Newsletter 1, Week 3 Term 1 2024

Part of belonging to a school community is making sure that each member of the team actively participates and contributes. One great way of starting the year off is to attend school events, such as this week’s Meet the Teacher evening. Why is this important? It helps the teaching team to clarify school expectations and goals for your precious children and together, explore the best ways to communciate and work effectively as a partnership. Home and school need to be in sync!

5pm TOMORROW NIGHT, Meet the Teacher – See You There!

Whilst we roll out individual class meetings between 5-6 pm, we invite you and your family to bring your own picnic/takeaways and sit outside and chat with other families. Meet some of our board members at the $2 sausage sizzle – 1 free sausage for every RRS accompanied by a parent/caregiver. Sessions with each class teacher are being held every 15 minutes (refer to the flier sent home last week).  Those with more children in different classes should be able to attend each one. One lucky parent will also receive a $30 NW voucher – sign in at your child’s class session to be in the draw!

Student Absences

It has been lovely to see most students back at school and learning well.  We have noticed a large number of families are absent this year due to still being on holiday, as well as a significant number of families who either do not notify us of their child’s absence and do not respond to calls from school.  We need to know that all children are safe at all times.  If your child is absent, you are required to contact us before 9am each day of their absence, unless you have notified us of their return date.

Board News

Our board met for their first meeting of 2024 last night.  The board will be communicating with our school community by Board Newsletters this year, rather than the school newsletter.  Please watch for this in the coming weeks.

Education Review Office (ERO)

The school received notice on the last day of Term 4 2023 that we will shortly begin our ERO partnership. This used to be a visit once every 3 years from this Ministry of Education team, however, the new model assigns an ERO partner to each school. Their role is to forge an ongoing partnership with us, to support and help us strengthen our school’s strategic initiatives, curriculum development and system checks.

2024 Strategic & Annual Plan

Over the last 2 terms, a lot of time has been put into creating our new Strategic Goals and Implementation Plan to meet regulations and requirements as per the new 2023 Reporting to Parents guidelines. Our plans will be published on the school website once it has been loaded onto the MOE portal on 1 March. In the meantime, I am sharing our Vision, Motto, RIDE values and Active Learner skills, which form the first page of this document, please read this attachment carefully. Throughout the year, ongoing community consultation will be sought as a part of this process.

OSCAR-Approved After School Care

We currently have an after school care programme provided by the YMCA at our school.  They are currently down 14 enrolments for regular after school care, so spaces are available for an immediate start.  They have notified us that there needs to be at least 23 children attending each day or they will be forced to withdraw this service at our school.  Please enrol your child now, if this is something you would find useful (WINZ subsidies may be available). 

Classroom Teachers 2024

We currently have a roll of 143 students and expect this to grow during the year.  So that you know where to find your child’s class teacher, our teaching team are Whaea Danielle (Rm 1), Avi Jayasekara (Rm 2), Samantha Huang (Rm 3), Portia France (Rm 4), Kiera King (Rm 5), and Ian Svela (Hall).

2024 Curriculum & Education in NZ

You will be pleased to know that despite the change in government and the expected changes being talked about by the Ministry of Education (MOE), at Rewa Rewa school we are totally confident that we are making the best decisions for your children and their learning.

Our teaching team continues to be immersed in high quality professional development (PD), in particular literacy and mathematics, and throughout the year we will be bringing our whānau onboard with what is happening in each class programme. This is our second year of PD in Structured Literacy and investment in high quality student reading resources has been made to support this teaching and learning.

In our Mid-Year Reporting we will be sharing the latest assessment information in literacy and maths, as well as the progress & achievement that your child is making. Our maths PD is through The Learner First (Rob Proffit-White), and we have joined with NIS to enable us to accessing this quality learning affordably.

There is talk of the Ministry requiring 1 hour per day of reading, writing and maths. Our teachers continue to also provide high-quality programmes in all curriculum areas, including Science, Arts, NZC Histories, Technology, Social Science, PE & Health and opportunities which give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our junior classes are also learning NZ Sign language.  Across each of these different curriculum areas, we know that our children are being immersed in literacy and maths strategies and learning opportunities throughout each day.

Lunchtime Clubs

Each term we offer enrichment and leadership opportunities to our students. This term clubs being offered are:

• School choir
• Kapa haka performance group
• Librarians
• Peer Mediators and Student Leaders
• Green Thumbs – growing wonderful fruit and vege gardens
• Eco Warriors – recycling and composting heroes

Volunteers in School – Acts of Service & Kindness to Others

Some of our parents and grandparents are already helping to make a difference as PTP reading tutors, gardening, organising Scholastic Book Club, swimming help, Hauora group for families who need support, donations of school stationery sunhats.  With families leaving each year, we need to re-grow this parent base for 2024. Please email office@rewarewa.school.nz with your offer of help.

Top of Our List:

• 5-6 volunteers to work together as a team with Al (our caretaker), to complete the final stages of the Bike Track before we can use this. Jobs will include a licensed driver to shift dirt with a bobcat, landscaping, constructing obstacles for the skills track.
• Fundraising/grants applications are required for projects such as the Bike & Athletics Track, a school bike & scooter fleet, new grass for the top field and ground preparation ($120 000), more sun protection around the school and an art grants for exterior murals

Term 1

Thursday 01 February—Friday 12 April

​Tuesday 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