December 11 2024, Week 9
Principal's Message
Term 4 Week 9
Kia ora koutou
This is the second to last newsletter for the year. We will have a final farewell newsletter and Board update on Monday 16th December.
The Year 4s had a wonderful overnight experience at the Zoo and a huge thank you to all parents who attended and got to see the animals up close. I think there will be many memories for everyone.
This week all classes are enjoying a variety of different activities as we near the last week of the school year. There is plenty of preparation for the last team hui, the last Kapa haka performance, the last student rep fun event, the last schoolwide Northland CHAMP acknowledgement, the community assembly and the leavers’ dinner for our year 8 students.
On Monday afternoon we all enjoyed a performance by the Goodtime Music Academy. They had the school dancing and showcased the various instruments that children could learn next year. I am sure you may have heard all about it. We have forty students who will start the year learning an instrument and we are thrilled with the interest from the community.
To conclude Team Ruru’s Beneath the Surface focus this term, there were a number of families and teachers who took part in the Beach clean up at Shoreland Park, Island Bay. It certainly was a lovely evening and a great opportunity for families to connect.
Tomorrow, Thursday we have the first of our 2025 class transition sessions. All children will spend the afternoon with their new teacher and team for 2025. The activities that teachers have planned are focused on making everyone feel at ease, connecting with one another and familiarisation of the new space students will find themselves in. On Monday morning we have our second session and your child will bring home the class list and the team of teachers they will be working with.
All reports have now been completed and I am very pleased to read the progress students have made since mid year in writing, reading and mathematics. I would like to thank all staff for the many hours of drafting, editing and proofreading to ensure you know where your child is in relation to the current curriculum expectations at the end of the year. These reports and curriculum graphs will be published on HERO on Monday afternoon by 4pm.
This Friday we are looking forward to the leavers’ dinner, and making sure our year 8 students are celebrated. Parents will have time to mix and mingle. I am looking forward to the evening and want to thank everyone who has supported Lyndsey, Rachel and Charles with the organisation of such an event. It will be the first time we have held this in Te Kōhanga and I know the parents have a great plan for decorating this for the evening.
On Saturday our Kapa haka will perform at the Community Carols. They sound amazing and will be looking great in their costumes, so come along and enjoy the event.
Ngā mihi nui
Andrea
End of Year Hui for Teams and the School
Tieke/ Kōtare/ Kākā 16th December at 2:15pm in Te Kōhanga
Ruru Tuesday 17th December at 9am in Te Kōhanga
We will have our final school assembly on Wednesday 18th December from 9:30-10:30 at the Northland Community Centre. We will celebrate all the mahi from 2024, farewell our leavers and enjoy a final performance from the Kapa Haka and the Music performance group. School finishes midday on Wednesday 18th December.
Pack the Bus
Afternoon All!
Thank you for being an incredible part of Pack the Bus this year. Your support has been instrumental in making this campaign a success, helping the Wellington City Mission during one of the most challenging times of the year.
This year, thanks to your generosity, we collected 600 crates of donations—a remarkable increase from the 420 crates received last year. We’re truly amazed by the outpouring of kindness from our community.
The Wellington City Mission serves the entire Wellington region. Donations from Pack the Bus have replenished the shelves of the Mission’s supermarket, which was especially crucial at this time of year. Not only have essential supplies been met, but there are now additional shelves stocked with special Christmas treats to bring extra joy to the season.
Thank you again for being part of this special campaign. We can’t wait to see you involved again in 2025!
Many Thanks,
Meg
Stationery for 2025
From feedback within our school community we have reverted back to families providing stationery for the school year. We will be posting each Year group's stationery requirements on the school website next week and on HERO.
You can also order through OfficeMax or you can make a day of it and take the lists to whichever stationery provider you like, we will have a small supply at school for students to purchase as they use up the books throughout the year. We have some items (code books, book bags) that the school will purchase and enter onto your Hero accounts. Below is an instruction video on how to order through OfficeMax.
** New entrant students, starting school in 2025, stationery will be purchased by the school and ready in their classes for the year to begin.
From Year 5 onwards children are encouraged to have their own pencil cases with their named pens and pencils, erasers etc.
Please find attached an instruction video on how to order through OfficeMax.
Any queries please let us know, thank you
NORTHLAND KIDZ CLUB -LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
MEETING THE KIDS AT 12 NOON ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, WEDNESDAY 18/12/24
We'll be meeting the kids as usual at the Tiger Turf, at 12 noon on this day. The kids need to bring their lunch – we'll provide afternoon tea and will be having our usual end-of-year Christmas Party. We'll be finishing at our usual time of 6 p.m.
Our fees are the same as for our usual afternoons : Regular ($16 per child), Casual ($20 per
child).
Contact Lisa on 022-680-3075, Jan on 022-140-2612, or e-mail ( nkc.jan@gmail.com ).
Enjoy your Christmas holidays !
Goodtime Music Academy
Get ready to ignite your child's musical passion! Exciting News! Goodtime Music Academy is coming to Northland School in 2025, offering award-winning in-school music lessons. Say goodbye to post-school commutes! Dive into the world of music in a vibrant group setting with the following instrument lesson: Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Ukulele, or our 'Intro to Music' course. But the excitement doesn't stop there! Your child will have the chance to shine in our thrilling concerts!
Act fast, as spots are limited. Enrol now at www.goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz/learn-at-school or call us at 04 568 2237. Your child's moment in the limelight awaits!
Michael Brown
General Manager
04 568 2237
www.goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz
50 Victoria Street, Lower Hutt
Term Dates
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