Newsletter 18th March 2024
From the Principal
Dear Parents
A warm welcome to our new families. It has been a busy two weeks and we have plenty of exciting opportunities for the students this term including leadership development, sporting, music and road safety.
Reading at home
Just by talking to, playing with, and caring for your child every day, you help them develop language skills necessary to become a reader. By reading with your child, you foster a love of books and reading.
Read early and read often. The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading. It’s never too early to begin reading to your child.
Give your child lots of opportunities to read aloud. Inspire your child to practice every day and give lots of praise. Play with letters, words, and sounds. Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading.
The Book Parade and the HELL Reading Challenge are two events this term we wish will help inspire and motivate our students to read and enjoy books.
REMINDER - Easter Holidays - School Closed
In New Zealand, the following days are holidays:
Good Friday - Friday 29th March 2024.
Easter Monday - Monday 1st April 2024.
Easter Tuesday - Tuesday 2nd April 2024.
Safety Barrier Arm Code Updated
The barrier arm is operational from 2pm until 3.30pm each school day. It is operated by a code that is available to parents with a disability card or issued by Pukeko Daycare.
In order to be fair to everyone we will ensure the government guidelines for the use of disability cards are followed. Please see Ariane in the office for the code. You will need to bring your disability card and car registration number.
Please help us keep your child safe by using the crossing, not stopping or parking on yellow lines, calling your children across the road etc.
Thank you to everyone who is being safe and considerate.
Road Safety
On Monday 11th March Travelwise and Zara the Zebra visited our afternoon crossing at Cardiff Road. Travelwise leaders carried signs to alert motorists and encourage pedestrians using the crossing correctly.
This crossing was identified as a safety with some parents not using the pedestrian crossings and setting a dangerous example for students. Crossing with your child at the crossing keeps you both safe and also teaches your child to cross roads safely when they are not with you.
We would like to thank and acknowledge those parents who ensure they set good examples and cross at the patrolled crossings.
Book Day - Thursday 28th March
We look forward to seeing you at our Book Parade starting at 9.15am. Weather dependent the parade will be under the CLOUD (Middle School shade sail). You will receive more information in the coming days.
Please assist your child in organising a book character costume for the parade. The judges will be looking for creative, imaginative, homemade costumes to award prizes to.
Hell Pizza Reading Challenge
We have once again registered to do this in 2024! Last year 850 schools and libraries in New Zealand took part in this programme and the feedback from teachers, librarians and parents has been that the scheme has hooked so many reluctant readers into books.
Here’s what you need to know:
The HELL Reading Challenge is free, and it is so easy. Children receive a stamp on their pizza wheel for each book they read, and once they have read seven books, they can exchange their completed wheel for a free 333 kids’ pizza at HELL.
Assemblies
All parents and whanau are invited to our full school and team assemblies. It was great to see parents at our senior school assembly last week. The assemblies are run by the students as part of our student centered approach as this impacts significantly on their growth, confidence, self-worth and leadership. It is always inspiring to see your children stand up and lead our school events.
This coming Friday 22nd March we hve our Middle School assembly starying at 9:15am and our Junior School assembly starting at 2:00pm. Both assemblies will be in the hall.
COVID-19
We appear to be experiencing a wave of Covid-19 cases at present with a number of staff being affected. This term 8 staff have been sick with Covid. We notify each class immediately if there is a case of Covid-19 so you can check your child for any symptoms.
COVID-19 symptoms
- a new or worsening cough.
- sneezing and runny nose.
- a fever.
- temporary loss of smell, or altered sense of taste.
- sore throat.
- shortness of breath (this is a sign of possible pneumonia that requires urgent attention)
- fatigue or feeling tired.
Please keep your child home if they are sick to help stop the spread of the flu and Covid-19.
Sports News
The Junior School Tennis Programme, led by Gabriel Hernandez and the coaching team from Koru Tennis Club, has been a delightful experience for students, fostering enjoyment in learning new skills and having fun on the court.
