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 ho, Suoday, Ni sa Bula, Kamusta, Xin chào, Gutentag, Bonjour

 

I would like to start this newsletter by congratulating Alec Solomon on his recent appointment to principal of Whangarei Boys High School.  It has been my pleasure to work and connect with Alec as principal of Tikipunga High School.  Alec has strong connections to Whangarei Boys High School and they are very blessed to have him as their new tumuaki.  Alec is a very experienced and well respected principal and we would like to wish him all the best on his next educational journey.  

I Have a Dream have also made a new appointment to the Chief Executive position in their organisation and they have announced that Shane Gorst will fulfil this role from next term.  Over the last 10 years, Shane has worked closely with young people to help and support them.  Initially at Make-A-Wish NZ and then leading a large social enterprise and medical centre, as well as time working with the New Zealand Police.  We are looking forward to meeting Shane and welcoming him to Totara Grove School.  I would also like to acknowledge all of the amazing mahi Mo Matautia-Tepania does to support IHAD.  Mo goes above and beyond for others in this role including her staff, our tamariki and the schools she works with.  Mo was recently promoted to General Manager and we would like to congratulate her on this fine achievement. 

Term 4, is the term we promote and focus on EOTC - Education Outside The Classroom and all the wonderful experiences and opportunities this provides for students.  Our Year 6 students are very much looking forward to going to Camp in Week 5 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has offered to come along to camp to support us, we really appreciate it.

Kia pai tō wiki
Mauri Ora Whānau
Sharon

The winners of books for the previous two weeks were:

Rm 1: Kalenzo, Eternity
Rm 2: Umar, Hadassah
Rm 3:  Micaela, Wiremu
Rm 4: Raniera
Rm 5: Koko, Kiyansh
Rm 6: Moana, Alexious
Rm 7: Kalani, Keison, Willow
Rm 8: Cleo, Arlo, Raiden
Rm 9: Jayde, Eruera, Zhanica, Michael
Rm 10: Archer, Didi
Rm 13: Pertrice, Griffin, Rivaan
Rm 14: Bella, Dre

The winners of the Ngā Mātāpono Awards for the last two weeks:

Rm 1: Ricardo, Josh, Kemperr, Leighton, Ivan, Wairere, Aeriel
Rm 2: Amaiyah-Harmony, Arlo, Hemi, Leighton, Te-Koha
Rm 3: Koda, Ashton, Raniera, Julius, Wairangi, Kyah, Wiremu
Rm 4: Swayde, Bowie
Rm 5: Amelia, Ricardo, Elizabeth, Kahi, Ellamaze, Kaide
Rm 6: Po Ariki, Veil, Dreyl, Ella-Rose
Rm 7: Ida, Bentley, Anakin, Eli, Ailsa-May
Rm 8: Flynn, Amanii Leigh, Kadez, Tana, Tūrama, Jahzahlea, Kenzy, Joanna
Rm 9: Spencer, Legacy, Bosba, Hannah, Roman
Rm 10: Kason, Taylor, Chase, Shaani, Liam
Rm 13: Caleb, Princess, Rewi, Grace, Rivaan, Mauri
Rm 14: Bruno, Syhlas, 

The school photos that were taken at the end of last term have been uploaded to the Photolife website and are ready to be viewed and ordered . Here is the link to the website:   https://photolifeonline.co.nz/ordering/access

Students were given paper pamphlets on Friday to bring home with their individual keycodes on them that will grant whānau access online to view the photos. 

The free delivery deadline date is displayed when you log in, orders done in time will then be printed and dispatched to school for children to bring home. Orders after this date incur an $8 postage fee and will be delivered to the address you enter online. ***FREE DELIVERY EXPIRES Midnight Sunday 3 NOVEMBER *** 

Please see the office if you did not receive a pamphlet with your child's unique key code.

  

Here is the link to the website:   https://photolifeonline.co.nz/ordering/access

 

For health and safety reasons we now have a new electronic gate installed at our Corks Road entrance.  This was installed over the school holidays along with upgrades to our neighbouring fences. We want to remind everyone that the main entrance for picking up and collecting children is at the drop off zone on Okaihau Place, which is off Wairau drive. The office can still be accessed from the Okaihau entrance when needed. Pedestrian access is still available off Corks Road.

The gate will be closed daily from 8.15am to 3.45 pm every week day starting Monday 4th November.

As part of our school’s commitment to being sunsmart, all tamariki are required to wear sunsmart hats in terms 1 and 4. These need to be the wide brimmed styled hats for sun protection. All children are encouraged to bring their own, however classes will have some extra hats available if required. Children who aren’t wearing a hat will need to stay in the shade. Sunblock is also available in all classrooms as part of the sunsmart protection system. 

Check out this website for more tips: https://www.sunsmart.org.nz/be-sunsmart/ 

Head lice, nits, or kutis, are very common in kids and easily spread around school. They can be annoying but are treatable.
Please remember to check your child’s hair regularly for head lice - once a week is a good guide. If head lice are found it is also necessary to treat it and get rid of them by using a fine toothed lice comb through the hair. 

If you require treatment lotion and/or a head lice comb, please contact the office and we will send some home for you.

Here is a link to the Ministry of Education's guide for more info:
https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/wellbeing/head-lice/

 

Any orders for the current scholastic book club brochure (issue #7, 2024) need to be in by Monday, 1st November. These can be made online or in cash via the office. If making a cash order, please return the order form to the school office with the child’s name, room number, selected books and the correct money owing. Orders past this date can still be made directly online as long as they are within scholastic’s final closing date, 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/ 

Each November Duffy kids get a summer reading brochure to bring home, these were sent home with children last week. Whānau can purchase books from this catalogue for just $5 a book to keep their child’s love of reading fostered over the summer break! Please complete the form and return with your cash payment to the office by Friday 15th November 2024. Your order will then be sent to school by Friday 6th December 2024.

As part of the governments new curriculum update for maths, schools have been directed by Ministry of Education to hold 2x staff only days to support teachers with implementing this.

The first of these days for our school is set to be on Monday 17th February 2025.
We will advise the other date next year.

Kia ora whānau of our year 6 students,

Camp
On Thursday 31st October (tomorrow) we will be hosting an information hui to share our graduation camp information and activities with you. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We will meet with whānau in the staffroom at 5.30pm. After the hui we would like to meet with our volunteer parents who are coming to camp with us to discuss roles and responsibilities.

Y7 Enrolments

It's that time of year again when the intermediates and schools that start at year 7 begin their enrolment process for next year. Here are links to a couple of the local options for which you may be in Zone for. 

Tikipunga High

Te Kamo Intermediate

If you have a concern about your child’s language development, learning progress, social and emotional wellbeing, or behaviour, Te Manawa 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 sign or flag. Drop into a hub or make an appointment by phoning 0800 524 842 or emailing TT.Support@education.govt.nz. 

Current timetable: 

Term 1         31st Jan – 12th April
6th Feb         - Waitangi Day (public holiday)
29th March, 1st & 2nd April – Easter Holiday

Term 2         29th April – 5th July
3rd June      – Kings birthday (public holiday)
4th June      – Teacher & staff only day
28th June    – Matariki (public holiday)

Term 3         22nd July – 27th Sep
11&12 Sep  -Whānau korero afternoons

Term 4         14th Oct – 13th December
28th Oct        - Labour Day (public holiday)
6th Nov         - Board Meeting
Nov 13,14,15 - Year 6 Graduation Camp
25 Nov           - Teacher & staff only day


2025
Term 1         29th Jan – 12th April
28th Jan        - Open morning, 10am - Noon


For school dates, office hours and school break times please refer to the school website linked here: