KOPUTAROA SCHOOL NEWSLETTER School Phone
(06) 368 7938
Website www.koputaroa.school.nz
SEPTEMBER 2011
Dear Parents/Caregivers, Whanu and wider community,
Tena Kouotu katoa as we approach the end of Term 3. After two longer than normal terms, this term, as predicted, has flown by and we are now preparing for a very short Term 4!
The term structure for schools this year was altered to accommodate the Rugby World Cup, so that the final games would be in the school holidays. It has been great to witness the passion and pride that has been demonstrated by everyone – it has certainly been a great event for New Zealand and a wonderful learning opportunity for our children.
With a shorter than normal Term 4, staff have been gathering assessment information in preparation for writing the End of Year Report. The 2011 report format has altered in response to your feedback last year and with the inclusion of National Standards.
It was great to see so many of you at the recent Sharing of Learning Afternoon. This afternoon forms one of our aspects of reporting to you, which is primarily led by your child. No doubt you would have seen an array of learning experiences and tasks that your child has been engaged with.
This term our concept for learning has been Creativity and the classes have certainly been creative! Our Koputaroa Curriculum places an emphasis on children being actively involved with their learning and co-creators of their learning with their teacher. Through this concept, children demonstrated some fantastic planning, thinking and involvement, culminating in high quality learning outcomes.
We appreciate the positive home/school partnership and relationship we enjoy here at Koputaroa. Many thanks to all of you who completed the recent Health and Physical Education survey. Your feedback helps inform our self-review as we review the programmes we have here at Koputaroa. It was affirming that the overwhelming majority of you replied that we do have a positive, supportive, welcoming and friendly culture – thank you.
The Board recently advertised for pre-enrolments for 2012, with the likelihood that there could be 10 places available for out of zone students. If you know of anyone who lives within the home zone and is thinking of enrolling at our school, could you please encourage them to make contact with us as soon as possible, as this will assist us with our planning.
On Tuesday 4 October (at 7.00pm) our children will be participating in a Dance performance in the Levin Memorial Hall, demonstrating their learning with Dean McKerras. We hope to see you all there.
Regan Orr
Principal.
NEW PUPILS
We have had 7 new pupils join us:
· Toby Davis
· Evangeline Hermida
· Amy Garcia
· Alaina Pardoe
· Flynn Warren
· Sophie Fitzgerald
· Molly Richards
·
We welcome these children and their families to Koputaroa School and the community.
Kowhai Team
We can hardly believe that Term 3 is almost over. What a busy time we have all had.
At the beginning of term we had some amazing athletics sessions with Mark from Sport Manawatu. The children benefited greatly from learning some key running, jumping and throwing skills.
Our school wide theme for Term 3 is Creativity and the children have enjoyed great success with their HoT Learning in this area. Classes 1,2,3 and 4 created some amazing productions. They learnt all about creating scenery and props, acting a role, speaking out, using expression, learning lines and working together in teams to perform some amazing ‘plays’. It was great to see so many parents supporting their children in this!
Modules were another great success. The children enjoyed a variety of learning experiences including – gardening, learning how to draw…, laughter yoga and construction challenges.
Creative dance with Dean McKerras is in full swing.
The classes are already busy working on our Ag Day art and craft activities. A notice will come home informing you of what your child will need at the beginning of next term.
Beth, Sue, Sonia, Tracy
Lost Property
The following items were left at the end of term. Please have a look through this list and if anything sounds at all familiar please come in and see me.
Boys
Size 5 – Wild Zone, black/blue & green pattern, sweatshirt, full zip,hood
- Just 4 Me, Blue/Black, vest
Size 7 – Interchange, black sweatshirt with hood
Size 8 – Kathmandu, red sweatshirt with half zip
- Expressions, black stretch pants
Size 10 – WZ, green/camo sweatshirt with hood
Size 12-14 – Eskimo, blue/white striped short sleeved shirt
Size 14 – Urban Supply, Red/dark blue long sleeved shirt
XL – Durable Sportswear, grey sweatshirt with hood
- 2 small singlets, 1 white and 1 blue
Girls
Size 5 – This 2, pink long sleeved shirt
Size 6 – Beat, Grey sweatshirt with full zip and hood
- Pumpkin Patch, grey cardigan, 3 buttons at top
- Angel ‘n Disguise, pink T-shirt
Size 7 – JK Everyday, Navy blue sweatshirt with full zip and hood
- Active, Pink/black sweatshirt with full zip and hood
Size 10 – Livewire, white/purple long sleeved shirt
Size 12 – Angel ‘n Disguise, Black vest with full zip
- Angel ‘n Disguise, Black knitted cardigan with tie front
Small – black stretch pants
Shoes and other things!
Jandals – 1 grey pair, size 5
Boots – black size 6
Towel – large yellow
Gloves – small, grey with pink dots, fingerless
- small, black
AND…… socks again! 10 pairs and of course all those single socks!
Please come and look as all clothing is washed and ready for your collection. What is left after 2 weeks will be given to those in need.
Beth Swanson - Deputy Principal
Kids for Kids
The School Choir are taking part in the Kids for Kids Concert on Monday 28th November, Regent Theatre, Palmerston North. The Adult ticket cost is $22.00
More information later.
