Newsletter 8, Term 3 Week 6 2023

We are midway through the term and despite there still being a range of viruses and bugs hitting our community hard, we are determined to battle on and continue to create exciting learning opportunities for your children.

Our school roll is currently at the highest it has been in the last 9 years – 166. Ideally, we would like our roll to sit between 160-180, so that we retain our special ‘small school character’ (compared to our local schools), but can also build on the range of experiences we offer our students, such as sending teams to sporting events, rather than only individuals. Our students also love having more friends to play with, which is another very important reason for us to retain this roll size. Once we have the appropriate number of learning spaces to meet this demand, we will be really firing on all cylinders!

Condolences

Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Wano family for the recent loss of Katherine, beloved wife of Todd Wano, our school’s kaumatua. She was a much-loved mother, nan and longtime friend of the Rewa Rewa School community. We are sorry for your loss.

Enrichment Opportunities at Rewa Rewa School

Recently, all classes attended a workshop with the Wellington Tenths Trust group to learn the local Te Āti Awa stories connected to our harbour, valleys, river and mountains. Yesterday, ‘Dances for Schools’ held free introductory workshops with all students and this culminated in a whole school performance in the afternoon. We have some very talented dancers – the next exciting event will be our Dancesplash group who will perform onstage at the Michael Fowler Centre 14 September.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of accompanying 13 of our top Yr 4-6 swimmers to the Northern Zone swimming meet. We finished each heat with great spirit and skill and have just heard that Curtis has earned a place competing in backstroke and butterfly at the next level of competition. Congratulations to all of our amazing swimmers –  Persia, Dash, Emily B, Brennan, Isaac, Bella, Curtis, Corban, Emily G, Clara, Hirusha, Ollie and Samantha. Our thanks to Ian Svela for organizing this opportunity for our swimmers.

Our huge thanks also to our support crew of wonderful parents & grandparents who transport and accompany us on these outings – we couldn’t offer these experiences without your ongoing support.

BOARD NEWS

Bike Track

The weather continues to be a nuisance, delaying installation of the track. However, we are getting closer to a completion date. Greg O’Connor, our local MP, is dropping in to visit the site this week to see what we are trying to achieve for both our school and the local community. We have also undertaken a survey of all our students to find out who has their own bicycle and whether they can bring it to school, as we make decisions about a fleet of school bikes and scooters. It was quite surprising to find many children cannot ride a bike, so we can’t wait to see families taking the opportunity to bring their children and their bikes to this facility in the weekends.

Multicultural Evening (ESOL Hui) – 5.30pm, TONIGHT

This event will be held tonight in our school hall and all whanau/families are welcome to attend. Bring a small plate of food to share, as we build connections with each other and make plans for term 4. Free childcare will be available for primary school-aged children (please supply snacks for your own children).

Community Consultation – Health Curriculum

As part of our biennial Health Review, we are updating our Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Programme so that it better meets the needs of those in our school community, as well as covering Ministry curriculum requirements. Once this draft document is ready to be shared, we will be inviting those in our school community to add their voice. We are incredibly fortunate to have a member of our board who works for the Te Whatu Ora and who is helping us navigate this process with due diligence.

Learning Spaces at Rewa Rewa School

The MOE has said they would come back to us in August with a response to our request for more classroom learning spaces. As soon as we have new information to share, we will update our community.

Newlands Intermediate School

Year 7 enrolments for 2024 close 31 August – parents of Ahi class students please submit your child’s enrolment to Newlands Intermediate now, if you intend for your child to attend there next year.

