Newsletter 29 April 2024
From the Principal
A warm welcome to our new families starting. I would like to acknowledge Anzac Day which occurred during the holidays. Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou – we will remember them.
Full School Assembly This Friday
We had to postpone last year due to the weather bomb that hit Auckland. Everyone is welcome to attend under the sun shade - Friday May 3rd at 9.15 am.
New Drinking and Bottle Stations
During the holidays extra stations were installed around the school to make it easy for all students to stay hydrated.
Senior School Sun Shade
Over the next month work will start to have this completed in June. This will be another great asset for the school
Attendance Matters - Government Priority
The Government is very focused on raising student attendance and engagement. As parents we know that regular attendance at school or kura has an enormous impact on young people’s engagement, participation, and achievement.
School attendance has declined over the past decade, and COVID-19 has made things worse. This means children and young people are missing out on learning, friendships and connections with their classmates and kaiako.
We all have a role to play in ensuring our young people are attending and engaging in their education. We know from research conducted by the Education Review Office that 41% of parents think it’s okay for their child to miss a week of school a term. We strongly encourage you as parents and whānau to take on board the importance of their child attending school every day unless your child is sick.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ATTENDANCE TARGET
Measure | 2024 Target | Pakuranga Heights |
Percentage of akōnga attending school regularly (attending more than 90%, an average of 9 days a fortnight) | 70% | 61% |
We can do better together. ‘Our school vision is reaching new heights together’
School Uniform
School hats are not required in Term 2 and Term 3. Please label all clothing clearly and remind your children to put jumpers etc. in their bags if they are using them. Uniforms rarely get taken on purpose and are generally left in the hall or on the field etc.
Parking Reminder
Please do not park over our neighbours driveways as this can not only block their access but be a health and safety issue for other students. The neighbours can also get extremely annoyed and have a go at our office staff. If you are worried about parking, come earlier or slightly after the 3.00pm rush. Thank you, together we make it safe for all children. Please remember there is parking behind the church opposite our school and we have road patrol in operation to ensure your children are able to cross the road safely.
Keep Kids Road Safe - Police advice
Forget the house, the car or the flash TV. Our kids are our most precious asset and deserve special care and attention, especially when they’re most vulnerable – on and around the roads.
As adults, we are the biggest influencers of kids’ behaviour in the community. If kids see us running across the road in front of traffic or cycling without a helmet, they will see that as OK. If they walk to school, walk with them several times so you can identify the hazards and show them what to do. Show them why using a pedestrian crossing is important, and the dangers of crossing the road.
We also need to be alert to the special way kids react to situations. As drivers, we should take care when we see kids, or where they’re likely to be (around schools, playgrounds and school buses). Slow down and be extra vigilant. By their very nature, kids are impulsive and bad judges of distance and speed, so even if they see you, they might still run onto the road.
Every year about 40 children die as pedestrians and about 100 are seriously injured – mostly going to or from school, or near their homes. Child pedestrian injuries account for about a third of all traffic-related child deaths. So what can we do to keep our kids safe on the road? At a basic level, we can:
- Teach kids how to use pedestrian crossings and controlled intersections safely.
- Use a school travel plan.
- Keep your vehicle speed around kids very slow – around school buses the law says you must travel at only 20 km/h (in both directions).
- Greater awareness by everyone in the community on the role they play in child pedestrian safety.
Cycle safety
Nearly 500 children a year are hospitalised after cycle accidents and on average two children die each year (most of them boys). Boys aged 10-14 years are at greatest risk of fatal injury.
The main messages for child cyclists:
- Be smart – plan safe cycle routes with an adult, the best riders are skilled riders.
- Be safe – no helmet, no bike.
- Be seen – wear bright colours, and use reflective gear such as high-visibility vests and backpack covers to give you a better chance of other road users seeing you
Halberg Games
The Halberg Games is a national sports tournament held each year for young athletes aged 8-21 with a physical disability or visual impairment.
Ashley Neilson from Room 12 competed in this year’s event held on April 19 at King's College. Although the weather was appalling, Ashley had a great time and won a 50m race.
Ashley had some loud and enthusiastic supporters cheering her on throughout the day and she was lucky enough to meet Olympians, Lisa Adams and Eliza McCartney.
Congratulations Ashley!
Fintan, Sue and Monique
Pink Shirt Day
Once again this year we will be taking part in Pink Shirt Day on Friday 17th May. Pink Shirt Day is a worldwide initiative to stop bullying and in New Zealand is driven by the Mental Health Foundation.
We will hold a mufti day with students encouraged, but not required, to add some pink to their outfit. While there are official Pink Shirt Day t-shirts available please do not feel you have to go out and purchase anything.
With Winter approaching, we are aware this is a difficult time for many families in our community, so we are asking students to bring a can or other non-perishable food item for this Mufti Day. These will be donated to the East City Salvation Army who we have supported in the past.
Creatives in Schools
Thanks to a Ministry of Education grant we were lucky enough to have artist Rowena Rooney working with us for the second half of last term. Rowena worked with 40 students across Years 3-6 to create the mosaic tiles you see below. These stunning artworks tell the story of Aotearoa and Pakuranga Heights of the past, present, and future. The tiles will be installed to create a new pathway alongside our field as a long-lasting art installation. Congratulations to all the students involved, you have done an excellent job!
Sports News
Howick Fun Run 2024
The Howick Fun Run was a great success this year. Many students and parents participated, from our youngest 5 year olds, to our year 6’s. Starting promptly on a beautiful Sunday morning, all students from Pakuranga Heights School eagerly gathered together on Stockade Hill in Howick. The sea of red uniforms stood out in the massive crowd of schools and families.
The event brought the community together, with people of all ages and backgrounds joining in. The support from local businesses and organizations showed the strong bonds within our neighborhood. Overall, it was a wonderful day filled with unity, fun, and positive impact.
From the community
Auckland Basketball are promoting some free sessions for our kids, focussing on skill development and connecting children within the local community to opportunities to participate in the sport.
