Dear Parents, Caregivers and Children,

They say reflection doubles achievement. And as we enter this part of the year where we look to celebrate the years successes and achievement of our childrens' learning, we must also take the time to reflect on the year that has been and how we as a team have measured up against our own strategic goals.  

Our 6C's are consistently at the core of these reflections, how are we continuing to nurture and role model these dispositions within our school, and wider community, so they are explicit and obvious for all. Our 6C's are designed to dovetail and I would like to think that at any given time you would see our students and staff using multiple elements that sit within each of them. However, this year when I place a closer lens over them I take pride in the way that as a team we have contributed to the betterment of others.

As a school we placed both emotional and physical energy on being responsive and supportive to ensure that as we are thrown around in the daily washing machine of this Global Pandemic we have consistently placed our children and you, our community first. Asking the question, what does our community need from us and how can we continue to support childrens' their learning and overall well being? 

This was kindly mentioned in our final PTA meeting last night, where appreciation was shown towards us with having a mindset of 'how can we' versus 'we can't because...' Excuses are easy to find and Covid19 has provided us a perfect one that I often here out in the 'real world'. Simply there can always be an excuse if you want to find one. I am grateful to be able to partner a group of people that are so very generous with their time and energy and willingness to pursue positive outcomes for children. In doing so, we can accept that it is not all one way, as being generous and giving actually fills our own bucket too. 

The 'lifeguard hack' blog post from Seth Godin below I feel sums it up quite nicely.

The lifeguard hack

Who am I to walk up to someone at a party and introduce myself?

Who are you to start a new project?

Who are they to give a talk on the main stage?

Don’t raise your hand–someone else might have a better question. Don’t ship that work, it’s not ready…

There are endless excuses, comparisons and reasons to hold back.

Unless…

Unless you’re on lifeguard duty and someone is drowning. In that situation, even if you’re not the best lifeguard in the world, and even if the water isn’t the perfect temperature, and even if you don’t quite remember how to do the latest version of the cross-chest carry… you jump in the water.

Because it’s not for you. It’s for them.

Generosity unlocks doors inside of us.

Finally, I would like to pass on my personal thanks to you as a wider community for your support of me as a Principal over the past 8 Years. Amy, Flynn, Harry and my own sense of belonging is entrenched in this place and will be for many years to come. I wish you all a wonderful summer break and festive season.

Warmest Regards

Geoff

From tomorrow Friday the school will be operating under the New Covid Protections Framework (CPF). Currently the Waikato Region sits at Orange. 

Below we have attached a brief A4 PDF Infographic to help explain what it means for you as parents when you engage in activities with your children at school. Essentially the key takeaways are:

• That if it is a curriculum based activity you will not be required to provide your vaccination status/pass.
• If it is a non-curriculum based activity and you would like to be a part of it you will have to provide your vaccine pass. 
• If you are doing any work for the school in a volunteering like capacity you will have to provide your vaccine pass. 

These new guidelines will come into place as of tomorrow Friday 3rd December. 

Thank you to those who supported our wine fundraiser and calendar art in recent times.  A fair chunk of these funds raised have been earmarked  for the new Junior Learning Through Play Area which I believe have plans that have now been approved. We think work is going to begin on this project early next year.

With regard to our initiative to have a Scrap Metal Day, Covid19 restrictions meant we couldn’t get this project over the line this term, but it is our priority Term One next year to complete this.

On Tuesday we had our last PTA meeting for the year and even though we have had some setbacks we are super proud of the year we have had, and the things we have managed to accomplish. Our first meeting in Week 3 next year is the AGM, and we would welcome a big turnout for this, and encourage involvement from all sectors of our school community, so please come along.

Finally, we will be seeking parent helpers for the last event on the PTA’s calendar, the School Disco. Because this event is a non-curricular event, we need the helpers to have a Vaccine Pass to adhere with the Traffic Light restrictions that we will be operating under.

Once again, thank you for support. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any suggestions/ideas for events for next year.

Kind regards,

Merynn Connors, PTA Chairperson pta@puketaha.school.nz  027 629 6820

Summer Issuing

I would like to offer students the opportunity to issue over the summer holidays again, as the last two years have been so successful. Children, who are returning in 2022 and whose parents give permission via Kindo, can issue up to five books for the summer holidays. It's great to be able to offer this to help maintain reading over the break!

Library Book Return

All children should now have returned their school library books.  If they are still sitting in their school bags or under the bed can you please support the children to get them back to the library.

Lucky Book Club

Thank you also to the continued support with the Lucky Book Club, I am able to keep popular series up to date easily with the rewards earned from Scholastic each term.

Whaea Emma

Tuesday 14 December -  School Disco

Entry by gold coin

Kaakano:      5.30 - 7.00PM
Maahuri:       6.30 - 8.00PM
Puaawai:       7.30 - 9.00PM
Year 8 only:  9.00 - 9.30PM

Drinks, Sausage Sizzle and treats for sale.

Wednesday 15 December -  Prizegiving, Reports home

Thursday 16 December -  Last Day of the Year.  School finishes at 12pm

Term 1 - Tuesday 8th February to Thursday 14th April

Term 2 - Monday 2nd May to Friday 8th July

Term 3 - Monday 25th July to Friday 30th September

Term 4 - Monday 17th October to Friday 16th December