Newsletter Term 2 17 June 2020

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Families
Kia ora, kia orana, talofa, malo e lelei, fakaalofa atu, hello and greetings

Greetings Tomarataites to this week’s newsletter. After a long day travelling to and from Auckland for a seminar, and reading 75 emails tonight, I have finally got to one of the highlights of my week. The seminar today was linked to our new vision process, and one of the important things that was reiterated was clarity in communications. It is one area that Jacinda did so well for New Zealand in the past few weeks. The news that we have 2 new COVID 19 cases is disappointing, but hopefully just a small glitch we can overcome. It does however emphasise the need to still be vigilant with our hygiene practices, and contact tracing. Thanks to those parents who sign in at the office before visiting classrooms. We really appreciate your co-operation.

I have a few requests for you our school community. The students in Room 7 have been working hard on presentations for their school chicken coop ideas. The winning design has been chosen, and hopefully ,with some donations from local building supply companies, they will begin the construction process. Obviously the chicken coop will be in need of feathery inhabitants. Please if you have spare chickens that you would be willing to donate to the school, we would be supremely grateful. The plan is to use the eggs for baking, and for our free community stall. The following request has been made by the Room 7 students:

Wanted- start of Term 3 8 x Red Shaver pullets (or other breeds)- accommodation will be provided in our new chicken coop in our school orchard.

Please contact Chris Rhodes at chris@tomarata.school.nz

Miss McGuinness would love students to bring Yummy stickers from their apples and fruit to school. The stickers will be collected and then sent in to redeem for PE and Sports equipment. If you have any lurking at home could you please drop them in at the office. Many thanks.

Mr Peake our caretaker would be very pleased if we could get some succulent “pups” or plants donated to school. We want to replant our wall garden that was made and donated to the school by one of our students last year .Succulents would be a good choice for that environment.

The Helping Hands group is planning on a school lunch day next week. More details on this to follow. They are also very keen for new members to join their fun family. Our lovely Karen is moving to Perth, so they are seeking someone who has PR and financial skills. I’m sure that special someone is out

there.

Sports events see a return to Tomarata School with cricket coaching starting on Thursday. I have been advised that the Touch/netball inter school day will go ahead next term, as well as Cross Country. Yahoo! I have also decided that we will have a whole school assembly on the last day of this term, so that is something to look forward to.

The gorgeous Corbin from Room 3 visited me this week to celebrate his progress in the Early Language Programme. It is a joy to see students proud of their learning achievements. Room 6 has also been sharing their learning on bullying with our younger classes, which is a marvellous example of tuakana teina. I would also like to acknowledge TREE TRIMMERS MANGAWHAI for their very generous donation of 6 cubic metres of mulch for our orchard. Chris Rhodes has been working with classes on turning our orchard area into a food forest, laying down cardboard and spreading mulch. The students are learning about permaculture, and have even been let loose with secateurs to prune our fruit trees. How wonderful to have such a supportive community, enabling us to deliver a curriculum based on our local environment. It fits so beautifully into our new vision.

Speaking of our vision we will be inviting you in the next couple of weeks to let us know what you learnt about your children doing Lockdown with regard to their learning, and how that could impact on how and what we teach at Tomarata School. What engaged them; engaged you; and what did you also learn about our school, staff and community during this period of time, especially with learning online, and learning at home. Where do we go from here? What were the positives that came out of lockdown? I would be extremely interested to hear your views.

On that note I will sign off. See you tomorrow! Dare I say that holidays are nearly here???

Key Dates for this Term

Community Notices

Tomarata Playcentre

619 School Road, RD 4, Wellsford tomarata@Playcentre.org.nz 09 423 9074

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am – 12pm

Winter School Holiday Programme Normally $49 now $30 https://www.internationalculinarystudio.com/product/junior-chefwinter-holiday-programme/ To enrol, simply click on the link above, add to cart and use Coupon Code.

We have a great special price for the upcoming holidays of only $30 for our Winter School Holiday Programme and $49 for our Baking & Cooking Programme.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at cro@internationalculinarystudio.com

For more information please contact school office