October 23 2024, Week 2
Principal's Message
Term 4 Week 2
Kia ora koutou
This week we welcome two students who are returning to Northland, Julia in Kotare and Emilia in Kākā. We also welcome Sacha to Ruru Iti.
This morning we had an unexpected evacuation to the courts at the start of the day. All students and staff responded very well. Once the all clear was given by the Fire Brigade to return to school, the Year 4-8 students quickly got on the bus for Athletics. It was a great day of events and thank you to parents for coming and helping. Everyone gave their best and we look forward to the results.
This morning Ruru welcomed four scientists; Katie, Erin, Lyndsey and Amber from the Department of Conservation to launch our inquiry into Beneath the Surface of the Ocean. We learnt about coral, sea fauna, creatures in the dark zone and sea mammals that live around New Zealand. The scientists were so impressed with the children’s prior knowledge, their questioning skills and their creativity. Ka rawe to mahi. Thank you too for the resources for the school.
It is the time of the year when senior students at college finish and begin exam schedules for NCEA. I would like to congratulate the following past pupils from Northland who will have leadership roles at Wellington Girls in 2025. Lucy Hansen - Head Student, Aamina Tariq - Head of Community committee, Florence Ablett-McLean - Head of Student Communications, Orla Sweeney - Head of Student Council and Hannah Brockett - Student rep on the board. There were 15 roles in the Student Executive and Northland past students are well represented.
Tū mai Te Ahūmairangi, tū mai hoki tatou, As Te Ahūmairangi stands, we also reach for great heights
We have a short week next week with the Labour Day holiday on Monday and Teacher Only Day on Tuesday. Teachers will be learning more about the phases of the new curriculum, resources and applying our knowledge of scope and sequence in literacy to the learning in maths.
Traditionally at Northland we have a book week. This year we are stepping this up and planning for a wider variety of events - Week of Words from 4th - 8th November. We will be having a Dress Up as a Letter parade on Wednesday 6th, so if you would like to dress up as a letter or use a letter as a provocation, come and join us, you have plenty of time to create something. The time for this will be shared next week.
We are currently working on our school organisation and classes for 2025. Teachers all work together on the many layers of considerations that are taken into developing classes. The sharing of information about individual students e.g. learning & behaviour needs, achievement data, social/friendship combinations and siblings or relations that could be in a team are all part of how we develop classes. Please trust the school and knowledge that all staff have in this process. We will be informing you of the school organisation in the next few weeks before any classes are finalised.
The Labyrinth was a highlight last week. The whole school enjoyed being an audience on Thursday and I thoroughly enjoyed the full show on Sunday. The energy and confidence displayed was amazing and we are very proud of everyone. A huge thank you to Scout, Ryan and Angela for your commitment to the Arts in Northland.
Yesterday our Year 3 students took part in the Sports Festival at Marsden. There were a number of schools involved and our students had a great day. Thank you to the many parents who came along to help and encourage everyone to have a go. This event is held every year and is the introduction to students playing against other schools before the Western Zone Sports events start at Year 4 - Year 8.
If you would like to come and chat or have any concerns please get in touch with any of the senior leadership team, Andrea, Judith and Grant.
Ngā mihi nui
Andrea
Neurodiversity Workshop
Come and join us for an evening workshop to explore neurodiversity: Tuesday 12th November 7-9pm (Coffee from 6.45)
We have a University student coming to talk about her journey through education with an ADHD diagnosis. We will explore the different characteristics of different neurodiversities, hear about how we support students with different needs at Northland School and beyond. This will run in conjunction with Te Mahau (Ministry of Education, Learning Support), Nga hau e wha (RTLB) and Neurodiversity in Education Project.
We will have books and resources to look at and there will be opportunities to ask questions.
All are welcome, please ring or email the office if you would like to attend by Friday …
2025 Enrolments and Out Of Zone
To help us with our planning for next year we do need to know the number of students who will be attending. If your child is in Year 1 – 7 and is leaving at the end of the year, please let us know as soon as possible. If you have children due to start at Northland School in 2025 please check with Ann in the office to ensure that we have these details recorded. If you know of children from other families who are likely to start next year, please encourage their parents to contact us. The more information the school has about potential in-zone enrolments the better equipped we are to provide the best possible class organisation for the coming year.
Civil Defence Emergency Contact Form
We have planned our drill for Monday 2nd December 2pm to 3pm. We are still outstanding around 50 families returning their Civil Defence Emergency contact details. Further details regarding the process and organisation will be sent closer to the time.
Pizza Day - Friday 1st November
Pizza Friday is becoming very popular here, which is great! A few things to note though:
All pizzas MUST be ordered by 1pm Wednesday 30th, no exceptions. This is to help with making orders easier due to the sheer amount of pizzas arriving.
Thank you for all the payments, however we have had some payments come in with no Pizza orders! This means some miss out. Please if you are paying online for a Pizza, can you make sure that one is ordered at the office.
We also have had pizzas ordered with no payment, please make sure you remember to pay for pizzas.
Library News
Book Swap Day
This year, one of the activities during Book Week will be Book Swap Day. Students can bring a book(s) from home that has been read and is sitting idle. The book(s) need to be in good condition (i.e. no drawings, no mould, no missing pages, etc..). Give the book(s) to the librarian who will mark on her list the name and number of books given. Books have to be given no later than 1 Nov.
On Book Swap Day, students, who brought books in, will have the opportunity to choose the same number (or less) of books they brought in. Please note that books given for book swapping will not be returned back to the original owner, this is an optional activity.
Scholastic Book Club Term 4 2024 - Issue 7 is out now!
Term 4 Issue 7 2024 catalogues have been distributed in your child's class. Deadline for orders is on 25 October. 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.
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.
Sport Shirts - Cleaned and Returned
Can we PLEASE have all sports shirts returned to the school office. Can you please check bags, draws and under the bed - we are missing many many shirts, thank you.
School Lunch Options
Subway - Every Monday - order online through www.lunchonline.co.nz
Sushi - Every Tuesday - order online through www.ezlunch.co.nz
Pizza - Once a month - available the 1st Friday of each month, $6 per pizza order forms available on the school website or in the school office.
Apps available for Subway and Sushi through the school website.
Western Zone and School Sports Days
Western Zone sports day are usually held on a Tuesday with the Thursday of the same week being the postponement day. Information is sent home separately for each of these events, with updates on HERO or the school website.
WZ Athletics 1 November (Friday)
Term Dates
2024 Dates
Term 4 Monday 14 October - Wednesday 18 Dec
Our teacher only days are
Term 4 Tuesday 29 October
2025 Dates
We have confirmed the dates for 2025. We will have an open afternoon for families on January 29th to help the transition back into school, see the class space and meet the teachers in the learning space. This is prior to the first day of school on 30th January. We are yet to confirm Teacher Only Days and once these have been decided we will let you know.
Term 1 - 30 January - 11 April
Public Holiday- Thurs 6th Feb- Waitangi
Please note Easter and ANZAC day are within the Term holiday in 2025
Good Friday - 18th April
Easter Monday - 21st and Easter Tuesday 22.
ANZAC Friday 25th April
Term 2 - Mon 28 April - 27 June
Kings Birthday - Monday 2nd June
Matariki - Friday 20th June
Term 3 - 14 July - 19 September
Term 4 - 6 October - 17 December Labour Day- Monday 27th October
Kelly Sports Term 4
