5 December
Kia Ora koutou katoa,
Successful Inclusive Courageous
At Woodlands Park School we have a relentless focus on strengthening progress and achievement as well as strengthening student wellbeing through Hauora and Te Ao Maori. You will be able to read your child’s end of year report next week as they finish up the school year! We are super proud of the amazing progress and achievement of all our students.
The school continues to meet its strategic goals in support of strengthening student progress and achievment. I shared our mid year data with you in July and I am pleased to share that we have achieved the following in the last 6 months;
99% of our students are working within and beyond the expected curriculum level in English - Reading
99% of our students are working within and beyond the expected curriculum level in Mathematics and Statistics
92% of our students are working within and beyond the expected curriculum level in English - Writing
Of note, at mid year our Maths data for Year 4 was showing only 69% of our students working within the expected level of the curriculum. After analysing the data we reset our maths goals and increased additional support through investing in further resource to help support these students. This has resulted in 100% of our year 4 students now working within the expected curriculum level. This is huge achievement and I would like to thank our Year 4 teachers for their inclass teaching as well as our Learning Support Coordinator for her intensive support in the delivery of the Numicon Maths curriculum programme.
We were also thrilled to make further progress in our Writing achievement this year and are grateful to the board for supporting our 3 year commitment to the integration of ‘Writer’s Toolbox.’ Our first Writers Toolbox PLD workshop with teachers was fantastic and generated a lot of excitement as we aim to bring a coordinated and collaborative approach to the teaching and delivery of one of the hardest curriculum areas to teach. In 2024 we will provide all Year 4-6 students with Writers Toolbox paid licences to help support their literacy development.
In 2023, the school has continued to top up resource not provided by the Ministry of Education - we are committed to self-funding teacher aide in-class support for students as well as extra learning support for students. We are always grateful to our have such caring and dedicated support staff.
We have enjoyed the Arts this year led by Mrs Jess Parks. We invested in musical instruments and teacher PLD. Our students have embraced learning how to read music, play the glockenspiel and everything in between! - Thanks for all of your hard work Mrs Parks!
Last week we celebrated and thanked our wonderful parent helpers who have supported the school this year - from helping with trips, coaching, fundraising and much more - we have been very grateful for all your help! If you were unable to make it, please still accept our gratefulness for everything you have done to help make our school a fabulous place!
Over the weekend our school defibrillator was used by a member of the public to save a life - we were really relieved to hear this good news!
Finally, we are waiting on some engineered parts to be completed for the school pool, as well as a final inspection before being able to fill and have the pool up and running. Our target opening date is Friday 22 December. Information will be out soon from the office about how to hire a key and pick up details.
Ngaa mihi,
Nardz Stephenson
Are you moving schools in 2024?
Please notify the office if you are planning to move or change schools in 2024.
TERM dates 2024
Term 1
Tue 30 Jan - Pōwhiri and Meet the Teacher
Wed 31 Jan - First day of classes
Ends Friday 12 April
Public Holidays
Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February
Easter: Friday 29 March - Tuesday 2 April
School holidays
Saturday 13 April to Sunday 28 April
Note:
-Easter Tuesday (2 April is a school holiday)
-School holidays include ANZAC Day – Thursday 25 April
Term 2
Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Teacher Only Day*
Friday 31st May (Friday of King’s Bday weekend)
Public holidays
King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June
Matariki – Friday 28 June
School holidays
Saturday 6 July to Sunday 21 July
Note:
-Thu 9 May - Early finish at 1pm (full staff first aid training)
-Thu 4 July - Learning Conversations (all day - students at school for booked times only)
Term 3
Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Note:
-Year 5&6 camp Tuesday 27 - Friday 30 August
Term 4
Monday 14 October - Friday 13 December
Teacher Only Day*
TBC
Public Holidays
Labour Day – Monday 28 October
NB - School closes at 2 pm on the last day of Terms 1-3 and at 1pm on the last day of Term 4
*Curriculum and assessment teacher-only days set by the Ministry of Education
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
9am - Pōwhiri
10:30am - 12:00pm - Meet the Teacher
Classes Begin: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
The new school term will start on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 with a Pōwhiri and Meet the Teacher. From 9am there will be a pōwhiri in the hall to welcome all new students and whanau to our school. Then from 10:30-12:00pm classrooms will be open for you to meet your child's new teacher(s). Meet the Teacher event is a 'doors open' time, so no bookings are needed. Please feel free to drop in and visit your child's teacher at any time between 10:30am and 12:00pm.
Classes will begin as normal on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Please be sure to check the school website or calendar for more detailed information about the school day and upcoming events.
The pool is looking brand new and nearly ready to be filled again! We will be sending out details for pool keys for summer 2023/24. These will be available to purchase on Kindo and a date will be given to collect the key from the office once the pool is ready for swimming. More details will be sent out in a seperate email very soon.
