Term 1, Week 2 — School news, upcoming dates and notices
Upcoming Events
| John Parsons -Cyber Saftey Expert | Wed, 10 Feb |
| Road Patrol Retraining Year 6 | Thu, 11 Feb |
| Weetbix Triathalon - Pt England | Sun, 14 Feb |
| BOT Meeting | Mon, 22 Feb |
| Kapa Haka 7.45 - 8.30 | Wed, 24 Feb |
| Y7/8 Observatory | Fri, 26 Feb |
| Kapa Haka 7.45 - 8.30 | Wed, 10 Mar |
A Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
We have had a great start to the new year with students and teachers getting to know each other. The teacher student relationship and relationship between students is most important and so spending time and setting this up is one of the keys to a successful year of learning.
Because the in-zone roll numbers at Kohimarama School have been steadily climbing over the last two-three years we have had pressure on the numbers of students in a classroom and the small sizing of some of these rooms. We have therefore created an additional two classrooms in 2021. One additional room in Hillary Team and one room in Cowley team. This has enabled us to reduce numbers across these areas and average our class sizes to the mid twenties. The Ministry of Education has undertaken to provide two relocatable classrooms by the commencement of term 3.
Over the term break Ms Candice Etzine was offered a Leadership position with another school. She was able to come into school on one of our teacher’s only days so that we were able to thank her for her time at Kohimarama School and wish her all the best for her new role.
Staffing Updates
We would like to introduce a number of new staff that we have welcomed to our team:
Mrs Louise Alderman – will be teaching in Year 4&5, Room 14. Louise comes to us having recently completed her Masters of Teaching and Learning.
Miss Ella Folkard – will be teaching in Year 4&5, Room 12. Ella has returned from teaching overseas during the initial stages of the Pandemic. She has been relieving on occasion at Kohimarama School in terms 3&4 2020.
Mrs Maree Worth – will be teaching in Year 4&5, Room 10. Maree is returning to Kohimarama School after spending the last seven years teaching at St Kentigern School. Welcome back.
Miss Rachel Leahy – Rachel is teaching in Year 4&5, Room 11. Rachel came from Ireland where she trained as a teacher. She has been working in new Zealand for a number of years and recently taught on the North Shore.
Miss Georgia Varney – Georgia will be teaching in the Year 6 Hub, Room 23. Georgia also recently completed her Masters of Teaching and Learning.
I’m sure that you will join me in welcoming these new staff members to kohimarama School.
Mrs Kathleen Glass is currently relieving in Room 18 for Miss Rachelle Hall. Miss Hall has been unwell for a time now. Please join me in wishing her a speedy recovery so that she may rejoin our learning community.
MEET THE TEACHER
Our Meet the Teacher on Tuesday 16th February will have a different format focusing on building the positive relationships between you and the teacher of your children. This aligns with our strategic goal; Build a positive and connected school community.
You are invited to a BYO picnic at the school that evening commencing at 5.30pm At 15minute intervals there will be an opportunity to go to your child’s class to meet with the teacher and other parents. You will have information to take away, no formal presentation will be made that evening.
Crepes creation, sushi truck, spin spuds, stumpy’s pizza PTA BBQ sausages, Ice blocks
Further details on this will come to you on Thursday afternoon.
John Parsons – Cybersafety Parent Meeting – Wednesday 10th February 7pm
John Parsons, renowned Cyber Safety, expert will be running a session for our parent community at 7pm in Rooms 19&20. John has spoken widely across NZ educational organisations. Further information can be found at https://www.citizen21.co.nz/#:~:text=John%20works%20with%20education%2C%20health,throughout%20New%20Zealand%20and%20Internationally.
Moving out of Zone – changes to the process
All students must be living permanently in zone at the time of starting at Kohimarama School.
Recent changes to zoning rules now allow students who subsequently move out of zone to now remain at Kohimarama School as an in zone enrolment. Please note that any younger siblings must be living in zone when they wish to start.
Please ensure that you advise the school of any changes to your address or contact details.
School Field
Our field is currently being worked on. The areas under the goals posts often get very muddy as soon as the rain appears. We are placing an Astroturf surface in these areas in order to have the field open for longer periods of time. We expect that the works will be completed by Wednesday this week.
Policies
Most Kohimarama School Policies are available on SchoolDocs. You can log on here:
https://kohimarama.schooldocs.co.nz/Logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
User name: kohimarama
Password : kohi
Some specific policies for all parents to be aware of are:
- Concerns and Complaints Process
- Sunsmart Policy
- Use of Social Media
Learnings at Teachers Only Days
Our Teachers met on Wednesday and Thursday last week prior to school starting for Teacher only days. These are days of professional learning and development as well as planning and preparation for the year ahead.
The staff were able to collaborate together on a piece of Art (placed in our staffroom) to get to know and understand each other and uncover who we are.
Dr Mark Osborne Led us on a revision of the pedagogy for innovative learning. Ie Learner Agency, Students as Assessment capable, Co-Teaching and Collaboration all towards an Integrated Curriculum.
Jacqui Sharp led us through the use of the SoLO taxonomy in integration.
Through these inputs we were pleased to see that the schools direction is supported in the OECD publication;
The Nature of learning; using research to Inspire practice.
The 7 principles of learning are;
- Learners at the centre.
- The social nature of learning.
- Emotions are integral to learning.
- Recognising individual differences.
- Stretching all students.
- Assessment for learning.
- Building horizontal connections.
You will notice many of these terms are used by the school in our learner designs.
Paul Engles – Principal
The Kohimarama Way – Reliability
When you turn it on, you turn it off. When you unlock something, you lock it up. When you drop something, you pick it up. When you break something, you repair it. When you open something, you close it. When you mess up, you clean it up. When you make a promise, you keep it. When you borrow something, you give it back. When you take it out, you put it back.
News
Activity Fees, Steam and Technology (Technology for year 7&8 only)
These payments were due in before the start of the school year. If you have not made payment please do so immediately.
Any outstanding payments not made by the 11th February will be followed up with a phone call.
Teacher Only Days
Please be aware of Teacher Only Days for this year. Thursday 1st April & Tuesday 26th October.
Road Patrols – Parent Help Needed
Are you able to support our students crossing Rawhitiroa Road or Kohimarama Rd safely in the mornings 8.30 to 8.55 am? If you are interested in finding out more and think you can help, please contact Meegan Hill mhill@kohimarama.school.nz
Kindo – School payments online
Kindo is where families need to make school payments. If you have not done so already, please join Kindo. Thank you to all the families who have made payment through the Kindo website.
The school office does not accept cash payments (exception being school fundraisers such as mufti days). Eftpos payments will still be available at the school office.
If you need assistance in setting up your Kindo account please contact the Kindo helpdesk on free phone 0508 4 KINDO (0508 454 636).
Kindo helpdesk is open Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm.
Sports Notices
Parent help sought for Swimming Sports
Are you available to assist with the running of our Swimming Sports at Sacred Heart on Thursday March 4, with duties such as timekeeping ? If so please email dforbes@kohimarama.school.nz
Community Notices
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