Health & Safety – School Roads and Pedestrian Routes

A new barrier across the entrance of the staff carpark has been installed to stop drivers turning into this area. However, recently a member of our community turned into the area alongside this where pedestrians walk. Those parents who saw this were horrified about what they were witnessing and unfortunately this lead to a strong tirade of verbal abuse towards the driver, a grandfather who was unfamiliar with our school layout and where he was able to park. Although we can understand the fright that this gave to those parents who witnessed this, we still expect our whanau to use their RIDE values in heightened situations such as this. In future we ask that:

• If you see that a child in immediate danger of being runover, SHOUT STOP and wave your arms so that the driver knows to stop immediately.
• Let the School Office know what has happened – come and talk to us or email a photo of the car (including registration plate), and details of what happened and when. The school can then deal with this matter in an appropriate way.

A reminder that if you send other family members to pick up your children PLEASE tell them to park on the road – NO driving on footpaths, NO parking in driveways, NO  3-point turns in front of the pedestrian crossing. Also, use the patrolled crossing to get from one side of the road to the other.

Last week we received a complaint from our neighbours in Treetop Lane. Parent drivers are blocking access to these houses. Please be a good neighbour and park a little further down Padnell Crescent.

If this was you – please stay out of our neighbours’ driveways and stop blocking footpaths!

If you can walk to drop-off and collect your children, or stagger your arrival time between 2.45-3.15pm, that would be very helpful. Constable Aaron is helping towards getting more road signage for the school.

We have recently noticed a number of Yr 4-6 students crossing Stewart Drive directly opposite Padnell Crescent, rather than at the zebra crossing just a bit further along – this is a VERY busy road and as we approach the time when the sun distracts drivers’ sight it becomes a real hazard for pedestrians. We would appreciate all parents checking with their children which pedestrian route they take to get to school/home.

We welcome Ali, Catherine, Isobel W & Ngoc, to Rewa Rewa School, along with their families.  Great to have you learning with us!

Every student has created an original piece of artwork which can be purchased as a 2024 calendar, pack of greeting cards, 2024 diary, mouse pad or sketch pad. These items make unique and personal Christmas gifts for family and friends and are perfect for posting overseas. There will be sample items to view in the school office. Items cost $16 – $18 each, and are available to order online from Friday 18 August to Monday 04 September. A small profit from each item goes to support visual and performing arts at Rewa Rewa School.

For more information and to place an order:

1. Go to www.kidsartworks.com
2. Use Entrance Code: KZ2023
3. Enter your child’s room & name when prompted

Tue 12 – Fri 22 September

Thu 14 September   5pm

Mon 09 – Wed 11 October

Fri 13 October

Tue 24 October

Bee Healthy Region Dental Service Onsite

Dancesplash, Michael Fowler Centre

Bee Healthy Region Dental Service Onsite

Regional Health Vision & Hearing Testing Onsite

Teacher Only Day – School will be CLOSED

Term 1

Tuesday 31 January—Thursday 06 April

Monday 06 February – Waitangi Day Observed, School Closed

Friday 07 April—Good Friday, School Closed

Term 2

Wednesday 26 April – Friday 30 June

Monday 24 April – Teacher Only Day, School Closed

Tuesday 25 April—ANZAC Day, School Closed

Friday 02 June—Teacher Only Day, School Closed

Monday 05 June—King’s Birthday, School Closed

Term 3

Monday 17 July – Friday 22 September

Term 4

Monday 09 October – Friday 15 December (School closes at 1pm on the last day)

 Monday 23 October—Labour Day, School Closed

Term 1

Tuesday 30 January—Friday 12 April

​Monday 06 February—Waitangi Day, School Closed

Friday 29 March—Good Friday, School Closed

Monday 01 April—Easter Monday, School Closed

Tuesday 02 April—Easter School Holiday

Term 2

Monday 29 April – Friday 05 July

Monday 03 June—King’s Birthday, School Closed

Tuesday 04 June—Teacher Only Day, School Closed

Friday 28 June—Matariki, School Closed

Term 3

Monday 22 July – Friday 27 September

Term 4

Monday 14 October – Tuesday 17 December (School closes at 1pm)

Monday 28 October—Labour Day, School Closed

Tuesday 29 October—Teacher Only Day, School Closed