Sophie Kaan, Harry Bennett, Dohun Kim, Lily Khoo, Xavier Perry

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Children,

This week the message to our children has been about effort and many of the behaviours that sit inside our 6C 'Courageous'. This week there are two specific contexts that many of our children are doing which require their courage, Athletics and the various assessment tasks. While the contexts are quite different the behaviours of showing resilience, trying new things and enjoying the challenge resonate through both of them. 

As you can imagine our children have responded well and when I have been lucky enough to be a fly on the wall with some of the assessment tasks, you can really see the effort and thinking children are putting in to showcase their understanding. The same goes for Athletics Day. This day challenges everyone, no matter how good you are at it, that is one of the aspects I like most about it. The effort across all age groups was evident and I was enormously proud of our children and the way they approached the different activities. For most the challenge was fun, which makes it that little more sweeter to be a part of. 

Yesterday I was lucky enough to go around and collect 12 calves from some of our very generous farming families who have donated a calf to support our fundraising efforts for our school pool. Their time, effort and cost with doing so has been significant and I want to take a moment to say a big thanks for handing over what are excellent looking and healthy calves to us. An agent has already had a look at them and has made favourable comments on their quality. Please take a moment to see the photos of some of the families. 

Finally as we start to build towards the closure of the year, our place of learning becomes increasingly active and busy. However, it is our job to make sure that it is not just busy but productive. Simply, being busy is easy, it is being productive that's the skill. I would like to leave you with this Blog Post from Seth Godin.

"Anyone can be busy. All you need to do to feel busy is to try to get two things done at once–or seek to beat a deadline that is stressing you out.

Productivity, on the other hand, has little to do with busy. Productivity requires bringing soft skills (real skills) to the table in service of the generous work you seek to do. Productivity is learned. And productivity takes guts.

People are discovering that once they get out of their own way, they can get a huge amount done.

Once you see what’s possible, it’s amazing how much you can contribute.

Learning is not the same as education, and busy is not the same as productive."

The Ministry of Education has undertaken a review of all school bus routes and as a result have made changes to the Puketaha School bus route for 2020. 

As of next year, we will be sharing a bus with Gordonton School. The Ministry of Education have designed the new bus route in a way they feel still caters for as many eligible students as possible between the two schools, as well as cutting down the number of rural buses they will need.

Please note that this is a Ministry of Education initiative and despite our efforts there are unfortunately no options but to accept the changes to the bus route. The Ministry of Education have been clear they are still acting within their policy guidelines. We are aware that for some families, this new bus route will no longer be suitable. 

This will also change familes eligibility for Conveyance Allowance, for more information about this or to download a form go to the Ministry of Education website School Transport information or contact Christine in the School Office.

Please find attached the map of the new bus route and the list of roads. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

nyreeo@puketaha.school.nz

Nyree Olliver

Deputy Principal

The school pool is available for school community use during the summer months (December – March).  Keys are available for family members on a first come first served basis.  Only 20 keys will be issued.

If you would like to purchase a key please come into the school office and complete a "Pool Use Contract"  Each key costs $70.00, payable by cash or internet banking.

As part of the new Teacher's and Principal's Collective Agreement 2019 - 2022 we will be holding 8 Teacher Only Days (TOD's) over 3 years. This will be spread out over the 3 years (3 in 2020, 3 in 2021 and 2 in 2022). The key purpose with these days is to provide Teachers and Principals time for Professional Learning, Curriculum Design and Assessment tasks. Providing time for these activities is an essential element to ensuring our team has the time to prepare, create and grow as professionals for the betterment of the learning programme delivered to our children. 

Our Board, Leadership Team and Staff have put much thought into this in regards to how we can ensure these days achieve their objective while at the same time creating minimal disruptions as possible throughout the year. 

As a result we have decided to hold our first 2 TOD's at the start of the year, Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th February (6th being Waitangi Day). This means that we will no longer be having children return on the 4th February as originally planned and will now be Monday 10th February. Our third TOD will be held on Friday May 29th (Friday before Queens Birthday Weekend). This day is shared across our entire Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) where all Teachers and Principals will be gathering for Professional Learning together.

Once again, please note that there has been careful consideration into choosing these dates. 

Athletics for our Rōpū Puāwai and Rōpū Māhuri was a great day despite the rain. Our children demonstrated resilience when the schedule for the day changed. There was a great atmosphere and plenty of healthy competition amongst students. Certificates will be presented at Monday Morning's assembly. Thank you to our wonderful parents who provided support at the BBQ and bake sale.

At this busy time of year please make a note of events coming up at the end of the school year, we would love to see you there.

Tuesday & Wednesday 10th & 11th December: Learner-Led Conferences 

           Early pick up 1.45pm

Thursday 12th December: School Disco

Friday 13th December: Powerful Learners assembly 2pm

                                   Christmas Picnic from 5pm

Tuesday 17th December: Footsteps Performance & Prizegiving 12pm - 2.45pm

Wednesday 18th November at 12pm: Last day of School

Camp Adair, Hunuas, 2nd - 3rd December. Information about camp will be emailed to parents.

Please complete a Medical/Child Information Form before the 20th November and return to the guardian teacher.

Issue 8 is out now, orders are due on Monday the 18th so that books can arrive before term ends. A reminder that there is a Gift option online (write Gift on the order form for paper copies) if you would like items not to go to your children in class. Here is a link to Quizz where children can go in the chance to win a selection of books from Scholastic https://forms.gle/LptAMCgnRtxXSkkj9   Whaea Emma.

Puketaha School is hosting a  free Parenting Place Workshop 

"Raising Happy, Confident & Resilient Children" Workshop

being held tonight in the PAC

Thursday 14th November

6-6.30 - 8pm

ALL WELCOME