Ngā mihi e te whānau, warm greetings to you all,
Read on for news and information about some exciting upcoming events. 2 more weeks of Winter Sports! Have a great weekend everyone, kia pai ngā rā whakata.
Spring is in the Air
It's starting to feel more and more like spring, and as is always the case at this time of the year we have had a fair bit of sickness throughout the team. Thank you for your vigilance around keeping children at home if they are unwell. Also, with the variable weather at this time of the year, it's a good time to remind everyone about the importance of noticing when it gets warm that we need to look after ourselves by drinking lots of water, and taking a layer off...(and then looking after polar fleeces!), particularly in the afternoons. As always, there are many learning opportunities about managing ourselves and looking after ourselves. Thank you for your support around this, mā tātou kātoa te waka e hoe, we're all in the waka together.
2025 Keeping Ourselves Safe
From Tuesday 19th August until Friday 29th August, the New Entrant to Year 8 teams will be teaching the personal safety programme by New Zealand Police - Keeping Ourselves Safe. We cover this programme every two years as part of our Health curriculum.
What will children and young people learn?
They will learn:
to work out when their safety is at risk
how to keep safe when they meet and mix with other people
who and how to ask for help if they, or someone they know, is being abused
to go on asking for help until someone does something to stop the abuse
that it is important to make and follow personal, family and school safety rules
They will know:
that abuse is never okay
that abuse is never their fault
What part do parents, caregivers and whānau play?
Parents and whānau are strongly encouraged to support Keeping Ourselves Safe.
You can:
find out about abuse and what to do if you think a child you know is being abused
talk to your child about what they have learnt in Keeping Ourselves Safe
set safety guidelines with your family
help young children with the Keeping Ourselves Safe activities they bring home
give the same safety messages as the school is giving
look at the whānau section of NZ Police Keeping Ourselves Safe for more information
frequently asked questions - click here
Keeping Ourselves Safe will be taught by your child’s Home Group teacher, with support from
Constable Meg Moynihan, our local Police School Community Officer, as required. The lessons are age appropriate in content and delivery.
To be successful, Keeping Ourselves Safe needs your help and support. It is important that you
participate as much as possible and talk to your child about what they have been learning. This will
reinforce the messages the school is giving, and help your child to use their skills with confidence.
If you require more information about the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme or wish to discuss the
learning, please speak with your child’s Home Group teacher in the first instance.
Calendar Art
The tamariki have been busy producing their Matariki-themed Calendar Art for the PTA fundraiser this year. The art is inspired by the Pinot & Picasso Art Studio here in Christchurch and their Matraiki art prints. https://www.pinotandpicasso.nz/
Keep an eye out for order forms coming your way soon.
Working hard in Mathematics in the Pathway
Cyber Safety
Gaming
Eighty percent of tamariki in New Zealand aged 8-17 have played games online. Games can have many benefits: entertainment, social opportunities, coordination development, problem-solving and multitasking skills. But, most of all, gaming is popular because it’s fun. But games can be tough for parents and whānau to navigate. How much gaming is too much? How do I make sure my tamariki aren’t seeing inappropriate content or chatting in-game with strangers?
Today we’re sharing Netsafe’s Online Gaming Whānau Toolkit so you have all the resources you need to keep your kids safe.
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/rPN_ev1RSDQ
Snapchat
Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users exchange pictures and videos (snaps) that are meant to disappear after they’re viewed. Many young people love Snapchat but it’s important that they understand how to protect their privacy on the app.
Check out Netsafe’s Privacy on Snapchat page for some helpful information on Snapchat’s features. You can also find out more information about privacy, security and safety on Snapchat’s help centre.
Ngā mihi nui. Kia Kaha.
The Pōhutukawa Teaching Team
Chris, Gayle, Nick, Megan, Rae, Georgie, Viv, Stacy and Laura