Kia ora whānau!

Over the past two weeks, we have been very busy establishing routines, engaging in learning activities and having lots of fun along the way. We have also started going to kapa haka with whaea Cath. Every homegroup will be given the opportunity to try kapa haka this term. Anna R, Rowe and Hazel's homegroups are going to kapa haka from weeks 3-5 and  and Anna M's and Georgia's homegroups are going in weeks 7-9.

Home Learning

Our literacy groups are well under way now. If your child is on the Structured Literacy programme, they will be taking home one book every week to practise reading at home. Once your child has completed the Structured Literacy programme, home learning will consist of reading a chapter book or non-fiction book of their own choice each night. Some students will bring home a journal story or article that they have read in class. All students visit the library once a week. 

Reading/Library Folders

We would just like to remind you that in order to take reading books and library books home, your child will need to have a reading folder OR a library folder. This does mean that your child will need to keep their folder in their bag so they are able to take reading books home during the week, if needed.

Our library days are as follows:

Monday = Rowe's and Hazel's literacy groups

Tuesday =Georgia and Anna M's literacy groups

Wednesday = Anna Reid's literacy group

Maths 

We will shortly begin our focus on teaching addition and subtraction strategies for the rest of the term. All groups will be working on place value, number knowledge and basic facts. Each week, students will complete exercise and application tasks, open-ended and unfamiliar problem-solving tasks, games and teacher focus groups. The akōnga especially love our introductory 'Rapid Routines'. These are fun maths thinking tasks, such as Which One Doesn't Belong

Geometry

Currently, our students are enjoying lessons and activities based on the geometry strand of mathematics. These activities are based on learning 2D and 3D shapes and their properties. The students are being introduced to vocabulary associated with these properties, e.g., faces, edges and vertices.

There is a Geometry section in Mathematics Games on the intranet which they can use as well. Try getting the children to identify the names of common household shapes or send them on a scavenger hunt to locate shapes.

Staying Safe Online

All You Need to Know About TikTok
Tiktok is one of the fastest growing social media apps. It’s a platform for creating, sharing and discovering short
videos – and many young people love it! From new dance crazes to funny clips to animal videos, Tiktok can
inspire creativity and bring joy.
But it’s important that parents and whānau help their tamariki navigate Tiktok safely. Today we’re sharing the Netsafe Tiktok Family Safety Toolkit so you can help guide your whānau to a fun and safe digital experience.

Toys

We have noticed a large number of toys being brought to school lately. This includes keyrings, Pokemon cards, special notebooks etc. Please could you ensure these stay at home. It might help to check the backpack in the mornings. Thank you for your support with this.

Top Team

 Art

The focus this week for Art has been creating a self-portrait. The children have been following the rules of facial proportion and have achieved some outstanding results.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Ngā mihi, 

The Kōwhai Team - Anna R, Anna M, Hazel, Georgia, Rowe and Megan.

Kia ora whānau!

Welcome to our very first blog of the year. We have had a great start to the term with the children getting to know each other and all the staff in the Kōwhai team. We have had lots of fun doing Discovery every day and also cooling down in the afternoons doing water play (see photos below). We have also been learning how to log on to the Chromebooks and how to access the online resources that we have in the Kōwhai team.

Resources

Staying Safe Online

Photos

Kia ora whānau,

We are now at the end of the school year of 2025 and what a year we have had! We just wanted to thank you for all the support you have given us over the year. We couldn't do this without you!

We have ended the year with lots of fun celebrations and events and below are some photos for you to enjoy.

Hut Day

Peter Pan Ballet

Kind Donation

Kia ora whānau,

We are rapidly approaching the end of term and the end of the year and we still have lots to look forward to. 

Hut Day

Next Thursday, we are having a Hut Day. This will start after morning tea as we have a Kahikatea performance to go to first up. The children have been forming groups and designing their huts, thinking about what they will need to bring from home. They will be bringing this list home next week. This could be things like pegs, blankets, old sheets or pillows etc. Every child can also bring a soft toy and a game that they want to play - only with your permission! It is always a fun event and the hub will be transformed into a labyrinth of huts which is impressive to see. Below are some photos from last time to give you an idea.

Peter Pan Ballet

Next Friday, we are excited to be going to see the Peter Pan ballet at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Here is a link to the social story if you would like to look at it with your child to go over expectations and prepare for the trip.

Transitions

Last week, we had transition time with Pōhutukawa when the Year 4 children went over to the Pōhutukawa hub in Parenga to spend time with the Year 5 children whom they will be with next year. The Year 6 children then came over to Kōwhai in Tahaki to join in Discovery with the Year 3 children. This was extremely successful and the children had a great time either connecting or re-connecting with one another. There will be another session on Monday afternoon next week.

This week, the Year 2 children came to visit the Year 3 children and had Discovery together while the Year 4 children had their own programme. This was also great for the children to re-connect with buddies that they spent time with last year in Kahikatea. Again, there will be another session on Wednesday morning next week.

Books

Over the next week, the children's workbooks will be coming home bit by bit in preparation for the end of the year. There will also be artwork coming home and any leftover stationery. If you have any reading books still at home, we would really appreciate if these could be returned to school over the next week too. Thank you so much for you support with this!

Kia ora Kōwhai Whānau!

We are having a fabulous Term 4. 

A reminder that all students need to have a hat at school each day or they will not be able to play in the sun. 

Thank you to all the families who have clearly named their hats. This makes them so much easier to be returned to the correct person should they go missing.

Word of the Week

Our word of the week is RESILIENCE. Resilience is the ability to bounce back after challenges and through tough times. It is a skill that we frequently revisit with the students as they tackle new challenges daily at school and in life in general. 

Nau mai te wero! (We Love Challenge)

Swimming

Last week was our final week of school swimming for the term. Our students had a great time learning new water skills and how to be safe both in and around water. The life jackets and inflatable boat were a big hit with the students.

Poetry

During our literacy lessons, students are currently exploring different types of poetry. Poems are a great way to express yourself in written form and the topics and types of poetry are endless. We are having so much fun exploring this genre.

Maths Learning

Here's a notice, think, wonder picture to get your math brain activated.

In regards to the picture:

- What do you notice?

- What do you think?

- What do you wonder?

- Where is the maths / what maths could you explore from the picture?

Cyber Safety

Staying Safe Online: Online Grooming 

As young people become more independent online, they can connect and communicate with people they don’t know.

Often this is a positive experience, but sometimes your tamariki could be being groomed or talking to someone who

isn’t who they say they are. Netsafe’s advice explains how unwanted contact works, including grooming and what

\whānau can do to educate kids.

Check out the link here.

Thanks!

Team Kōwhai,

Anna R, Rowe, Nick, Anna M, Krystal and Tracey