Newsletter 1 Term 3

Kia ora e te whānau,

Opportunities. They are everywhere. Sometimes they come to us by chance, while other times they are manufactured through hard work and clear purpose. An important skill we develop at Onerahi School is the ability to identify the opportunities around you and then taking a risk to seize them.

Some recent opportunities that students have taken on:

- representing our school in the Math-X interschool competition

- Year 6 students taking part in the local Youth Summit at Kensington Park

- entering competitions to become published writers

- experimenting with digital design while using the school's new 3D printer

- students performing waiata and haka while sending the Northland Taniwha off from the local airport

This list is not exhaustive and I encourage you to talk with your child about what opportunities they have taken on. I am sure they would also love to hear some tales from your childhood where you took a risk and followed a passion.

We have also recently welcomed new whanau to Onerahirahi. This provides us all with the opportunity to build new connections and to show others what a special place this is to live and learn in. In particular I would like to acknowledge how welcoming our students are of new people. The way they embody Onerahitanga means new students quickly feel part of our whanau.

Finally, a request. If you hear of or have a good opportunity for our school please don't hesitate to get in touch. We recognize the success that a community working together can achieve. Take care and have a great weekend.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Danny Hamilton

Deputy Principal

On Thursday the 19th of August we welcome back Nadine and the Life Education Trust caravan. This programme provides our students with the opportunity to explore how the decisions they make today, can affect their future health and wellbeing. It supports our students understanding of hauora and is reinforced through classroom activities and other programmes such as Keeping Ourselves Safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child's classroom teacher.

Last term we bid farewell to two of our teaching staff, Monique Fisher and Debbie Harrison both departed OPS to take up new career opportunities. They will be much missed by staff and students alike. This term we would love to extend a big welcome to some new staff members - Sue Hewett in Room 17, and Tessa Herbert in Room 24. These two kaiako are pictured to the right (Tessa on the left, Sue on the right). Both Sue and Tessa have been familiar faces around the school and we are delighted to have them teaching with us in the 2nd half of 2021. We have also welcomed a number of new students, both in Whaea Indiras New Entrant class (Rm 21) and also across other school year levels.

Onerahi Primary is committed in our journey of developing a rich local curriculum for our students to participate in and learn from. One way to connect to a range of local features is by engaging in EOTC. Today we had classes from The Nest head off to challenge themselves physically at the WAGS (Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics) facility. Room 31 have continued their outdoor learning at Dragonfly Springs, a great local resource. We extend our thanks to whanau for their support during these experiences. Without you, we couldn't do it!

We do a lot of cool learning at Onerahi Primary School and we would love to share some examples with you. Recently we invited students to complete a 100 day project, collecting 100 items to celebrate the 100th school day of the year. We got some great ideas through and many were displayed in our library.

Kia Ora,

Just a reminder, that the Hell Reading Challenge is still on. Your children can earn stamps by reading books and doing an extension activity. Once they have 7 stamps they can redeem these for a free pizza from Hell.

I would also like to thank you for your ongoing support of Scholastic Book Club. Your purchases help provide new books for the school library. We have received over two thousand dollars worth of beautiful new books from Scholastic Book Club this year. If you would like to pick your book club order up from the office, you can mark your order as a gift when submitting online or make a note on the order form.

Kirsty Oliver

School Librarian and Resource Co-Ordinator

At Onerahi Primary we have joined the Ka Ora Ka Ako lunches in schools scheme. We have lunches supplied daily by Lunch By Libelle. The lunches are delivered direct to classrooms each day for our children to enjoy. We have now had 3 weeks of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako free lunches and these have been a big hit with our tamariki. After a few small bumps as we rolled out the new arrangements we now have the process running smoothly and bellies filling up nicely. Just a reminder that if there are any changes to your child's dietary needs, please inform your classroom teacher.

The school is required to have held an additional 6 accord teacher only days by mid 2022. We have held our first one on the 3rd of February, ahead of the start of school and our second one on Thursday the 1st of April ahead of Easter. The 3rd was on Friday 4th of June. We have scheduled the remaining day this year for Friday the 27th of August ahead of our Mid-Term break on Monday the 30th August. We ask you to make note of this day as the school will not be open to students and appreciate your support as we continue to develop our practice. The remaining two days will be held in 2022.

We have a good supply of 2021 honey cleverly made by the bees in our hives. Now is a great time to buy! Still a bargain at only $5 a jar, available at the school office. Cash only.

• 19 August - 03 September - Life Education caravan visiting
• Friday 20 August - Senior school cross country
• Friday 27 August - Accord teacher only day
• Monday 30 August - Mid term break
• Wednesday 1 September - Inter School Cross country
• Monday 13 - Friday 17 September - Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori
• Friday 1 October - Last day of Term 3

WINTER

With the weather so unpredictable during this season we would like to remind you that it is a good idea for children to bring raincoats and a change of clothes along to school. Covered shoes are suggested. We would like all of these items to be clearly named so they can be returned to your children should they be left behind. Each term we do a last call for found property to be claimed or it is donated.

SCHOOL HOURS

School gates open 8:15am

School begins 9.00am

1st Play Break 11:00-11:30am

2nd Play Break 1:30-2:00pm

School finishes 3.00pm

School gates close 3:15pm

There are two eating breaks within the day, taken at times that suit each class. Please ask your child's teacher when their times are.

Medication: If your child requires medication be brought to or kept at school, please be aware that due to health and safety concerns, this must be kept secure in the school sick bay. It is not to be kept in children’s schoolbags during the day. This is to protect the safety of not only the child requiring the medication but also all other students. All medication requires an accompanying permission/approval form signed by their parent or caregiver. This includes epi-pens for allergy management, inhalers for asthma or any other medication your child requires on a short-term or as needed basis.

Email: office@onerahi.school.nz
Website: https://www.onerahi.school.nz/
Location: Onerahi Primary School Church Street, Onerahi, Whangārei 0110, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 436 0521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onerahischool