Tēnā koutou katoa,
Nau mai hoki mai ki te Wāhanga Toru! (Welcome back to Term 3) Thank you to those who came to our Mihi Whakatau on Monday to welcome our new whānau to Turitea. We hoped that you felt the awhi (love) from now being an official part of our community here. I hope my post around the ‘why and the how’ behind this provided you with some clarity to help you understand its significance. It was Marnie’s first week at school, our first of a few newbies to join Rimu this term with Meagan and Hannah. Haere mai to you and your whānau, Marnie. This week all of our Year 6’s headed down to PNINS to be part of their Roadshow giving them a taste of the ‘what’s next’ after Turitea for them.
Learning Conferences:
So great to see so many of you attend these last night as we crack straight into the new term. Hopefully by now you all have had a chance to read the mid year report that our teachers put together last term and is housed in Hero. Now the idea is to come together with the kaiako (teacher) at these conferences to set some goals for the rest of the year collaboratively for your child. If you have forgotten to book, you still can through Hero for next Thursday 27th July. School will finish a little earlier at 1pm that day. Just like last time, if you are able to pick up your child then, we’d appreciate it. If you can’t, then they can hang out with Faye, Kirstin, Aimi, Mitzy and myself in the hall or library until you can make it.
Green Corridor Tree Planting:
Yesterday Tōtara and Kahikatea walked down to the car park on Old West Road next to the bridge over the Turitea Stream and planted over 300 natives as part of the Green Corridors initiative which enhances areas of native bush along streams, provides a place for wildlife to thrive, improves water quality and creates open green spaces from the Tararua Ranges to the Manawatū River. The pics above showed their efforts in helping this ever important cause. A great link to our school uara (value) of Kaitiakitanga, which encourages our students to be protectors of our environment for future generations. They told me I was ‘old’ when I said how cool it will be when they can come back in 20 years time, potentially with their own children and tell them how they planted these trees when they were kids at Turitea School and look at them now. Thanks Janelle, Niki and Meryl who helped walk us down and joined in to tautoko (support) this project.
New Car Park:
You may have noticed that the area behind the turf is starting to be developed into another car park that we are hoping to alleviate some of our parking woes we experience during pick up and drop off. A massive thanks to Tyler Stevenson (Mila’s Dad) and his connections who are helping make this happen for us. As you can see above, our kids in the Junior Wing were quite excited yesterday to see the huge truck unload its metal ready to be smoothed out. We are just waiting on some dry weather so we can continue this project. Our idea is that this will be a staff car park, freeing up the spaces that we currently use so that you can utilise them. One idea that we are throwing around is that we could turn the existing car park in front of the turf into a ‘drive thru’ pick up of your child, where they wait for you on the turf and walk out the gate there when you arrive. Interested in your thoughts on this if you see this concept working.
Property Brokers Connection:
We have had a long running connection with Property Brokers at Turitea School and they have been happy to assist us as a kura through Fraser Bell and Ben Duncan liaising. Well now the connection has got a little bit closer to home as Nathan Mooney (Grayson and Van’s Dad) has left the Fire Service and is now working for them. We are hoping that if you are considering buying or selling a property, that you might think about working with Nathan, as he isn’t just a good dude, he’s part of our Turitea whānau. He’s also keen to donate $1000 to the school if your house sells through him, so a double whammy of goodness!
Lamb Calf and Pet Day:
We are seeking your feedback about the possibility of having LCP Day next term being a twilight event as opposed to the usual Saturday event this year. If you are someone who is interested in your child being a part of this rural tradition at our school, would you please provide us your voice. We realise it is a change to the usual, but we are thinking about how to make it best suit all members of our community to have maximum involvement and attendance. As usual, any thoughts are welcomed.
From the Community:
- If your child is interested in learning the piano or keyboard with Heather this term on a Monday at school, please contact her on 357 6532 or email her for more information.
- Lucky Book Club orders are due next Monday 24th July. Just a reminder that this is all done online now through the Loop App on Google or Apple or online.
- IBike4Kids once again running their cycling event for kids on Sunday 10th September at the Esplanade. Please click on the link for more information or find them on Facebook.
- Bayleys are running a Colouring Competition promoting the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Entries Close 2nd August. Print from the link above or collect from the office and email Jess to enter.
- PGG Wrightsons Feilding are having an information evening again for lamb and calf rearing on Thursday 25th July. See link for more information.
- Kelly Sports after school sports clinics continue next Tuesday. See here for more details if you are interested and book here.
- Raewyn from Parentline Manawatū has provided information about a range of parenting programmes on offer that may be of interest to some of you – Incredible Years, Triple P and Teen Triple P.
Year 6 Parent Information on Intermediate Schools 2024:
I know this doesn’t concern all of you, but wanted to make sure those who need it have all the information about opportunities for your student for their potential next school.
- Longburn Adventist College has their open day next Wednesday 26th July. Day tours at 9:30am, 11:30am & 12:30pm. Book here. Evening programme from 6.00pm – 7:30pm.
- Palmerston North Intermediate Normal (PNINS) has their open day on Tuesday 1st August. Day tours are at 9.30am, 11.30am & 2pm. Their schedule of dates is here.
- St Peter’s College open evening is Thursday 10th August from 6-8pm in the school gym. Their prospectus is housed in our office if you are interested in looking at it.
- Monrad Tirohanga Intermediate has their open evening on Thursday 18th August from 6-8pm. Their prospectus is found online here
Noho ora mai (Be safe and well)