaho is the weaving of learning within and across all of the eight curriculum learning areas. Mātairangaranga te aho tū, te aho pae. Weave the learning strands together. Mātaioho, is the process by which schools draw on our national curriculum to design our own school curriculum. Mātai oho, mātai ara, whītiki, whakatika. Awaken, arise and prepare for action. Mātaiahika, connecting to place and community and learning through local relationships with tangata whenua. Mātai kōrero ahiahi. Keep the hearth occupied, maintain the stories by firelight.

In summary, the seven parts are; Mātairangi, the guiding kaupapa, Mātainuku, creating a foundation, Mātaitipu, vision for young people, Mātairea, supporting progress, Mātaiaho, weaving of learning, Mātaioho, curriculum design and review, Mātaiahika, connecting to place and community.

Throughout next week, we will be celebrating and acknowledging all of our support staff as it is the national ‘Support Staff Week.’ At Totara Grove School, we have the most amazing and outstanding team of support staff who go above and beyond everyday to help our tamariki and the organisation of our kura. Thank you Ngaire, Megan, Amber, Grant, Glen, Irene, Dianna, Yvonne, Susan, Sheryl, Jess, Tania, Henare and Jaimee Rae. Your service to our school and the community is very much appreciated and valued.

Have a great week whānau and we hope to see many of you next Thursday.
Mauri Ora!

Sharon
Principal Tumuaki

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

Caught Being Good

Winners of duffy books for the previous two weeks were:

Rm 2: Chelsea

Rm 4: Eva-Maria, Troy

Rm 5: Dawn, Jacoby

Rm 7: Artemis

Rm 8: Arlo, Airoe

Rm 9: Jimmy

Rm 10: Yalaena, Emma, Khale

Rm 11: Tyla-Mei, Rawhiti, Nikkii

Rm 12: Hemi

Rm 13: Jayde

Ngā Mātāpono Awards

Rm 1: Mauri

Rm 2: Te Ririmu, Anaya, Sofia, Jack, Rawiri

Rm 3: Keison

Rm 4: Troy, Po Ariki, Zane, Ewan, Micah

Rm 5: Layden, Manaia, Haimona, TeRuki, Haimona, Willow

Rm 7: Pene, Tarzan, Bruno

Rm 8: Brandon, Jayziah, Amanii, Tyson

Rm 9: Te Ohonga, Hoki

Rm 10: Nivaeya, Archer, Sinaraa, Khale

Rm 11: Kora-Rae, Te Mauri, Christian, Nikkii, Adison

Rm 12: Ava-Leigh, Spencer, Didi, Skyla, Jacob, Kauri

Rm 13: Shaani, Maika, Sandy, Kajahrn, Te Taonganui

Free school lunch programme

Menus and detailed information are published on the lunch by libelle website: www.lunchbylibelle.co.nz/current-menu.html (click here).

This week’s lunch menu:

Next week’s menu is still being finalized.

School Board

The date of the next Board of Trustees meeting is 21 June.

Personal Items

We are noticing there has been an increase in personal items that are treasured or expensive coming to school with tamariki. We would like to encourage whānau to discuss keeping these items at home to keep them safe as school cannot be responsible for lost or broken items.

School open morning

On Thursday 29 June, which is the last Thursday of this term, our kura is holding an open morning from 9am till 1pm. We would like to invite you all to share with your child what they have been learning in their classroom, to see some of the other activities we have at school and also to have morning tea with our staff.

Timetable as follows:

9am: Taumata in each class followed by whakawhanaungatanga and the opportunity to observe and share in normal classroom programmes

10am: Kapa Haka Group performance

10.30am: Junior Kapa Haka lesson

11am: Morning tea with staff

11.45 to 12.45: Whānau fun day activities on the field for our Year 1-3 students supported by our Tukana team students. Plus the opportunity to observe other school wide activities including: robotics, taniko, bone carving, Steps Web and art.

Whānau korero

Whānau korero with teachers will be happening around Week 5 in term 3, more details will follow at the beginning of next term.

School Camp

Camp date for Year 6 students is 15-17 November 2023. All families should have received a notice that was sent out last week with more information and a form to return for those able to come along as parent helpers. Anyone interested in being a camp helper please return these forms to school as soon as possible.

Seesaw

It is fantastic to see how many whānau have taken up the opportunity to enrol in Seesaw. The excitement and delight of watching the tamariki read your encouraging comments is heartwarming. If you would like to get help to use this function, or sign up please make contact with the school or class teacher.

Each week there will be at least one new thing for you to see, sometimes this will be a whole class post and other times it will be a sample personalised to you and your tamariki.

School reports are live this week via Seesaw. You can expect a reading, writing and maths sample along with written comments from the teacher. The sample may be a picture or even a video. If you are unable to access this via seesaw please make contact with the class teacher and an alternative will be provided.

Enrolment Day

The school office will be open for new enrolments during the school holidays on Thursday 13th July from 10am – 1pm. Drop in only, no appointments needed on this day.

Please note that we are only able to accept in zone enrolments this year. You can check to see if you live within our home zone here: www.totaragrove.school.nz/enrolments/

You will need to bring the following documents for each child you wish to enrol:

*Birth certificate/passport
*Proof of address
*Immunisation certificate/records

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.

Upcoming School Events

21st June – School board meeting

29th June – School open morning, 9am – 1pm

13th July – Enrolment day

20th July – Term 3 School Mihi Whakatau, 10am

17th August – School photos

15-17th Nov – Year 6 camp

School Term Dates 2023

Term 1 1st Feb – 6th April

Term 2 24th April – 30th June

Term 3 17th July – 22nd Sep

Term 4 9th October – 14th December

Community Notices

We are supporting Stats NZ to encourage everyone to complete the 2023 Census.

So, this is a reminder that you need to return your census forms if you have not done so already.

Census data is used to make important decisions that affect us all. The census is the official count of people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, and everyone who was in the country on Census Day, 7 March 2023, is required by law to complete a census form.

Your participation will help ensure that our community receives funding for services for the number of people that live in our community. That includes education, health, and social services.

To complete the census, you can do it online at www.census.govt.nz using one of the access codes provided in the letters sent to your household. Or you can fill out paper census forms if you have them. To request a new access code or paper forms, freephone 0800 236 787 (0800 CENSUS) or order online at www.census.govt.nz.

The 2023 Census closes on 30 June, so you should do them online now or as soon as practicable. Ensure your paper forms are posted so they arrive with Stats NZ by 30 June.

Census collectors are no longer visiting households providing help to complete census forms (except in the cyclone-impacted areas of the Far North, Te Tairāwhiti, and Hawke’s Bay). If you need assistance or more information:

· You can attend a census support event and get face-to-face help to complete forms (for more information go to www.census.govt.nz/census-support).

· We encourage you to help whānau, friends, and neighbours complete their forms.

· There is information in New Zealand Sign Language, Braille, Easy Read, Large Print, and Audio formats, as well as in 29 different languages at www.census.govt.nz.

· The 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787) helpline will be open until 30 June.

Thank you for your support in making sure our community is accurately represented in the census.

Join us at Totara Grove Playcentre
We are a FREE early childhood centre where you can come with your children to enjoy a great range of indoor and outdoor play-based learning activities as well as a community of friendly & supportive parents.
Feel free to drop in anytime we are open, email us with any questions or find us on Facebook for some photos of what our kids have been up to recently.

Opening Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 9am-12pm during school term time
Address: 38 Corks Road
Email: totaragrove@playcentre.org.nz