A warm welcome to our new students: Spencer Hopkins, Grace Lee and Oliver Anderson

Nau mai hoki mai, welcome back everyone!

It’s been lovely to have the students back and seeing their faces full of smiles. The school comes to life once the students enter the school gates each morning!

I have been visiting the classrooms over the last few days and reconnecting with the learners. I couldn’t help but notice the range of learning opportunities that allow for Learner Agency. Examples can be seen across the school from students making decisions and taking action while Learning Through Play and others choosing to get straight into their ‘Must Do’s’ when they arrive at school. I saw our Roopuu Maahuri and Puaawai learners engaged in self evaluation and discovering their next learning goals to inform the teaching workshops. The relevant learning progressions had been shared with the students and the students were monitoring how they were tracking as they completed the assessment tasks. Teachers guided the students using the learning progressions to help identify their next steps and together they made plans to achieve these goals. I also witnessed students’ problem solving an intergalactic issue after an alien spacecraft crashed into the classroom and left quite a mess on the carpet! The learners were making plans and choosing an area in which they would develop their expertise, in order to help the Zorgon aliens rebuild their alien planet!

Students have a sense of "agency" when they feel in control of things that happen around them; when they feel they can influence events. This is an important sense for learners to develop. They need to be active participants in their learning.  

Learner Agency Spotlight- New Zealand Curriculum

Students take ownership of their learning: When learners link content to their passions and interests, they have a greater stake in what they are doing. When they set personal goals, the learning becomes theirs. This sense of ownership leads to increased motivation.

Self-regulating skills develop: When learners can make decisions on how to organise and reflect on their learning, they develop the ability to self-monitor. These self-management skills create lifelong learners.

Student voice emerges: When learners are able to make authentic contributions to their school, environment, or community through their learning, their voice finds expression leading to greater empowerment.

Ministry of Education

You may have seen our Puketaha ‘Self Determined Learner Profile’ which outlines 5 key behaviours of an agentic learner.

Slightly off the topic of aliens…The Board of Trustees and myself are very pleased to announce that Mr Jason Boobyer has been appointed the permanent position of Deputy Principal. He has been acting in the role during Term 1. Jason is highly dedicated to our school vision and has a raft of skills that he brings to the role of Deputy Principal. Jason will continue teaching in Roopuu Puaawai, as he currently is, as well as having leadership release days. Congratulations Jason, very well deserved. 

We look forward to an exciting term ahead!

Ngaa mihi,

Nyree Olliver

Teacher Only Day

Friday June 3rd, the school will be closed while the teachers attend a Te Pae Here Professional Learning Event.

We have a pile of mulch that came from the Pin Oak tree that had to be removed in the break. If you would like to collect some mulch, please email the office to arrange this. office@puketaha.school.nz

First, a big thank you to those who purchased the Nothing Naughty Protein Bars last term. We raised over $1,600.00 from those sales so it was well worth doing and I hoped you, your friends, family, and colleagues enjoyed the guilt free snacks as well!

Scrap Metal Collection Update
Once again, we are having issues with getting this great idea over the line, with our volunteers who had committed to helping, now having to pull out due to work commitments. I am just trying to finalise with SIMs an alternate option, so will have to get details out on the app once this is confirmed. We have had some families take their scrap directly to SIMs Pacific Metals at 38A Northway Street Te Rapa (only an option during the week as they are not open weekends) and they stated that it was for the benefit of Puketaha School, and this has worked well as we have now got
an account set up there. (A special thank you Penny Taylor and family.) In the meantime, if someone has some scrap they would like to donate and require some help with pickup please can you contact me directly on the PTA email or on my mobile and I will sort it out from now on. If there is anyone who can help co-ordinate collections, please let me know. Having a trailer would be a huge help.

Oxford Pies
These were very popular last year so they are back for another round!! Watch out for the order form and pass it around the family and friends. Final orders are required by Friday 3 rd June and delivery will be on Wednesday 15 th of June and since there will be no clash with school productions the pickup point will be back in the School’s PAC.
That’s all from me at his stage.

PTA Meeting

Our first meeting of the term is in Week 3, so that will be Tuesday 17 th
May at 7.30pm in the school staffroom. All welcome.

Kind regards
Merynn Connors
E: pta@puketaha.school.nz
M: 027 629 6820

There are a number of winter sports teams this term with Netball, Hockey and Basketball seasons starting up in the next couple of weeks.  Thanks to our Coaches and Managers for their support with these teams. Uniforms, for those who do not already have them, will be organised next week.

In addition children can choose to attend, Morrinsville Rugby Netball Funday for Years 3-6 (entries for this event close tomorrow 6th May) and Rippa Rugby Tournament (For Years 5-8, entires for this event closes on the 1st June). Both of these events provide an opportunity to represent Puketaha School, build social skills, and showcase values through organised sport. 

Term 2 Policies are now open to be reviewed. Parents/caregivers are invited to be a part of this process.

1. Visit the website http://puketaha.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (puketaha) and password (puketaha).

3. Follow the link to 'Current Review'

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.

If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Digital Entertainment Books available for sale.

A portion of the sale goes towwards school fundraising.

School Lunch Orders

This term we will continue our Friday Lunches with Feedzone at Fastlane Fitness.  In week 5 we will be offering Jesters Pies as an additional fundraiser and Hell Pizza again as an option on the second to last day of term.  All lunch options will be available to order on Kindo.

Waikato Community School of Music

Saturday morning music classes

Enrolments are now open for Term Two 2022 at the Waikato Community School of Music. The first session is on Saturday 7th May. The school caters for all ages (3 to retired) and ability levels, offering group-format and one-to-one music tuition in a range of instruments. Group-format class fees range from $45 to $110 per term (7 lessons in Term Two) depending on student age and the instrument chosen. The enrolment fee for an instrument class includes participation in as many of our ensembles as the student wishes. Enrolment in ensembles only is also an option. One-to-one classes can aid in preparing for exams and earning NCEA credits.

Class times are between 8:00am and 2:00pm on Saturdays during primary school terms. WCSM is located on the University of Waikato campus in Hillcrest. (Note that all those aged 12 or over on University premises must be vaccinated, including students, parents, caregivers and tutors. Those age 8 or over should wear a mask).

Contact us via our website WCSM or on 07 838 4611.