| | | | | | IMPORTANT DATES
Term 2
Week 2
Wednesday 3rd May - PTA Meeting - 7pm - Staffroom
Week 3
Monday 8th May - Chess Power Competition - Hall
Thursday 11th May - Clued Up Kids - Year 6
Friday 12th May - Tribe Afternoon
Week 4
Monday 15th May - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Friday 19th May - Pod 4 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Week 5
Tuesday 23rd May - Upper Clutha Rippa Rugby
Week 6
Tuesday 30th May - COPSSA Rippa Rugby
Friday 2nd June - Pod 2 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Week 7
Monday 5th June - Kings Birthday Holiday - SCHOOL CLOSED
Friday 9th June - Tribe Afternoon
Week 8
Monday 12th June - Board of Trustees Meeting - 5pm - Staffroom
Tuesday 13th June - WPS Swimming Competition Years 4-6
Saturday 17th June - PTA Quiz Evening
Week 9
Tuesday 20th June - UC Swimming Competition
Friday 23rd June - UC Kapahaka Festival Haka Tu Haka Ora
Friday 23rd June - Pod 7 Assembly - 2:15pm - Hall
Friday 23rd June - Reports sent home
Week 10
Tuesday 27th June - COPSSA Swimming Competition
Wednesday 28th June - Parent Conferences
Thursday 29th June - Parent Conferences
Friday 30th June - Last Day of Term 2
Term 3
Monday 17th July - First Day of Term 3 IMPORTANT NOTICES Scholastic Book Club Issue 3 Scholastic Loop Book Club catalogues are available from classrooms. If you wish to place an order, please follow the instructions on the inside back cover using Option 1 – Credit Card / LOOP. No cash / orders are accepted at school. If your order is a gift, please tick the ‘GIFT’ option, otherwise all orders are handed out to the children. Orders will close at 3pm on Wednesday 17th May.
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Garden to Table - Produce For Sale
Click here to order |
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Term 3 Enrolments This year Wānaka Primary School is not taking enrolments for children who intend to engage in any snowsport programmes during the school week. Families will need to make their own arrangements for their children's schooling.
The correspondence school, Te Kura, is able to provide online learning whilst students are residing in Wānaka. You can also approach your current school and seek online learning from them for term 3.
Enrolling at Wānaka Primary School is not an option for children who are in snowsports programmes during the school week, as this does not constitute regular attendance. |
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The Super Duper Start to Term 2 Continues Your children have continued to be settled and very keen to get on with their learning. It has been eerily quiet, apart from a calming buzz, going into classrooms as students are so focused and engaged in what they are doing. Busy, humming pods are what I like to see!
Last week one of our Wānaka Primary School teams gained second place in the EPro8 Technology Challenge held in our school hall, and all teams that took part created their structures with enthusiasm and teamwork. It was the team work that showed through mostly with successful constructions from the schools taking part right across the CO region.
Pod 3 had a successful trip to the Arrowtown Museum last week and they came back full of excitement with their new learning. It was a fabulous day had by all.
This week our Year 6 students are taking part in a cycle skills programme with our biking instructors. This is such a great programme for our students and we thank the instructors who are out there with our students, even in the drizzle this morning.
Room 6 is off to Te Kākano as part of their Deep Learning work on Friday, to learn about what they do there and pick up knowledge and skills they can use back at school, in the next part of their learning. Room 7 will head there on Thursday 11th, and Room 5 the week after on the 18th May.
As mentioned in last week's newsletter, to date we have 92% of our students attending more than 85% of the time. However, over the next week or so, parents of children with attendance less than 85% will be contacted by teachers just to let them know their child is below what the Ministry expects. This may be because of trips overseas during the school term, (we acknowledge these can be a great learning experience), or explained, as opposed to unjustified reasons, but as part of the attendance project we are talking to parents to see how we can support all of our children to be at school as much as possible. Remember that even at 85% attendance, this works out at almost 6 weeks or half a term of education missed over the year. The goal should be for 90% minimum attendance.
