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A warm welcome to our new students:
Atticus Tope, Amara Tope, Blake Lawrence, Kenshin Matsunami, Kyle Kim, Amelia Hopkins, Kenzley Roebuck, Toby Powell, Naila Pengelly, Reeve Toki, Cullen Toki, Brodie Hopkins, Sloane Titchmarsh, Indie Mayall, Arizona McConnell, Luna-May Searanke, Noah Knight, Coen Stephens, George Rawnsley, Chelsea Emslie, Te Amorangi Te Whare, Jacob Narito, Jiro Narito, Santiago Navarro Martinez
Kia ora koutou, nau mai, haere mai.
Welcome to the 2024 school year, and also a very warm welcome to the new families who have joined our Puketaha School Community. We hope you all managed an enjoyable break with your whaanau and feel ready for the term ahead. We look forward to having the students back tomorrow.
Our staff have been on-site over the last week, preparing for the new year. During this time we took part in some whole-school professional learning and team building. We have been building our knowledge on the benefits of social and emotional learning for students and what this looks like in practice. We also had fun taking part in a challenge called Hamilton Scramble. It saw us racing around the CBD in teams and completing challenges, some of which took us out of our comfort zone. Along the way, we were also learning about effective communication strategies when working collaboratively. Having a strong team culture is something we value and is essential for our effective co-teaching teams, so we can support and challenge each other for the benefit of the learners.
"Accomplishing the maximum impact on student learning depends on teams of teachers working together.” John Hattie
Towards the latter part of 2023, our Board of Trustees were working on our school’s Strategic Direction. You may remember having the opportunity to take part in a survey regarding the school's direction for the next two years. We also consulted with the staff, collated informal feedback received from whaanau as well as interviewed students. We bought this information together alongside the National Education and Learning Priorities and other legislated requirements and created our Strategic Direction for 2024 - 2025.
Our school has three overarching goals for the next two years.
- Child-Centred…To enhance the learning capacity and mana of our aakonga/students by providing future-focused and child-centred learning programmes.
- Quality Curriculum…To provide a rich, balanced learning programme focusing on aakonga/ students progressing and achieving in relation to the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC).
- Continuous Growth…To develop and enact systems and practices that promote future growth and ensure sustainability.
We then have 'Initiatives’ to help us meet these big-picture goals. Each initiative is played out in detail within our Annual Implementation Plan. The leadership team and the teaching team use the Annual Implementation Plan to inform our actions and internal self-review.
We have our Meet the Teacher Picnic coming up next week on Thursday 8th February at 5 pm on the school field. This is a chance to informally meet the teachers and visit the learning environments, as well as enjoy a family picnic. The PTA would like to welcome all new families to this event and will be putting on a complimentary sausage sizzle for all.
In Week 3, we will run our Teacher/ Whaanau Catch Up’s on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th of February, from 3.15 pm- 5.15 pm. These are 15-minute slots with your child’s teacher/ teachers which provide an opportunity for you to talk about your child, and discuss possible goals for 2024. We will send out the booking information for this on Monday.
We are excited about 2024, and we look forward to working with you over the year to support your child’s learning and success at school.
Ngaa mihi,
Nyree Olliver
Principal
Absences - The School Office monitors all absences, if your child or children are going to be away from school, or late parents/ caregivers are asked to notify the office. This can be done via text (only) 020 404 28607, leaving a message on the school phone 07 824 3870 or via the App, providing a reason. If your child is ill for more than 3 days you may be required to provide a medical certificate. If your child accumulates 5 unexplained or unjustified absences over the year, we will make contact with you to discuss how attendance can be improved. Thank you.
Pick up and drop off times -Children are to be dropped off at school no earlier than 8.20 am. We would also appreciate parents and caregivers picking up your children promptly at the end of the day.
Crossing the Road/ Car park- If you drop off and pick your child up from the Sainsbury Road entrance, please walk your child along the path and cross them at the crossing area only. If you pick up your child from the Puketaha Community Hall Car Park, please hop out of your car to meet your child by the gate. The duty teachers will not send children out into the car park alone, as it is dangerous with cars backing out.