Bike Skills at PHS
Our year 5 students had the privilege to learn bike skills and bike safety in Week 6. Every student had the opportunity to take part in learning about how to ride a bike and stay safe while riding. Many expressed newfound confidence in their biking abilities, noting improvements in their balance and control. They also highlighted the importance of understanding traffic signals and being aware of their surroundings while riding.
The bike skills and safety session was deemed valuable by both students and teachers. They served as a foundation for promoting safe biking practices and fostered a sense of responsibility when riding in public spaces. The event not only provided students with essential life skills but also encouraged a culture of safety within the school community.
Enviro
We are excited to announce that the Pest Free Howick Moth Pod Competition has officially begun this week! Our dedicated PHS Pod Squad is hard at work collecting pods, seedlings, and roots to support the thriving of our environment. In 2023, our team made us proud by securing 1st prize for Primary Schools in the moth plant and waste collection category. They gathered an impressive 20,774 moth plant pods and small vines with roots, showing their determination and hard work. Moreover, they also clinched 1st place for collecting the highest number of small vines, with an outstanding count of 12,373 vines pulled out by the roots. Let's wish them the best of luck for this year's competition!
How can you contribute? If you come across any pods or vines, please inform us by sending a text or message to our Pod Squad Facebook page with the address, so we can arrange to remove these nuisance plants. You can contact us at 021 108 4068 or visit our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/
Lockdown and Emergency Procedures – What We do
At Pakuranga Heights Primary we take health and safety very seriously and employ a specialist company to audit us once per year in undertaking a lockdown. We also carry out regular emergency drills to practise and hone our procedures. There are clear, simple instructions for each drill displayed in every classroom and around the school. Teachers go over the drills with the students each term to make sure they are familiar with the procedures.
Fire drills carried out once a term and we will be having a drill before the end of the term. When the fire siren rings, we all make our way sensibly to the class names on the field fence. Class rolls called to ensure everyone is present.
Lockdown drills carried out each year. We have contracted to an outside company to train and keep staff up to date on the latest procedures. On hearing the lockdown signal, students and teachers remain in classrooms, or make their way quickly to the nearest classroom. Doors locked and blinds pulled down. Depending whether the lockdown is real or precautionary, students and teachers either assemble on the floor silently at a safe place in the classroom, or continue to work quietly at their desks. We ask that you do not contact the school via phone, or come to the school in a lockdown. Communication between the school and the community in a lockdown will take place via Facebook and e-tap to keep parents fully informed and to keep phone lines free for communication with the police.
An earthquake and tsunami drill is in Term 3 to coincide with International Shakeout Day. When the earthquake signal starts, students drop, cover and hold in the classroom before they follow their teacher to high ground via agreed on routes.
I hope that we never need to evacuate for a real situation but at least we know we have systems and procedures in place if it occurs.
From the Community
Does your child love to dance? We are so excited to let you know Expressions Dance is currently offering FREE trial classes. Expressions Dance based at Te Tuhi, 13 Reeves Road offers classes in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and so much more!Contact us 0800 420 132 or visit www.expressionsdance.co.nz
Life’s better when you're dancing….
Dilworth now offering day school option from 2025
Dilworth is an exceptional private school offering an amazing educational experience for boys from Year 7 to Year 13. Located in Remuera, every Dilworth student receives a fully-funded education with all expenses covered including music tuition, uniforms and school trips.
We want more students to access the benefits of a Dilworth education experience, including small class sizes, specialist teachers and extra-curricular opportunities. From 2025, a day school option is available for Years 7 and 8. This provides the same best in class schooling without the requirement to board.
If your son has a great attitude and you want to give him the opportunities you know he deserves, a Dilworth scholarship could be the stepping-stone he needs to reach his full potential.
Register for our upcoming Open Days to find out more. These are on Sunday 24 March or 19 May. Find out more about Dilworth Now! Visit dilworth.school.nz or call us on 09 523 3179