Waste Free Wanda Show Today we had the amazing Anna Van Riel perform her Waste Free Wanda Show for the whole school where children were given valuable messages about waste and protecting our environment. The children watched as, Anna, as New Zealand's newest superhero, performed in an interactive, 80's-inspired rock opera for children (written of course by Anna). Waste Free Wanda was a dynamic hour long show with a focus on empowering children to discover achievable ways to reduce their single-use waste, care for waterways and protect biodiversity. Children were an active part of Wanda's show through actions, call and response and a Q&A session after the performance. The cost for attending this performance was taken from your School Activity Fee.
Across the Ditch Collaboration in Learning Teachers and students in our Year 1 and 2 classes are joining Jennie (our NPDL lead teacher) and I, in a collaboration with staff and students from Highfield School in Australia and Wharenui School in Christchurch to work on a joint Deep Learning unit, to link our different schools together on a common theme of inquiry. We are looking forward to this Trans-Tasman piece of work around New Pedagogies for Deep Learning as we continue to grow our community and global connections. This is an initiative that will be spread over the rest of this year as we go through all phases of learning design, planning, consultation, implementation, communities' involvement and review.
PLD - Professional Learning and Development for Teachers Our staff are continuing to build our capabilities in building student resilience, emotional regulation and self direction, as well as student agency and a sense of awe and joy in learning and in life. Anxiety and emotional ups and downs are much more evident these days in our tamariki and we work hard to support our children through tough times as well as everyday life.
Last year we focused on the Pause, Breathe, Smile programme and this year we are adding to our kete with all staff taking part in the Life Education Trust Zoom training sessions, around managing student anxiety, over the next couple of weeks.
We also have teachers in the senior school taking part in the Incredible Years teacher training which also focuses on building student resilience and positivity, as well as self managing skills through the use of specific teacher strategies. All of our junior staff have undertaken this training over the last few years so we are now bringing some of our Year 4-6 teachers on board with this wonderful 'training', which will be 6 days spread over terms 2 and 3. We have asked the Incredible Years trainers to also provide some parent sessions for anyone interested in using some of these successful strategies in the home. Keep an eye out for these in future newsletters.
Seasons for Growth Sessions Start Next Week Children who have opted into the S4G programme this term will receive an email from Mandy at REAP later this week. The sessions will be held here at school over the next 6 Fridays between 1.30-3pm.
Clued Up Kids On Thursday our Y6s will attend 'Clued Up Kids', a multi-agency programme run by QLDC teaching primary school-aged children confidence and life skills to help them stay safe in a range of real-life scenarios.
Chess Power Competition On Monday, 9th May, Wānaka Primary School is hosting the annual Chess Power Central Otago Regional Chess Tournament in our school hall again. We welcome students from various schools in the Upper Clutha region who compete in three different divisions against each other playing seven games of chess throughout the day. We are recruiting our players for this tournament from our WPS chess club which runs on Fridays in the lunch break in our hall.
Tribe Day Next Friday Tribe Day is next Friday 12th May - remember to come dressed in your Tribe colours. |
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EPro8 Update A big congratulations to all 4 teams who competed in last week’s EPro8 technology challenge. You all represented Wānaka Primary well.
In particular, congratulations to Team Anything (Lola O’Regan, Isaac Wood, Duncan Eley and Cora Duncan) who came first in their heat before making it through to the grand final where they placed second. Great collaboration and creativity Team Anything! |
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School Camps 2023 - Terms 3 & 4 Payment is not required until closer to the camps.
