Wilson School, Term 1 Newsletter

Term 1 - 31st January - 6th April, 2023

Term 2 - 24th April - 30th June

Term 3 - 17th July - 22nd September

Teacher Only Day – 18th August

Term 4 - 9th October -15th December

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome back to school everyone! We send out a particularly warm welcome to all of our new students, whanau, and team members.

As you are aware, the start of term didn’t go as planned. We had several staff and families who were impacted by the severe weather, we hope your plans for recovery and repair are now well underway. Thank you for working with us and for your support during this time, the news we needed to close came as a bit of a shock for all of us.

We held two staff only days before the term started, this provided us an opportunity to work together as a wider team, complete professional development as well as time to welcome new staff. Our staff either completed Team Teach training, focusing on positive behaviour support or worked alongside Autism New Zealand. During this time, we also made sure our classrooms we good to go for the start of term.

We have several new team members starting with us this term, I know you will welcome them to our community as you get to meet them.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our Caretaker, Chris Barton, over the summer. Chris was a real asset to our team and understood the needs of our young people so well, his son previously attended our school. Chris has an exciting time ahead of him and is going to train to be a teacher! Good luck Chris and thank you for everything you have done. We will also be saying goodbye to Coby Delle Donne this term, Coby is our teacher in Room 3 at Base. Coby and his partner are moving out of Auckland and heading North. Coby’s kind, caring, and supportive nature have greatly supported the students in Room 3 and across the school. Good luck with the move Coby.

We will be holding our whanau BBQ on Tuesday 7th March 2023 – save the date. I hope to see lots of you there.

Have a great term everyone,

Neil Kefford

Wilson School is hosting a Whānau BBQ and we would love for your family to come and join us!

When: Tuesday, 7th March @5.30PM

Where: Wilson School - 1A St Leonards Road, Takapuna

Sausages and Salads will be provided.

Please click on the link below to let us know if your family will attend - we hope to see you all there!

If we need to administer medication for your child in school, please make sure you send it in the full packaging it was provided in by the Pharmacist. This needs to include the child’s name and the dosage that needs to be provided.

We offer opportunities to build confidence, interact with the community, take part in valuable work experience and enjoy social activities. We strive to develop problem solving, build independence and support well-being.

We attend weekly horticultural work, swimming, gym and library visits. We enjoy a range of music, sports and drama opportunities. We are currently building our enterprise work and creating products to sell in the community. We are so excited to get back into everything this year!

From the start of 2023 Wilson School will be opting into the MOE School Donation Scheme. This means we won’t be asking for school fees, contributions towards trips/visits or towards classroom programmes. Our Board will be providing the money received from the MOE directly into classroom budgets for teachers to utilise towards their programmes and visits. Please note, this will not cover Riding for the Disabled, who will continue to invoice families directly should this be used. We will also still request stationary (where required) at the start of the year, lists will be sent out.

Should you wish to make a donation, you are welcome to at any point, this will be gratefully received and will go directly towards our students.

Donations can be made at any time: ASB – Wilson School – 12-3109-0011807-00

We are very pleased to announce our next whānau workshop here at Wilson School “The ABCs to self-care for caregivers - by looking after yourself first, others will receive the best of you." This workshop is presented by Nicola Irvine.

The key points from “The ABCs to self-care for caregivers” workshop are:

When you are aware, you start to implement small minute by minute changes.

The way you breath is vital to life.

You need to have compassion for yourself.

When? Thursday 23rd March: 7.00PM

Where? Wilson School

Please register this link: https://forms.office.com/r/ahTxPgELBp or by clicking the flyer below.

*** Numbers are limited, please register through the link above, before the 9th of March ***

We will be in touch to confirm your spot.

For more information on this workshop visit: https://www.wearebravetogether.org/

Additional support is available for Deaf or disabled people who need assistance due to the floods. You can contact the following organisations:

Whakarongorau Aotearoa, New Zealand Telehealth Services

Text 8988 or call 0800 111 213

Taikura Trust

Website: www.taikura.org.nz/floodsupport/

Freephone: 0800 824 5872

Phone: 09 278 6314

Email: info@taikura.org.nz

Whaikaha- Ministry of Disabled People

Email: contact@whaikaha.govt.nz

Freephone: 0800 566 601

There is potential support available through the Lottery Individuals with Disabilities Fund seeking urgent replacement of mobility equipment damaged or lost in the recent flood events. More information can be found on https://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/lottery-individuals.../ or email iwdfunding@dia.govt.nz or phone 0800 824 824

We use the services of School Docs who design policies for many New Zealand schools; updating them to reflect current legislation. Periodically parents are asked to review certain policies. This term parents are invited to have their say about the following policies.

