Kia ora koutou katoa,
Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you have all had some great family time over the break and are enjoying the longer days. Despite the challenges of illness affecting staff and students last term, we had a productive and successful Term 3 filled with learning and growth.
At mid-year, we updated you on your child's progress and achievements. Since then, we have continued to monitor their development closely. We have been actively implementing targeted interventions for students who require additional support, including small-group teaching in Maths, Reading, and Writing. We are dedicated to providing the best possible support for your child's learning needs, and we will continue to invest in additional teacher-aide hours to ensure their progress. Our teachers continue to implement and deliver excellent culturally responsive teaching and learning programmes that are explicitly planned to your child’s needs. If you are at all concerned about your child’s progress, please take the time to touch base with their teacher.
We have an action-packed term planned for the classroom, some of which includes an inquiry based on the history of toy making and technology design over time. We are excited about the creativity aspect of the design process!
Our big highlight from Term 3 was our Year 5/6 camp! Thank you to everyone involved who made it a great success! Our staff were incredibly grateful for the fantastic thank-you morning tea from our parents—thank you!
At the end of this term, Karen Ellis will be retiring from her role as Deputy Principal. Karen has been at Woodlands Park School for 14 years and is now looking to spend more time with her whanau and mokopuna. She will still, however, work part-time next year, supporting Te Reo Māori in classes and continuing with Kapa Haka. We will acknowledge her commitment to WPS at the end of the term.
The library is currently being refurbished and will re-open in Week 2 of Term 4.
Our pool will shortly undergo work as we replace the pump, filter, etc. It won’t be long before our students return to the pool for their swim-safe PE lessons, and information about school pool keys will be out shortly.
Finally, I would like to thank the PTA for the fantastic DISCO event last term—what a wonderful way to finish the term for our tamariki! Thank you to everyone for their support.
Ngā mihi,
Nardz Stephenson
Principal
Woodlands Park School Board
Casual vacancy for a parent representative
A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection. Please contact the Principal principal@woodlandspark.school.nz for information.
If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy within 28 days of this notice being published, then a by-election will be held.
Request for a by-election should be sent to:
wpsboard@woodlandspark.school.nz
Michelle Hutton, Presiding member
Woodlands Park Board
202 Woodlands Park Road
by: 12 November 2024
<<< Teacher Only Day Reminder - Fri 25th Oct >>>
Teacher Only Day
Term 4: Fri 25th Oct
End of Year Dates:
Prizegiving - Fri 6 Dec @ 11am
Last day of school - Fri 13 Dec (Finish @ 1pm)
2025 Dates
Thu 30th Jan - Mihi whakatau & Meet the teacher
Fri 31st Jan - classes begin
Tentative 2025 finish date: Friday 12th Dec
NB - School closes at 2 pm on the last day of Terms 1-3 and at 1pm on the last day of Term 4
Calendar Art is still available to order. You can view the artwork on Seesaw or in the office. Orders can be made on Kindo.
TE WIKI O TE REO MĀORI
WPS marked Māori Language Week with each morning dedicated to celebrating and promoting the Māori language. Students from all year levels shared waiata and pepeha.
DISCO
Our school disco was a huge hit! The PTA did an incredible job organising and setting up the event, creating a fun and festive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
The amazing DJ had the dance floor packed with students and adults, showing off their moves and having a blast. The music was fantastic, and the lights and decorations added to the lively vibe.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the PTA for their hard work and dedication in making this event a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
BIKE SKILLS
This week our Year 5/6 students participated in the Bike Ready Skills & Safety course, funded by Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi, delivered by Harbour Sport.
This programme showed all students how to fit their helmet properly and what they should check on their bike before they ride. Students were split into groups according to their confidence level and our new riders had their own instructor too!
There were some cool games and lots of new skills learnt. We’re so proud of the effort and resilience shown by our new riders and excited to see you further your pedalling journey!
Your little rider should have a flyer in their bag from their lesson. This has links for FREE kids (Age 2-13) Learn to Ride sessions which you can also access here https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/courses-events/kids-learn-to-ride
There are also courses available for 14+ and adults https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/courses-events/adult-bike-courses
For more information on the Bike Ready Programme facilitated by Harbour Sport click here https://harboursport.co.nz/cycling/
NETBALL
Our Future Ferns Netball teams recently competed in the cluster competition at Te Pai. We are thrilled to announce that our Wolverines team took first place in the C grade, and our Tui team secured the top spot in the B grade.
Congratulations to all the teams on their outstanding achievements!
BASKETBALL
On Wednesday the basketball team gathered on the court and got ready to go to Synergy Sports. Eli and Yaz were in my car and then we talked the whole way while my mum drove over. When we got there we hopped off and then found our team. Once we got there we got ready but we just realised that our first game was in 1 hour.
We were up against Laingholm. At the beginning I knew that we were going to win because we were getting goal after goal soon when the game ended, we won it. Also I got a few goals. Then we had to make a plan about versing Konini who were a really good team because they are so tall and they all play for a club. When we went on we were getting crushed and then we lost. Soon there was prize giving although we didn’t get anything but what we got was experience and took so much pride from this special time.
Written by Kevin (Rm 17)
We've enjoyed another fun term with lots of learning and hands-on creating within our STEM sessions.
For next term, we are collecting empty clean (soft- drink type) plastic bottles. Anything from 500ml to 2l size, with lids on, would be ideal. We are planning to give these a second use in one of our projects.
So if you could please save them up over this holiday period and I will have a drop off box ready, outside Room 1 during the first week back.
Thanks in advance for your continued support.
😁 Lee
Ignite your child's creativity this school term with our in-school music lessons!
In collaboration with Auckland’s leading music education provider, the Music Education Centre, we have professional music lessons right at our school. Each lesson is designed to inspire and nurture your child’s unique musical interests while making learning both fun and rewarding.
With lessons held conveniently at school, it's an ideal option for busy families.
Limited spots are available for Term 4, so don't wait! For more information on instruments and availability, contact the Music Education Centre at 0800 89 39 39.
Playball - Mondays at lunchtime for Years 1-3. Contact Coach James
0274817000 or email james@playball.co.nz
With more than 25 years of out of school care experience, sKids bring our tamariki with a variety of fun and interesting activities, games, and sports through their Adventure Programme.
Hours: Monday – Friday
Rise then Shine (before): 7-8:30am
Stay and Play (after): 3-6pm
Enrol and Book here: www.skids.co.nz/woodlands_park