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Last week we held our Learning Conversations.  This is the first time we have used HERO for our bookings, how did you find it?  Please let me know and we can see if there are any kinks we can remove.  It was wonderful connecting with whānau, so many great stories of learning were shared.  If you wish to speak to kaiako further, please just email them and let them know.  Timely Comments are going out and you will have four comments by the end of term four (Reading, Writing (Literacy), Maths and Ako), as well as where tamariki are learning within the curriculum.  If you couldn't make it to the Learning Conversations please make another time with kaiako.  Here is a link to our W.A.T.P. (Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai) movie https://www.canva.com/design/DAGQflRiQaI/4_c_PqT7cKm0rzYE8xPumg/watch If you have any feedback for us about anything else you would like to see happening, anything you think is working well for tamariki, or share your aspirations for your tamariki with us ,email principal@lyallbay.school.nz. 

Term 4 is right around the corner!  That brings swimming, hats, and sunscreen.  Please ensure hats are broad-brimmed so they cover ears and necks, not caps, and they are named.  With the wind we have in Lyall Bay they do tend to blow away so if they are named they are easy to return.   This is the same for swimming togs, towels, and goggles.  Naming them really helps when they have been left behind somewhere. 

In the first week of term 4 we have ERO (Education Review Office) visiting us.  Andrea Rodley is our Evaluation partner and she is bringing with her Paul Walker who is a Tumuaki at a primary school in Manawatu.  As part of this visit, we send ERO a range of documents that let them know about Learner success and wellbeing, Leadership, Curriculum, Teaching and learning, Professional capability and collective efficacy, Inclusion and wellbeing, Partnerships, Stewardship and governance, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  There will be classroom visits and a meeting with the Board of Trustees.  We then work alongside our evaluation partner to analyse the data sent, share anything more we have and decide on an Evaluation Focus. 

Term 4 also brings a change to our staff.  Mel James who has worked in Ahu and Hauraki will be moving to Auckland to be with her partner.  We will miss Mel's calm demeanour and work ethic that has the tamariki always at the centre.  Farewell and all the very best Mel.  We would love to see you back here in the future.  Jules May will be teaching in Hauraki for Term 4.  Jules is a very experienced kaiako from Christchurch.  She has been a leader of Learning Through Play, is trained in BSLA and Reading Recovery, has a post. grad. certificate in English as a Second Language teacher, has papers in Advancing Pasifika Educational Success and Understanding Emotions in Education.  She is looking forward to working alongside kaiako, kaimahi and tamariki in Hauraki and Onepū as well as the rest of the school. 

Our Term 4 curriculum focus is Social Sciences.  We will be centering our learning around Place and Environment.  Keep an eye out for information from teams and hubs.  We would love to hear from you with anything you can contribute to support learning. 

Breakfast Club will continue running in Term 4.  If you would like to help by setting up (8.20 am), cooking (8.25 am), supporting (8.30 am), or clean up (8.50 am) then please email david.dean@lyallbay.school.nz with your preference for times and days and a roster will be made up. 

Last week was Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, ‘Ake ake ake – A forever language’, echoing the adaptability and resilience of te reo Māori.  

We started the week all joining in the hall for waiata.  We have had kapa haka, competitions,  an assembly based on te wiki o te reo Māori and whānau waiata on the weekend.  Christine Cowan ran a series of te reo Māori waiata sessions.  Last Sunday there were special guests from Tu Matau Ora, Pita and Ness, who led the mahi.  There was lots of fun with poi toa especially.  Ka pai e hoa mai.  

Below are some photos of our waiata, tuakana teina, and the te reo o te wiki Māori colouring competition.  Congratulations to all the winners who won colouring pencils and whānau roopu points.  Rosa was our big winner who has won getting her mahi on a hoodie.  Tino pai. 

It was also Book Week and Book Fair last week.  Our book character day was a huge hit, with so many costumes that depicted a range of book characters, from Anne of Green Gables to Zorro.  Our winners are below, congratulations to Robin Hood, Willy Wonka and a magician.  Here is a link to many Book Character photos https://www.canva.com/design/DAGRJqCIL8E/4oviA2tekxkg_1zopB10lQ/watch 

Juliet MacIver, our visiting author, was inspiring to so many of our learners.  She talked about how she doesn't sit at a desk and write, but just wherever she feels like, she could be standing, lying, doing stretches, however the mood takes her.  She also doesn't use a book with lines, but writes all over blank pages, with arrows going everywhere to help guide her thinking.  It was good to know that writing doesn't have to look the same!   

It was such a busy week, the week before, with the WoW show that was outstanding, Maranui Glow Camp and Huetepara's visit to Te Papa. Thank you to whānau who supported these events so they could happen.  Ka pai.

We are always happy to see you at school.  Come and have a chat.

Kia pai te wiki
Melanie