Kia ora e te Whānau

Our kaiako have been really busy over the last few weeks assessing tamariki progress and preparing reports.  Our goal is that our reporting to whānau shows the progress being made as well as the level our children have achieved. 

Our starting point for teaching is where each child is at and we want to be able to celebrate the progress being made. 
When we held a whānau hui last term you told us you would like to receive reports before the end of Term 4.  We are on track to have reports out to you at the end of Week 8 on Friday 6th December.

We would like to give a big shout out to Guyco who are continuing to deliver our new buildings ahead of schedule and to a high standard.  We will be making arrangements for the blessing of our new admin buildings and staffroom soon - we hope to be all moved in ready for the start of Term 1 2025.

Huge thanks to our Health Curriculum Focus Group - they have been working hard to look in depth at how we can adapt a new resource to teach the Relationships & Sexuality Curriculum.  We are now getting ready to do our Whānau Consultation on the Health Curriculum which will give you all a voice in what we teach.  The Consultation period will begin towards the end of this term and end early in Term 1 2025.  Our Board will then respond to the feedback and changes will be implemented from Term 2 onwards. 

We have a pretty full newsletter this issue so I will leave you to read about all the other exciting things that have been happening.

 
Ngā mihi

Helen 

 I have been asked to clarify the intention behind last week's Te Tiriti Hīkoi.  

Last week a group of tamariki in one of our senior classes, Te Kōrari, began asking their teacher questions about the hikoi which had begun in Tai Tokerau.  Rather than answer their questions from his own perspective, their teacher set them the task to gather rangahau (research) about this topic.  

On Thursday 3 students from Te Kōrari approached me - as principal - and asked if they could finish their week of research by showing their work in their assembly and holding a hīkoi around our field.  I asked them questions about their learning and thought about whether this social action fits with our values as a kura, as kaiako, with our legal obligations and within our curriculum.     Click here to read more about why honouring Te Tiriti is part of our obligation as a school.

We let whānau know about the planned assembly hīkoi and let them know they were welcome to join in.

On the day of the assembly it rained and so the hīkoi was held under the canopy instead.  The signs that some or our tamariki carried were either made by them as part of their research or were made by their own whānau for them to hold.  

At the end of the assembly, Te Whānau Harakeke classes set off on their hīkoi.  As is the way at Ruakākā, there was music playing, as well as waiata and haka and our tamariki and kaiako hopped up and joined in.  

I have been told that some of our tamariki felt uncomfortable about joining in.  I apologise for this - if your child has expressed that they felt this way please pass on my apologies.  

Nau mai haere mai Whaea Da! 

We would like to introduce you all to our new kaiāwhina, Whaea Da (Darlene). She is māmā to Nikora (Te Kōrari) and Amiria (Te Rito). Whaea Da is working in Te Whānau Harakeke, in particular Te Kākano. Welcome to Ruakākā School Whaea Da

We have a large amount of Lost Property at the moment. Please come and have a look through it in case you child has something in there. Anything that is left at the end of the term will be donated to charity.

We would love to have you join our school float for the Marsden Lions Xmas Parade. This year we are going to create a LION KING float. This is another opportunity to showcase our amazing costumes and props. If you are able to join us on Saturday 14th December, please meet us at the Ruakākā Tavern at 10am. We will get ready/dressed and placed on the float all ready for a 10:30am start.

We would like to know the number of students who are able to participate - Please give your name to the office if your child is able to be on the float.

A massive thank you to Nicole Whyte for the amazing Christmas display she has done in the library. Usually this would be set up in the office, but as we are preparing to move into the new admin block, the library was a better place for the display.

Thanks to Rehua Martin, Liam Jennings and Liam Hansen for helping Jimmy install our new sensory boards around our kura.

This time the girls are helping Jimmy - re using our bark mulch from tree felling to pretty up our side gate area. Thank you Narlah Hurihanganui, Rose Hopkins and Jenna Daisley.

Please make sure your tamariki has a change of clothes in their bag every day. We only have a small amount of clothes in the office in case of emergencies, so we may need to call you to bring in some clothes for your child. 

 Introducing Becky:
It is a privilege to be available to support the students and amazing teachers here .
My whānau : I am a grand-mother, wife, and mother of 3 children & 2 mokopuna . I live in the Bream Bay area and have enjoyed this beautiful local area for 17 years.
I understand how tough some of life's challenges are and that is why I am here as a listening ear to any student that wishes to meet up.