Pipiri 2023
June Newsletter #2
Rāmere 20 o Pipiri ,2023
Kia Ora tātou,
We are already half way through the school year with Matariki on the horizon. With the drop in temperature, the month of Pipiri,so aptly named with its meaning ‘to huddle, cling to and bind together,’ should signal us to decelerate the pace and fall into the more natural ebb and flow of our energy output. As we mark Māori New Year and travel through the winter season, I hope the upcoming break will be spent connecting with loved ones and the sharing of quality time and good winter kai.
It has been great to be back onsite after 4 weeks of recovery following vascular surgery. I have enjoyed getting around the classes and reconnecting with students and hearing about their progress this term. Your child’s reports will be sent out next Wednesday and it has been a pleasure reading about their social and academic achievement over the past 2 terms. We look forward to welcoming you on Thursday where you will have an opportunity to share how your child is going at school.
We are looking forward to celebrating Matariki with you next Friday morning, our Matariki observance embraces those who we have lost since the last rising, celebrating the present and being thankful for what we have, and lastly looking to the future and promise of a new year.
Next term we welcome Hazel Mcculloch to Whanau Harakeke (R6). Hazel is an experienced teacher and has been busy completing her Masters in Educational Research. Hazel has worked in schools in central Auckland and has been involved in a number of curriculum initiatives with the Ministry of Education. We look forward to her joining our WPS whanau.
We will also open a new entrants class at the beginning of Term 3 and welcome Lucy Linton, an experienced Junior School teacher - Lucy is a Woodlands Park local and was a past student at Woodlands Park School! Lucy has been a team leader and has followed the same professional development pathway at her current school with assessment for learning, structured literacy and Aotearoa histories curriculum. We also look forward to welcoming her back to the whanau, and for mihi whakatau.
We are enjoying having Titirangi Kindergarten onsite and are looking forward to them being with us for a while longer yet!
We are currently planning our inquiry for Term 3 which is focused on the crucial role bees play in our ecosystem and the impact on our lives. We will take a technology and science focus, exploring pollination, biodiversity, environment and curiosity. We are committed to developing a Bee Education area where we currently have our beehives. We will look to plant fruit trees, wild flowers and build an outdoor ‘classroom’ dedicated to learning all about bees. If you are interested in helping to support the development of this area in any way, please get in touch with us, thank you!
Finally, we farewell Alison at the end of this term who is following her passion with working with children with additional needs. Alison will join familiar faces as she transitions to New Lynn Primary School working in the additional needs unit. We wish her all the very best for her new adventures and will miss her infectious humour and ability to light up any space she’s in - go well our friend Alison!
Ngaa Mihi,
Nardz Stephenson
Principal
Reminder from the office: if you are late to school, please sign in at the office
Wātaka | Calendar
Term Dates for 2023:
TERM 2
Mon 24 April - Fri 30 Jun
Learning Conversations - June 29 (all day)
TERM 3
Mon 17 July - Fri 22 Sep
TERM 4
Mon 9 Oct - Thu 14 Dec
School closes at 2 pm on the last day of Terms 1-3 and at 1pm on the last day of Term 4
Upcoming dates - Term 2
WEEK 10
Tues 27th June Pasifika dress up day
Wed 28th June Mid-year reports emailed to parents
Thu 29th June Learning Conversation
Fri 30th June Matariki celebration @ 6:30am - 7:30am
Last day of term 2 (finish @ 2pm)
Pasifika celebration
To celebrate our Term 2 inquiry, we're having a whole school Pasifika dress up day on Tuesday 27th June
Your child is welcome to wear a lei and bright colours, along with any other Pasifika clothing you may have
Learning Conversations
Learning Conversations - Thursday 29 June 2023
Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s learning journey so far.
Teachers will be available to meet with you to discuss your child’s learning between 8am-6pm. Please bring your child along for the appointment. Teachers will not be taking classes that day so your child will only be at school for your booked appointment time. Please make childcare arrangements for the day.
