Week 7- 30 August 2023
Principal's Message
Kia ora Koutou
Welcome to Sam and Mimmi and their families who have joined our school. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Emma McElrea and Holdin all the best for the safe arrival of their daughter in a few weeks. Rose Baty will be teaching in Ruru 3 for the remainder of this year.
It seems hard to believe we are heading into spring and there are only three weeks left of this term. Thank you for coming to our Learning in Action session last Friday and joining in with some of the Rōpu activities.
Last night we were pleased to share the start of our collaboration with parents around the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) initiative that is linked to our Wellbeing- Oranga Pou. Please find information further on in the newsletter.
HERO
As mentioned in a previous newsletter we are developing our school portal called HERO. We have now added the following to the HERO app; absence notification, school newsletter, policies and procedures, term calendar, events and the website.
To download the HERO app please go to app store or google play. We will be using the community feed for class communication and group events. Teams will post newsletters on the community feed and also via Seesaw at this stage. We are working towards having this platform as the main communication tool. Seesaw will be phased out at the end of the year as we know that there are too many platforms currently. We appreciate your feedback and patience.
We are enjoying being able to have events that involve the community. Te Ahi Ora performance at Northland Park last Tuesday was something very different. Our students really loved the challenge and were able to put into practice what they had learnt during the day sessions.
In the coming weeks our students are involved in a variety of activities. They have been working hard in academic subjects towards competitions or rehearsing for the performing arts events.
Congratulations to the following Year 7 / Year 8 students who have been selected to enter the NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair. Monty, Eli, Hugo, Toby, Nate, Matilda, Seren,Evie, Harriet, Emily, Kaitlyn, Louise, Millie, Alice, Oliver,Greta, Indie, Tilly, Tyler, Zoë , Jack, and Ethan.
Mathswell competition for our Year 7 / 8 team is on tonight and our teams includes
Heidi, Marcus, Louise, Oliver, Monty, Haaim, Indi, Matilda, Arthur, Eli, Isaac and Emily representing Northland. On Thursday evening our Year 5 / 6 team includes Reuben,Vinnie,Matthew, Marni, Claudette and George. We wish both teams all the best for the multiple choice and problem solving challenges.
The next event that we are building up to is our celebration of cultures on September 20th. We have a number of parents and community groups who will take part and provide various activities for groups of students throughout the morning. We hope you are able to pop in during the morning and participate. If you would like to be involved in the day sharing your cultural heritage in some way please contact your classroom teacher.
If you would like to come and chat or have questions or concerns please get in touch with any of the senior leadership team, Andrea, Jane and Judith.
Ngā mihi nui
Andrea
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
At Northland School we are implementing Positive Behaviour for Learning School Wide (PB4L-SW) to enhance our positive and caring learning environment. We believe positive behaviours can be taught. Children need to be taught how to behave just like they are taught how to read and write. Some children require extra time and practice to behave in the way we would expect them to, here at Northland School.
- We will develop with the community clear expectations for positive behaviour, ways to affirm our expectations and clear guidelines for consequences that are consistent.
- We expect all staff, students, parents and whanau to model positive behaviours for these expectations to be successful.
- We will develop clear expectations and understanding of steps to use in restorative practices to find solutions that will build stronger partnership and ownership for everyone at Northland.
It’s not about changing the students; it’s about changing the environment, systems, and practices you have in place to support them to make positive behaviour choices.
Parents who attended last night contributed to discussions around expected behaviours in the play spaces and provided suggestions for acknowledgements for expected behaviours and celebrations of success.
We will collate the feedback from staff, students and parents to inform our next steps that model our values. We will have further workshops to collaborate with whanau and encourage you to take part. The next workshop will be early term 4. We are creating a page on the website where you will be able to find our purpose statement, as well as other information about PB4L at Northland School.
Currently we are developing our school wide positive expectations with students and staff for how we behave in and around the school. The values are guiding this work. We have included an example for when we are meeting together for rōpu whanaungatanga.
Hero - Have you Signed Up
As mentioned in a previous newsletter we are developing our school portal called HERO. We have now added the following to the HERO app; absence notification, school newsletter, policies and procedures, term calendar, events and the website.
To download the HERO app please go to app store or google play. We will be using the community feed for class communication and group events. Teams will post newsletters on the community feed and also via Seesaw at this stage. We are working towards having this platform as the main communication tool. Seesaw will be phased out at the end of the year as we know that there are too many platforms currently. We appreciate your feedback and patience.
