Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou (Warmest greetings to you all)
Yesterday across the motu (country) we celebrated Kaiāwhina Tautoko (Support Staff Day) where we recognised the amazing mahi (job) that our team do here to awhi (care for) our tamariki. NZEI (Teachers Union) even put together a Spotify playlist with inspirational songs to acknowledge their mahi. Whether it’s:
Julie – our beautiful friendly face that you are greeted with in the office everyday OR
Meryl – our kaitiaki queen who goes over and above to make our grounds look amazing OR
Aimi – our Rātā team star who constantly helps out those who need the most support OR
Mitzy – our Rimu team lovely who always ‘sees a need, then fills the need’ OR
Kirstin – our ‘every other class’ helper who covers all, from big to little learner OR
Dani – our resident ‘Miss Do-It-All’ from organising Choir to Productions to Sports to ‘Uber Eats’ for us.
Whakawhetai ki a koutou. Ngā mihi i tō manaaki! (Thank you, we appreciate your kindness!)
Earlier in the week, Trish, Karen and myself spent two days down in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) visiting four different kura down there. We all came away hugely inspired by what we saw in action, heard from the team and their tamariki. We now have so many ideas on how we could improve Turitea School, but where to start? If you are interested in having a look yourself, the schools we visited were Te Rōhutu Whio, (pictured above) Te Pā o Te Rākaihautū, Te Koromiko Swannanoa (pictured below) and Paparoa Street School. We were very thankful for Principal Meagan for stepping up in our absence. She might want my job one day!
Unfortunately we had to say Haere Ra (Farewell) to Labeebah yesterday as her Dad, Hammed, got a new job in Auckland. I know she will be missed by all, but particularly those in Rimu who have got to know her over the time she has been with us. All the best to her and her whānau for their move today.
Te Puna Reo:
Last week, I mentioned that Te Puna Reo, our Māori Language provider, is ready to enable whānau access to the content that we learn at school and we received a lot of positive response to you wanting access for this. Unfortunately the system has had some technical issues, so they are looking to resolve this for us to give you this. If you are interested in accessing any of this content at home for your own mātauranga (learning), please respond to the short survey and I will add your email address to the system to help increase your own understanding of the Reo (Language) Tikanga (Customs) and Waiata (Songs). You will receive an email from them giving you access soon. Mihi atu ki a koutou (Thank you all)
Kauri Repaint:
Trish captured the picture below of our painters yesterday while they painted our roof on Kauri. They cleaned it, then applied the undercoat and will get the original green colour down hopefully by Monday completing our revival of our beautiful school building which was built in 1895. For those that don’t know, Kauri is a school owned building (whereas most of the rest of the school is owned by the Ministry of Education) Many years ago, the MoE directed us that they wanted to demolish the building, but the school and the PTA at the time lobbied to save it, offering to buy it off the MoE, but making us responsible for looking after it, linking to our school uara (value) of kaitiakitanga. With the introduction of the ANZH (Aotearoa NZ Histories) Curriculum last year, we think it is great that we have our own piece of history in the centre of our kura to teach our tamariki our local pūrakau (stories).
Video Cameras:
You might have noticed that Turitea School now has external video cameras being installed. This is all thanks to a grant which we were successful in applying for through Pub Charities. We are extremely grateful for them for providing $8.5K to complete this project. It adds another layer of safety to our kura.
Central Pulse RoadShow:
Earlier in the week, Emily and Harper were very lucky to attend the Central Pulse RoadShow with players Amelia Walmsley, Parris Mason, Kelea Iongi and Tiana Metuarau teaching them some of the skills they practise. What an amazing opportunity you had girls as pictured below.
Pae Tamariki/Matariki/Puanga Celebrations:
In Week 8, we have two celebrations, with our tamariki performing at Pae Tamariki at the Regent on Tuesday 18th June. Then on Thursday 20th June from 9.30 – 1.30pm we are invited to the Matariki celebration at the Cultural Centre inside the Linton Army Camp. PNCC are also running their annual Puanga event the following week on Friday 28th June from 3-7pm at the Pit Lane at Central Energy Trust Arena. This festival is designed to bring people together (whanaungatanga) to learn more about Puanga, as we don’t necessarily acknowledge Matariki here in the way in which other iwi (tribes) do.
What is the difference between Matariki and Puanga?:
In Manawatū, Rangitāne choose to celebrate Puanga because the Matariki cluster rarely can be seen from our region. This is because the constellation sits low in the eastern horizon and is therefore not always visible from here. However Puanga can be seen in the eastern sky and is also celebrated by iwi in Whanganui, Taranaki, parts of the Far North, and parts of the South Island.
Ko Puanga te kairūri i te tau tawhito. Ko Matariki te kaihuaki i te tau hou.
Puanga draws the line to end one year. Matariki opens the door to the new year.
From the PTA:
Next week on Wednesday 22nd May the PTA are holding their AGM from 6pm. Would love to get as many people there as possible. They will persuade you to come with yummy kai and beverages.
Staff Only Day:
Hopefully Tuesday 4th June (the day after King’s Birthday) is on your calendar already, as we are having a Staff Only Day (along with the other 20 primary schools in our Kāhui Ako) at PNINS. We are all joining together to connect with Rangitanē, our mana whenua for a collective symposium.
Orienteering:
Last Friday, we had 5 tuakana (seniors) represent our kura for Orienteering. Antonio was 5th and Kerian was 10th in the Year 5/6 boys, Natalie was 5th and Sophia was 8th in the Year 5/6 girls. Olivia unfortunately did a mispunch so didn’t receive a placing. Ka rawe koutou! (Well done everyone)
Darryl in the news:
Darryl is our school cleaner who you may have seen about the place, was featured in the local news recently as he is hanging up his pool noodle after 23 years of coaching swimming. What an amazing service you have provided the community.
Palmy Brick Show:
This fantastic event is coming back to Palmy on King’s Birthday weekend (1st-2nd June) with two days of amazing LEGO displays and Interactive activities. It is at Arena 3 in CET Arena on Pascal Street. $5 entry Get tickets here or cash/eftpos on the door. Check out the poster and the brick building competition they are also running.
Health:
Unfortunately this week, we have been hit with a multitude of illnesses, both staff and kids. It seems the tummy bug has been the one who has taken out the most people. Most kura are advised to follow a 48 hour stand down after the last vomiting to prevent spreading. We have also had a few suffering from Worms, so please keep your child home if they are showing any symptons.
Firewood:
Thanks to those of you who gave us feedback on the Firewood. If you would still like to order, you can fill out the form.
You might have noticed that we finally have a new bulb in our streetlight outside where our slip road connects to Old West Road. I wonder if it was linked to the accident last Friday or just a freakish coincidence? It is nice to finally have it fixed, particularly if we are at school early or coming home really late.
Kia pai tō rā whakatā (Have a great weekend)