21st March 2024

We have listened to your feedback and thought a lot about how we can spend more time with you talking about learning. We would like to spend 15 minutes with every whānau talking about the strengths of each tamaiti and how we can support their next learning steps as we prepare our mid-year reports.

For 2024 we need to do this early next term, as at the end of Term 2 we will have 9 classes moving out of their current rooms and into others. All of our Māori medium classes will move to our new buildings and Rooms 11-14 will move out of their classrooms - two of these classrooms will be removed to make more space for play and Rooms 11/12 will be turned into our new staffroom.

We have set aside a whole day for hui a-whānau on Tuesday 14 May. Classes will not run on this day so that our kaiako can spend 15 minutes with each family.

Appointments will run from 8am to 6pm and every whānau will make a 15 minute appointment to meet teachers. If your time is flexible and you don't work a 9am-5pm work day we would request that you book during the middle of the day so that we can reserve the start and end of the day for those who can only come at those times.

If you would like an online meeting or a phone conversation during that day please ask your child's teacher and they can organise this. Our goal is to meet every whānau and the hui will help us to create a report for your tamaiti which includes goals which have been set together. We will send a link for bookings to begin on Monday and if we don't hear from you we will make calls to arrange a time that suits.

We begin Term 3 with assessments to see how well each child has progressed. To keep you well informed we will send an update on achievement data straight out of our Student Management System early in Term 3 with an explanation to ensure whānau are better informed about learning.

Within a week of our hui a-whānau on 14th May, you will receive your mid-year report. We hope this is a report that will go on the fridge or the noticeboard to celebrate strengths and remind you of the targets set together, See below for an example of how the report will look. Thanks Whaea Theresa/Mrs. Wells for designing such a shiny looking format!

Below is our reintroduction to Whaea Charlene. Each newsletter we will continue to learn about kaimahi / staff of our kura. We also have two new kaiāwhina (teacher aides) and one new kaiako who have recently started at our school. Read about them below.

Ko Te Ramaroa te maunga, Ko Tuwhātero te wairere, Ko Whirinaki te awa me te whenua,

Ko Moria te marae, Ko Te Hikutū te hapū, Ko Te Hikutū te iwi, Ko Kupe te tangata,

Ko Matawhao te waka, Ko Hokianga nui ā Kupe te moana. Nō Whirinaki ahau.

I tupu ake au ki Kaikohekohe. E noho ana au ki Whangārei. Ko Charlene Morunga tōku ingoa.

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa.

Kia ora! Ko Whaea Charlene ahau. He kaiako au i Te Kākano,

e whakaako ana i ō tātou tauhou i roto i Te Whānau Harakeke.

I tēnei tau, ko au hoki te Kaiwhakahaere o Te Whānau Harakeke.

I am passionate about Te Ao Māori, promoting wellbeing among our staff and having fun with our tamariki. Leading school-wide waiata, dress-up days, and sparking our tamariki's love for learning are highlights for me. Personally, I'm a proud māmā of two amazing tamariki, Bianca, 19, and Marcus, 10. Fun fact: I was expecting Marcus when I started my journey at Ruakākā School back in 2013. Working here brings me immense joy; it's a nurturing environment where Te Ao Māori and our SHINE values thrive. We're blessed with exceptional leadership, dedicated staff, and have the best tamariki in the country at our kura.

Poipoia te kākano, kia puāwai. Nurture the seed, and it will blossom.

Aku mihi,

Whaea Charlene

Kia Ora tātou ma, Ko Tamara ahau, e noho takitahi ana au ki te taha o Whaea Kowhai ki Te Pihinga. Ko Hokianga Whakapau Karakia te papakainga, ko Te Tīī te wahi tapu. Hello everyone my name is Tamara, I work alongside Whaea Kōwhai in Te Pihinga, I am from Hokianga & Te Tīī. I came from Dunedin after I had received my certificate for Tikanga Māori & Te Reo Māori, It is a pleasure to work alongside everyone & receive this opportunity to expand my mātauranga. Ngā mihi nui -Tamara

Ko Tautoro te maunga Ko Kererū te roto Ko Punakitere te awa Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka Ko Māhuhu ki Te Rangi te marae Ko Ngāti Moerewa te hapū Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi Ko Whaea Cayla ahau Mauri ora e te whānau, Ko ahau te kaiāwhina i roto i Te Kōrari, it is a privilege to spend my days alongside tamariki. He taonga ngā mokopuna. Ngā mihi.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Ko Lowel toku papa

Ko Roxanne toku mama

Ko Jessica toku ingoa

Ko Morgan toku tane

Ko Orion toku hoa tama

Ko Pearl taku tamahine

E noho ana ahau ki Waipu

Ko Haleakala toku maunga

Ko Moanui a Kiwa te moana

Nō Amerika ahau

Hello everyone. I am Jessica Loomis. I graduated from California State University of Monterey Bay with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Communication. I then moved to Wellington where I obtained a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary). I have also taught swimming for many years. I did some relief work and worked as a PE teacher and primary school teacher in Maungaturoto.

I grew up on the Central Coast of California. When I was 19 I moved to Hawaii and lived there for many years. I then spent some time traveling in Central America. I married my husband Morgan in 2008, and shortly after moved to Wellington. There, we had two children, Orion and Pearl. After living in Wellington for 10 years, we moved to Waipu in 2020.

I enjoy surfing, ocean swimming, paddling surf canoe, and volunteering as a lifeguard at the Cove. I also love to paint and sew, and I am a beekeeper.

I am very excited to be working in room 2 in the mornings and having the opportunity to get to know the tamariki in the community, and their whānau.