Newsletter 23 November 2023

Kia ora TPS Whānau, 

Staffing Update

We welcome new teachers to TPS in 2024. We feel very fortunate to have appointed incredible teachers who come with outstanding referees from high functioning schools across Auckland. Baljinder, Jane, Phoenix and Tash. Here are the final plans for 2024 classes:

*Learning Leaders

Sarah OC will be stepping out of her classroom responsibility and supporting the school full time in her Associate Principal role. 

Exciting news – Growth of ESOL (English Language Lessons) Department

We are very excited to have appointed a new ESOL teacher who will be working alongside Tash. Emily Ko will be teaching at Takapuna Primary 2 days a week from 2024, she will be working with children mainly from our junior school who meet the requirements to get additional English language support. Tash will continue to work across our Year 3 – 6 classes and focussing on her role as both ESOL teacher and Director of International Students. 

Message from Harrison Tew – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM

“On Thursday, 16th of November 2023, Takapuna Primary School completed the entire full school training of their Emergency Management Plan which included conducting a full lockdown exercise. The school followed the procedures calmly and confidently, with clear direction and leadership from Principal Devika Tagg. She was supported by the staff in the Incident Control Room who displayed high levels of competence and were very efficient at their assigned tasks. They worked very well as a team.

A classroom movement was successfully conducted. This was followed by a full school evacuation to the courts where everyone was safely accounted for.

The students and teachers should also be congratulated for the way they followed the correctprocedures and at the speed and skill at which the school was placed into lockdown andappropriate communications were sent through the school before a controlled release fromthe lockdown…you should have full confidence that the Takapuna Primary School Senior Leadership Team have demonstrated knowledge and confidence to deal with a wide range of emergencies and incidents, intending to keep their students, staff, and visitors to the school safe.

Bike Track – here is a plan for the bike track

We are eagerly waiting for the company to let us know when it will begin, we are hopeful it will start before 2024. 

Football Goals

Tamariki are loving the new goals and working hard to look after them. Can I please reinforce that children MUST be supervised if they are on school grounds after hours. If you are around please keep an eye on people not pulling on the nets or hanging on the frames of the post. 

Croc type footwear 

I wanted to thank all the families who have supported the change in asking children to wear alternative shoes to school. We do not make decisions lightly, however we needed to take action due to several reasons. We have noticed a very positive change since Monday and really appreciate your help on this one! 

Devika Tagg

Principal

Environment Monitors:

The Environment team spent an hour down at Lake Pupuke trying to help eradicate the banana passionfruit plant. Banana passionfruit may sound like a treat- but it is an invasive weed that takes over green spaces and competes with native plants. It grows like a vine over other plants and trees, and threatens their survival.

The team managed to clear quite a few plants in the time we had making it a productive afternoon.

School Disco:

All disco tickets MUST be purchased today for the disco through myKindo  

Year 0-4 Disco 4.30pm to 5.30pm

Year 5-6 Disco 5.45pm-7pm

$5 per child

$10 per family 

Older siblings, grandparents and other family members are welcome.

All help is greatly appreciated to make this a great night.  

Whole School Beach Picnic:

The picnic will take place on Wednesday 6th December. We aim to leave school at 9:30 am and will return by 1:00 pm.

We need as many adults as possible to walk down with us to the beach, to help at the beach and then to walk back to school with us. If you, or anyone else in your family/whānau can help on the day, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to let them know. You can do this via email or in person.

Children will need:

• to wear their uniform tops but can wear their own shorts 
• a brimmed hat 
• sunscreen  
• shoes for the walk there and back 
• their morning tea and a drink packed separately to their lunch

When we arrive at the beach we will have morning tea and then the children play on the beach within the area marked out by cones. We will have sports equipment available and we organise a sand castle competition.  

Please note we do NOT swim.  

We aim to leave the beach at 12:30 pm arriving back at school around 1:00pm in time for lunch.

Previous days at the beach have always been lots of fun and enjoyed by all. We hope as many of you as possible can come and join us and celebrate the end of a wonderful year.

