Bula

Already it is the last week of term 1.  It has flown by, although the weather has shown it's true colours the last couple of weeks, with autumn really setting in.  This is shown in the lost property bins, with them filling up!  If you know there is something missing from home, please come and have a look through.  Anything that is named we return to the owner.

You may have noticed the change in te reo at the top of the newsletter.  We have rethought our use of te reo Māori days of the week (and months of the year) according to the current whakaaro around the use of Maramataka Māori.  The Māori translation of the word Maramataka means 'everything under the influence of the moon.'  Maramataka is the tradtional Māori way by which time is marked.  These times do not connect with the Gregorian calendar, hence the change.  You can read more about it here. https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/matariki-maori-new-year/months-maramataka-maori-lunar or listen to Dr Rangi Matamua sharing about the lunar phases and matariki here  https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/matariki-maori-new-year/listen-matariki-and-maori ​

The Learning Conversations that were held last week were a great celebration for tamariki to share their learning.  It was lovely to see how involved whānau are in the learning of their tamariki making a strong home and school partnership.  If you did not manage to get to these, please contact your child's kaiako to arrange another time.  If you want to catch up with kaiako about other aspects of learning, then please email them to make an appointment. 

Next term we have our W.A.T.P. (Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai) hui.  We will have these at the beginning of each term (week 3).  These hui are for you, so we want to make sure they are what you are wanting.  In the past, they have been before school, after school, and early evening - is there a better time that suits?  What would you like to korero about?  Please email, chat to kaiako or fill in the survey through the below link to let us know, so we can tailor these to your needs  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WATPhui 

We are part of the Motu Kairangi Kāhui Ako, along with 12 other schools in our area, Worser Bay, Kahurangi, Seatoun, Miramar Christian, Miramar North, Miramar Central, EBIS, Kilbirnie, Hataitai, Roseneath, WEGC, and Rongotai College.  Together we work on improving outcomes for all of our tamariki.  Recently we have come together to work through the Aotearoa NZ Histories documentation and the Curriculum Refresh documents.  We meet together as a whole team as often as we can to share practice and pedagogy across our schools.  At Lyall Bay School our focus is Cultural Responsiveness, which fits in the strategic plan for the Kāhui Ako.  We work on this as a staff and our Within School Leads work with other Within School Leads as well as Across School Leads within the Kāhui Ako to gain even more momentum. 

The newsletter is published every two weeks on Tuesdays.  It will be available on HERO and on our website.  In each newsletter some kupu will be shared with you to help with all of our understanding... Mane: Monday;  Tūrei: Tuesday; Wenerei: Wednesday; Tāite: Thursday; Paraire: Friday; Hatarei: Saturday; Rātapu; Sunday. 

Friends of Lyall Bay School have a meeting tonight, Tuesday April 4, 7:00 – 8:00pm.  This is a video call meeting - see details in Dates to Diary.

'We need the support of more members of our school community to keep Friends of Lyall Bay sustainable.  Many hands make light work and it's a great way to contribute to supporting our school.'

All the staff at Lyall Bay school wish you all a safe and happy break from school.  We look forward to seeing you all on Wenerei (Wednesday) 26th Āperira (April) for the first day of term 2. 

Ngā mihi nui

Melanie

A Message from the Board of Trustees: 

Last week, the School Board held its 2nd meeting for this year.  As we head into the school holidays, below is a summary of our main conversation points from the first 2 meetings for this year. 

We passed and approved the budget, Strategic and Annual plan for 2023.  One of the board goals (in the strategic plan) is be more "seen" around the school.  So, we're aiming to be visible at School related events and functions, like Summer in the Bay.  All board members that attended enjoyed the event.  Thanks to the Friends of Lyall Bay School and the Dads' Club for coordinating and planning this event.

The Board had 2 Wellington City Council staff members come to last week's meeting to discuss the plans for Freyberg Street as part of the wider Kilbirnie Connections project.  A parent attended who supported the proposed trial.  The board will support plans for Freyberg Street on the condition that traffic slowing concerns and procedures are put in place on Queens Drive.

The board discussed the strike of NZEI union members and supports the reasons behind the strike action.

Don't forget our Board meetings are open to the public, so please feel free to come along to learn more about what’s happening within Lyall Bay School.