Parking- Please do not park in the Staff Car Park or the bus bay on Sainsbury Road. The gate by the turf on Puketaha Raod is not a drop-off or pick-up spot, please use either the Community Hall or the Sainsbury Road Entry. Please avoid parking your car where you might be blocking the view of cars pulling out or blocking the view of the crossing area.
School App update - Now is a good time to check your notification settings on the school app so you can be kept up to date on what is happening for your child(ren) at school.
Water Only - Puketaha School is a water-only school - which means that there is no flavoured milk drinks or juice. Children should have their own drink bottles.
Sun Safety - Hats -All children are to wear a hat for outdoor activities during Term 1.
Contact details - Please email any updated addresses and phone numbers to the school office. It is important that we can make contact in an emergency. This can also be done via the school app.
Could parents/ caregivers please inform the school office if there is any updated information regarding your child's health. This includes information about allergies and treatment.
Social Media- We ask that our school community please avoid posting photos of school events which include other people's children, on public social media. If you do, please make sure you have permission from the parents first.
Out-of-School Care - Our before and after-school care provider is Journey Kids. Visit the website for hours, prices, contact information and to book. Journey Kids
School Docs- All our school policies are available to view at School Policies. Log in with User name 'Puketaha' and password puketaha. Please make yourself familiar with our Community Conduct Expectations. In our newsletters, we will let you know when we are reviewing a school policy and you are welcome to provide feedback to us via the website.
We invite everyone to our Meet the Teacher family picnic at the school on Thursday the 8th. This is a chance for our school community to mix, mingle and reconnect with other families. This is also a chance to find out more about the PTA, meet the teachers and visit the learning environments.
Bring your picnic blanket and your picnic. The PTA will be running a complimentary sausage sizzle.
This event is weather-dependent so let's hope for a lovely sunny evening.
We hope to see you there!
Teacher Whaanau Catch-Ups
In Week 3 we will be offering Teacher/ Whaanau catch-ups. This is an opportunity for you as parents/ caregivers to come and chat with your child’s teacher. The idea of these catch-ups is to meet early in the year and you can talk to the teachers about your child and share more of their ‘story’ with us, as well as discuss anything that is on top for you.
They will take place over 2 evenings.
Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th Feb 3.15 pm- 5.30 pm
Booking information will be sent out on Monday.
If you have concerns regarding your child, the first place to address them is with your child’s kaitiaki teacher, and then if not resolved, with our Assistant Principal, Mrs Nicky Khoo or Deputy Principal, Mr Jason Boobyer. Finally, you can contact the Principal, Mrs Nyree Olliver, if your concerns remain unresolved.
Please be aware that teachers do not check their emails during student contact times but will often aim to get back to you within 24 hours. Teachers are not available via text; please direct messages through our school office or email.
Assistant Principal -Nicky Khoo nickyk@puketaha.school.nz
Deputy Principal -Jason Boobyer jasonb@puketaha.school.nz
Principal- Nyree Olliver nyreeo@puketaha.school.nz
Puketaha School is still participating in the Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata, the period products in schools’ initiative. Free period products are available for students who want them. These are stored in the Girls Puaawai toilets.
The Public Health Nurse will be at the school for immunisation education and giving out
consent forms on Monday 12/2/2024.
If you do not wish your child to attend the education session, please let your school know.
Date of Immunisations
Year 7 Boostrix - 11/3/2024
Year 8 HPV Dose 1 - 11/3/2024 Dose 2 – 16/9/2024
If parents have any queries or changes please contact the Public Health Nurse –
Anne McNicol
Anne.mcnicol@waikatodhb.health.nz
021 761 594
We know that many families enjoy using our school grounds outside of school hours, and you are very welcome to do so. Please be aware that during this time, you are responsible for your own and your children's Health and Safety. We also ask that families respect our school grounds and our ‘No Smoking and No Vaping’ policy.
If you want to use the school grounds out of hours for Sports practices, for example, please contact Jason at jasonb@puketaha.school.nz
Northern United Cricket Club
NUSC cricket in term 1 2024. This is for kids from year 2 - 8 and can include Friday night soft ball cricket or Saturday morning hard ball cricket from year 4-5 up. For any parents wanting to register their kids for this they can do so via https://www.playhq.com/new-
Te Miro Mountain Bike Club events
Entertainment Books
E-Entertainment books are still available to purchase with 20% from every sale going back to the school. For more information follow the link below.