NZ SCHOOL NATIONAL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday 8th October 2011
The above Championship will be held at Koputaroa between 9am-3pm, beginning at the Koputaroa Hall, travelling out to Mitchpine corner and back past the hall to the finish line between 111 and 145 Koputaroa Road. The teams will also have a practice time on Friday October 7th between 1.00pm-4.00pm. Caution is needed on this road between these times. We will have signs and marshals on the course.
We would like to thank the public for their co-operation during this event.
RIMU TEAM NEWS
What an incredibly busy year we have had so far! It really seems like this term has flown by with all classes running with Modules, HOT Learning and now Dance with Dean McKerras. Of course we’ve still been learning skills in Maths, Literacy and PE so our days are super busy!!!
Modules this term saw the Rimu Team exploring West African Art; investigating what makes an excellent household cleaner and discovering different things around New Zealand and the world through our own ‘Amazing Race’.
Students in our Team have represented us in many ways over the term, here are some of them:
· Rugby,Cycling, Netball, Waterpolo, Hockey, Horowhenua Technology, ChallengeMathex
With only a few weeks left and rugby fever growing by the day this is the perfect opportunity to put in a few reminders…….
· Technology fees need to be paid to the school before the end of the term
· Camp fees will be expected to be paid during Term 4 BEFORE your child goes on camp.
Here’s some more study tips………
v Study with low lighting: Lighting shouldn't be too bright in your study area. Bright light reflecting off a white page can stress your eyes and make learning harder. Research shows that for 70% of students, studying with low lighting is best.
v Learn your most important information first: When you sit down to study, go over your most important information first, it will be more memorable for you. Revising your notes from yesterday is a great first at the beginning of your study time.
The Rimu Team – Angela, Maureen, Dell, Dan and Jan.
Room 5
v Spring is here, and with it, another term nearly over. We hope that you been keeping a look out for updates on our class blog. The children love to see your comments about their learning, so next time you check us out – post a comment.
v The children have again received and replied to letters from their penpals at Kapanui School and a meeting is being planned for next term. There is much anticipation over receiving a letter the good old fashioned way!
v We have once again had Modules this term. We have competed in a virtual Amazing Race whereby we traveled the country by internet and found answers to questions along the way. This helped us practice and gain skills in not only searching for information but being able to copy, paste, import and use a Google document. The class also got to make West African art with Mrs Young and develop some new cleaning products with Mrs Phillips.
For Maths, the focus has been on measurement – length, mass and capacity which culminated in a cupcake bakeoff. This, of course, was enjoyed by all! Thanks once again to the parents who came to help with this. We are now moving onto shape, space and position.
v Lots of work has been happening in the Creative Department for Room 5 as Agriculture Day looms. We have been busy designing, creating and decorating artwork. Our HOT Learning area is creativity, so we have been using de Bono’s thinking hats to with some tasks to challenge and stimulate creativity and helping us to ‘think outside the square’.
v Preparation for camp is underway. We are still waiting to hear if we have secured some outside funding to bring the cost of this down. It is possible for families to pay a small amount weekly into the office so as this is not such a big cost at the end of the year.
v Room 5 will be hosting an assembly early in Term 4, so come along and see what we have been doing in class.
Maureen Keene
Koputaroa Hall Society
Presidents Report August 2011
Firstly I would like to thank all members of the committee for the help and effort they have put into improving the hall and its amenities. We all know what an asset the hall is to the community and to maintain and operate this asset requires both money and a lot of voluntary time.
The committee has been busy with our major project over the last year which is the refurbishment of the kitchen and supper room. Stage one of this project is almost complete and all that is required is the purchase and installation of some new appliances. The Hall will now comply with all Health and Safety requirement.
I wish at this stage to make special mention of local trades people and suppliers who have given both time and materials to enable the progress which has been achieved so far. We would not have been able to get to this stage without their generosity. Our Secretary has acknowledged these people and organisations. Our major income stream comes from grants from our local authority, charitable trusts, hall hire, athletic events, national cycle competition and committee organised fund raising events.
A five year plan has been completed and submitted to the District Council. This plan outlines the work and approximate cost of the maintenance work that is necessary to maintain and if need be improve our asset. The plan estimates when the work will be required and approximate time frame involved. This plan has been favourably received by council staff.
For the last two years we have undertaken a “Monster Garage Sale”which has proved to be very popular both locally and with the people of Levin. This years event October (2010) raised in the vicinity of $2,000.00 which enabled us to commence the kitchen alterations.
It is felt that this event may have run its course in the mean time and should only be conducted every alternate year with some other fund raising event be held on the same basis. The committee would welcome any suggestions from the local residents as to what may be held to achieve our target.
Finally I would also like my thanks to the school, and school staff for their assistance helping to distribute any hall information.
Malcolm Hunter - President
Book Fair
The Book Fair on Thursday 25 August was a great success!!! $1,653.50.00 was spent which meant the school were able to choose over $496.05 of books at no cost.
Thank you to everyone who supported this event.
IMPORTANT DATES
4 October Performance Dance – Memorial Hall 7.00pm
7 October NO SUBWAY LUNCH ORDERS
7 October Term 3 ends – 12 05pm
All Buses will leave at this time
8 October Rabobank Cycle Race
Help required by KPTA
25 October Term 4 commences Tuesday – 8.30am
28 October School Photos