NEWSLETTER 08/18

6 July 2018

Kia ora, Talofa, Kia orana,

Greetings Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers,

Hard to believe that yet another term has quickly come to an end. Various cross country

events, trips, performances, footbal workshops, focus group meetings and a highly

successful Matariki evening, are a few of the many events that have taken place this term.

Thanks to the many parents, caregivers and teachers who have been able to support the

many activities.

During the past two weeks parent/ teacher interviews have been held and I’m pleased to

say that the level of turnout has been great. If you are one of those few parents who

haven’t been able to attend an interview, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange

an interview at a mutually suitable time. The interviews are a great way by which to

celebrate your child’s achievements and find out what could be being done at home to

support their progress.

Road Patrol Parent Helpers Needed We are desperate to hear from any parents who during term 3 are able

to volunteer 30-45 minutes for one morning a week or 20-25 minutes for

one afternoon a week, to go on a roster to help with road patrol

supervision.

If you are able to help we would very much appreciate it. Please email

Donna Curran-Green on donnacg@westpark.school.nz

Changes to our fortnightly newsletters are planned as a result of feedback

received through our recent focus group meetings. From next term

newsletters will:

be emailed out on the first Thursday of each month

be shorter with far less space being allocated to community advertising

continue to include calendar dates

continue to welcome and list new students

promote our school values

provide updates on events or actions that may impact parents or students

continue to celebrate student achievements (Please note that we are limited in the

number photos that can be used as we have a very large number of students

whose image we are not permitted to use)

To support the great work staff and students have been doing in writing, it would be great

if you could encourage your child/ren to write for a few minutes each day over the

coming holidays. It is important to acknowledge that children become better readers by

writing, and better writers by reading! Some simple writing activities that could be done at

home during the holidays include:

Lists: Families make these all the time: shopping lists, to-do lists, invitation lists,

holiday packing lists. Encourage your children to make lists of their own. Ideas:

birthdays of family

Notes: Encourage your children to jot notes to family members and capture

special moments in writing. Ideas: saying goodbye to grandparents after a

summer vacation, the taste of a chocolate chip ice cream, a booster message

for a sibling facing a challenge, a love note to a parent, a thank you note.

Journals and diaries: In the process of writing, journal writers often come to

deeper understanding of their lives. The journal becomes a precious keepsake as

the journal writer continues through life. Make a diary or journal an annual

essential of Christmas giving.

Dialogue journals: These are a written conversation between a parent and child,

usually in a notebook passed back and forth at different times of day. This is a

way for a parent to develop a deeper relationship with a child – questions,

answers, encouragements, apologies, and words of affection can be written that

might never be spoken.

Letters and e-mails: Letters can help children stay in touch with distant family

members. All children love getting a letter or e-mail back. Getting into the habit

of letter-writing can become a lifetime pleasure.

Birthday and special-event books: Provide blank books for family members and

guests at birthday parties and special events so they can write personal notes

and wishes. These become treasured archives of people and occasions.

Parodies: Make it a family thing to write spoofs of songs, poems and

advertisements to mark special occasions or achievements.

Home-based writing should be enjoyable, real and frequent.

Make the writing an authentic part of everyday life. Avoid making it overly

instructional. Give a quick response to requests for help rather than subjecting

children to a lengthy ordeal of explanations or looking up words or information.

This can be done later so the flow of writing is not interrupted.

Don’t be overly concerned with grammar and spelling. Pointing out children’s

shortcomings will discourage them from writing. Keep a dictionary close to hand

and let your children see you using it to check a word in your own writing. Your

attitude to spelling and grammar will naturally influence theirs without your

having to make correctness a bugbear that takes away the pleasure from their

writing.

Always have writing materials available – pens, pencils, coloured markers, paper

and staplers. Visit stationery shops to find attractive paper clips, stickers,

notebooks and blank cards. The family writing kit should include envelopes,

postage stamps and scissors. When shopping with your children, look out for

items to add to the collection.

Holiday Maths: Take advantage of math in the world

School holidays are a great time to learn how math relates to the real world. Math is

everywhere!

Help your child prevent “holiday learning loss” by taking advantage of the many great

opportunities to practice math naturally!

Below are a few ideas to get you started:

Cooking can involve weighing, measuring, ordering, estimating, adding, multiplying

Restaurants and shopping can involve money, number identification, estimating,

adding, subtracting, division …

Parties can involve matching numbers of people to plates, cutlery, area of tables,

estimation,

multiplication …

Trips can involve time, distance, budgeting, speed, evaluating various routes,

license plate games (e.g. adding or multiplying the numbers on the plate) …

Home projects can involve estimation, measuring, multiplication …

Gardening can involve measuring, counting, area, division …

These ideas all demonstrate how much math is involved in our daily lives and will support

your child in his or her basic computation and problem-solving skills in natural, fun and real

ways.

ONE OF OUR SCHOOL VALUES

HONESTY What is honesty?

Honesty is speaking the truth.

