October 30 2024, Week 3
Principal's Message
Term 4 Week 3
Kia ora koutou
This week we welcome Eddie to Ruru iti, he is joining his big brother Alex at Northland.
Last week I shared key leadership roles that past students from Northland will hold at Wellington Girls College for 2025. Today we are delighted to let you know that two of our past students have been awarded the following at the Wellington Girls College prize giving last night. Congratulations to
Teresa Ng - Dux and Cultural person of the year and Maddy Roberts - top sporting and cultural allrounder. Amazing achievements and hard work on many levels to receive these awards.
Tū mai Te Ahūmairangi, tū mai hoki tatou, As Te Ahūmairangi stands, we also reach for great heights
Yesterday we appreciated the time to review our current maths programmes and resources. We spent the day focused on the Science of Learning, transferring what we know works for literacy into future planning for maths and looking at the changes ahead in the curriculum. Teachers spent time upskilling the use of Numicon and discussing how we can make the most out of these resources for our programmes during 2025. We appreciate your support to enable us to have a focused day on professional development so we are well prepared for implementing the new phases of the curriculum in English and Maths.
Next week we have our final professional development session with Dr Helen Walls. She will be modelling in classes and working alongside Karen ( our Tier 2 and Tier 3 Literacy Intervention Teacher) before running a staff meeting for all teachers on writing composition.
We are looking forward to Week of Words from 4th - 8th November. We will be having a Dress Up as a Letter parade on Wednesday 6th in Te Kōhanga or on the main courts from 12:15 - 12:50. We have the Karori Library joining us for reading, and hopefully bringing a reading Robot and VR gear. There is a book swap on Thursday. If children wish to participate they need to bring some books to Erwin and she will manage the swap.
I would like to thank Rachel and Alex for all the organisation of the school athletics. There were a few tweaks made from feedback last year, in particular the timing of the sprints. This made a significant difference to students as they didn’t need to run heats. The results speak for themselves with 64 students from year 4-8 attending the Western Zones this Friday at Newtown Park. We know our Year 8s participating look forward to completing their final competitive events.
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.
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 8th November.
Red Bin is back!
The red bin is coming back! It will be parked at the Tiger Turf entrance to school from Thursday 7 November - Thursday 14 November. All clean, good condition clothing and shoes are welcome. This time we are especially looking for clothes for spring and summer including sun hats.
The red bin is available one week each term and items collected are donated to our partner school in the Wellington area. If you have any questions or have a large donation, give Deborah a text or call on 021709467. Thank you!
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.
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.
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.
Term Dates
2024 Dates
Term 4 Monday 14 October - Wednesday 18 Dec
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
