Kia ora e te whānau,
We are now approaching the end of Term 1 and what a busy term it has been! We spent the first three weeks in our homegroups building relationships and getting to know one another, before moving into our maths and literacy groups, which are now well established. The tamariki have settled confidently into their routines and are thriving in their learning, which is great to see.
Scooter Skills
In Week 7, we had a fantastic time taking part in our Scooter Skills sessions. During the sessions, we learnt a range of important skills to help us stay safe while riding our scooters. We practiced how to balance properly, control our speed and stop safely.
Another key part of our learning was developing an awareness of our surroundings. We talked about watching where we are going and making smart choices while riding, especially when crossing roads. These are all valuable skills that will help keep us safe not only at school, but also when we are out and about in our community.
We would like to say a big thank you to all the parents and whānau who allowed us to borrow scooters for these sessions. Your support made it possible for us to take part in this awesome learning experience.
Living Our Values During Discovery
Throughout Term 1, we have been placing a special focus on noticing and celebrating students who are “living our values” during Discovery time, particularly through their social skills.
Discovery is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore, create, and collaborate. During this time, we have been looking closely at how students interact with one another showing kindness, including others, sharing resources, using positive communication, and working together as a team.
It has been fantastic to see so many students demonstrating these values in action. Whether it’s inviting someone new to join a game, taking turns, helping a friend, or solving problems respectfully, these moments all contribute to building a caring and supportive classroom environment.
At the end of each Discovery session, we take time to acknowledge the students we have noticed displaying our values. These students are celebrated and receive a certificate, which they proudly add to our “Living Our Values” wall. This wall is quickly filling up with examples of the positive choices and behaviours.
We are incredibly proud of the way students are supporting one another and showing what it means to live our values. Keep up the amazing work!
Pepeha
Over the past few weeks, we have begun our social sciences inquiry focused on writing our pepeha. The tamariki have been exploring their family trees and learning how to introduce family members in te reo Māori, as well as sharing where they come from. Our next step is to draft their pepeha before representing them in pictorial form.
Next week, we will be sending the written pepeha home for whānau to review over the holidays to ensure the information is accurate. Please return these in Week 1 with any corrections or additions. Your feedback is really important to us, and we really appreciate your support. Thank you so much for your input.
Term 1 Overview
As Term 1 comes to an end, we can all look back and feel proud of what has been a fantastic start to the year.
It has been wonderful seeing positive relationships build throughout the hub. Throughout the term, we have worked hard across all areas. From developing new skills to challenging ourselves with new ideas, it has been great to see everyone showing enthusiasm and a willingness to give things a go. We have also focused on working together, showing respect, and supporting one another, which has helped make the Kōwhai hub a positive place to be.
Thank you to everyone for your effort and positive attitudes, and to our whānau for their ongoing support. It truly makes a difference.
We are looking forward to another exciting term ahead. We wish everyone a safe and happy break!
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