TPS Newsletter

Welcome to Term 1, 2023!

Kia ora families, 

Wow – what a start to 2023! I want to first of all acknowledge our families who have had a very rough start to the year, with flooding and the cyclone, things have not been easy. Please do reach out and let us know if we can support in any way. We are hoping that we can move forward with the year and provide our children with a bit more consistency, routines and time for them to get back into school life. 

Secondly, a very warm welcome to our new families, students and staff. The Mihi Whakatau on Friday had a great turn out. It was wonderful to meet many of you. 

Team Newsletters: 

You would have recieved (via Hero) newsletters from your child’s whānau group (Kiwi, Tūī and/or Kererū). This is also available on our website. You will get these termly so you are aware of what is happening in each team. You are always welcome to book a time to meet with your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns. 

Property updates:

We have had damage to the school property over the last few weeks, mainly leaking and flooding through the admin block and Room 4. We have a plan in place to fix this but the shortage of labour and services is challenging. Overall, we have been very fortunate. 

The school pool continues to be an ongoing issue, we have spent lots of time and money on the pool to get it going for Term 1, however a week before opening, the other filters have broken down. Ministry of Education does not fund school pools, therefore we are relying on fundraising from the school to keep the pool running. We are now waiting for parts and for expert staff to attend to the pool. We want to get this running but unfortunately there is nothing more we can do right now but wait. 

Curriculum: 

A reminder that teachers will be working very hard on establishing positive routines and supporting children to develop good relationships. This will help with the more formal learning that will occur once children are settled and happy. 

Finally, if there is anything further that you would like to discuss or questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on my email – devikat@tps.school.nz 

I look forward to a wonderful year! 

 Ngā mihi 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Thursday 23 February      Principal’s Tour (NEW families)     3:15pm – 4:00pm

Week 5                               Culture Week

Monday 27 February        Info Afternoon (NEW families)    3:30pm – 4:30pm

Thursday 30 March          Year 6 Puberty Talks (details to follow)

Thursday 6 April               End of Term 1                            3:00pm

Monday 24 April               Start of Term 2                             9:00am

Click here for School Calendar

Mud Kitchen

Huge thanks to the 2022 year 6 families whose generous’ leavers’ donations allowed us to purchase this very popular new addition to our playground. We are very lucky! Many thanks to Kevs Wood for building this for our kura.

You may have seen the pataka kai (store house or pantry) on Auburn street.

This was made by a group of students with support from our property manager and some whānau last year who wanted to give back to our community.

We hope the pataka kai provides the Takapuna community with an opportunity to give to others. Please feel free to donate any non perishable food items.

Take what you need, leave what you can!

Chess Club 

Are you a keen chess player?

Do you have a willingness to share your passion with children?

Are you able to volunteer an hour a week or fortnight to facilitate a chess club in our school?

We would love to hear from you!

Please contact Lisa Davies on lisad@tps.school.nz

We are looking for a parent volunteer to run our Scholastic Book Club program. It would involve 3 tasks:

Step 1 – delivering the brochures to classrooms when they arrive (student PA’s will help you) less than 1 hour 

Step 2 – logging in to the Book Club website to close off orders on the due date

Step 3 – checking the orders when they arrive at school and delivering to classrooms (student PA’s will help you) 1-2 hours

You could choose any time slots that work for you and you will have 2 student PA’s to assist you, as well as our out-going volunteer who is available for advice.

We would like to sincerely thank Dafi who has run this program for us over the last 5 years. Thank you for the amazing energy and fun you have brought to this role. 

If you think you could help us in this important part of Literacy at TPS, please contact Natasha at natashag@tps.school.nz

Invitation to Join the TPS ‘Friends of the Library’

As we begin a new school year in 2023, we also begin a new phase in our commitment to revitalising our school library. Students at TPS told us they LOVE the library and wanted to see some changes. We listened. Over the holidays the library began its transformation. There is now modern shelving which has replaced the old and a new layout that reflects how an up-to-date library should look. The walls have been redone in our blue TPS colour, which makes the new red shelving look even more amazing! Soon we will begin our next phase which is the replacement of our non-fiction shelving and also creating some ‘cosy spaces’ for our learners to enjoy reading in.

Tasha and her Student Librarians work really hard to create a library we can be proud of – but some jobs just need adult help. We would like to start a group of willing helpers who are interested in supporting us – A ‘Friends of the Library’ group.

Could you come and help out with a few of the admin jobs in the library? This would involve labelling and cover sealing the new books when they arrive twice a term. Ideally it would be a Monday afternoon between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. You do not need to be a fluent English speaker, you are welcome to use your first language to chat with others. Tasha would teach you how to do the job initially so don’t worry if you have never coversealed a book before – it really is quite easy. 

Or maybe you would like to help keep our library looking great? This would involve coming in and changing the library displays a few times a term. You might like to think of a ‘theme’ and make your own display or you could use some of the ideas from previous displays. Perhaps you could help the Library Team organise the new soft furnishings we hope to purchase this year?

The library is always a special place in a school. It opens up windows to the world and inspires learners to explore and achieve. Please email Tasha if you can invest any time to help.

natashag@tps.school.nz

Sandpit toy donations

Our sandpit is a very popular place to play for students of all levels. 

Our sandpit toys are looking a little well loved and so we are asking if anyone has any toys suitable for our sandpit that they would like to donate. This could include buckets and spades, diggers, trucks etc. Any donations are welcome and can be left at the school office.

TPS SPORTS:

Details on Term 1 sport registration will be advised through Hero in due course. If you have any questions please contact the office at office@tps.school.nz

COMMUNITY NOTICES:

Guitar Lessons are available at Takapuna Primary School, with Dave Gatman from Musiqhub. If you would like to enrol your child to start Guitar Lessons, please contact Dave on 021 2221456 or dave.gatman@musiqhub.co.nz

Inclusive Youth Theatre Programme starts Term 1

Join Glass Ceiling Arts Collective’s inclusive Youth Theatre programme on Saturdays at South Seas Film and Television School Glenfield. Our supported and accessible programme is suitable for all people. Want to be part of a full scale Musical Theatre production like Shrek Jr  in a big theatre or a create your own short film and see it on the big screen at a glitzy premiere? Then come to Glass Ceiling Arts Collective’s Youth programme – North Shore ….the opportunities are endless.

For more information and to register please see our website www.glassceilingartscollective.com or email charlotte@glassceilingartscollective.com

Yay!!! Pocket Rockets Dance is back in Takapuna!

Musical Theatre classes with the incredible Abi McDonald!

Tuesdays at the Mary Thomas Centre (By the library) 

Jnr Musical Theatre (5-7yrs) 4.00-4.45pm

Snr Musical Theatre (8-11yrs) 4.45-5.30pm

Leads ( Musical Theatre for 10yrs and up who are keen to work towards Lead roles in our 2023 production) 5.30-6.30pm

Enrol or register for a free trial here: 

https://app.classmanager.com/portal/pocket-rockets/register

$120 per 9 week term. Fun, creative, inclusive classes, caring instructors, performance opportunities!

Jane@pocketrockets.co.nz