School News Week Three

  

Kaurihohore School Week Three, Term Three 2023

Manaaki te katoa - be kind to all. 

Respect - Empathy - Kindness 

He aroha whakatō, he aroha ka puta mai

What a fantastic Matariki ceremony we enjoyed in our first week back.  It is fantastic to get this garden finally open.  

Below is the essence of what this space is all about.

Kia whaktōmuri te haere whakamua. - I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.  

The garden symbolises our past, present and future.  Knowing that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before and we must never forget the role our past has played in our current successes.    Opened during Matariki as it is a time we turn our thoughts to the past, give thanks for what we have, and set our intentions for the future.

To the past -

Our area gained its name from the journey’s of Hineāmuru, who was considered a rangatira of great mana.  Hineāmuru occupies a place of honour in the form of a carved Pou in many meeting houses of the day.

In her travels around the area, which often extended over many months, she would strip the bark from the proud Kauri trees that stood around the region.  In scraping the bark off, she would indicate the way home, but also to show her whānau they were on the right path.  Hohore means to peel, pluck off or strip.  Hence our name and the name of the area, Kaurihohore.

Hineāmuru lived 400 years ago.

She led her people proudly, as an example of what it is to be to possess the quality of rangatiratanga.  

Hugh McKenzie arrived in NZ 163 years ago, arriving by ship with his wife and three children.  You can only imagine the determination and resilience they must have possessed to take this journey.  The First school started in 1861 on land gifted by Hugh Mckenzie and a government school was built in 1877 - 146 years ago.  He was the school's first teacher.  After the school burned down in 1942, school was conducted in the hall.  The school was opened again on this land in 1948, with Jessie McKenzie, daughter of Hugh McKenzie turning the key for the first time.

This garden gives thanks for High McKenzie and also recognises all those that have played a part in our schools history that carries such strong Mauri.  We are connected to this through our whenua.  

And so we turn to the present and move into the future, the garden as it stands now, will grow and change, as will the tamariki who learn and play within and around it.   

Many of you will have had a  chance to listen to the beautiful school waiata that was created by Joby Hopa and taken from the voices gathered from staff, children and community.  Children sang this song proudly and we are very grateful to Joby for making this a reality for us.

I feel very grateful to be part of such a wonderful place.

Shave for a Cure

On the 13th of September Kye, Jackson and I will be shaving our hair off for Shave for a Cure. We are shaving our hair off to remember loved ones and support cancer patients. We want to help find more effective treatments to save lives and make sure people with cancer get the support they need. We all know someone that has been affected by cancer.

We hope that we can get a few more students, parents or friends to join our team. If you are interested in joining please go to the Shave for a Cure website and register yourself and then join our team. Currently, our team has raised $2876 towards this amazing cause.

On this day we will host a crazy hair day and would love all the students to arrive at school with a crazy hairstyle. We will let you know more information closer to the time.

Ngā mihi,

Michelle

And then…

Inspired by Michelle…I have also pledged to shave off my hair, if I can get $3000 pledged before the day.  The funds I raise will go to the Northland Cancer Society as part of the annual Hikurangi Golf Club Daffodil Day fundraiser.  You can either visit our facebook page and comment your pledge under my post, add your pledge to the google document I have set up, or alternatively come into the office and tell them what you will pledge for me to shave my hair off.  I will keep track of this and if we get to $3000, off comes the hair, money will then be collected via the school account and donated directly to the local society.

Why are we doing this…well Michelle is far braver than I, leaping in boots and all, right from the beginning, here I am joining the ride, but very much inspired by her.

The fact is, we have a choice to keep our hair, many don’t.  We are well, our hair will grow back, and if it goes some way to assist a whānau struggling with this devastating journey, well then it won't be hair wasted!  Plus we will earn the right to purchase some very cool beanies!

We’ve all been touched by cancer, some of us far more than others.  It doesn’t matter which cause you donate to, we’d just love your support!  If I don’t get to $3000 I would love it if the money pledged to me would go to Michelle and the boys to support Shave for a Cure.

Leslee

Drop off Times

As a school we are very generous in allowing children to be dropped off at school from 7.45am.  Most schools indicate 8.30am as a drop off time as that is when children are legally considered in our care (20-30 minutes either side of the bell.)

 We do allow early drop off as we know people have to get into work, but we please ask you not to take advantage of this generosity.  Children are not to be dropped before 7.45am and even then we are not responsible for supervising them.  This is our work place, a few of us get to school early to allow us to get work done in the quiet.  Please be respectful of this.

Please Update Personal Details:

If you have had a change of address, change in emergency contacts, change of phone number or a change in your child’s medical details, please come into the office and update your details.   We have had a few instances recently where we have not been able to contact caregivers when a child has not been picked up from school.  This is not ok. 

Messaging Teachers

If you are wanting to message your child’s teacher, please do so on seesaw or via email.  Please do not use facebook messenger, or on teachers personal phone (unless by prior agreement.)

 When messaging, please understand that we will try our best to attend to messages sent between 8am and 5.00pm.  Anything outside of these hours, will be attended to on our next day of work.

