Kia ora Waitetuna whanau,
ALERT 2: I know that you, like me, will have been relieved that we are in Alert 2, not 3 like Auckland. Let’s just hope that it remains that way. We will await the Prime Ministers announcement today, regarding any change to this status, and keep you updated. In the meantime we will continue to emphasise:
Good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette
Staying away if sick
Keeping the appropriate physical distance from others
Cleaning and disinfecting our high touch surfaces daily We have decided not to display QR code posters at our entrances because of the cell phone limitations so please continue to sign our registers whenever you enter our school gates.
Reading Professional learning - Cracking the reading code The teachers of our junior students have been enjoying the learning around ‘Cracking the reading code’ with teachers from the Waikato area. Some of the messages are also ways that parents can help at home. These include helping your child with - detecting and generating rhyme, hear and name the beginning sound of the word - what can you hear at the beginning of ‘ship’ and breaking down a word into syllables. Practising the blending of sounds together - ‘s’ and ‘it’ can make sit. We are also learning how to say the sound for ‘m’ correctly - using mmm.
Local curriculum All of the school staff worked on our school local curriculum on Monday. It was a great opportunity to reflect on what we are doing well and where we can head as a school including your feedback. We would still value your thoughts. It is not too late to share. Go to this link to do that - ​Community Consultation
Thank you to the Williamsons who have helped us to pay for 6 ukulele. We will all have fun learning some tunes on these.
Music lessons
A number of families mentioned wanting their children to have access to music lessons at school. I have been doing some investigating on this and am hoping we have secured a guitar option. More details to come. Please know that I am trying to make this happen for us.
Advertising in the Chronicle - ​once a term the local schools are given the opportunity to share the experiences and learning happening at our schools with the wider community. Meridian Energy sponsors these school pages. As a school we were wondering whether any local businesses would like to advertise on this page. It would only cost $50 - which is a nearly 75% reduction in normal advertising costs run through the Chronicle. Email Amanda at ​principal@waitetuna.school.nz​ if you would be interested.
Waitetuna Way awards this week go to - Ridley Powell And Stella-Rose Dickey
Sausage sizzle - Friday 28th - ​We will be having a Sausage sizzle - $2 a sausage. The Year 8’s are raising some money towards their Hillary Outdoors camp in term 4. Please bring along $2 for a sausage in a named envelope.
COVID With Level 2 restrictions in place here is a reminder of what this means for school - Parents to continue to drop children off at the gate. If you are entering the school grounds you must sign in - Contact registers- these will be placed at the Admin entrances and classrooms. ALL PARENTS AND VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL MUST SIGN IN AND OUT WHETHER YOU ARE GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM OR NOT. Given the new cases of COVID-19 occurring in our communities, you will appreciate the importance of contact tracing as a critical aspect of the stamp it out strategy. The quicker close contacts of cases can be identified, the sooner those people can go into self-isolation and get support.
Please ensure you have updated your contact details with us if they have changed. We are being vigilant with hand washing and increased cleaning of surfaces. Drink bottles need to be provided. We are being really good at staying at home if someone is unwell. We need to continue to do this. If a person is a close contact of a confirmed case, Health Officials will direct you and your family to self-isolate. Please let us know at school if this is the situation and the outcome of your test.
There will be no assemblies until further notice.
Reminders:
School Cross country - Thursday 3rd September - more information will be out as we get closer
Netball - inter school tournament - 4th September
Ag Day 2020 -
Waitetuna School Ag day - Friday 16th October
Group Day (at Te Mata School) - Friday 23rd October
Waikato Show - Thursday 29th October
Together we are growing the seeds of success
Na tō manaaki, na tōku manaaki, ka puāwai mai nga kākano