Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa – warm greetings to everyone

Welcome to week 5 of term 2. We are halfway through the term already!

Kahui Ako/Community of Learning:

Last week the principal’s and Board of Trustee chairs met with our expert partner, Brian Annan, to discuss the work being done across and within schools in our cluster.

Our focus is Oral Language at the moment. Teachers have met together with other teachers from the schools involved (Reporoa College, Broadlands, Mihi, Reporoa Primary, and Rerewhaakaitu). These are opportunities for our staff to collaborate and share their ideas and learning, building on strengths and moving towards best practice across all schools. Our within school teacher (Phil McIndoe) works and meets with other within school teachers, across school teacher (Liz Macaskill – Broadlands) and lead principal (Patricia Purdie- Rerewhaakaitu) to drive and keep the work momentum moving forward.

The teachers are working on their inquiry into best practice to accelerate the learning for their target students in oral language and will be communicating with you at home about what they are doing if your child is in their target group.

Food for thought:

I was lucky enough to spend three days last week at the NZEI rural principal conference learning strategies and gleaning ideas that are specific to rural schools. A big focus was hauora (well being) of principals in managing a hectic and huge workload. I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with Mike King discussing the houora of our children as well. He has some interesting and down to earth views on the mental health of our children. One thing he couldn’t stress enough was that as parents and teachers we need to listen to our children without judgement. They need to know that their feelings, views and opinions are accepted. In this very busy life, sometimes we forget to just sit and listen to what they are saying to us (without adding our expectations at the end). He also talked a lot about the inner critic. As adults we can unknowingly add to that inner critic by the way we talk to our children.

Firewood:

The Hillary Outdoors team have a trailer of firewood for sale. Make your best offer at the office this week! 

Stars of the week:

Ka Rawe te mahi (awesome work) to our wonderful teacher aide Kim Meelker who has her last day with us today. Kim is moving farms and will be too far away to travel here everyday. We will miss her and her bubbly personality. Kim is also training to be a teacher and we wish her luck on her journey.

Ka Pai to the group in room 5 who were all on task and learning before Whaea Jill got back from morning tea. Great independent learning team!

Thank You…

Thanks to our wonderful staff for managing the school in my absence. It was a team effort and they did a great job!

Sports:

Cluster Cross Country:

Great job to the cluster team who represented our school yesterday at the Cluster Cross country in Rerewhaakaitu. All students displayed their REPS and gave it their best shot. Congratulations to Adeline who won her race.

Ripper:

Calendar:

 Lunch Orders:

LUNCH MENU

Absences:

Reminder if your child is absent either text, leave a message or on-line absent form is needed. We also need to know the reason they are away so remember to include this in your message – thanks.

Nãku i runga i aku mihi ki a koe – Yours with thanks

Richelle McDonald

and our team –Jill, Phil, Debs, Susannah, Rachel, Julie, Maureen, Heather, Tina, Mary, Kim, Ross & Stevie.