Newsletter 11 November 2024
From the Principal
An exciting month of learning and the feeling that summer is finally coming. All students need to wear the school hats during Term 4 and Term 1 of each year. We appreciate it my be raining in the morning but by morning tea the sun is out as the weather is still very unpredictable,
Reminder - Road Crossing Adult Role Models
Please help us to keep your child safe before and after school by using the crossings. Daily we see parents calling or walking their children across the road not at the crossings which is unbelievably dangerous and unnecessary. Staff, parents and students are giving up their time for road patrol to keep everyone safe so please ensure your children use the crossing so they are not putting themselves or others at risk.
In New Zealand, child pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of traffic related child deaths.
FACTS
- More than 5 child pedestrians are killed each year.
- 100 are hospitalised.
- School age kids (5-9yo) are the most at risk.
Children look to adults to see what is the correct behaviour so please think about this before rushing across the road when a pedestrian crossing is close.
Celebrating Diwali Week
In the past fortnight we acknowledged Diwali. What is Diwali and why is it celebrated?
Diwali is one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.
Staff 2025
Senior team
Mr. Fintan Kelly, Mrs Sue Kandasamy, Mrs Monique Browne
Student Support
Mrs. Claire Stretch- SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator)
Mrs Anna Campbell - SENCO - Term 1- Term 4 while Claire is on maternity leave
Junior team
Co-Team Leaders:
Mrs Vanessa Pederson and Mrs Anna Campbell
Year 1 Teachers -
Mrs Vanessa Pederson, Mrs Donna Hitchings, Miss Amy Davidson,
Year 2 Teachers –
Mrs Melissa Quinn, Miss Katie Bell, Mrs Jade Wyeth, Mrs Leanne van Reede
Middle Team – Year 3 and Year 4
Team Leader - Mrs Roshilla Naicker
Lead Teacher - Mrs Shirley Leong
Classroom Teachers -
Mrs Roshilla Naicker, Mrs Shirley Leong, Mrs Emma Arthurs, Miss Maddie Gray, Miss Isobel Jacobs,
Miss Kenzi Elder
Senior Team – Year 5 and Year 6
Team Leader - Mrs Melanie Harper
Lead Teacher - Mrs Antonia Burton
Classroom teachers -
Mrs Melanie Harper, Mrs Antonia Burton, Miss Vanessa Roscoe, Miss Leanne Su, Mrs Vicki Vaevae and
Mr Eru Abraham
Additional Staff
Mrs Wendy Morgan - Student Support
Mr Daniel Ward - Sport/PE release teacher
Part-time - Student and Teacher Support
Mrs Marnie Rosser, Mrs Libby Morar, Mrs Jessica Richardson, Mrs Justine McManus
Learning Assistants
Mrs Michelle Alexander, Mrs Jean Wilkinson, Mrs Chris Heaven, Miss Nooriah Sayed
Mrs Sinead Tyner, Mrs Nutcha Ken, Ms Alex Lowery
Office and Property Staff
Mrs Kristina Mahoney
Mrs Ariane Hodgetts
Mr Simon Fraser
Lost Property
The lost property box is located between Room 6 and Room 7 upstairs in the junior block. A lot of jumpers are left on playgrounds, in the hall etc as the days get warmer so please encourage your child to check the lost property box and ensure all items are named.
Sunshade Upgraded and Back in Action
The junior sunshade area is now back and fully refurbished. A lovely area for the junior children to eat and play.
School dates for 2025
Term 1 – Friday 7 February - Friday 11 April
Term 2 - Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June
Term 3 - Monday 14 July - Friday 19 September
Term 4 - Monday 6 October - Friday 19 December
Major School Events this term
More information about trips and events will be sent out closer to the time
Week 5 Starting November 11th
Pakuranga Intermediate Open Morning for Enrolled Students - Tuesday
Inter school athletics - Wednesday
Photolife -Team and New Entrant Photos - Thursday
Full School Assembly - Friday 9.15 am
Week 8 Starting December 2nd
School wide fun athletics event - Wednesday
New Parent Meeting - Thursday
Senior School - BigFoot Adventure - Friday
Week 9 Starting December 9th
Board of Trustees Meeting –Tuesday
Student reports go home – Friday December 13th
Week 10 Starting December 16th
School Duty Awards Ceremony – Tuesday 17th December - 9:15 am
Junior School End of Year Celebration –Wednesday 18th December - 9:15 am
Middle School End of Year Celebration –Wednesday 18th December - 11:45 am
Senior School Graduation Assembly- Thursday 19 December - 9:15 am
Last day of the school year – Friday 20th school finishes at 1 pm
Fintan, Sue and Monique
Shrek
Last Thursday we were proud to present our school production of Shrek the Musical with two exciting performances. Work towards this production began with weekly drama lessons in Term 2 which became specific Shrek rehearsals in Term 3. Last week, the 34 students involved spent three days in intensive rehearsals at Pakuranga Intermediate ahead of the performances on Thursday.
