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News from Mr Martin 10 04 2024
Looking ahead
10th April - ECE Transition to School Programme at 9.30 am in Room 11
11th April - Whole School Assembly at 9.00am
Reuben the Road Safety Bear onsite at 10.00am (Juniors only)
12th April - Carolyn Roberts farewell assembly - 11.00am
Last day of Term 1
29th April - First day of Term 2
Poowhiri at 9.00 am
Teenaa koutou katoa
Welcome to our last newsletter for Term 1!
This term has been an amazing start to the school year and I know that it will just keep getting better in Term 2.
Weekend Wear Day -
To complete our NZ Book Month celebrations, on the 29th of March, we had our ‘New Zealand author/character’ dress up day to raise funds for neurodiversity. Many wonderful costumes were created and worn by students and staff alike! In the middle block all students participated in book-themed activities including creating recycled notebooks, origami and collaborative artworks. Through this day we were able to donate $185.00 to the Neurodiversity Education Coalition. As always I would like to thank you for your support of our fundraisers for organisations that support different tamariki from across the country.
Farewell Assembly -
One of the things that I have learned while leading this school is that change is inevitable and change will lead to growth. I see change as an exciting opportunity to review how we do things and to give people an opportunity to grow. With Carolyn moving on, as a staff we will miss her but it also provides opportunities for existing staff to step up and grow. I am not only excited about next term and working with Michael and Loren in their new roles but also about continuing the mahi that Carolyn has started around neurodiversity and inclusiveness and what this looks like for learners at TKP!
Farewell from Miss Roberts:
I am not sure how to put how I am feeling into words. This school has been so much more than a job for me. It has been my home. I have changed and grown and evolved so much in the time I have worked here. I have worked with the most amazing people. They are so much more than educators. They go above and beyond everyday to ensure that the children at Te Kauwhata Primary are taken care of, not just educationally but also their wellbeing. I have also met the most amazing children and their families. I love that I get to share in their successes and am privileged to walk alongside them in their journey. For some that is a tougher journey than others and it is important to me that no one feels alone or judged. I will miss everyone! I will miss this community! I promise I will be back to visit. If anyone is down my way please, please pop in and see me. I know everyone here will continue to do amazing things, and I know I am a wee bit biased as I have never worked in another school, but our community is so lucky to have a school like Te Kauwhata Primary.
Attendance
I would like to thank you all for the improvement in our attendance in Term 1 this year.
In Term 1 2023, only 46% of our students were attending 9 days out of 10 per fortnight. This year we are sitting at 56% of our students being at school 9 times out of 10. This is awesome and I hope that we can keep this improvement in Term 2.
In Term 1 2023, we had 8% of our students attending 7 days or less in a fortnight. This is now at 6% which is amazing so thank you for partnering with us in ensuring that our children attend school regularly.
Reminders:
Teacher-only days
In 2024, we have planned for two teacher-only days. This could change due to having to fit in allocated MOE curriculum days. If there are going to be any additional teacher-only days added to the calendar we will give you all ample notice of when this may happen.
- Our first teacher-only day is on the 21st of August
- Our second teacher-only day is on the 29th of October
In 2024, schools are legally required to be open for 192 days. Every year the Board of Trustees works within the Ministry of Education's guidelines and decides when the school is open for instruction. Teacher-only days are not included in the 192 days as on teacher-only days the school is closed for instruction.
In 2024, schools are legally required to be open for 192 days. Every year the Board of Trustees works within the Ministry of Education's guidelines and decides when the school is open for instruction. Teacher-only days are not included in the 192 days as on teacher-only days the school is closed for instruction.
Stationery
Thank you to the families that have paid for their stationery this term. If you haven’t got around to paying this yet we would appreciate payment as soon as possible. However if you wish to arrange payment please contact Morag in the school office. Remember you can pay via the Internet or through EFTPOS in the office.
School Drop - off
We would like to ask that you do not drop your children off before 8.15 am as there will be no adult in their classroom or the playground to supervise them. This becomes a Health and Safety issue, both for children and the school. Teachers arrive between 8.00 am and 8.30 am and are expected to be in class by 8.30 am. We would ask that for the health and safety of your children being unsupervised, they do not arrive to school before 8.15 am. We will get in contact with you if we see it happening. There is before School Care available locally should you need supervision for your children before this time.
Ongoing Traffic requests:
If you are dropping off or picking your child up in a vehicle before and after school - please use the Mahi Road entrance. Wira Street is for bus use and walkers only. If you are using Wira Street during the day to pick up or drop off your child please do not park on the berm and do not park across staff car parks, especially during the morning when staff are arriving preventing them from parking. Thank you for your cooperation!
The bus company that services our school has asked if people could refrain from moving any cones on Wira Street in the afternoon. The cones are there to ensure that the buses have enough room to turn into Wira Street. If you choose to move a cone and park in that space, the school holds no responsibility for any damage that may occur to your vehicle.
Also please use the designated crossing area outside the main entrance (near Room 2), to cross Wira Street. This is the safest place to cross Wira Street in the afternoons so please use this crossing to walk your children across the road.
Parking:
A reminder that parking before and after school has to be in the designated parking areas along Mahi Rd and Wira St. As we work with the police to ensure we maintain safety for all our students and our school community, any car or vehicle parking on the yellow lines and across grass verges will result in your car number plate being alerted to them.
Lastly, if your child normally catches the bus and on any given day your plans change, can you please contact the office to let the school know that your child isn’t catching the bus that day.
Lost Property:
We have changed the location of our lost property for 2024. The lost property is now located in the shed next to the Junior playground and will be open before and after school if your child loses a piece of their clothing. If you come into school and it is locked please pop over to the office and we will get someone to open it for you!
Keeping up to date:
Please remember to check our Facebook page for the latest updates from our school - https://www.facebook.com/TKPrimary.
Also, if you would like to read our strategic plan for 2024 please follow this link https://www.tkp.school.nz/110/file_sets/13-strategic-plans
Our strategic plan details what we are aiming to achieve as a kura in 2024.
Schooldocs - ongoing review If you would like to review our Policies and Procedures for Term 1 please follow the link https://tkp.schooldocs.co.nz//Logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f Username: tkp Password: wecare
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- Brian and Staff
Updating contact details
**If any of your contact details (phone, email, address) have changed since you enrolled your child can you please pop into the office to update them to ensure we are able to share information and make contact if needed**
Has your address, phone number or email changed? Have your bus arrangements changed?
Have your emergency details changed or no longer have your land line number?
Is there any new info eg. medical, that we need to know about your child?
Have you not received our electronic newsletter or need to add another email address?
Let us know ASAP so we can update it on our system.
If you do not want to receive this newsletter please email the office and we can remove you from our email tree reception@tkp.school.nz
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Stationery
Stationery fees are now due. ** Please bring along your paper invoice to speed up the process.
Payments can be made to the school's account for your convenience. (see below for details)
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TKP School account:
ASB 12-3454-0060853-00
Please use your child's name as reference.
Our school does have an EFTPOS facility available in reception.
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Absences
Please let the school know if your child is / or will be absent.
There are a couple of ways to do so:
* Phone 07 8263564 or leave us a message
* Text us on 027 503 7425 - text phone only
* Fill in an electronic absence submission on our school website at
https://www.tkp.school.nz/ under absences on the left hand side.
* Email the office at reception@tkp.school.nz
Your proactiveness in letting us know will be much appreciated.
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Lateness
If you child is late for whatever reason and therefore has missed the roll can they please sign in at the office.
Thank you - TKP Office Staff