Kohimarama School News - 16th October 2024

School News

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are so looking forward to Term 4, the final stretch of the school year. This term is an exciting time and we have some wonderful initiatives lined up to enrich our students’ experiences and foster their growth and development. To find out more about these initiatives please read more.

The Science of Learning and Pedagogy

You will have heard in the media about the ‘Science of Learning’. We are committed to continually improving our teaching methods to give your children the best possible learning experience. One way we are doing this is by integrating the Science of Learning into our Teaching Practices, or Pedagogy. In simple terms, the Science of Learning is research-based knowledge about how people learn best and we use this to shape how we teach (the pedagogy).

To find out more about the integration of Science of Learning and Pedagogy and its impact please read more.

Sun Protection and School Hats

As we move into Term 4, it’s important to remind everyone of our school policy regarding sun protection. During Terms 1 and 4, all students are required to wear their school uniform hats while outside. This is to ensure their safety from the sun’s harmful rays. Please make sure your child has their regulation school hat with them each day, because students without hats will need to stay in shaded areas during outdoor activities.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

Teacher Only Day (TOD)

We would like to inform you that Kohimarama School will be holding a Teacher Only Day on Tuesday 29th October (the day after Labour Day public holiday) for professional learning and development. The focus will be on the new English and Mathematics & Statistics curriculum updates. We are excited to welcome a guest speaker from the Ministry of Education, who will provide insights into these curriculum changes. Our teachers will also participate in workshops to identify any necessary adjustments to our current practices.

As with many government initiatives, we are pleased to share that Kohimarama School is already well-aligned with these updates, as they are embedded in our everyday teaching and learning. This day of development will allow our staff to fine-tune what we are already doing to ensure the best outcomes for our students.

We appreciate your understanding and support in providing this valuable professional learning opportunity for our team. Remember, Bizzy Bodz will be available to support you by providing a programme on 29th October TOD that will ensure that students have a fun and exciting day of learning and activities. More information on this in the newsletter below.

Paul Engles - Principal

The Kohimarama Way - Commitment (Manawanui)

Welcome to Room 7

Room 7 has started this Term with our newest 5 year olds.  We would like to welcome them and their teachers:  Monday-Wednesday Mrs Clarke and Thursday/Friday Mrs Tyler.  We know we are going to enjoy getting to know you and working with you for the remainder of the year.

Teacher Only Day (TOD) - Bizzy Bodz

Bizzy Bodz will be open to families needing care for the scheduled teacher only day on Tuesday 29^th October.

Come and join us for a day full of arts, crafts, baking, games and sports!!!

We will be open from 8am-6pm. The “main programme” will run from 9am-3pm with additional before and after care available for those families needing extra care.

To enrol and make a booking, please click the link below to our online booking system, Aimyplus.

https://bizzybodz.aimyplus.com

 Create a profile, proceed to a booking under “special day”

If you have any questions, please contact our head office on 09 530 9020 or contact Grace, the Kohimarama Team Leader on 021 678 152

Photolife 30th October - Teams, Rooms 4, 5, 7 and Sibling photos

Photolife will be here on Wednesday 30th of October. Please ensure your child is in correct uniform for their team and class photo. Sibling photos are also done on this day. If you'd like your children to have a photo together please fill out a form at the school office (this is only for children attending school).

Student Fundraiser - Friday 1st November

Term 4's charity fundraiser by our students' is for children who are very ill.  The organisation 'Make a Wish' grant these children a wish whether it be to meet an All Black, have a family holiday or drive in a big mac truck.  If you want to participate please bring $2 and dress in weekend clothes or dress as your future self - who wish to be.

Athletics Day

Our final major school sporting event for 2024, Athletics Day, is scheduled to take place at Glover Park on Monday November 11. This event is for Years 4 -8. 

We need some parent volunteers to assist with the day, timing races etc.

If you are available, please email Don on  dforbes@kohimarama.school.nz

Auckland Primary School Speech Finals

Congratulations again to Amy who represented Kohimarama School and all the the schools in the Remuera Cluster at the Rehu Tai Festival of Oral Language Auckland-wide finals.  Amy represented us with excellence, her presence on stage and delivery of the Spoken Word that she worked so hard on was a masterclass in how it 'should be done'.  We are very proud of Amy, especially to have made it to the final competition, ka pai.

