School Newsletter – 16 October 2018

Term 4, Week 1 — School news, upcoming dates and notices

A Message from the Principal

Welcome back everyone from your term break. We hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday after a busy end to Term 3 with our amazing Production.

Thank you too for your acknowledgements and positive comments about the tremendous work undertaken by the teachers to make the Production a wonderful event to conclude the term. It is most pleasing to have our learning community celebrate successes together. Thank you.

Room 18 has opened with Mrs Lisa Barron as the teacher for our New Entrant students starting in Term 4.  We would like to welcome all these students, and all other students and their families joining Kohimarama School.

This Friday, 19^th October, we look forward to our very popular Greats and Grans morning.  It is always a pleasure to have these special members of our extended community visit our classrooms and see the amazing work that our students are doing.

I am out of the school all next week attending the annual NZPF Conference.  This is an opportunity for Principals from throughout New Zealand to come together for professional learning and development and to hear from international speakers. The Rt. Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, will also be speaking about the Government’s plans for Education.

ERO Update

Kohimarama School has received the draft report from our Term 3 ERO visit.  We are very pleased with the report. It reflects the continuous improvements and work of the Board, staff, students and community to provide the best for our learners. It is also a reflection on the coherent learning processes and our continued levels of high achievement. The Board are currently reviewing the draft and will respond to the document. Once this is completed, it will be published by ERO and Kohimarama School.

Staffing 2019

At the end of this year we farewell two of our teaching team:-

• Juliette McKelvey will be leaving Snell Team. She has been offered a position in a school closer to home.
• Brittany Wong is moving out of Auckland. She will be leaving Cowley team to pursue opportunities with her husband in Tauranga.

We wish both these teachers the very best and thank them for their service to our school.

Therefore, Kohimarama School is very pleased to have been in a position to appoint 2 new teachers for the start of the New Year. We are pleased to inform you that we have appointed:-

• Joy Marshall, who will be joining Kiri or Cowley Team, and
• Kate Cadzow, who will be joining Snell Team.

Both teacher come highly recommended and they are looking forward to working with us in 2019. I am sure you will join me in welcoming both these teachers to Kohimarama School next year.

Clara Desousa is now the teacher in Room 5, Kiri Team. Clara settled into Kohimarama School in Week 10 of last term and has made a great start in getting to know the students and parents of Room 5.

2019 Class Placement Requests

This is the time of the year when the Senior Management Team are looking at our roll numbers and staffing needs and the preparation of classes for 2019.  The process of placing children in classes is based on a range of information we have related to each child’s academic needs, achievements and social relationships.  It is a complex process to create the right balance in each class and meet the best interests of all our children, one that we take very seriously.

We invite you to provide us with any request for the placement of your child for 2019.  You can email mhill@kohimarama.school.nz, dellery@kohimarama.school.nz or pengles@kohimarama.school.nz

We will consider all such requests although we are unable to guarantee that we can accommodate them.  Please provide all requests before Friday 2^nd November.

Teachers – Industrial Action

Following the strike action taken by teachers throughout New Zealand on 15^th August, negotiations have still not been resolved with the Ministry of Education. The threat of further action now looms with teachers being canvased by the New Zealand Educational Institute. Please note – while nothing has been confirmed to date, a proposed date of 12^th November has been put forward for further strike action in the Auckland area.  We will keep you informed as closely as we can.  We are aware of the impact that a school closure can have on families.

Paul Engles

News

National Shakeout Drill Day – Thursday

We are signed up and ready to rock on Thursday this week with the National Earthquake Drill day.  All students, staff and visitors at our school on Thursday will be involved in this National event, when we practice our Earthquake Drill.  It is the most likely natural disaster to effect us, and an opportunity to take part in a national drill, as opposed to our usual practice drills that just involve us.

Greats and Grans Day – Friday 19th October 9.00 am – 11.25 am

This Friday we welcome our students’ Grandparents, elderly neighbours or family friends for our Greats and Grans morning. We invite our special visitors to come to the school any time between 9.00 am and 11.25 am to visit classrooms and participate in special events.  Our student leaders will be at the gates to welcome our visitors and assist with escorting them to our classrooms.
Morning tea will be provided at 10.00 am in the hall during the morning break time.
We look forward to welcoming everyone to this special annual event.

AIMS – Sailing

A small but talented team of sailors Rowan, Sean, Henry & Noah represented Kohimarama School at the AIMS games held recently in Tauranga. Overall they achieved the following tremendous results:  Rowan was 11th overall, Sean 14th overall and 2nd Year 7 boy (receiving a medal), Noah 18th. Sean was also awarded a Sportsmanship Medal for smiling in the face of misfortune.

Kohimarama School and the boys are extremely fortunate for the huge effort and expense their parents undertook to get them to the AIMS Games.

Parent Helpers for Year 4-8 Athletics Day – Friday 9th November (Rainday 13th)

A handful of parents are needed to help with tasks on Athletics Day at Glover Park.  If you are able to assist, please email sdrefers@kohimarama.school.nz

Community Notices