Collins Street Access:

Library books and school readers:

Please return ALL school readers and Library books to the classroom teacher or the office.

Second Hand Uniform:

You can now purchase second hand uniform online, along with new uniform. Please note that we no longer stock second hand uniform at the office. Please go to www.tps.school.nz, click on “information”, scroll to “uniform” and click on “shop”. (as below)

*You can still buy new hats and sunglasses at the office.

Stationery 2024:

Please note stationery lists for 2024 will be published and available to order FROM Friday 1 December. Details of how to order will be placed on Hero and in the last newsletter of the year.

Mitey – Mental Health Education:

Mitey is a New Zealand specific, Years 1-8 approach to embedding mental health education in both teaching and learning. It was developed by the Sir John Kirwan Foundation. Our kura is now in the second year on our Mitey journey.

Children will learn how to recognise and respond to their own mental health and those of others. Cultivating good mental health helps us cope with life’s ups and downs, and to feel comfortable asking for help from others when we need it.

All the teachers at Takapuna Primary are engaging with Professional Development from our expert coaches working for Mitey. 

For more information visit the website: https://www.mitey.org.nz/

BYOD Whānau Information Evening

Friday 24 November           School Disco yr 0-4 *4:30pm-5:30pm

                                                                    yr 5/6 *5:45pm-7:00pm

Monday 27 November       BYOD Info Evening-Parents of current yr 2 learners (6:00-6:30pm)

Friday 1 December             Music Showcase (9:00am) – Hall

Wednesday 6 December    Whole school beach picnic – (9:30am-1:00pm)

Thursday 7 December        Year 6 Graduation (6:00pm)

Thursday 14 December      Pizza/wheels/non uniform day

Friday 15 December           Last day of Term 4 (3:00pm) 

Click here for School Calendar

TPS SPORTS:

Cluster Cross Country

Due to technical difficulties we were unable to post winners pictures from this event earlier. A massive congratulations goes out to our amazing, talented runners! 

From the left: Amber, Summer, Kayla, Luke, Harper and Connor

Peninsular Football Festival

Earlier this term TPS had 16 teams competing in two separate five-aside festivals. There was some fantastic football played and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 

Flippa Ball

With the pool open, we are back to practicing during Friday lunchtimes. These lunchtime practices are for the players who are registered to play this term. Near the end of the term, we will be opening up practices for anyone who wants to give the sport a go. If you are interested in being included in these ‘taster’ sessions please either drop in to see Anneke in her classroom or email her at sports@tps.school.nz

We would like to thank the team at Autolathing Engineering Ltd for the generous donation of our new goals. They make our training look much more professional, thank you!

Cricket Champs of Champs @TGS

TPS took four year 5/6 teams to the annual TGS Champs of Champs Festival. This is double the number of teams from last year. It is wonderful to see interest in cricket growing at our kura. All teams played well, showing all of our school values at ALL times. It was amazing to be part of such a well-run day, we look forward to next year’s competition!

Well Done!

Alfonso received an award at his football prize giving for the most improved player (Grade 10) at his club, Western Springs.

Well done Alfonso.

New Sports Equipment

TPS has some very exciting news to share with you. We have just had a set of new football goals and balls delivered to the school. Thanks to Radoslaw’s (Father of Leon in Tūī whanāu and Mia in Kiwi whanāu) building skills. The goals are now out on the field for everyone to care for and enjoy!

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

The Belmont Intermediate School Second-hand uniform sale will be held in the school hall on Sunday 14^th January 2024 from 12:00-3:00pm.  All proceeds go towards funding students’ activities at BIS. Cash only please! Any enquiries, or if you would like to help volunteer please email sfurlong@belmontint.school.nz .

We look forward to seeing you there!  

2024 GUITAR AND UKULELE LESSONS

Guitar and Ukulele Lessons are available at school next year, with Dave Gatman from Musiqhub.  

If you would like more information, or to enrol your child to start lessons in 2024, please contact Dave on 021 222 1456 or dave.gatman@musiqhub.co.nz 

To access the I Am Hope Samsung Community Project registration page, simply login with the code below to create your account. You’ll need this code again to complete your registration.

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