After a tough year, thousands of children will miss out on a gift this Christmas... but West Auckland businesses, schools and community groups are banding together...determined to help.
You can help - please bring new / unwrapped gifts to the school office and we will pass them on to Visionwest for their Secret Santa gifting.
We'll make sure your gifts get to children who really need them through Visionwest's Christmas From The Heart this December.
We already have some gifts in our toy store, but we need enough for 2,000 children.
To find out more visit www.visionwest.org.nz/secretsanta
Our school has once again been award 'Green-Gold' on our Enviroschools journey after a lovely day of reflection and presenting our mahi to the Enviroschools staff and a few local schools.
Ka pai to Whānau Harakeke for a big day weeding and mulching at Tangiwai Reserve. We have been planting and caring for the reserve and stream for a number of years now. Ngā mihi nui to Glenn for his incredible mahi over the years and strong partnership with WPS.
A big day for the junior beekeepers as they processed the honey!
A group of our Year 5&6 students took part in the first Kõtuitui Mathex competition. This is a maths competition run for schools in our Community of Learning (Kõtuitui). Well done to all the students who took part!
Inter-school Athletics
Our athletics team had a great day out at Trusts Stadium for the Kelston Cluster Interschool tournament. We had some amazing results from our students and WPS came 4th overall.
Basketball
Great news - after exploring many options to get basketball going in our school we are pleased that SportsX will be running an after school basketball programme in Term 1 here at school. Details are in the flyer below.
****** NEWSFLASH - NEWSFLASH ******
DANCE AT SCHOOL DURING LUNCHTIME 2024
We are so, so excited to announce that Helen A Dance Tuition,
is bringing IN SCHOOL - LUNCHTIME DANCE CLASSES to
WOODLANDS PARK SCHOOL for our students to enjoy in 2024!
Funky Jazz Hop - TUESDAYS.
These classes are designed to cater for the "Busy Parent" to allow their child to get their regular Dance Class done during School Hours! You do not have to find the time after school or during the weekends, for the parent with multiple children - the hard work is done for you, no extra travel and your child can dance with their friends from school, in the safe, caring School environment.
These classes have run for the past 5 years in West Auckland Schools and the feedback has been nothing but positive, from very grateful parents, who have seen their children excited to go to school as its "Dance Day!” More often than not, coming home and demonstrating all their fabulous moves they have learn at Lunchtime! A warning….. be prepared for the dance displays at home or around the neighbourhood! This year we have moved into some Central Auckland Schools and the classes have filled overnight!
These classes are designed for all ages and abilities, Boys and Girls and they are not exam orientated. A very High Energy and Creative Tutor takes the classes and your children are left feeling uplifted and confident. Technique and development of steps is carefully structured into the year's learning and the
development of your child will make you proud to say the least!
These classes are so popular they will fill within days so do not delay in securing your place.
I am taking enrolments NOW for the 2024
Funky Jazz Hop (Jazz & Hip Hop mix) Class on Tuesdays.
They will run every term of the School year. Cost per term is $150.
Your child comes to the Hall at Lunchtime, and gets a 50 minute fun filled dance session.
Please email me on helenadancet@gmail.com with the following information to secure your child's place -
I would like to ENROL NOW for 2024 classes.
Your Child’s Name, DOB, Address, Contact Number and their school room number this year.
I will then reply via email to you with more information and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
The School Admin team DO NOT take enrolments for these sessions, so please deal directly with me. These classes will fill very quickly to get in today to be first on the list!
I am so excited to meet and work with your child, developing their LOVE of dance and creating a magical time for them in the middle of their School Day.
Regards Helen Anderson -
0274 732 861
Playball is an introduction to eight different sports, Football, Basketball, Netball, Cricket, Baseball, Tennis, Hockey and Rugby.
For all Year 1, 2 and 3 students:
Our aim is not to create superstars, but rather to provide children with the opportunity to develop a host of necessary social, educational and personal skills by giving children competence in sport.
Ask about a free trial today.
To enrol your child/children please sign up online at the link below
https://www.playballkids.com/parent-zone/basket_bookings.php?classid=57684
Spaces available in Marrzipan Drama and Self-Confidence classes at Woodlands Park School!
Is your child shy? Do they feel intimidated by the idea of public speaking and performance? Do they sometimes find it difficult to make eye contact? Do they just need dedicated time per week to just be CRAZY?!
It’s not too late to join Marrzipan Drama for Term 3! We are looking for some awesome students to fill some parts in our play, which we will be performing for parents and friends at the end of term. Come along to a non-obligatory trial lesson and see whether you like it!
You can sign up for one directly via our website www.marrzipandrama.co.nz (we have contact numbers on there too, should you prefer to talk to a human!)
Marrzipan Drama runs a class at Woodlands Park School every Wednesday morning before school in the Library from 8:00am - 8:45am. This is a mixed-age class, all ages and year levels are welcome!
For further information about what we do, check out our website www.marrzipandrama.co.nz See you there!