Honesty means you don't say things about people that aren't true. You are not

being honest if you make up rumors about someone or if you share rumors

someone else made up.

Being honest means you admit to your actions, even if you'll get in trouble. You

are not being honest if you deny you did something wrong when you really did it.

Honesty means you explain how a situation really happened. You are not being

honest if you say something happened one way when it really happened

another way.

When you do something you know is wrong, or when you have to hide your

actions because you know they are wrong, you are not being honest. Being

honest means you act in a way that you know is the right thing to do.

STUDENT VOICE Name: Abby Team: Kahikatea

What do you like best about West Park School?

“All the people and the bike track.”

How could we improve our school?

“I’d have an Enviro Club to help fix up the junior garden.”

What makes a good teacher?

“They have to be understanding and nice if you don’t understand something.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I sometimes pick up rubbish with my friends.”

Name: Taha Team: Rimu

What do you like best about West Park School?

“I like the treehouse because they make cool activities.”

How could we improve our school?

“Everybody would help everybody.”

What makes a good teacher?

“A good teacher makes fun activities for you to learn and is nice.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I work hard and help other people in need.”

Name: Zoe Team: Matai

What do you like best about West Park School?

“I like that you can make new friends.”

How could we improve our school?

“We could put friendship benches everywhere in the school.”

What makes a good teacher?

“When they are nice and they help people with their learning.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I don’t hurt anyone and I’m nice and kind to everyone.”

Name: Dulain Team: Miro

What do you like best about West Park School?

“My friends, iPads and my teacher.”

How could we improve our school?

“I would tidy things up.”

What makes a good teacher?

“Someone who is friendly.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I say nice words to others.”

Name: Lulu Team: Totara

What do you like best about West Park School?

“Learning and tidying up.”

How could we improve our school?

“Helping people feel comfortable and helping them when they hurt.”

What makes a good teacher?

“Someone who helps people learn and is kind.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I always let people play with me.”

NEW STUDENTS

Since our last newsletter we have welcomed Ethan and Nishit to room 18.

A warm welcome to you and your families.

Have a lovely up school break.

Luis Echegaray

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, 6 July - Last day of term 2 school finishes 3pm

Friday, 3 August - New parents morning tea (10am)

Wed. 8 – Fri. 24, August - Life Education Van (Years 1-6)

Thursday, 16 August - Years 4-6 Swimming Sports

Monday, 20 August - BoT meeting at 6pm in Room 15

Monday, 3 September - Years 3 and 4 trip to ASB Centre

Friday, 7 September - Road Patroller’s ‘Orange Day Parade’

Monday, 10 September - Years 5 and 6 trip to ASB Centre

Thursday, 13 September - Interzone Swimming Competition

Saturday, 15 September - Kapa Haka Festival Competition

Monday, 17 September - Years 1 and 2 trip to ASB Centre

- Artsplash (singing) at Michael Fowler Centre

(Team Kahikatea)

Thursday, 20 September - Dancesplash performance

Monday, 24 September - BoT meeting at 6pm in Room 15

Tuesday, 25 September - Science Roadshow @ Newlands Intermediate

Wed 26 Sept-Tues 6 Nov - Dental Van

Thursday, 27 September - Inter-regional Cross Country Competition

West Park School Board of Trustees approved 2019 terms dates are as follows:

Term 1 Monday 4 Feb – Friday 12 April

Term 2 Monday 29 April – Friday 5 July

Term 3 Monday 22 July – Friday 27 Sept

Term 4 Monday 14 Oct – Wednesday 18 Dec

SCHOOL NOTICES

School Photos Photo proof/order envelopes have already been sent home with your child for you to

order your photos. Photos can be ordered online through www.schoolmemories.co.nz

using your shoot key id which is provided on your proof envelope. If you require a second

proof envelope for parents living apart please advise the office. The cut off date for

ordering your photos is Tuesday 2nd August.

SICKNESS… a reminder if your child is absent from school. Please ring in on 478-7074 each day your child is away from school and leave a clear message on our answerphone with your child’s name, room no. and reason for absence. Alternatively you can email us at office@westpark.school.nz . This will save the office staff valuable time from having to ring parents as we need to ensure that your children are safe each day. Thank you.

FRIDAY SCHOOL SUBWAY Lunches – orders must be in by Thursday 9am

COMMUNITY NOTICES

KELLY CLUB WESTPARK HOLIDAY PROGRAMME: visit www.kellyclub.co.nz or call 022 035 1453

FOOTBALL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME: www.kellyclub.co.nz

NETBALL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME: www.kellyclub.co.nz

KIDZ STUFF THEATRE: Jessica Bo Peep, Bookings: www.eventspronto.co.nz/KidzStuff

DRAMA CLASSES: www.helenogradynz.co.nz

JOHNSONVILLE SCOUTS: contact scoutsjville@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: We generally advertise in Community Notices activities that are local

and child oriented. We cannot however guarantee the quality of these activities.