Welcome to the holiday break!
I'm sure when we come back we will have an energetic spring in our step as we look forward to so much during the final 'summer term' (with healthy doses of optimism and hope!) Thinking summery thoughts, please remember check out our Sun Protection Policy and ensure your child/ren has the best chance of keeping safe in the sun.
Our children, teachers and parents have been out and about making connections all over the place - whether it's for learning, fundraising or simply building relationships.
In terms of learning - venturing outside of the classroom walls and school perimeter is expected, both in terms of the New Zealand Curriculum and also our local place based curriculum. When we look at our Year 6 leavers' profile of a "connected, curious and confident thinker", this idea of 'venturing out' is essential.
These days we also have the support of technology to connect to the world and when you dip in and out of the very lively Blogs, this is evident and opens up so many opportunities, but our children also need human, real, face to face interaction and connection to build so many skills for their future. Sitting alone in front of a screen with headphones on and a bowl of chips won't cut it.
As was mentioned in Board Shorts last week, we had a motivating Board and Staff Strategic Planning session a couple of weeks ago and will be doing more sharing soon. A number of teachers gave short presentations as part of this. John provided a thought provoking piece about "What should/could Schooling, Teaching and most importantly Learning look like in the rapidly changing world? Rethinking what is taught, how it is taught, and how learning is assessed". There were many links to the purpose of schooling, the work of great thinkers in this field and it really helped us think big picture and well ahead. As John mentioned, these are really exciting times to be an educator - we have never known so much! Whether it's about the nature of learning, plasticity of the brain, emotions... it can be difficult to keep up and make sure we are current, without jumping on the next bandwagon or catching onto a fad, as there are plenty!
We look forward to continuing to give our children a great array of learning opportunities next term and also know we can't do it without our parent community. Let's keep working in partnership to keep moving the school forward with energy and passion and knowing that we will be doing our best for our children starting in Autahi to leave for Intermediate with so many tools in the toolkit, ready to embrace a different wider world to the one we, 'the adults', entered into.
See you with your sunhats in Term 4.
Welcome to our new Positive Education tab. This will be updated regularly.
Year 3 & 4 Sleepover 2017 is a Wrap!
Thanks hugely to the teachers for going the extra mile (again!) and the supportive parents who stayed overnight - with patience and kindness a-plenty!.
We require students to wear hats which protect the face, neck, and ears, whenever they are outside and involved in school activities. Students at school without a hat must remain in an allocated shaded area or inside at break times.
We encourage students to protect themselves with broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 (Sun Protection Factor), and by sitting/playing in the shade where possible.
We encourage students to wear clothing that protects the skin (e.g. long sleeve tops) when at risk of extended sun exposure, such as sports days and picnics, etc.
Order your School Photos via the Online Gallery by midnight on Sunday 29 October to receive Earlybird pricing and to have your photos delivered to the school. Ordering or clearing payments after this date will be charged at Inspire's Standard pricing , with prints to be collected from the studio, or plus $6 postage if you would prefer for prints to be sent out to you by standard post.
You will need a code to access the photos - Carolyn sent this to parents in an email on 29.9.17.
We cannot take responsibility for students who are at school before 8.30am and after 3pm.
Please do not use the bottom of the school driveway as a drop off zone. The yellow lines are there for a reason. Last term we had a couple of reports of near misses on the crossing due to cars pulling in and stopping there. Please help keep our children safe.
As we bid a fond farewell to Term 3, we are already looking ahead to Term 4, thinking about some of the exciting events and important learning experiences which we need you all to be aware of.
The first of these events, a kind of physical tuning in will be a trip to the ASB on Thursday 26th October. The day after, Friday 27th October, is our School Athletics Day at Worser Bay Beach.
On Wednesday 29th November, we are going to be going to Otari-Wilton's Bush for a solid half day of tramping, taking in the sights while testing our fitness, reviewing our knowledge of native flora and fauna. We will be asking for parent helpers for this trip, so please keep an eye out for notices as we approach the date.
As a kind of tying together of one of the Inquiry strands, children in New Zealand who experience hardship and our Health focus, we are organising a fundraising event with KidsCan. This will take the form of a Duathlon, running and swimming on 6th December. This will also fit into our beach based programme which takes place over the last two full weeks of the term, from 4th to 15th December. This will include sailing, kayaking, water safety, swimming and many other events. We have done this over the last 5 years and it just keeps getting better. We are already praying to the weather gods; take it easy on us, Tawhirimatea!
The evening of Thursday 30th November has been set aside for performances, the sharing of some of our creative writing, poems, songs and short plays, an extravaganza of creativity. I'm sure you'll be aware that these kids love a chance to perform in front of a captive audience.
Special events for Year 6 students to put in the diary (while it's out) are the Year 6 Dinner on Tuesday 12th December and the annual swimming pool trip to H2O Extream on Monday 18th December. And, don't forget The Wrap on Thursday 14th December. Wow! We are going to be busy people!