A big congratulations to all students involved, your commitment to learning lines, songs and dances was evident in the performances and you all did yourselves very proud. A special thank you must go to Mrs Fiona Bailey who directed the show and all the work she put into making it such a success.
Celebrating Excellence
Writing in Room 21
In Room 21, we tackle the Sentence of the Week by crafting and recrafting our sentences to make our writing stand out. We start with a basic sentence, focusing on making it clear and well-structured. Then, we move into the recrafting stage, where we enhance our sentence by adding descriptive language, improving word choice, and refining how it flows. Part of this process involves searching for synonyms to replace overused or simple words, helping us expand our vocabulary and add depth to our writing. Through these steps, we’re becoming more confident and creative writers, developing a keen eye for detail and learning how to craft sentences that are both powerful and precise.
Sport
The inter school touch rugby competition at Lloyd Elsmore Park was a fantastic day filled with excitement, sunshine, and teamwork! Students from various schools came together to show off their skills and enjoy a series of friendly but competitive games. The kids had a blast, working together, cheering each other on, and making memories on the field. With perfect weather adding to the high energy, it was a day that celebrated sportsmanship, camaraderie, and a shared love for the game.
Auckland Cricket Awareness Sessions
Students at Pakuranga Heights Primary School have loved participating in Auckland Cricket’s free skills sessions this Term 4! With the support of New Zealand Cricket, the program brought heaps of excitement and energy to the field, with year 1-4 students enjoying games focused on cricket basics like batting, bowling, and fielding. Each session was packed with fun and action, creating a lively atmosphere where students could develop their movement skills and teamwork. Kids especially enjoyed learning the game alongside friends, building a love for staying active and healthy in a way that’s all about enjoyment and connection.
Enviro
Motuihe Island, Sunday 20th of October 2024.
Invited by Pest free Howick as part of the Moth Pod competition Lucas (RM7) and myself (Adyson R15) were lucky to be chosen to travel to Motuihe Island.
It was an early start to catch our ride. We met our skipper and crew, then with lifejackets on, we boarded our vessel. Her name was Ethel, an historic yacht built in 1896. It was a long journey to the island, the weather was fine and the sun shining. Once we arrived at the island, we dropped anchor and hopped on a boat with wheels that drove us up the beach.
While waiting on the beach for others in our group to arrive, we had our lunch. It was delicious! The Motuihe Trust spoke to us and talked about a new invasive plant they are finding on the island. As we walked, we looked for and pulled it out, there were lots!
We dropped our bags at the woolshed and the Trust took us on a guided walk showing us native plants and spotting native birds, Tui and Saddleback. The most exciting thing we saw was a Tuatara, it was in plain sight about a metre from the track. Everyone loved it, especially Lucas.
Before leaving the island we were gifted a rare native Kakabeak for our school. We boarded Ethel for our return journey with Lucas and I both getting a chance to steer the yacht on the way back.
By Adyson (Room 15)
Road Patrol
Year 5 students are eagerly training to become road patrollers for next year with guidance from the New Zealand Police! Learning the skills needed to keep their school crossings safe, these future patrollers are practicing important road safety techniques and understanding the responsibilities of their role. It’s a great experience that builds confidence, teamwork, and a sense of community service.
Student Success
Congratulations go to Jai Room 22 who was selected for the BMXNZ Mighty 11 BMX Test Team. This team is made up of 4 11 year old boys and 4 11 year old girls from across New Zealand to compete against Australia annually. Jai qualified first for the team, making him team captain.
As team captain, Jai gave a speech at the opening ceremony and led the haka. He had a great weekend with some hard racing. Australia came away with the win after excellent racing from both teams.
Congratulations Jai!
From the Community