· Legislation and Administration Policy Board review

· Student Attendance

· Enrolment

· Privacy Board review

· Official Information Requests Board review

· Uniform / Dress Code

1. Visit the website https://wilson.schooldocs.co.nz
2. Enter the username and password
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed or click ‘Current Review’
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type “Parent”.
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Submit your ratings and comments.
9. If you don’t have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Welcome back to 2023 and a special warm welcome to our new families joining us.

We are looking forward to an exciting year of learning. During Term 1 we will be focusing on Social Sciences and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Classes have begun the term getting to know each other, working on their Pepeha’s, and establishing a class treaty.

AJ16 has settled into the year by looking after their body, mind, and environment. We've started the Handee Band program. Handee Bands provide sensory (proprioceptive) input, so children gain a better understanding of where their bodies are in space. They have also been getting out in the garden weeding and are ready to do some planting!

AJ15 have been working on their Pepeha’s and making a collage that represents a mountain/maunga that is significant and an Awa, Roto, or Moana which is a body of water that is special or maybe they lived by. They had lots of fun, decorating the Koru’s and making them pretty and so they reflect a bit of their personality.

Our Junior classes at Manuka and Bayswater are settling back into school routines and getting to know their new friends and teachers. This week they have been focusing on getting to know each other, where they are from, and what they like through fun games. We look forward to a meaningful Term 1 ahead!

Room 3 students have settled into their routines and started their regular walks. The students have helped set up the new furniture they received this week, and the classroom is looking fabulous!

Education outside the classroom (EOTC) continues to be an important part of our learning at Wilson School and there are some great EOTC trips planned so keep an eye out for a notice coming home with the dates. We look forward to a great year of lots of fun and learning!

Welcome to 2023 – Finally! It was fantastic to welcome all our learners back onsite and see all their happy and smiling faces.

All our classes have spent the first couple of weeks getting back in routines and settling back into school life. Some students are new to Wilson school, some have changed classes/sites and others are returning to the same class but maybe with a new teacher, support staff or classmates.

Glenfield College Juniors have been working on a self-portrait activity linked to the Greatest Showman. When discussing the meaning around the song, one student was very proud to share that “it is ok to be different.” This was a great opportunity to talk about how we are all unique, with our own special talents and gifts.

In Room 2 they have been getting to know each other and finding out about their lovely and wet summer holidays.

At Windy Ridge, they have been settling into the new year with lots of sensory and relaxing activities! They have focused on getting back into their routines and getting to know the new teacher in Windy Ridge 1, Aimee. They are making the most of the sunshine with water play and time in the sandpit.

Room 4 is creating a special classroom treaty based around the things they need to do, to enable everyone to learn at school. As part of the display they all worked together to move a painted ball across a white sheet and had lots of fun at the same time. The finished art will provide the background for their Class Treaty display.

If you are worried about getting the vaccine, you can talk to a trained advisor in the Healthline disability team. The team is made up of people who have experience of a disability themselves, or who have worked with the disabled community. They will support you, your whānau or someone you care for and answer any questions you may have about:

· Accessibility arrangements and getting mobility assistance at different vaccination centres.

· Getting your vaccination safely.

· Home vaccinations

· Any effects the vaccine may have on your or your medications.

The disability team is available Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm.

· Call 0800 28 29 26 and push 2.

· Free text: 8988

· Email: accessiblecovidvaccinations@whakarongorau.nz

We are very lucky to be supported by some amazing orgainsations within our community.

We would like to thank Takapuna Rotary Club!

Last year we met with representatives from Takapuna Rotary to discuss providing sensory toolkits for some of our classes. Our local club jumped into action and worked alongside members from several other Rotary Clubs and the Harold Thomas Rotary Trust. We are exceptionally excited to announce, that thanks to these efforts, they have secured funding for us for a tool kit for every classroom, raising a total of $8908!

We are now working closely with our Occupational Therapists to source the resources for these. We have a wonderful ongoing relationship with Takapuna Rotary Club who support us in many ways across the year. THANK YOU!

We would like to thank Remuera Lions Club!

In the past Remuera Lions Club has supported our school, previously buying in several thousand dollars of Numicon equipment. We are again very lucky to receive a donation of $6000 of equipment for the school. This is being used to purchase further Numicon equipment, sensory resources and physiotherapy equipment. Thank you Remuera Lions Club, we really appreciate your support!

Do you know anyone that could help to sponsor this event? Please get in touch.

Spectrum Care run a school holiday programme for Wilson School students. For further details please contact -

Darryl Benge – 0272948892 - darryl.benge@spectrumcare.org.nz

Please report all student absence to the main school office for base and satellite students. Absence can be reported via phone/email or via our Wilson School website:

09 489 5648 - phone
office@wilson.school.nz - email

https://www.wilson.school.nz/absence/ - website