Remember any interactions with teachers need to be polite and respectful. 

SCHOOL PHOTOS - 31st of August

School photo order forms have been sent home. If you have not received one please come to the office. All orders need to be in to the school office by the 18th August.

Please note the change in bank account details, this is different to previous years.

Ag and Flower Day

We will be holding this on the 20th of October, which is the second Friday back of Term 4.  If your child is wanting to train a calf or a lamb to compete on this day please come in and see Dianne.  Animals need to be born after July 1st.  More information about this day will come out closer to the time.

Staffing

Laura Stanners will be taking maternity leave towards the end of this term.  We have appointed Steven Ferguson to this position.  It is Laura’s intention to work until the 1st of September, however we all know that babies are not predictable, so Steve will be on call and ready to take over if needed.  For those whānau directly affected by this change in staffing, we will arrange a time to meet with Steven, he has already spent some time in our school and in that classroom.

Yvettte and Samuel Wyrsch have also resigned from their job share positions effective as of the end of 2023.  Yvette will return next year in a part time capacity to cover teacher release two days a week.  In 2024 we will only be operating nine classrooms due to a declining roll.  

School Cross Country - 16th August

Please refer to the information that will be shared via facebook and Seesaw.  This begins at 9.15am and will be finished just after 10.30am.  Seniors will run first.

We will be selling food on the day at morning tea time.  Please come in and see Dianne in the office if you are able to help or check out our fundraising group page on Facebook.

School Grounds

The school grounds will be closed to the public during the Term 3 holidays as we have a lot of construction going on.  

Contacting Us

You can find all staff emails on our blog page under the tab  ‘our staff,’ however the best way to contact your child’s teacher is via seesaw message.  Teachers will endeavour to answer when they have  time during the day, however please don’t expect replies to messages or emails after 5pm.  We will respond the next day as soon as we can.  Please refrain from using Facebook messenger to contact us.

Our school blog is kaurihohoreschool.blogspot.com

Office emails are: 

Chrissie - admin@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz

Dianne - reception@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz

Chelsea/Enrolments - kaurienrolments@gmail.com

Leslee - principal@kaurihohoreschool.co.nz

Reporting Absence - kauriabsences@gmail.com

School Apps

Please take the time to ensure these apps are on your device and that notifications are on, so that you don’t miss anything.

Skool Loop - On this app you can view newsletters, report attendance and book parent/teacher conferences.

Seesaw - This app is where we share with you about your child’s learning, it is where we will report to you, It is a way we can send you messages, and you can also easily message us.  Newsletters and notices are also shared via seesaw.

Kindo - This is a payment app where you can easily purchase items for school without having to have cash.  Over time most payments will be taken in this way.

Please note, teachers can help you with seesaw, but if you need help with Skool Loop or Kindo, you will need to see the school office as teachers do not have access to this.

Whānau Conferences (Parent/Teacher Interviews)

A reminder school closes at 1pm tomorrow and children need to be picked up by 1.15pm.

Fundraisers - Please support us if you can

Fundraising Update

After two terms of fundraising we have managed to raise $19 521.55 in profit!

This is a mammoth effort and we are so grateful for the support we receive.

Every cent goes towards curriculum costs so that the money can then be used to keep our class sizes as small as possible, which benefits all children. The reality is, we have to find $30 000 to $40 000 in our budget to make this possible, sometimes more, so any money fundraised towards this amount makes a huge dent in this.  

Please help in any way that you can, many hands make light work. Small class sizes just wouldn't be possible without the work of our community.

Our new turf will be laid in Term 3 holidays, thanks to all the fabulous fundraising and a successful grant application.  Again, all children will benefit from this.

Disco

This will be held on the 1st of September from 5-7, tickets are available via Kindo now! 

Pizza Fundraising

We will be holding several of these fundraisers this term and keep an eye out for messages about these.

Halloween Event

Again we will hold it on Halloween which is more fun for our tāmariki Tuesday 31st October.

We will need your help to make this happen!

—---------

Term Three

3rd of August - Whānau conferences 1.30pm - 7pm (early finish of 1pm) Book on Skool Loop App

14th of August - Year 6 Visiting Kamo Intermediate

16th of August - School Cross Country 

24th of August - New Entrant Open Evening (more info will be given out to those involved)

30th of August - WPSSA cross country for those that qualify

31st of August - School Photos

1st of September - School Disco 5pm-7pm (tickets will be sold prior)

13th of September - Shave for a cure

19th of September - Empty Classroom Day

21st of September - Awards Assembly 2.15pm

Term Four - 

20th of October - Ag and Flower Day

24th of November - Teacher Only Day

Last day 15th of December 12.00pm

School Bank Account Details - 

All payments now go through the one account.

Account 12-3093-0200709-00

Kaurihohore school board of Trustees

Food for thought…Rights and Responsibilities

In society we all have rights, but we also have responsibilities, school is no different.   As part of our restorative practice processes we have adopted some rights and responsibilities posters that can be used for discussion when things don’t quite go the way children want them to.  I will share one a week for you to discuss at home with your children.   

Noho ora mai -

Leslee Allen