Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Week Seven News

 

Kaurihohore School Week Seven, Term Two News 


Manaaki te katoa - be kind to all. 

Respect - Empathy - Kindness 



He whakatauki. Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari, he toa takitini.

Success is not the work of one but the work of many.

Kia ora koutou 


It is great to finally see a bit of sun today.  The weather certainly impacts how we are feeling. Children like us are also sensitive to the dark mornings and wet days.. They can feel a bit tired and low at this time of year.  We need to make allowances for this by being more understanding, empathetic and giving them time to process their emotions.  Children often crave more time with us, just being together, spending time rather than spending money is key.  Throw away the devices and spend some time outside.


Many of you will know that we have been a restorative practice school since 2018.  This means we choose to work restoratively rather than punitively with behaviour.  Restorative practice focuses on children taking ownership for their actions and learning from these.  Restorative practice has four underlying principles:

  • Positive interpersonal relationships are a major influence on behaviour.

  • A culture of care supports the mana of all individuals in a society.

  • Cultural responsiveness is key to creating learning communities of mutual respect and inclusion.

  • A restorative approach leads to individuals taking responsibility for their behaviour.


Through restorative practice, we aim to keep the small things small.


Wrapped up with restorative practice are KiVa anti-bullying, zones of regulation (emotional learning), trauma informed practice, play based learning, use of the arts, environmental learning, relationships first and specific coaching when required.  All of these approaches allow us to cater for individual needs and focus on teaching children social and emotional skills that they will need later in life to be happy human beings.


These practices allow us to give children a sense of ownership and empowerment to be able to solve problems with us collaboratively and learn from their mistakes.  This allows us to genuinely foster respect, empathy, kindness and citizenship.  It is not something we pay lip service to, it is something we truly believe in.  It is a culture of wellbeing that we are building based on a Māori model wellness called Te Whare Tapa Whā, this takes into account the whole person.


If teachers feel they need your support in any of these areas for a child, they will get in touch, but we will work first on empowering the child to make changes for themselves.


The Space Becomes The Nest


Many of you will be aware that over a year ago we took the library away to create another learning space.  The idea of this was to create a nurturing, calming place, where children can go at any time when they are feeling stressed, sad, anxious, upset or angry.  Basically when their emotions may be overwhelming them   A place they can go to before they do or say something that they later regret.  We also want to use this as a transition place, a nurturing, calm place to be, where children can re-join a classroom when they are ready.

Through our work on understanding trauma and its effect on the brain, we now have Shelley working out of this area full time, meaning there is an attuned adult, who can help them calm and listen to them.  We see the nest as a hub, where children can go to calm or access the help that they need.

If you have any furniture that you think would be great to build up the warm, nurturing, comfortable place, please see Shelley Buckton.

We also have plans to create an outside space like this, an outside classroom if you like where we can make the most of the wonderful nurturing capacity of the outside.  We just need the money to make this happen so it is currently on our wish list.


Real Time Reporting


At the end of this term teachers will send home a short Term 2 update in your child’s cumulative report.  For some children, much of the information contained in the term one comment will remain the same, so there will just be a short update in the Term 2 box.  For others this comment may be a little longer in regards to dispositions and what may have been worked on, changed or progressed.


Also by the end of this term you will have received a blurb for your child in reading, writing and maths.  This may have come home via seesaw last term, or your teacher may be sending it out this term.  Either way, by the end of this term you will have information about where your child is working in maths, writing and reading and through the report know a little about their dispositions as a learner.


If you are unsure of the curriculum levels and expectations, please have a watch of the video I made and shared on facebook, this hopefully will clarify expectations for you.


We know that the report will appear very small on your device.  Simply open it and click on the original version, it will then open as a PDF document.  This is easier to view on a computer or laptop.  If you are having great difficulty viewing, please ask and we will print a copy out for you.  


Over the next few weeks of school, if there is something you would like to query regarding your child, please make an appointment to see your child’s teacher.


Parking 


Please please please do not park on the yellow lines outside of school or on the road frontage.  This is incredibly dangerous, it makes it very difficult for people to see when they are pulling out of the exit and it will cause an accident as it has done in the past.  