Bookings are now open:
1. Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
2. Click on 'Make a Booking'
3. Enter the code d27yd
Matariki - Rāmere / Friday 30th June
Woodlands Park School warmly invites you to celebrate Matariki with us
This is a whānau event - children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
Meet on the field at 6:30am for star-gazing, thoughts on the new year and waiata.
Rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
And then into the school hall for karakia and kai (sausage sizzle, tea, coffee, Milo provided - koha appreciated).
The expected time for our Matariki morning to end is about 7:30am
Parking reminder
Please do not park across neighbouring driveways or on residential properties.
Also a reminder to keep footpaths and walkways clear. This includes:
-Entries into school carparks.
-The entry to Ken Turners Motors (this is used by our children walking)
Lost Property
Lost property will be out on display next Thursday.
On the courts if it is fine. Or outside Rooms 2 and 3 if it is wet.
Lunch Orders
Soy & Ginger Sushi - every Wednesday
PTA Sausage Sizzle - every second Thursday
Pita Pit - every second Friday
ORDER ON KINDO
Go to www.mykindo.co.nz to start ordering.
Lunchtime Dance Classes
****** DANCE NEWSFLASH***** JAZZ HOP in TERM 3
Dance Classes held at Woodlands Park School during Lunchtime hours on Tuesdays.
We are super excited to announce that Helen Anderson Dance Tuition is taking bookings now for newcomers, GET IN QUICK as these classes fill up very fast.
These classes are designed to cater for the busy working parent allowing your child to attend a regular dance class during school hours.
You do not have to find the time after school or during the weekends and for the parents with multiple children - the hard work is done for you, no extra travel and your child can dance with their friends from school in a safe and caring school environment.
We have many happy parents who inform us that School Dance Day is the best day of the week for their child!
Cost per term is $145 for a 45 minute Dance class per week.
The School Admin Team do not take enrolments for these sessions, so please deal directly with me - helenadancet@gmail.com.
It is so lovely meeting such amazing children at this School and developing their LOVE of DANCE further. The energy and creativity of these young individuals is really fabulous. There is huge talent in our delightful little community.
Please get in touch today with your Child's Name, Address and Contact Number and I will secure their place for Term 3 start immediately for you.
I look forward to meeting your child very soon.
Helen Anderson
Playball
Playball is a sport and movement program for 2-9 year olds. The main objective of Playball is not to create superstars, rather to provide children with the opportunity to develop a host of necessary social, educational and personal skills. By giving children competence in sport, they will develop fundamental life skills. From a child’s perspective the most important element of our program is fun! For many children their Playball lesson is the highlight of their week! For more information visit www.playball.co.nz
Maximum pupil:coach ratio of 10:1
Introduction to Eight sports
Positive, enjoyable coaching environment
Life skills through sports skills
Playball is offered as an extra-curricular activity for year 1-3 students at Woodlands Park School. We are currently taking enrolments Mondays at lunch time.
Playball fees are $105.00(incG.S.T) for an 8 week term.
Ask about a free trial today
To enroll your child/children, sign up online:
https://www.playballkids.com/parent-zone/basket_bookings.php?classid=52625
If you have any queries contact James on 0274817000 or email james@playball.co.nz
Marrzipan Drama
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?! Come and join the revolutionary self-confidence programme - Marrzipan! We run awesome drama classes at your school, which focus on social skills, performing and public speaking abilities. We play fun engaging games and perform at the end of term once to parents and once to their friends at school. All scripts are original, engaging, educational and HILARIOUS. All children receive an end-of-term certificate to remind them they are awesome!
Marrzipan Drama class at Woodlands Park School is on Wednesday mornings, before school in the Library, from 8:00am - 8:45am.
To sign up for a non-obligatory trial lesson, Please register your interest by emailing Erin Kennedy at auckland@marrzipandrama.co.nz or contacting Erin at 027 367 3334
For further information about what we do, check out our website www.marrzipandrama.co.nz
See you there!
To purchase a membership to the Entertainment app (formerly the Entertainment Book) please visit www.entertainmentnz.com and click Join Now. Make sure to type in 'Woodlands Park School' in the 'Select Fundraiser' box.