School Newsletter – 15 February 2023

Term 1, Week 3

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and caregivers

Weather events over the last two weeks have made a difficult start to the 2023 academic year. I appreciate the difficulty that the school being closed for on-site learning created for you. The Board and Senior Leadership Team of the school were placed in difficult positions during this time about closing for on-site instruction. 

We took advice from the Ministry of Education, Metservice and Auckland Emergency Management each time we were asked to make a decision. Health and Safety of our students and staff is a top priority in our discussion. In the end the risk analysis during the weather events played a major role in our decision as did the directions given by the Ministry of Education.

I would like to acknowledge your efforts to support the school in those uncertain times. Your support of the distance learning options this week also allowed teachers and students to meet and to set learning tasks appropriate to the situation. Thank you.

I would also like to acknowledge the staff who were able to shift from their planned onsite learning to distance learning over the weekend. While dealing with their own home situations and families they accomplished this task and were ready for learning on Monday morning. Thank you, staff. 

We are looking forward to the remainder of the term, without interruption, as we have an engaging curriculum that teachers are excited to share with students. Teaching and Learning is our business and, as I stated at the end of last year, our high academic results ensure our students have great opportunities ahead. 

We have two new support staff in our school:

Claudette Ndenzako who will be our School Librarian. Welcome Claudette, we look forward to working with you and having our Library Hub fully engaged for students. 

Koen Spel who is working as a Learner Assistant in Snell Team. Koen is a Teacher in the Netherlands. Welcome Koen, we look forward to working with you and comparing and contrasting NZ and the Netherlands way of learning.

We also have two graduate students from the University of Auckland with us in Terms 1&2. These students are Ms Payton Woodmass, working in Room 8 with Ms Witchalls and Ms Siobhan O’Neill, working in Room 27 with Miss Hepburn. Welcome to our learning community.

Our Kohimarama Way value of friendship is our focus this term. You can see this represented by our Emoji in the school grounds in English, Maori and New Zealand Sign.

I look forward to catching up with many of you at today’s Meet and Greet.

The Kohimarama Way – Friendliness

“Winning friends begins with friendliness.”  Dale Carnegie.  “One thing everyone in the world wants and needs is friendliness.”  William E Holler. 

News

Roll Return 2023

Twice a year, in March and July, all schools in New Zealand are required to furnish the Ministry of 

Education with a Roll Return detailing all students enrolled at their schools. This Return determines our funding and staffing for the remainder of the school year. If your child is going to be absent or late for any reason on Wednesday 1st March 2023, the office will require a letter or email from a parent/guardian justifying the student’s absence from school. This correspondence is to be provided to the School Office at office@kohimarama.school.nz. Thank you in advance.

SchoolTalk Parent Access

If you are new to Kohimarama School you will have received an email from SchoolTalk which will have instructions for you to log on for the first time and will ask you to accept the Terms of Use. If you have not received this email or are having trouble logging in please do not hesitate to email Ella Folkard; efolkard@kohmarama.school.nz. 

Kapa Haka

Kapa Haka is on Wednesday mornings, beginning at 7.45am in the Hall for Karakia. 

We focus on learning new waiata, actions and poi. 

Through the year we perform for assembly, for Marataki, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and at the final assembly. 

If you would like to join us – come along on Wednesday mornings! 

Community Service Helpers

This year, the Year 7 and 8 Hub will be taking part in the William Pike Challenge. 

Part of this challenge is volunteering some time to do Community service work. 

We would like to know if you have a business, or organisation that could do with some support. 

The specifications we are working with are below. 

To meet our Community Service requirements they must be:

1. Voluntary work done for free to give back to the community.
2. Not done for a business who will make a profit.
3. Approved by an adult supervisor on the Challenge Hub

EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE:

• Volunteering and helping at a care home for the elderly
• Volunteering and helping younger children at a preschool or community group such as Brownies or Cubs
• Fundraising and collecting for a local or national charity
• Volunteering and working at your local SPCA
• Volunteering and being involved in beach clean ups, planting days, street and park clean ups etc

If you are able to help us, help you, please email kcadzow@kohimarama.school.nz. 

2022 School Yearbooks available

There is a limited number of 2022 School Yearbooks available to purchase from the school office. Eftpos only.

Correct School Uniform

Kohimarama School has a compulsory uniform. Please ensure your children are wearing the correct school uniform. Please follow the link here for the uniform webpage.

Sport Notices

Swimming Sports (Yrs 5-8)

Our school swimming event is scheduled for Thursday March 9. More information to follow in upcoming newsletters. At this stage we seek parents to act as timekeepers. If you can assist, please email dforbes@kohimarama.school.nz

Sport Results

Flippa Ball Results

• Year 3/4 Sharks
  Game A Win 2-0, Game B Win 1-0, POD Robbie C
• Year 3/4 Kinas
  Loss 0-1. POD Hunter R
• Year 5/6 Blue Bottles
  Loss 0-5. POD Freya

Community Notices

A fantastic opportunity for your child!

Shine Speech & Drama classes inspire confidence and imagination, helping students communicate effectively and build self-belief that helps them succeed in life.

Here’s what people are saying about Shine’s lessons …

“He got up and spoke in front of the school. He would never have done that before”
— James’ Mum

“Thank you so much for calmly and reassuringly, through zoom after zoom, guiding the boys’ through their tasks. Thank you for all the extra energy and organisation that has gone into all of this. You’ve been simply fantastic!”  – Catherine

“….the best speech and drama teacher working in New Zealand today.” NZ Herald

SHINE SPEECH & DRAMA covers:  
– public speaking
– acting skills
– voice (projection and articulation)
– reading aloud skills
– positive body language
– storytelling
– relationship skills

Register here for term 1 lessons, beginning Wednesday 8th February 2023. Term fees are $250 with 8 lessons guaranteed per term.  Sibling discount of 10% for any siblings enrolling.

Any questions please don’t hesitate to call Nina on 021-160 9197

Shine School of Confidence
—

Inspiring self-belief through spoken excellence