Newsletter 2, Term 1 Week 6 2021

18 Padnell Crescent Newlands Wellington 6037

P: 04 939 0186 | E: office@rewarewa.school.nz

rewarewa.school.nz

Newsletter 2, Term 1 Week 6 2021

Wednesday 10 March

Our recent pōwhiri to welcome new families, staff and RTLB teachers to our school was a very special occasion. Several had tears welling up in their eyes as the karanga rang out across the quad and our haka boys put 200% into their performance. I would like to thank our kaumātua,Todd Wano, for his invaluable input and Charlotte Hills (Deputy Principal) for the skillful way in which she prepared all of our tamariki and staff for this important event. The support from our whānau, including the large group representing our Māori and Pasifika families, as well as ex-students was particularly heart-warming. A huge thank you to Lynnda Bouzaid, for getting the gardens looking lovely for this occasion and our photographer Delwyn Spargo. It really was a great TEAM effort – ka pai.

Diversity within our Community

Our pōwhiri was a great time to reflect on the huge diversity we have within our community – with at least 18 different nationalities represented in our school. These include: European (35); Maori (20); Chinese (11); Indian (10); Pasifika (9 which includes Samoan (7); Fijian (1); Cook Is (1); British (4); Japanese (4); Latin American (2); Sri Lankan (2); Vietnamese (1); Middle Eastern (1); Serbian (1); South African (1); Indonesian (1); Filipino (1) Cambodian (1).

We are planning to hold several meetings during the year ahead where families with common interests and backgrounds can meet to develop their connections. In the meantime, our teachers have put a great visual display up in the walkway with photos of each of our students on a large map of the world. Now that we’re back in Level 1 you are welcome to come in and have a look at this.

MORNING ARRIVAL TIMES

We have a standing arrangement whereby parents who must be at work early, may leave their children in the Hall between 8-8.30 am. This is on the understanding that there is no adult surpervision, but children are able to shelter inside. HOWEVER, we have a problem. 15+ students are now arriving daily between 8.25 – 8.29 am (car drop-offs and walkers), meaning that 25+ students are in the hall being watched by two Year 6 Hall Monitors. This is not sustainable. In order for us to continue to offer this support NO students should arrive in the last 5 minutes before 8.30 am – they should wait in their car or leave home later to arrive at or after 8.30 am. Thank you for your co-operation.

3-Way Interviews

Last week’s teacher meetings were nearly disrupted by Level 2, but we persevered! Well done to every family who attended – building strong foundations between home and school is the key to learner success. Please take the time to watch the PowerPoint presentation that your teacher sent you 2 weeks ago about learning in their class.

Learning in Action @ Rewa Rewa School

3 students from Wai Rua used their badminton lessons to talk about how we can use our RIDE values:

If someone feels left out I will go after them
I keep going when I make a mistake
Taking turns and say “I know you can do it”

NZSO School Trip

Last Friday the whole school went to the Michael Fowler Centre to watch and listen to the NZ Symphony Orchestra. Our students loved experiencing the interactive performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Back at school, Guadalupe Salinas has been sorting out our musical instruments so that very soon students can begin learning to play these.

Our view of the NZSO performance from the gallery

Learning through Play

There’s nothing better than working as a team, problem-solving and then getting an idea to work…

BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWS

2021 Charter and Strategic Plan

Our 2021 Charter and Strategic Goals for 2021 have been published on our website. Our 3 key foci areas continue to be to Empowering our Learners, Building the Capacity of Our Teachers and Working Alongside Our Whānau, so that we can all be the best that we can be.

Principal’s Sabbatical

All going well, Jan Otene will be undertaking her sabbatical in term 2. The work that she will be undertaking is based on Wellbeing and she hopes to bring back a wealth of ideas for our school to look at implementing in this area. Charlotte Hills will be Acting Principal during this time. Her classroom teaching role will be undertaken by Michelle Thwaites. Michelle has a wealth of experience, including management skills, so will be a great addition to the team.

Getting to Know Your Board

The recent Meet the Teacher evening was postponed due to the sudden shift to Level 2. This evening is traditionally a time for our community to meet their Board of Trustees members. However, we will find a future date to be in touch.

