Hui-tanguru 2023
February Newsletter

2 Hui-tanguru 2023

Kia Ora koutou katoa! Ngā mihi o te tau hou, Nau Mai, haere Mai! 

A very warm welcome to the new school year. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by Auckland’s extreme weather event. Woodlands Park School runs a volunteer group called “Helping Hands’ which coordinates support where needed in our community. If you are in need of help at any time please do reach out so that we can be of help to you. Email karene@woodlandspark.school.nz 

I would like to start by welcoming new staff to the WPS whanau and look forward to our mihi whakatau which will be held soon. 

We welcome back Amanda Chapman teaching Year 1 as well as  Amber Adey, who together will be team teaching in Room 13. 

We also welcome to Whanau Pohutukawa Lance Pope who will be teaching Year 4. Additional to Whanau Pohutukawa we welcome Steph Boden and Sarah Irwin, both have been appointed for Term 1 as we begin our recruitment process. We are grateful to both these wonderful teachers who have come on board to ensure we can start the year settled while we complete the recruitment process. We thank you for your support at this time. 

Like most schools across the country, we have been affected with staffing due to Covid related issues in the sector. This has meant a reduction in teaching staff. We welcome back Nadia Hutton who will be teaching part time throughout the school this year. 

Nau Mai, hoki mai nga kaiako!

Our focus for 2023

At the end of the 2022 academic year we exceeded our aspirational goals in Reading with 98% of our learners making progress and achievement at and beyond their expected curriculum level. In Writing 88% of our learners had made significant progress and achieved within and beyond their expected curriculum level. In Mathematics 97% of our learners achieved within and above their curriculum level. This is a remarkable achievement considering the disruptions with covid over the last couple of years. As a school we have worked incredibly hard to support our students with resourcing and we will continue to meet the needs of all our students. A huge thank you to our wonderful classroom teachers and our teacher aides. 

The board and leaders within the school are excited about our annual plan which has a strong focus on strengthening progress and achievement, strengthening well-being and hauora as well as connecting with Te Ao Maori. 

Throughout the month of January our staff have been busy preparing for the term ahead. Classrooms have been set up and each space is ready to go for our learners! 

Whanau Kowhai

From Whanau Leader - Vignette Calvin

The Whanau Kowhai teachers are very excited about getting to know our new students and their families. We have a full and exciting term ahead of us.  Our main focus at the beginning of the term is ensuring our students are happy and settled at school, so many of our activities for the first few weeks will allow the children to meet new friends, learn the class routines and get settled in to their new class.

Our Inquiry for this term is part of the new Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum, with a focus on Waitangi Day. The children will find out why February 6 is called Waitangi Day and some of the history behind it. Along with making our own class treaties, we will explore the meanings, significance and implications of different types of agreements and the importance of honouring agreements.

We will be continuing to teach literacy through a structured literacy approach. We were thrilled with the progress the children made last year and the deep understanding they developed of our language.

Most classes will be focussing on Statistics in Maths as we get to know each other. This will be followed by continuing to develop the children’s understanding of numbers and mathematical strategies through games and the use of equipment.

Phys-Ed in Term 1 is always exciting! Along with developing water confidence and water safety skills in the pool, we are very lucky to be working alongside Helen Ng, our physical activity facilitator from Sport Waitakere, for the first half of the term. Fitness activities will include skipping, running and Jump Jam.

Our health focus is Sun Safety and Beach Safety. We are looking forward to spending the day at Piha as part of the Beach Safety programme that is run by Surf Lifesaving NZ. Hopefully many of you will be able to join us on this trip.

We are also looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our Meet the Teacher sessions next week.

From Transition Leader Pauline Belson:

We are looking forward to welcoming our newest tamariki to our kura. Over the term they will be making those all important connections with their new teacher and establishing friendships that will grow as the year progresses. The teachers in Year 1 are excited to see the children and work alongside them and their whānau and can’t wait for the year to start. Just a friendly reminder that if you wish your child to start at Woodlands Park School in Term 1 or 2 (2023) please fill in our online enrolment form now. The form can be accessed through our website. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Whanau Pohutukawa 

From Whanau Leader Jess Parks 

The wonderful Whanau Pohutukawa teachers have been working hard to redesign the shared space behind Rms 16 - 18. We are excited about offering learning through play experiences to our tamariki. We are looking forward to getting to know our students and developing meaningful relationships with them and their whānau. 

Our inquiry this term is Te Tiriti o Waitangi - There’s more than one side to the story. We have the fantastic opportunity to unpack what Waitangi Day represents for us as a nation. We will delve into the history that surrounds the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including who wanted to sign the treaty and why.

Our core curriculum areas

Reading: We will follow a structured literacy approach where new sounds are introduced in a sequential manner and children will be taught to blend sounds together to support their decoding skills. We will also focus on comprehension and unpacking skills.