EPRO8 Competition

On Thursday 26th September we had two teams of students representing our school at Churchill Park School.  It was a long 2 and 1/2 hours of building life-sized scooters, washing machines and roller coasters.  It was fascinating to watch the teamwork and the negotiating.  A really well organised and challenging event.  Congratulations to both teams for all their hard work - you represented our school  magnificently, thank you.

Sports News

Netball - Y7 Kohi Sparks

This winter the Kohi Sparks played an amazing season of netball, winning all but one of their games and finishing 1st in their grade!

The girls were invited to attend the Auckland Netball Prizegiving on 21st September and were awarded with certificates and badges.

Well done on a fabulous season to:
Mia-Rose K, Zoe F, Georgia P, Madison A, Isabella R, Forest A, Estella D

Together with their coaches Pauline and Claire, and team manager Marina.

BoT News

The Board is currently collaborating with the school's leadership team to create a cohesive communications plan for 2025. Our goal is to enhance meaningful communication between the school and families, aligning with our strategic goal of building a connected school community. The plan will focus on improving daily communication channels, raising the school’s presence in the community, and sharing important updates on key topics like the new curriculum and teaching methods. With families balancing busy schedules and the education sector undergoing significant changes, it's more important than ever to enhance our communication so we can stay connected and keep everyone informed. If there is a particular topic you would like to receive more communication about, please let us know at bot@kohimarama.school.nz.

PTA News

“Why did the teacher wear sunglasses to school?...... Because her students were so bright!”

Welcome to a little addition to the weekly Newsletter; The PTA space! It is with great excitement that we bring you this insightful section full of updates and general information regarding the PTA and the exciting changes and developments We/You are making…..

QUIZATHON RESULTS

TERM 3 QUIZATHON RESULTS: We have raised a total of $10,263.70! 

Thank you for your fantastic support. 

The prizes go to the following; 

• Mufti Day – The classroom that raised the most funds in total were – ROOM 16 - they raised a total of $936.90
• $25.00 Voucher - The two students that raised the highest amount of money as individuals were; 1) Sophia GW, 2) Szymon

Although we don’t have prizes for everyone who made a massive effort, we would like to mention the students below that made up the Top 10 of highest individual donations; 

3) Oscar T, 4) Felix A, 5) Charlie St L, 6) Jakub, 7) Ava, 8) Oliver G, 9) Arnie A, 10) Georgia P

A massive WELL DONE to you all.

WALKING SCHOOL BUS

We look forward to welcoming you alongside the School’s Leadership Team and AT in the School Library this Thursday, 17th October at 6.30pm.

Sushi / Ice Blocks and Pizzas

The beginning of Term 4 has seen the start of the trial for “Play First, Eat After”. 

Please see the following changes to our food options available;

Calendar Art

During Term 3 you all made your online orders for Calendar Art.  Your orders are being processed and will be sent to each individual classroom and your child will bring it home to you this week! 

Don’t fear however, You haven’t missed out, If you wish to order more or put through a last minute order, It has reopened until NEXT FRIDAY!

Second-Hand Uniforms NEW WEBSITE

We are excited to announce that we have a new website to order your secondhand uniforms - http://www.kohipta.myshopify.com

We hope this will make the ordering process simpler and will help display all of the items available for you to purchase.

All sales go to the Kohimarama School PTA. 

If you have any preloved items please drop them to the office so we can keep the website well stocked. 

If you have any questions you can still reach out to Jess, Kylie & Kate at: uniforms@kohimarama.school.nz

Term 4 UPCOMING EVENTS;

• Working Bee – Sunday 24th November
• Colour Splash – Sunday 8th December

Working Bee

Sunday 24th November - Lets come together on Sunday 24th November and tidy up our beautiful school grounds.  A list of jobs will be sent out through your class coordinators in due course. Please pop your name against any job that interests you. We will gather for a BYO picnic on the field at the end of the day to celebrate our hard work! 

Colour Splash

Sunday 8th December - We will be holding a “Family Colour Splash”. Details surrounding the event will be communicated closer to the time but if you are keen to manage the BBQ or splash paint powder at those partaking, please join our WhatsApp group by scanning this QR code.

If you have any questions regarding anything you have read, please feel free to reach out to your class coordinator or directly to the PTA on kohiptachair@gmail.com.  We will answer you via our newsletter section each week. No question is a stupid one, so don't hold back!

Thank you to each of you for all you do! We wouldn’t be able to provide the services and events to the children and the School community without your involvement in the creation and the attendance of them!