Term 2 | Week 7 | 2022

Kia ora e te whanau,

As a school we have celebrated Matariki, the Māori New Year over the past 6 years. It is an exciting time of learning for our students as they explore lessons about the past with their class. This year it is particularly special as it is the first time Matariki is recognised with a national public holiday dedicated to its importance.

Matariki is the time to recognise the culture and traditions of this country’s tangata whenua. Traditionally whānau, (family), would come together to celebrate the rising of Matariki which indicated the start of the Māori Year and its new beginnings, to reflect on the past and to show respect for the land on which they lived. For the past 3 years we have come together for a dawn blessing and remembered our loved ones who have passed on as well as set new goals for the year ahead and reconnected with our values as a community of people.

This year we will continue to teach and celebrate Matariki with our students, however we are unable to hold a dawn blessing at this time. We look forward to a time in the near future where we can hold a similar reconnection gathering, and enjoy coming together again.

Nardz Stephenson

Principal

Term 2 Important Dates:

CHECK OUT OUR SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR MORE DATES <<<CLICK HERE

Public Holidays:
Fri 24th June - Matariki Holiday

Learning Conversations
Thu 7th July - all day

Teacher Only Day
Mon 25th July (first day of Term 3)

Learning Conversations - Thursday 7th July

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s learning journey so far. Teachers will be available from 8am to 6pm for you to book an appointment. You and your child will meet with your classroom teacher in the classroom (or on Zoom if you would prefer).

A mid-year report will come home the day prior (Wednesday 6th July).

LUNCH IS SORTED!

ezlunch - Soy & Ginger and Pita Pit available now on Kindo!

Sushi - every Wednesday

Pita Pit - fortnightly on Fridays (Jun 17, Jul 1)

Orders close 4pm 2-days prior for sushi and 9am on the day of delivery for Pita Pit. So, book ahead the rest of the term while you’re at it so you don’t miss out.

Here’s how…in Kindo click on the calendar icon next to the lunch item, and then select the dates in the term. Lunches for the term… sorted!

Lucky Book Club

Scholastic lucky book club issue 4 - last day to order is 17 June, please order online using the Loop link:

https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx

A couple of friendly reminders from the office...

Please have a spare change of clothes in your school bag - it's wet and muddy out there!
Absences - please make sure you confirm "reason for absence" eg: Medical, Holiday etc if you are leaving a message on the answerphone, or even better use the online absence form https://woodlandspark.school.nz/report-an-absence/

What's on at WPS??

PTA (Parent Teacher Association) POSTPONED - New date TBC

You are warmly invited to come and join us for drinks and nibbles as we officially kick off our first PTA gathering for 2022! This will be held in Room 20 at school - date TBC. Please let us know if you'd like to come along. Contact the office admin@woodlandspark.school.nz

Keep an eye out for more photos and videos in our next episode of WPS TV coming soon!

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 1 under review:
-Health & safety management
-Emergency, disaster and crisis management

Woodlands Park School uses Kindo Online Shop for stationery, donations, trips, sausage sizzles, and many other school events. Setting up an account is easy

Click on the following link https://shop.tgcl.co.nz/shop/index.html

Click on the 'Join Up' button and enter your email address that Woodlands Park School has on record.

Community Compost Bin

Our school has a community commercial compost bin situated in the hall car park. Anyone in the local community is welcome to use the bin; it is not just for families at Woodlands Park School. It is not meant to replace home composting for those that do it, but is useful for food scraps that aren’t so great for home compost, eg meat or dairy (any food scraps are fine to go into the community bin), and also for compostable packaging, which usually can’t break down in home compost bins.

Over the past year, the bin was funded thanks to a grant from the Waitakere Ranges Local Board. This has now come to an end, and we are relying on donations to keep the service going, until more funding is hopefully sourced. The bin costs around $15/week, but any donations are gratefully received. Thank you

You can make a donation through Kindo.

Stay alert: COVID-19 will still be with us this winter

COVID-19 will still be in the community this winter so stay alert - even if you’ve had it before.

Remember these five important tips from Auckland Regional Public Health Service:

Be vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection against getting very sick from COVID-19. Everyone aged 5 or over can get free COVID-19 vaccinations. It doesn’t matter what your visa or citizenship status is.
Keep up healthy habits: Healthy habits can protect you from lots of winter illnesses - not just COVID-19. They include washing and drying your hands well and often, wearing a mask (especially inside), and coughing/sneezing into a tissue or your elbow – not your hands.
Be alert for symptoms: If you or anyone in your household has any cold or flu-like symptoms, stay at home and free-call Healthline: 0800 358 5453. They will tell you what to do, including how to get a test. Healthline is available 24/7, with interpreters available. In an emergency (for example if someone is having difficulty breathing), immediately dial 111 for an ambulance. COVID-related medical care is free.
Stay home if you live with someone with COVID-19: Everyone living in a household with someone who has COVID-19 needs to isolate for seven days – not just the person with COVID. Please do not send your child in if they live with someone who has COVID-19, even if they are well.
Check: is your whānau up-to-date? Now’s a good time to check that your whānau is protected against other diseases like measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis (whooping cough). With New Zealand’s borders re-opening, there’s a greater risk of serious diseases like measles arriving here. Talk to your doctor, or check your own health records (such as your Plunket or Well Child/Tamariki Ora book) to see if everyone’s up-to-date with their immunisations.

For more COVID-19 information and advice

Call:

• Healthline: 0800 358 5453 (a free, 24/7 service with interpreters available)

Or visit:

• Unite against COVID covid19.govt.nz

• Auckland Regional Public Health Service www.arphs.health.nz

• Ministry of Health www.health.govt.nz/covid-19

• Northern Region Health Coordination Centre nrhcc.health.nz

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