Term 3 | Week 2 | 2021
Term 3 | Week 2 | 2021
6 o Here-turi-kōkā 2021
Kia Orana Koutou katoatoa!
I would like to acknowledge the formal apology given this week by our Prime Minister for the dawn raids of the 1970’s.
“Today I offered, on behalf of the Government, a formal and unreserved apology to Pacific communities for the discriminatory implementation of immigration laws that led to the Dawn Raids,” Jacinda Ardern said.
“The Dawn Raids period cast a shadow over our shared history. Upholding immigration laws is one thing, but the Dawn Raids went well beyond that.
Whole communities felt targeted and terrorised. The raids were absolutely discriminatory.
“Expressing our sorrow, regret and remorse for past actions is the right thing to do and provides an opportunity for closure and reconciliation,” Jacinda Ardern said.
A sad and devastating historical event with its impacts still felt today - but with the opportunity now to begin that pathway of healing for the country so desperately needed. I would recommend (particularly for our Year 5 & 6 students) the novel; Dawn Raids by Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith. The book carries powerful themes of friendship and family, civil rights, and fairness, and powerful characters. It also provides a context for an important part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history.
Cook Islands Maori Language Week
The annual ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ’Āirani: Cook Islands Language Week has been celebrated in Aotearoa this week. This year's theme is ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te Oneone o tōku ‘Ui Tupuna which means, connect me to the soil of my ancestors. What a fantastic theme to ignite family conversations about ancestry and sharing with our children where our own individual families originate from and the rich history of language, culture and the arts associated therein.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories
At Woodlands Park School we are excited that from 2022 onwards, Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories will be taught in all schools.
The curriculum content embraces the histories of all the people who live in Aotearoa New Zealand and we are in the process of developing a local curriculum and marau ā-kura that reflect the histories of our own community.
Learning Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories will help our students understand there are multiple perspectives on historical and contemporary events and help them develop their critical thinking and inquiry skills.
NZPF
This week Nick Gill and I attended the National NZ Principals Federation Conference. With over 700 Principals in attendance from across NZ it was an uplifting and engaging 4 days. The keynote speakers included our Associate Minister for Education, Sir Ian Taylor, Dr Michelle Johansson, Filivaifale Jason Swann (Principal Otahuhu School) , Bali Haque and Rawiri Waru. Of particular note was the commitment from Sir Ian Taylor to support the new Aotearoa histories curriculum. Ian and his team have developed the opportunity to use technology to tell the stories of the past through Te Mātauranga - Ake Mai https://maatauranga.co.nz/ , which Woodlands Park School look forward to utilising in 2022.
Book Week
Our students have had an action packed week celebrating Woodlands Park’s 3rd Book Week since 2019. From literature quizzes to guest authors, surprise readers, our book fair through to our famous character parade, we hope to have achieved our goal of promoting our love of reading and books.
Next week, we have a number of teachers, deputy principals and principals from across Auckland visiting our school. They are keen to hear the narrative about the implementation of Te Ao Māori and Hau Ora over the last 2 years at Woodlands Park. We will be sharing our journey with the implementation of our values, the principles that sit behind ‘whanau’ (Kowhai, Pohutukawa and Harakeke) as well as our commitment to te reo Māori me ona tikanga (language and culture). This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful school and to reflect just how awesome we think our students and staff are!
Finally, I want to thank you all for attending our learning conversations today - I hope you have come away confident with your child’s progress in learning and you have enjoyed the sharing of their next steps and goals with you.
Nga mihi,
Nardz Stephenson
Principal
Please make sure your child has a change of clothes in their bag. Our field can get quite muddy.
This term we are collecting stickers and labels from Yummy Fruit Co apples. Collect the Yummy cut-out labels and individual Yummy apple stickers, bring them to your teacher or to the school office and our school will get free sports gear! Your child's teacher will have sticker collection sheets. You can also bring stickers, labels or your own sheets to the school office.
For more info click here
Formally Kiwisport (AKA Sport with Helen). Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa is a project providing play, active recreation and sport experiences. Please have a look at the latest update from Helen Ng, our activator. CLICK HERE
Gymnastics - Fri 20 Aug
Netball - Tue 21 Sept (Thu 23rd save day)
-WPS Kakapo played Summerland Swift, won 14-9
Player of the Day: Maia McLean
-WPS Kereru vs Waitakere City Rugby Netball Club: WCRN Horses, win 12-4
Player of the Day: Pippa Denton
https://woodlandspark.schooldocs.co.nz
Username: woodlandspark
Password: respect
Documents under review
You can access documents under review by clicking the "Current Review" tab at the top of the page. To give feedback on a policy under review, click the red feedback icon at the top right.
Term 3 review: "Behaviour Management" & "Concerns and Complaints".
We are pleased to have been awarded a grant from the Waitakere Ranges Local Board to continue funding the community commercial compost bins for another year! Thanks also to all those who have donated during the year to keep this project going until now.
The community commercial compost bins are located in the hall carpark, and can take any food scraps (including meat), as well as compostable packaging. The bins are available for use by school families as well as the wider local community.
Enrolment Online, Forms now open
Blockhouse Bay Intermediate School use online enrolment forms for student year seven applications in 2022.
Please use the address below. The code is 1232
Use your email address and set a password to get started: https://enrol.etap.co.nz
Remember to click, go to page.. to save each screen and fill in all boxes that are applicable to your child’s enrolment.
Out of Zone closes at 4pm on 1st September 2021.