In the meantime, if you are interested in finding out more about our governance role or are considering standing for the 2022 election, please feel welcome to approach any of our current board members for a chat.

Mark Williams Naomi Godfrey Ambresh Kapoor Angela Schleif

Policies for Review

The following school policies are due for online review on www.schooldocs.co.nz. Please email office@rewarewa.school.nz for login details.

Home Learning
Finance & Property Management

Paper copies of our ASC policies due for review this term were sent home last week for community review:

Staff
Staff Code of Behaviour

COVID-19 Online Learning Environment at Rewa Rewa School

These last few weeks are a reminder that we need to be prepared for change in our daily routines, especially in the event that we move into Level 3 or 4 lockdown. For this reason we sent an online survey to your household asking about your capacity to use an online learning environment. For those who experienced this last year, the event happened extremely quickly and with little warning, and saw our principal and teaching team working furiously to set up an online learning environment. We rely on the information that you give us to be able to set up appropriate support / resources for your family. Those of you who have indicated that you are using iPads or tablets will receive an email shortly with instructions on how to set up Seesaw on these. In the meantime, please see your child’s teacher if you need any help with using either the Seesaw or Hāpara platforms which will enable your children to access their learning from home.

Home & School Parent Group

Each year we have a group of amazing parents & grandparents who volunteer their support to help others in our school. There are a variety of ways in which you also can become a volunteer.

Fundraising

The Rotary Teddy Bear’s Picnic is being held this coming Sunday 14 March. If this event is a success and Rotary choose to undertake this at our school again in 2022, now might be the time to start thinking of holding a mini-gala to coincide with this. This is the type of event that our Home & School group traditionally get involved with. Other activities include running Scholastic Book Club, school triathlon, sausage sizzles, Johnsonville Christmas Parade float, Easter Egg raffle etc. Fundraising and volunteers have helped us to build a new Adventure Playground ($90,000), purchase shade sails for the playground ($11,000), and contribute money towards the cost of EOTC Week for all students.

We’d love to have you join our group this year to contribute ideas and sometimes your time & expertise. Meetings are usually held only once or twice per term. You are cordially invited to attend our first meeting on:

6pm, Thursday 01 April in the Staffroom

At this first meeting we’ll be making a plan for the year ahead.

Hauora Wellbeing Group

Last year we initiated a new venture – our Hauora Wellbeing Group. Families were invited to offer their support to other families within our school community in a range of ways, such as baking, transport, grocery/petrol vouchers etc. We only contact volunteers on this list when we have a family from our community who needs support. This involves a phone call being made to ask if you can assist at the time – saying no is absolutely fine. Goods are then gathered by our co-ordinator (Lauren Hewitt), and delivered by our principal to the family in need to preserve anonymity and confidentiality. We were able to offer this to families during term 4 2020 and the support received by some of our families was hugely appreciated. Please let Jan Otene know (939 0186 or principal@rewarewa.school.nz), if there is a family you are aware of who may need a helping hand.

General Help for Students

We have an incredibly supportive and thoughtful community. Sandwiches that we can freeze, long-life foods for lunches such as snack bars, money for sunhats and stationery are often dropped off at our school office. We really appreciate any help that you can offer, please be assured that your generosity is used to help students at our school.

Staff Car Park

A reminder NOT to use the staff carpark as a turning area or to drop your children off. We do not want any children in this area in the morning or after school as the risk of being hit is too great. Stay on Padnell Crescent and drop your children off there please.

Is this your car registration?

LSCs for Horokiwi Primary schools

Sue Campbell and Denise Turner been employed this year in their joint role as Learning Support Coordinators for the Horokiwi Cluster (i.e. the 6 schools in the Newlands area, primary-secondary). They will be based at Newlands Primary school and will work across all four of primary schools providing direct learning support for teachers, students and families. We look forward to them becoming an important part of our learning communities.

We welcome to Chloe and her family to Rewa Rewa School. A warm welcome also to Baby Amanda, a sister for Leon. We hope you all enjoy being part of our Rewa Rewa family!