8 November 2023 Week 5 - Term 4

Principal's Message

Kia ora Koutou

We welcome Tahlia,  Arlo and Theo to Team Ruru, welcome to our  Northland School community. 

It is hard to believe we are in the middle of the last term of the year. Teachers are currently assessing and writing end of year snapshots, students are reflecting on their progress meanwhile our year 8 students are making the most of the last few weeks of primary school.

We celebrate the Year 8’s contribution to our school at a leavers event in December at the community centre. To make this evening a success we are requesting parent help on the night, so the Year 8 parents can participate in the evening.   Please see Alex and Suz's message further on in the Newsletter. 

Over the last two weeks we have had glimpses of summer and most importantly on our Athletics day at Ben Burn park. This was a vast contrast to the weather we encountered last year.  It was a fantastic day, where everyone had a go at all events, encouraged others, achieved personal bests and 60 children qualified to represent our school at the Western Zone athletics being held this Friday at Newtown Park. We appreciate all parents who came to help and cheer students on and a special thank you to Angela for providing coffee for adults and a much needed ice block for all students. 

I want to acknowledge the  turn out for the working bee on Sunday. It was great to have 25 + adults and children working across the school and at the courts to tidy up areas and get jobs completed that required a team effort. A big shout out to Matt George for coordinating parents, tools and plenty of enthusiasm for a community project. We all enjoyed homemade lemonade and the sausage sizzle was in demand. We are keen to make this a community event next year that brings us together and supports the school. The time everyone gave on Sunday is appreciated by everyone. 

The roof and window upgrade taking place in Rooms 1-3 is well underway and good progress is being made. While we have the scaffolding in place we have been able to start the scheduled painting of these rooms and the admin block ahead of time. 

Lately our teams have been focusing on how we can improve our environment. We really have too much concrete and would love more nature, soft surfaces and birds in our school. Team Kākā are investigating projects that can involve students and the community. Please read their request in the ‘we need help section’. 

We have the Voting Box in the school office, please cast your Vote for Board of Trustees, this closes on Wednesday 15th November.  

As always if you have questions or concerns or would like to have a conversation about our school please get in touch.

Ngā mihi nui

Andrea

Year 8 Leavers Dinner

YEAR 8 LEAVERS DINNER
Friday 8th December

Thank you to those that have offered to help at our annual Year 8 Leavers’ dinner. The
planning is sorted  with no fundraising required and we’re gearing up for a great night.
If you have offered to help and you haven’t heard from the leavers’ committee, please do get in
touch.
We are needing year 7 parent helpers on the night from 4pm, so that our year 8 families can
attend the event.  As a bonus, willing and responsible year 7 children of helpers, can also assist.
And sadly, our usual lighting and sound person is too busy and not available this year. We’d
love to hear from anyone that has knowledge or contacts in this area. The NMCC has a new
sound and lighting system which we are welcome to use and we would also love some extra
spot lights, ‘flash’ lighting for this ‘red carpet’ themed dinner. Any leads please let us know.
Thanks everyone.
Alex - alexo@northland.school.nz
Suz – suzmccarty@yahoo.com

We Need Your Help

Native Planting

Are you an experienced gardener or perhaps have some spare native plants, cuttings or compost/top soil? 

Northland School is in desperate need of some fresh native greenery to break up the vast amount of concrete. We would prefer smaller native plants/shrubs, however we aren't too picky on what they look like. Please help a small passionate group of Team Kākā turn this concrete bound school into a luscious green learning community. Let's do this!  Email lyndseyb@northland.school.nz to let us know how you can help us! 

Pest Control

Our school is working on a project about pests in our area. This project is where we place different kinds of tracking tunnels and traps around the community of Northland so we can see what kind of predators there are in our surroundings. We are doing this so Northland can become a predator free community. We kindly ask that everyone please not touch the traps so that they do not get damaged or ruined, we also would appreciate any donations of cardboard boxes or corflute signs. If you are able, we would like a few traps donated so we can set them up around the school. Email rachelp@northland.school.nz for more information!

Sports News - Results

Athletics Day - What a fantastic day - thank you to all our parent supporters and volunteers - we have nearly 60 Students going to (WZ)  Western Zones, on Friday 10 November.   Congratulations to our students heading to WZ as listed below.  

Weetbix Tri-athalon

I have created a Weetbix Tryatholon school group, so please make sure to sign your student up through our school group. The tryatholon is on Sunday the 17th of March 2024. It's an engaging and fun event for kids of all ages. More information can be found here: https://tryathlon.co.nz/locations/wellington/ 

email   rachelp@northland.school.nz  

Music Group

Our talented music group is nearing the completion of their latest cover album, a project that the children have dedicated themselves to throughout the year. This time, we are proud to announce that we are fundraising for the NZ Brain Tumour Support Trust. Keep an eye out for posters featuring a QR code for easy album purchases, which will be displayed in the coming weeks. Additionally, we will provide information on how to purchase the album through Bandcamp in our final newsletters of the year. We really appreciate your support and will be sure to perform a few of the my popular songs at end-of-year assembly.

Library News

Library News

Scholastic Book Club Term 4 2023 - Issue 8 is out now!
Term 4 Issue 8 2023 catalogues have been distributed in your child's class. Deadline for orders is on 24 November .  Please note that we do not take paper order forms or cash payments - all orders are done online via LOOP. Please go to https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx to register. 

Should you wish to gift the books you ordered to someone, please place your order then email Erwin so she knows.  When the order has arrived, she can then put it aside and get in touch with you so you can come and pick it up. Any other queries to Erwin Palado by emailing librarian@northland.school.nz

New Minecraft books are now on the library shelves!

Northland School Champs PB4L

We are Northland CHAMPs! 

We are excited to continue on our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) journey and make it visual around the school. Our values are a key part of what PB4L will look like at Northland School and will underpin decisions we make. To keep them front of mind, we have been able to make the perfect acronym to describe what we want to be. 

C - confident (whakamanawa)

H - hikohiko (active)

A - auahatanga (creative)

M - manaaki (kind)

P - pataitai (curious)

As part of our PB4L journey, we have been starting to talk about expected behaviour in different areas in the school. We have started with the playground, office and library, as well as talked about expected behaviour during eating time. We have made matrices of expected behaviour using CHAMP which will start to appear around the school. 

We want CHAMP to become part of our everyday school language as a way of acknowledging students. For example, being a classroom CHAMP, a library CHAMP, an athletics CHAMP or a friendship CHAMP. We look forward to encouraging many different types of Northland CHAMPs. Keep a lookout for our community workshop.

Home & School - Hoodie Orders

 HOODIES, T-SHIRTS and SUN HATS

We can now take orders all year round. In addition to this there will be 3 special discount weeks next year. The last week of Term 1, 2 and 3 will offer a 10% discounted ordering week and free shipping directly to school.  

https://www.theoutfitters.nz/collections/northland-school-uniform?ls=MI69jVtWRpu2rkXtxr7f7g

Northland School doesn’t have a school uniform, so purchasing these items is completely optional.  For those of you with children participating in sporting events, you can choose to purchase your own school sports shirt or borrow one from the office.

BSC - Before School Care

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. 

Our Value Confident- Whakamanawa

Our quality is  -  Assertiveness  being assertive means being positive and confident. It begins by being aware that you are a worthy person with your own special gifts. When you are assertive you think for yourself and ask for what you need. You have the self confidence to tell the truth about what is right. 

Term Dates

Term 4     Monday 9 October - Friday 15 December  12pm             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 !