Kia ora koutou,

We had a lovely Powerful Learning Hui last Friday where each learning environment shared highlights from the term, including artwork, camp photos, and a News Bulletin about Kiwiana Learning. Powerful Learning is a long-standing term we use at Puketaha School, and it represents learning that focuses on our 6C’s and Values. Parents are always welcome to attend these assemblies, which usually happen in week 7 or 8 of each term. The dates are put into our school calendar once the date is confirmed and this is visible in the app. 

Next Friday, April 5th, our teaching staff will engage in Professional Learning with an outside facilitator from Liz Kane Literacy. The staff will engage in a workshop, focusing on Structured Literacy. Structured Literacy is a teaching approach that explicitly teaches children the ‘code’ of the English language and has an emphasis on phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge to improve reading, spelling, and writing skills. This is a strategy we have already started implementing across the school and we look to grow our collective professional knowledge further. 

The school will remain open on Friday while these workshops take place, as we have the means to supervise students over the day. We will be running an alternative programme however to help us manage this. Our Year 7 and 8 students will attend their Technology lessons as normal. 

As we move into the Easter extra long weekend, we hope you all enjoy some time with your family and we look forward to seeing the students back on Wednesday. 

Ngaa mihi nui,

Nyree Olliver

Kukri Sport are selling Puketaha branded tracksuit tops, tracksuit bottoms, hoodies and school bags if you are interested. If you would like to purchase, please email mark@kukrisports.com with your order.  Once the order has been processed, the cost will be added to your KINDO account and the school office will notify you when your order is ready. 

Orders in by April the 10th please.

Congratulations to all our swimmers who attended the East Waikato Cluster swimming meet last week. Here are the results of the day. 

PTA News

Golf Day Success

Last weekend we held our 4^th annual Golf Day at the new venue of the Hukanui Golf Club. It was a fantastic day to be outside, and there was a cool vibe among those who competed this year. The winners for the day were Mullyclubbers 1 team, made up of friends of Scott Dunning, our previous caretaker. It was great to see such a mixture of people competing, including parents, ex-pupils, teachers, friends, community members and there was even an ex-principal. Special thanks to James Gunn, Shannon Belosevic, Nyree Olliver and Jason Boobyer who helped with the day’s organisation. We were lucky to have hole sponsorship from Sculpture Hospitality (Mark Goodin), Chaytor Fences Waikato (Simon Hopkins), Sniks (Ryan), Lugton Real Estate (Stevie Whyte), Ingham Hyundai (Greg Renner), KPMG (Dylan Shell), Parnell (James Gunn), RAW Construction (Kate Rawnsley), Prolorus (Tommy Sharp), and The Magic Club (Caitlyn Cameron). Plus many thanks to the auction and prize sponsors: Good George, Inghams Chicken Waitoa, Bunnings, Superior Pet Foods Paeroa, Sniks Snacks, Ember Knives, Hukanui Golf Club, Diann Tope, Toni Leefe & James Gunn.  Financially and socially this day was a real success and we will be back next year!

Nothing Naughty Protein Bars

The order is in for a record 236 boxes so thank you to all who have supported this fundraiser.  Our top sellers deserve a special mention: Steph Philburn, Carolyn Harvey, Kylie Rameka, Melanie Rowan, Cari Emslie & Charisse Stephens whose sales made over $1,000 for the school between them.  We had 55 separate orders so thank you to all who helped with this one.  I will need some help with sorting these once they arrive so will put a call out to the WhatsApp group for helpers soon.

Next term we have a Quiz night planned at The Keg so keep your eyes peeled for prizes/raffle items for that event. 

Happy Easter everyone.

Kind regards

Merynn Connors

PTA Chairperson

M: 027 629 6820  E: pta@puketaha.school.nz