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

• School sunhat

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

Junior Athletics Day

Kia Ora Whanau


We have our Junior Athletics Day coming up next week on 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.

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

Warm Regards
Koru, Kahikatea & Kowhai

We have had a great week despite the rumblings on Monday.  As a team, we have been so impressed with how the children have managed throughout the week.

Here are the essentials for this week:

Habitat Dioramas
Across the team, the children have applied their knowledge about habitats and animal adaptations by moving an animal to a new environment. This has involved the children thinking about the physical adaptations needed, changes to food, potential new predators and any changes to the animal's current behaviour. The children have written information reports on these animals and this coming week, they will be making a diorama to show their chosen animal in their new habitat.
If you have any crafty donations that would assist the children with constructing their diorama, please send them into school: cellophane, crepe paper, glitter, wool, coloured stones, astro turf, polystyrene etc.

Orana Park Trip
To conclude our inquiry into adaptations, the children will be going to Orana Park for the day on Monday 5th December. Each class will have their own guide for the day. The guide will take each class around the park to discuss the different animals with a focus on animal adaptations. We will need the help of 20 parents across our team to enable us to go. If you are able to assist us on this trip, please email or contact your home room teacher.  A notice with more details will come home on Monday.

Junior Athletics Afternoon
Our very first Junior School (NE-Y4) Athletics Day is fast approaching. The children have been developing their athletics skills over the past few weeks. Please come along to support your child at our Athletics afternoon on Wednesday 30th November 1.45pm-3pm. The afternoon will follow this programme:

1:50 - Welcome whanau outside hall
1:55 - Children moving out to their first rotation with teachers and warming up
2:00 - Run, Jump, Throw rotations x5 (approx. 10 mins each)
2:50 - Thank you and farewell whanau outside hall

Miniball Week 7
For those children who play miniball at Pioneer on Thursdays, here are the details for next week's games:

Thursday 1st December
4.30pm Bombers vs West Spreydon (court 2)
5pm      Bandits vs  Somerfield Kakapos (court 1)

Well, that's all for now. We hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Let's hope that Summer starts to appear!

Kowhai Teaching Team