Spelling: Each child will be assessed using The Code to determine their level. They will then be taught new spelling rules, with plenty of repetition of previously covered rules. 

Writing: There will be a strong focus on sentence structure and punctuation. We will be working on recounts and persuasive writing which ties in with our inquiry focus.

Maths: Students will be developing a deeper understanding of addition and subtraction through larger problems. There will also be a focus on number talks to encourage flexible thinking in mathematics. 

In Whānau Pōhutukawa, students will be developing their understanding of a growth mindset. They will learn the value of making mistakes and taking risks with their learning. Classes will talk about getting into the learning pit, where they may feel frustration and uncertainty, but this is celebrated and encouraged as part of the learning journey. 

Whanau Harakeke 

From Whanau Leader Lee Bartlett

In inquiry we are delving deeper into Te Tiriti of Waitangi; identifying and exploring historical relationships and sources, giving particular attention to mātauranga Māori sources to help answer our questions about the past. We will make observations and have discussions about how people have acted in the past and how we act today. We will also be deepening our understanding through drama and visual art.

In health and physical education, we are carrying out the Water Skills for Life programme, and will be visiting Piha for a day of EOTC on Beach Safety.

We will be doing some digital technology; building our skills with simple coding and animation. 

In literacy, we will be following a structured literacy approach though "The Code' to enhance our spelling and writing skills. We will be reading topic related texts together while we identify the needs of our learners. In writing, our main focus for the term will be building enjoyment and fluency in writing, while revising structural and language features.

In maths, we will begin with addition and subtraction number problems and statistics and probability for our maths strand. For mātauranga Māori we will be building our kupu knowledge and our simple conversational phrases. Each class will also begin each day with a 'Mihi ō te Ata' which includes Karakia, waiata and pepeha. 

-------------------------

Finally, on behalf of the board we extend a warm welcome back to all our families. 

“Poipoia te kākano kia puawai”  our school whakatauki speaks to the importance of nurturing and cherishing tamariki so that they will blossom. We strongly support the significance of culture and identity for positive childhood development, and the collective obligation to raise and care for our children in a safe and positive environment. 

Ngaa Mihi nui, 

Nardz Stephenson - Principal 

“Poipoia te kakano ki a puawai”  
Nurture the seed and it will blossom. 

New Enrolments

If you wish your child to start at Woodlands Park School in Terms 1 and 2 (2023) please fill in our online enrolment form now. This allows us to plan a head with regards to class numbers and staffing. The form can be accessed through our website. You will also find some useful information about the documentation that is required for the process to be completed.

Once your application has met all our requirements you will be issued visit dates and a start date.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and welcoming you into our school community.

INCREDIBLE YEARS

Our Auckland West RTLB Service (Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour) is pleased to be able to offer The Incredible Years for Parents Programme course in Term 1 and 2 in 2023. There will be another course in Term 3 and 4.

This is a programme for parents of children aged 3-8, which provides parents with skills to better support children, creating a positive home environment to promote children's social and emotional competence and communication skills. In the groups, trained Incredible Years Facilitators use video clips of real-life situational vignettes to support the training and stimulate group discussion, problem-solving and practical exercises.  Each course has a minimum of 14 and maximum of 16 parents. 

Venue: Fruitvale School

Days: Tuesday mornings from 9 am to 11:30 - morning tea provided

Dates: Term 1 - 21st Feb - 28th March, Term 2 2nd May to 20th June.

Cost: Free - they can also help with the cost of transport or babysitting.

If you are interested please contact Tania Chaney (Learning Support Co-ordinator) taniac@woodlandspark.school.nz

LUNCHTIME DANCE CLASSES IN 2023

Helen Anderson is taking expressions of interest now

for you child for 2023 and it’s filling up fast!!!

Get in quick today to secure their enrolment for Term 1, 2023!

We bring DANCE to your child at SCHOOL during LUNCHTIME which allows the busy parent not to have to rush around after school hours or during weekends getting your child to their Dance Class. They dance with their friends and enjoy

the class in the safe environment of school. We look forward to hearing from you and starting your child's Journey in Dance in 2023!!

Online enrol form www.rhythmnsteps.co.nz

Have a lovely Festive Season and see you next year!

Helen Anderson

TRIPLE P - Positive Parent Programme

We are pleased to share with our school community a free on-line parenting programme. This programme is designed to support you and your children with simple strategies for learning to manage and reduce anxious feelings now and in the future. This free on-line support is funded by the Ministry of Health and Wharaurau. 

Is Fear-Less Triple P Online right for my family?

• Online support for parents of anxious kids (6-14 years)

• Find out the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of child and teen anxiety

• Learn more about what’s helpful and what can accidentally add to anxiety

• Start applying new strategies immediately

• New online program based on proven principles

• Improve your child’s emotional wellbeing in the long term

• Reduce your own stress, too!

https://www.triplep-parenting.net.nz/nz-uken/triple-p/?itb=94fee470b43270a912c27d56c27b3211