The costs are yet to be finalised.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Further information will be sent out during term 2. Payment is not yet required. |
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Mother's Day PTA Social Evening
Come along to this PTA event and meet other WPS Mums. |
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PTA Meeting - Tomorrow - 7pm - Staffroom Our next PTA meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd May, at 7pm in the staffroom. Everyone is welcome to attend. |
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Congratulations to Winston Harper
Congratulations to Winston Harper who was the fastest in Otago in freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke in the recent Otago Primary Schools Swimming Championships. |
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Wānaka Trail Ride 2023 wraps up with over $20,000 raised This year we marked the seventh Wānaka Trail Ride, and what a day it was. Thanks
to a great turnout, the generosity of so many, and countless volunteer hours, we
have been able to make a donation of $10,000 each to Wānaka Primary School and
Montessori Children's House Wānaka. Plus $550 to the RSA Appeal. It's an honour
to give back to the community, and we know these donations will make a big
difference to local students.
This seems like the perfect time to thank the many volunteers who gave their time to
make this event a success. From those who manned the comms tent and marshalled the trails to those who helped with logistics, registrations and just generally keeping everyone happy and safe. We were very lucky this year to have members of the police force, coastguard and former fire service officers among our volunteer crew.
We are incredibly grateful for the level of experience they bring to our event. A very
special mention to the Wānaka Districts Lions Club, who not only provided their
catering expertise but also provided a donation to the event.
We'd also like to extend a huge thank you to the landowners who grant us access to
their beautiful backyards each year. Offering these incredible high-country trails is
what makes Wānaka Trail Ride so special, and we acknowledge their generosity and support.
Finally, a very big thank you to the sponsors who enabled us to deliver this entirely
volunteer-run event, many of whom have been with us for years. Our gold sponsors
Stonewood Homes and Maungatua Contracting, silver sponsor Lindis Crossing
Station and bronze sponsors EME Electrical, Puzzling World, Yamaha Powersports
Wanaka, Paterson Pitts Group, Wanaka Powersports and Hirepool. Without their
help, we wouldn't be able to put on an event of this scale, and we are so grateful for
ongoing support.
Thank you all for an incredible event. |
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Library News
Click here to view our wonderful Library Webapp.
Feel free to email Melissa at any time if you have any questions.
Ebooks and Audio Books
The Wānaka Public Library has 2 fantastic Ebook Platforms which are highly recommended. All you need is a library membership which is free. Click on the image below to find out more and browse to see what is available:
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Contact for our local Public Health Nurse Pip McLean is our local Public Health Nurse - should you wish to get in contact with Pip her contact details are: 03 440 4309 or 0272 839 395 or email Pip.McLean@southerndhb.govt.nz |
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Snow Gear Sale
A great way to both sell and buy your gear for our upcoming Winter, catch up with your fellow snowsports enthusiasts and enjoy a sausage sizzle.
Drop items off for sale between 8:30-9:30am on the day
Cost for selling: $10 for 1 item - $20 for multiples
For more information or to volunteer for this event please email Claire
Follow this event on Facebook |
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Ethel & Bethel Bingo Babes |
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Wao Film Festival 2023 - Regeneration for Generations
https://www.wao.co.nz/wao-film-festival-2023 Learning from the world's past to connect with the world's future. The Wao Film Festival is a fun and interactive way to get a better understanding of sustainability. With films for the whole family! Films your family will love Pack a Picnic Gather your friends Full Festival Pass $150 Day pass $50 adults / $10 kids 3 for 30 - three films for $30 Single entry $15 Online tickets available from May 10 Local beverages and treats from Good Roots available at each session. BYO food. Top picks for families are: Honeyland Ants and the Grasshopper |
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Breakfast with Michael
or in Alexandra:
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Youth Sing Club
Term 2 intake open now!
4pm Tuesday's during term time.
Suitable for ages 9-11
Focus will be on building your vocal toolbox for a great understanding of vocal health, how to get the best out of your vocal instrument and how to improve your ear in group situations.
SPACES ARE LIMITED
1:1 student and adult sessions also available
For more details head to Nook Road Productions |
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| Delicious, nutritious and popular with kids, Subway delivers school lunches every Friday. Order online at subwayexpress.co.nz by 9am. |
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