We realise parking is limited at the end of the day, but these areas are simply not safe.  If you are needing to get in quickly to pick up your child, park behind the first couple of cars in our main car park, quickly come in to get your child, and exit quickly so you don’t hold up those people parked.  Alternatively come slightly after 3.05 and drive into the pick up line.   As a school with the majority of our 200 children being transported in cars, we need to be considerate of one another.


Term Dates

Please note that all dates and other information are kept as up to date as possible via our school blog, you can access this at kaurihohoreschool.blogspot.com

Term Two

Ends 9th of July

8th of July - Empty Classroom Day (everyone welcome to come and join in)

Term Three

Begins 26th July

Ends 1st October

Within this term will be Cross Country and Sponsored Run (dates yet to be set)

Term Four

Begins 18th of October

Gala - 20th November

Athletics day will also be held within this term (date yet to be set)

Prize giving - 10th December 1pm

Term Ends - 12.00 December 14th

2022 - Return Date 2nd of February


Brilliant Podcasts

I urge you to listen to the podcast “I’ve got questions” by Kathryn Berkett and Pio Terei.  Understanding brain development is an important part of what we do at school, but it is also really important for parenting.  These podcasts explore stress and how as parents we can help children to be resilient...how we help children bounce back and cope with things when they don’t quite go the way we want them to and why moments of tolerable stress are important to help children become independent?   Let’s face it, we all have to learn to deal with disappointments. 

They are short, entertaining podcast episodes available on spotify or they can be found on Kathryn’s website https://www.engagetraining.co.nz/podcasts

We are learning a lot from Kathryn’s work and hope you can join in on this journey.


Calendar Art - School Fundraiser

Classes have been working on a piece of art this term that can also be turned into calendars if you wish to order them.  All children will have received an order form.

*Prices are on the order form.

*Over the next few weeks your child will be creating a piece of classroom art in a form that can then be turned into items for purchase.

*To order return the form to the office for each child and please remember to pay at the same time! Every year we have many parents that send the form in but forget to pay which means we have to chase them up and it's a bit of a mission!

* You can pay online to

12 3093 0200 709 00

Kaurihohore Board of Trustees

Please reference your child's name and what the payment is for.

*Cut off date is MONDAY JUNE 28. NO ORDERS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER THIS DATE AS I HAVE TO ORGANISE ALL ORDERS AND ART TO SEND AWAY.

Remember, as with any fundraiser, we appreciate your support, but certainly understand that not everyone is able to purchase. 

 Children’s artworks will be celebrated in their classes regardless of whether they are turned into other items.

 

Chocolate Fundraiser - PSG

All money needs to be returned by 3pm on the 16th of June.

 

Empty Classroom Day

This will be held on Thursday the 8th of July.  On this day, children self-direct their own play all day.  They may like to plan out their day and bring along things that they would like to use on this day.  

We have a number of tasks we want to also get done on this day, barking areas for further planting and planting our manuka and kanuka trees in the area already mulched.  Children often join in on these tasks, it is a good opportunity to put our environmental plans into action.

Please send children with a couple of changes of clothes, warm layers and a towel to clean off any mud.  There are no morning tea or lunch bells on this day, so children eat as and when they are hungry, so you may like to send a little extra.

If the weather is really unpleasant we will call off this event.

Finding our Whakapapa

From past newsletters you may be aware that as a school we are trying to establish a cultural narrative.  We have found this very difficult so far as we have not yet been able to find someone connected to this area (mana whenua) who is able to guide us in our journey.  This is something we want to get right!

After seeking advice we were posed several questions, which may be a good starting point:

  1. What does Kaurihohore actually mean?

  2. When was the area of Kaurihohore shortened to Kauri and why?

  3. What does Apotu mean?  It is one of very few Māori words in our area used to define a place.

If you are able to help us with finding any of these answers, or have someone who may be a bit of a connector for us, we would greatly appreciate your help.


Need to know now… 

  • Collect items for the gala as detailed at the start of the notice, think about how you may be able to help.

  • Look out for sausage sizzle forms and order by Thursday  if your child wants one

  • Get calendar orders in 

  • Return your chocolate money to the office now


Food for thought... 



Noho ora mai - stay well, look after yourself and look out for others!

Leslee Allen


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