Category Archives: Kowhai

Kowhai Top Team Event

Posted on by
21st February 2017


Top Team Challenge 2017


Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Over the past few weeks we have been focusing on two school values,  ‘We Care’ and ‘We Get There Together'. As part of this learning, we have organised for Sport Canterbury to come in and run a mini ‘Top Team Challenge’ on Thursday 9th March.   


This ‘Top Team Challenge’ will involve the children participating in a number of team-based activities and challenges modelled on the traditional Top Town competition. For this event, the children will need to come to school in their house colours. A request for your contribution of $3 to help cover the cost of this event will be added to your account.


We will need the assistance of 10 parents to help run the activity stations.  These stations are highly engaging and very easy to run. If you are available to help us on Thursday 9th March 10.30am -12.30pm, please email your homeroom teacher.


It should be a fun-filled day for all!


Kind Regards
Kowhai Whanau Teachers
Mike, Susan, Anna, Rebekah and Paule

Kowhai Team Newsletter Week 2

Posted on by
Kowhai News Term 1 Week 2
Friday 10th February 

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of our second week at school. Time is flying! Across our team, the children are settling into hub routines and next week will see us starting to put our key learning programmes into action. 

Thank you for being so supportive over the past few weeks as everyone settles into the new year. It is so lovely to have such a caring and supportive parent community. Here are the essentials for the week ahead.

Inquiry:
As part of our Identity inquiry, the children are investigating why it is important to to make connections with others and how people identify with each other due to the connections they make. They have been busy making identity boxes, and this coming week we are encouraging them to bring along items to school that are important to them and that help to represent their identity. You might like to discuss with your child: how they got their name and what their name means.

BABY AND FAMILY PHOTO: We would love each of the children to bring along or email us a baby photo for us to use for a special activity in week 4. We would also love you to email or bring in a family photo to put on our whanau wall.

Home Learning:
Next week we will be beginning our nightly Home Learning. This will involve the children:
1. Reading each night. Please sign the sheet in the Home Learning book.
2. Spelling words. The words we have given them need to be known so they can access the computers at school. 

As we are setting up these routines, we would love your support by ensuring your child has their Home Learning folder at school every day.

Celebration Assembly:
Kowhai Team are hosting the next school Celebration Assembly on Thursday 23rd February at 2.15pm. We would love to see you there if you would like to come along.

That's all for now.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kowhai Teaching Team








Kowhai News Term 4 Week 10

Posted on by
Kia ora whanau,

The week of term has finally arrived. We are anticipating a great week ahead filled will fun and finishing off!  Please remember that school will finish at 12.30pm on Friday. Here are the essentials for this week:

STATIONERY
We will be sending home school stationery from Tuesday. The children will bring these items home in a plastic bag. Any unused stationery from 2016 can be used for 2017. We highly recommend you put these items somewhere safe for easy access next year.

SHARED LUNCH
Each hub has organised a shared lunch on Wednesday 14th December. If you would like your child to participate, please send along a plate of food (preferably healthy, no lollies of soft drink). Any containers or plates that you would like returned, please put your name on them for easy identification.

YEAR 8 GRADUATION
On Thursday, we have our Year 8 graduation in the hall beginning at 11am. This is the time that we specifically celebrate year 8 student achievements. You are most welcome to attend if you know the Year 8 students graduating.

ATHLETICS
This Friday 16th December is our Junior School Athletics Day. This event will begin at 11am, with a greeting outside the hall prior to beginning. The athletic events will finish at 12.30pm. As this is the end of the 2016 year, you will be able to take your child home at the conclusion of athletics from their home room.

ORANA PARK
Thank you to all the wonderful parents who were able to come along as parent helpers last Monday on our trip to Orana Park. The children had a wonderful time sharing their understanding about animals and their habitats. We were overwhelmed with the high level of support and it was unfortunate that we couldn't take you all.

EFTPOS and LIBRARY BOOKS
Eftpos is now available at the school office for anyone wanting to pay school accounts. Anne still has some over due books that she would love to have returned to the school library. Could you please check with your child to ensure that all books have been returned and if not have a hunt for any that are overdue. Many thanks to those who have already returned their books!

AXOLOTL SITTING
Our axolotls need a home over the holidays or part of the holidays. If you are keen and able to axolotl sit, please come and see Paulette or send her and email to make arrangements! They are VERY easy to look after and are well house trained!

MEETING 2017 PONT of CONTACT TEACHERS
On Thursday afternoon, the children will all be given the opportunity to visit and meet their point of contact teachers for 2017. This is an opportunity for the children to see the learning space they will be working in and the teachers that will be working in their hub. The current Year 4s will bus to Champion Street for their visit on this day.

Lastly, a HUGE thank you from all of us in Kowhai Team for all of your wonderful support this year. We have really enjoyed getting to know you all and have especially loved working with your tamariki this year. Have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer break and we look forward to seeing you all in 2017!

Kind regards
Paulette, Mike, Anna, Rebekah and Gayle




Orana Park Trip Final Information

Posted on by
Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Re: Kowhai Team Orana Park Trip Monday 5 December, 2016

Just a reminder that we are heading to Orana Park on Monday 5th of December, from 9.30am-2.45pm to tie in with our inquiry focus this term. Our students will be learning about how animals adapt to their habitats as they tour the park with a guide.

In order for your child to be able to go on this trip, they must bring the following as this is part of our safety action plan:

  • School sunhat
  • School uniform
  • Sunscreen applied
  • Water bottle (Named)
  • A litter-free morning tea and lunch
  • A warm layer of clothing
  • Raincoat

Please note there will be no postponement day if the weather is unsuitable. An email  message will be sent out at 8am on the day, if the trip is being cancelled.

We look forward to an amazing trip.  

Best wishes,

Paulette, Mike, Anna, Rebekah and Gayle

Athletics Afternoon Tomorrow

Posted on by
Kia Ora Whanau


We have our Junior Athletics Day tomorrow, Wednesday 30th November 2016. We will begin at 1:45pm and be finished by 3:00pm. Please meet us outside, on the junior side of the hall. We will then move out into Beckenham Park.

Children are invited to wear their house colours for the day. Please make sure your child has warm clothes as the temperatures look to be much cooler than today and they will be outside for the afternoon.

If the weather doesn't allow, we will postpone the event until Wednesday 14th December 2016. Please ensure your child has their wide brimmed hat, water bottle and is wearing suitable shoes for the day,


Warm Regards
Koru, Kahikatea & Kowhai