Have you signed up to Hero. Please find below PDF instructions on how to sign up.
If you have changed contact details, emergency contact information, phone/email or address please let the office staff know. We need to make sure you are all receiving the correct information from the office and staff. This includes SeeSaw Hero Email Newsletter.
This is vital information in an Emergency.
Netball at Northland
Some of our Northland year 7s and 8s recently attended a tournament in Palmerston North run by Netball Manawatu. Our year 2 team at their first Future Ferns tournament, being coached by Evie and Pippa.
ArtSplash 2023
Michael Fowler Centre Mon 11 Sept - Thurs 14 Sept Tickets sold online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz
Choir Monday 11 Sept and then Dance on Thursday 14 Sept
H&S Home & School Events
ECO STORE FUNDRAISER - Home & School have negotiated preferential rates for Northland School families and friends, which will also help us raise funds for literacy resources to support the students' learning of structured literacy. We will be offering the top 52 selling products with a discount of 10% or more. We will order the products at the end of this week, so please make your order by Friday. Orders can be placed by filling in either the paper hardcopy and drop to the office or the excel sheet and emailing it to homeandschool@northland.school.nz
Payment details are on the form. We feel really fortunate to be able to offer these products to you at a discounted rate. Please share with your family and friends.
APRONS FOR SALE- Have you got a Master Chef fan in your household, or a shadow when you're in the kitchen? Well if so, they might need their very own apron! A grandmother of a Northland School student has kindly agreed to make aprons as a fundraiser to go towards literacy resources. Three sizes are available in a range of fabrics. You can order your aprons via this form https://forms.gle/
Student Rep - Dress Up Twin Day
Friday September 1st, we are putting on a just-for-fun, dress up, twin day! On twin day everyone can get together with a friend or group of friends and match an outfit, colour or even accessory. There will be an opportunity where our students will get a chance to show their stuff and show off their fabulous outfits or accessories to the rest of the school.
BSC - Before School Care
Bridget Hall runs the Before School Care. The cost from 7:30-8:30 is $10 or from 8-8:30, the cost is $5. We are fortunate to be able to continue to provide this for you to make your mornings run well.
Wellbeing - Respectful Relationships
Here is the link to this month's edition https://northland.nz.schooltv.me/newsletter/respectful-relationships
Fostering a nurturing environment of respectful relationships within your family holds the key to not only harmonious living, but also improved academic outcomes for your children. As parents and caregivers, embracing the art of teaching children about respect at a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy interactions and empathetic understanding. It will help cultivate a positive environment where communication flourishes, conflicts are resolved constructively, and bonds are fortified.
Teaching children to respect themselves and others will open up avenues for both personal growth and academic achievement. Fostering an environment where respect is not just a word, but a practiced behaviour, will empower young people with essential life skills. Effective communication, active listening, and the art of compromise, will provide your child with a solid foundation that will transcend family interactions and help them collaborate effectively with peers, teachers and the broader community.
Equipping children with an understanding of healthy versus unhealthy relationships is an important aspect of their development. It will guide them to make informed choices, foster positive connections, and set boundaries that contribute to their emotional wellbeing. Understanding the nuances between healthy and unhealthy relationships provides children with the essential tools to navigate their social world, build self-esteem, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
In this edition of SchoolTV, learn how to empower young people in healthy interactions to embrace differences and forge connections that honour their self-worth.
Our Value Active - Hikohiko
Our quality is - Fairness
Practicing fairness is being fair in everything you do. It is seeing with your own eyes and not judging something or someone by what other people tell you. Being fair is standing up for your rights and the rights of other people. It is taking responsibility if you make a mistake and making amends. Justice means that every person’s rights are protected.
Term Dates
Term 3 Monday 17 July - Friday 22 September Term 4 Monday 9 October - Friday 15 December TOD 24 November Curriculum Refresh
2024 Dates
Tuesday 30 January Open day for families from 1pm
Term 1 Wednesday 31 January-Friday 12 April TOD 28 March
Term 2 Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July TOD 31 May
Term 3 Monday 22 July - Friday 27 Sept
Term 4 Monday 14 October - Wednesday 18 Dec
2 more TOD dates will be confirmed by the MOE
Community Notices
Check out our New Notice Board in the school office, come in out check it out !