Kohimarama School News - 5th February 2025
School News
A Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers
As we begin the school year, our focus remains firmly on setting our students up for success. Our staff are thrilled to have students back at school and are working hard to build strong, positive relationships that will support each child’s learning and wellbeing throughout the year.
At Kohimarama School, The Kohimarama Way guides everything we do, ensuring that each student thrives in a supportive and engaging environment. This means: READ MORE
Kohimarama Connect (Meet the Teacher)
We invite all parents and caregivers to our Kohimarama Connect (Meet the Teacher) Evening on 17th February at 6:30pm in the School Hall. The evening will begin in the school hall before moving to classrooms, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet teachers and gain insights into your child’s learning space. READ MORE
Update on Online Maths Resources – Parent Contribution in 2025
At Kohimarama School, we are committed to providing high-quality learning experiences in mathematics. In previous years, the school has fully funded access to online maths programs such as Mathletics, Maths Whizz, and Maths Buddy, which have supported students in reinforcing key skills and concepts.
As we continue to allocate resources effectively, we will be moving to a shared funding model in 2025, where parents will contribute part of the cost for these programs. This change allows us to continue offering these valuable learning tools while maintaining a strong curriculum focus across all areas.
We appreciate your support in ensuring that students continue to benefit from these engaging and effective resources. A charge of $20.00 per student will be charged for these resources and will be paid via the Kindo App.
Staff vs Students softball
On Tuesday, 4th February, the much-anticipated staff vs students softball game, which was cancelled in term 4 2024, took place during lunchtime, with the entire school gathered to watch. READ MORE
Activity Fees in 2025 – Supporting Rich Learning Experiences
We believe in providing rich learning experiences beyond the classroom. Our Activity Fees help support students’ participation in Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC), as well as bringing inspiring speakers and performers into the school to extend their learning.
One of the biggest costs associated with off-site learning experiences is transport, and in the past three years, bus hire costs have increased by 120%. This significant rise has made it challenging to offer the full range of excursions we value as part of a well-rounded education.
To ensure students continue to benefit from these valuable opportunities, we will be making a small increase to the Activity Fees in 2025. We have carefully considered this adjustment and are keeping it as minimal as possible while ensuring we can continue to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students.
We appreciate your support in making these opportunities possible and look forward to another year of engaging and enriching learning for our students.
Supporting Our PTA to Build a Stronger School Community
You may have noticed that our school newsletter now includes updates from both the PTA and the Board. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering an environment where every child at Kohimarama School can thrive.
When we work together harmoniously and support each other in various ways, we create a foundation for our children’s success. We invite you to share your skills and abilities with the PTA—your involvement doesn’t have to be extensive. Even small contributions, like assisting with Sushi, Ice Block, or Pizza days at lunchtime, can make a big difference. Additionally, if you have talents that can enhance our Trivial Pursuit, Gala, or Auction events, we would love your support!
A key group within our community are the coordinators for our learning spaces (classrooms). These roles are essential in strengthening our community, as they ensure a supportive and engaging environment for our students.
Our school community is at its best when parents are actively involved in the life of the school. Together, let’s continue to build a positive, connected, and thriving environment for our children.
Contact kohiptasecretary@gmail.com to be a positive member of kohimarama School.
Paul Engles
Principal
The Kohimarama Way - Respect
Respect is an attitude of caring about people and treating them with dignity. Respect is valuing ourselves and others. We show respect by speaking and acting with courtesy. When we are respectful we treat others as we want to be treated. Respect includes honoring the rules of our family or school, which make life more orderly and peaceful. It is knowing that every man, woman and child deserves respect, including you.
Road Patrol Parent Supervision - can you help?
Are you able to supervise our Road Patrollers one morning a week or one morning a fortnight for this term? It means being at school to meet the Road Patrollers at 8.25am, helping them to attach the signs to the poles and supervising them during the 25 minutes they are on duty i.e. making sure the road is clear before putting the signs out, and being there as a sounding board for them. It is a great way to meet other parents and families and really helps school as by doing the duty it releases teachers to be in their classrooms with students.
Band Sign Up Night - Monday 10th February @ 6.00 pm
If your child is in Years 4 to 8 and is interested in finding out about learning to play a woodwind instrument (saxophone, flute, clarinet) or a Brass instrument (trumpet, trombone, cornet) we invite you and them to an information evening next Monday. The instruments will be there for the students to have a turn and the experts will also be available to answer any questions. This year there is a cost of $14 per lesson if your child joins this programme. This includes up to, two twenty minute group lessons per week with a qualified tutor. It is a year long commitment for students who will need to practice 10 minutes per day at home and attend between 1 to 2 lessons each week, which are held during school time.
Year 6 Road Patrol Training
Constable Gordon will be retraining our Year 6 students who have committed to being Road Patrollers for our school this year next Monday 10th February. Students will again practise the skills necessary to keep our students and families safe when crossing the road on the pedestrian crossings.
Scholastic Book Club
Issue 1 for 2025 is now out! Catalogues will be coming home or you can view online using the following link:
https://www.scholastic.co.nz/
Download the Loop app to order online and have your order delivered to your child's class for free.
Orders close 16th February.
PTA News
Welcome back to a new school year! I hope you all had a wonderful break, enjoying time with family and friends.
The PTA is looking forward to supporting the school community this year and we have the sushi & pizza lunches and ice block sales up and running already. We also have plans for the usual beloved school community events like Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations, parent quiz night, and colour runs planned for 2025. And also keep any eye out for news on a fabulous ‘gala’ event in term 3.
As we look ahead to the following year, I'd like to share some important news. Both Alan and I will be stepping down as PTA Co-Chairs in Term 4 of this year. This means that the 2026 event calendar will need new leadership and fresh ideas. We’ve both really enjoyed helping with the PTA over the last few years. It is a lot of fun and very rewarding, and a great way to be connected with the school community. So we're inviting anyone interested in taking the reins of the PTA for the next couple of years to consider stepping into the following roles:
* Chair or Co-Chair
* Treasurer
* Secretary
If these roles aren't filled, the PTA will unfortunately have to wind down its operations. This means that events like those listed above could no longer take place. There is an amazing army of volunteers across the school that help with all of the above, but it does need a small group of parents to oversee and keep everyone connected. Alan and I are still going to be here and are very keen to help with the transition later this year and into next year.
Please reach out to either Alan or myself if you think you might be interested in taking on one of these roles. We'd be happy to chat with you about it.
Valerie and Alan
Class Coordinators –
What does a Class coordinator do?
- Help orgainse Classroom social Events
- Communicate across PTA/ School Events
- Issue reminders as required for school related topics such as ordering sushi on time!
- Arrange year end teacher appreciation gift
We understand that time is valuable so we have put systems in place to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible. You will have the support of the dedicated PTA team, as well as a Whats App group for quick and easy communication with all other Class Coordinators.
Please reach out to your class Teacher for more details. Sign up by February 19th.
Community News
