A warm welcome to our new students: Ava Wallace & Ilonka Palm

Kia ora e te whaanau,

Last Friday, our teaching staff attended our Kahui Ako Teacher Only Day at Claudelands with 800 other teachers. The professional learning focus for the day was 'Well-Being'. One of the speakers, Kathryn Berkett, was particularly interesting. Kathryn is a renowned educational neuroscientist who has extensively studied the concept of the 'red brain' and the 'green brain' concerning children's development and behaviour. She also touched on the 'red brain' and 'green brain' for adults and strategies to calm the brain out of a stressed state.

According to Berkett, the 'red brain' refers to a state of high stress, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation. When a child or adult is in their 'red brain', their prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logic, reasoning, and impulse control, becomes less active. While a child or adult is in that 'red brain', they find it harder to self-regulate, problem-solve and learn.

The 'green brain' represents the state of calm, focus, and emotional balance. The brain in this state, where the prefrontal cortex is more engaged, allows for better thinking, reasoning and problem-solving. Children in the 'green brain' have improved attention spans and emotional control. 

Children have different triggers and stressors that can affect how quickly they enter the 'red brain' and differing abilities to self-calm to get back into a 'green brain'. Age, stage, personality and other factors in a child's life can affect this. A group of children sitting in a class who are all the same age can have differing rates of how quickly a stressor takes them into the 'red brain'. There may also be aspects in a child's life that reduce their resilience to what stresses them, such as being unwell, tired, extended periods on devices and spending a long time in a state of stress. 

As you may have heard us refer to 'The Zones of Regulation' in the past, this learning about the states of emotions and how to get ourselves to the 'green brain' is really valuable. The classroom learning environment can also facilitate a 'green brain' state. If children feel safe and have teachers that know them well, there is predictability and routine; children are more likely to feel secure, have a sense of belonging, and spend more time in their 'green brain'. 

I found it interesting to hear that when a child hits that preteen stage, their brains are more suspectable to 'stress' factors, and we often see big emotions or what we perceive as an overreaction to a situation. Biologically, a teenager's brain is wired to build a community around them, so friendships and a sense of belonging and security in these friendships become very important to them. This can explain why many preteens and teenagers put high emphasis and energy on their peer relationships and try very hard to be included. Their brains are wired to be part of a group,  so emotions can be heightened when this sense of belonging feels under threat. 

All of us, children and adults, have stressors in our lives. Ensuring time in our 'green brain' is essential for overall well-being. Eating well, exercising, doing things that make us happy, and having a sense of belonging can build our resilience to stressors.

Overall the day was so valuable, and we appreciate having these collective professional learning days with such high-quality guest speakers. If you want to learn more from Kathryn Berkett, here is a link to her website with some youtube clips. https://www.engagetraining.co.nz/

On another note, the Primary School Collective Agreement offer has been accepted by Primary Teachers. Many feel relieved this lengthy process is over and no more strikes are looming. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend and have plenty of time to be in your 'green brain'. Thanks all for another great week.

Ngaa mihi nui,

Nyree Olliver

Thanks to Mel Hammond for her amazing photos of our School Cross Country

Once again, this year, we are asking families to sell chocolates for this very popular fundraiser.  Our families have been fantastic in getting behind this. In the past, we have raised over $5,000 towards various initiatives for our tamariki.

This year it is an 'opt-in' option.  If you can support us with selling chocolates in your neighbourhood, at work, amongst family or would like the children to be involved in selling, please click on the link below and 'order' your chocolates. 

The chocolates come in a box of 36 Whittakers Chocolate slabs of various flavours.  Each bar sells for $2 

Orders will be taken until the 16 June to be picked up from the beginning of Week 10, June 26th.

Order Chocolates

We appreciate your support!

Last week the school held its annual cross country event amongst much anticipation and excitement.  Congratulations to all our particpants who braved the mud and the occasional shower to finish.  It was a great afternoon, with lots of adult and peer supporters. 

Some of our Maahuri & Puaawai children qualified to attend the Eastern Waikato Country School Cluster event held yesterday.  Congratulation to our placegetters.

Our Agricultural Day is to be held this year on Tuesday 10^th of October, the first week of Term Four.

Now is the time to think about taking up the challenge of rearing an animal for Agricultural Day.  Please let us know if your child/children would like to bring an animal or if you have not been involved before and would like to find out more.

Chickens

If you are interested in rearing chickens and bringing them to Agricultural Day please get in touch as we are currently looking into the possibility of having these again this year. Baby chicks (sexed & vaccinated) would be ordered through school ($20 each) and picked up around the beginning of August to be brought along to Agricultural Day on 10th October,

Lambs, Calves  and Kid Goats

The Lambs, Calves and Kid Goats competition will be held on Tuesday, 10th October.  The school may be able to help with sourcing lambs and goats and provide tips and advice on rearing them. Animals can also compete at North Waikato Group Day and at the Waikato show if you choose.

If you are unsure of what Agricultural Day is about or have any questions about raising an animal, don’t hesitate to give us a call at school. Alternatively, you could visit www.waikatoaandp.co.nz.

Please email office@puketaha.school.nz if you are: 

1. Planning to have or already have an animal.
2. If you would like to know more about Agricultural Day.
3. If you would like to be kept informed about Agricultural Day

and you will be added to an email list for all future communication about this event.

Thank you

Many thanks to those who have supported the School Cross Country bake sale and sausage sizzle, plus the second one at Porritt Stadium for the EWCS Cross Country yesterday.  I know the runners really look forward to a treat at the end of an event like this as they feel like they have earned it, so it is great that we can provide such an array of goodies for them and all the spectators who support them.

For those of you who have ordered Samosas, they will be ready for pickup tomorrow- Friday, 09.06.23.  A note will come out on the app when they will be ready, as we will have to sort them. There is a Powerful Learning Assembly tomorrow afternoon, so we will have to advise exactly where they will be.  Stay tuned for that note.

Don’t forget about Milo Mondays for the rest of this term. $2 for a warm cup of goodness each Monday morning. 

Kind regards,

Merynn Connors

PTA Chairperson

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