Donate items - toys, books, childrens clothing, bottles, sugar, bric-a-brac.
Every family at WBS should have brought home a booklet of 6 Running of the Balls tickets this week. If you didn't receive one, please pick it up from the office in Term 4. Please sell these as quickly as you can - to neighbours, whānau, friends…. and return the sold ticket stubs to the named box in the office no later than Friday 27th October. Each ticket holder will be assigned a numbered ball, and be in with the chance of winning 3 fabulous prizes shown on the back of each ticket.
Put your name down TODAY!!! ….on the Fair Volunteer Form and volunteer for jobs before, during and after the Fair to help make sure the Fair is a great success. You'll have heaps of fun with other parents!
Drop your good condition clothing, baby gear, toys, games, puzzles, books off this Sunday 1st October, 10am until a bit before 12pm at the cream Shed behind the junior block.
Please do not bring in any items for White Elephant yet (aka Bric-a-Brac, Trash and Treasure). These items will be collected on Fair weekend.
Drop offs can also be made on Wednesdays & Fridays, 8.40am - 9am or 2.45 - 3.15pm, or Sunday 22 October and Sunday 5 November.
Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed bottles. We're making progress, but we're not yet up to 100 bottles. Bottles could include champagne, shampoo, perfume, chilli sauce, big bottles of fancy beer, olive oils.. (Alcoholic beverages straight to the office team, please).
Alessandro, Amelia, Charlie, Suki-lee, Clementine, Kura, Sabine and Theo.
Alex G, Anatole, Ari, Joni, Orla and Rico.
We had a wonderful time, for the second time, growing and working on our strengths on Tuesday. We practised Futsal, Floorball, Athletics and Gymnastics. For some of us, coming back to these sports for a second time was really great. The first time was a bit scary and was new and this time we were able to approach these things with a little more confidence! Have a look at the Blog to hear about what we did!
We have been talking about creative thinking and thinking about looking at and doing things in different ways. Have a look at the Blog to see more about this!
We shared our routine to another group and used the success criteria (see picture below) to give each other feedback about each routine. We really enjoyed giving feedback to each other and agreed on our next steps.
Friday 15th September was International Dot Day. This day is a celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration in response to the book "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds.
We spent our morning celebrating Dot Day in Tautoru, using our character strengths of creativity, curiosity and teamwork.
Henry and Oscar have been looking at global warming and want to share their learning with you. Hopefully it will inspire you to make some changes in your lifestyle!
Recently our Student Council groups have been really busy doing loads of different activities within the school. We saw the Raffle drawn on Monday at Karakia, we have planted our Little Gardens, had Worser Bay's Got Talent finals…. The list goes on!
The Social Group is also running a Story Writing competition for the holidays. You can write a story about ANYTHING you would like and include whatever pictures or drawings. Entries need to be handed in to Evie or Kate G by Friday 20th October (first Friday of Week 1).
On Thursday we had a Role Model Day. Inspiring people came in to talk to our students about the inspiring work that they do. Thank you to all of our guests. Read how we were inspired on our Blog.
The Trapping Team have raised over $500 dollars from the raffle, a great effort! Thanks to all of you who supported this by buying a ticket, or in many cases tickets. The winner: Christine, our lovely Librarian. Yay for her!
But the job doesn't end there as today's trapping adventure shows. A massive rat!
You can watch some of our entries on our Blog.
Join Queen Margaret College for their Open Day on Wednesday 18 October from 9am – 12pm and see the school in action. You will have the opportunity to hear about the world of opportunities available at QMC, take part in a guided tour, meet current parents and hear from key staff members including the Principal, Jayne-Ann Young. To register, go to www.qmc.school.nz or click here.
Experienced, inspiring & professional tutors.
www.standouts.co.nz or phone 9072929 for more info.
Wellington Harrier Athletic Club is holding a holiday programme to introduce children to Track and Field athletics. 10am Tuesdays and Thursdays at at Newtown Park.
For further details, or to book places, email ghenry@actrix.co.nz or 0274 425 439.
Inverlocky Art School still have places in our popular Holiday Programme in both Weeks.
These holidays we're offering all-day beginner machine sewing classes, classes for more competent machine sewists, hand-sewing felt-craft class for children aged 8+, and a kids' knitting class.
Miramar Rangers Football holiday programme.
​Pump Dance Studios – ACTING FUN – holiday programme – second week of the holidays.
ZOOTOPIA is the theme.... join us for an animal adventure like never before. From 4pm on Monday 2 October to 11am on Friday 6 October. OSCAR/WINZ subsidies available.
Harbour City GymSports is running a Holiday Programmes Mon-Thurs both weeks. There are still spaces available!!!! Lots of crazy activities as well as plenty of gymnastics.
Email office@hcg.org.nz for more information.