One of the best things about raising our tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand are the opportunities for Education Outside the Classroom.   This week the first of our Year 5/6 camps took place under the shadow of Manaia Maunga. 

I would like to thank our senior team kaiako Amber, James, Jeremy and Josh for all of the extra mahi that goes into preparing for camp and also to their whānau for supporting them to be away from home for 3 days and 2 nights.  We take health and safety seriously and there is a lot of checking and paperwork that happens before we pull out of the carpark with your tamariki in our care. 

As always we have great support from you our whānau - preparing meals, supervising activities and climbing up Manaia.  We appreciate you!
 
I headed out to visit this week and spent some time finding out what everyone had enjoyed.  I also headed up Manaia  - it was really special to climb those 1000 plus steps for the first time (some kids in the group had enough breath to count them as they climbed!) with our kura.

We will add lots more pictures of both groups in the next issue. 

Ngā mihi

Helen 

Our Strategic Plan for 2025 is complete and uploaded to the school website.  We are expecting a visit from ERO (Education Review Office) in Term 2 this year.

In Term 1 tamariki have been starting school on their 5th birthday as usual.  Just a reminder that from Term 2 we will begin cohort entry which means there are just 2 dates that 5 year olds will start school.  These are the start dates for the rest of 2025:

If you have a tamaiti who turns 5 years old this year get in touch with the office and they will organise enrolment forms and school visits.

We do have a few places available in English medium for tamariki who are not in our enrolment zone - we always accept out of zone tamariki into Māori medium classrooms.

Last week, the junior school went on an exciting  trip to the Kauri Museum at Matakohe. There was a lot of singing on the bus. We saw so many interesting things. We had three main activities- School House visit with a real olden day teacher, Gum Polishing, and a talk about the museum. After lunch we explored the museum looking at all the machinery, vintage rooms and lots of kauri gum. The museum was very interactive with lots of hands-on equipment throughout the venue. It is such a great museum and all the tamariki and adult helpers thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Here is some writing-

I can’t wait to go to the Kauri Museum. My favourite part was what they made and how they made it in the olden days (tools). It was amazing and I loved it. I was excited when Dad came with me. By Mabon (R10)

I love the way we were driving. I love the kauri museum. My favourite part was people snoring on the bus. I love you Kauri Museum. I wish that I can go back. By Ida (R10) 

...

Kia Ora! My name is Dennaye and I am the Public Health Nurse for Ruakākā School.

I work with children over 3years to 12years of age; However, our wider team includes the Youth Specialty Nurses and Specialty Ear Nurses.

If you have health concerns for tamariki of any age, please feel free to contact me and we can put you in touch with the right team to support you.

Mahi we do within schools includes:

 

While these are some of the things we do, it is not a definitive list.

Contact me at Dennaye.channings@northlanddhb.org.nz or ask the school staff to make a referral about any health concerns you may have for your tamariki. 

 

 

+64 21 199 0115 | dennaye.channings@northlanddhb.org.nz

16-24 Commerce St Whangarei

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Our swimming pool is still warm enough to use. Please remind your tamariki to bring their togs and towels on their swimming days.

Atama Reid and Brooky Brears were a big help to Jimmy with changing the tyres, swapping damaged wheels for new ones and learning about tyre pressures.

Rehua Martin and Phoenix Lewin helping Jimmy make some upgrades to the soccer goals.  They re-welded and bent up new bars to make them more stable and then repainted and help to set them up and peg them down. Great mahi boys!

Some of our kaimahi are once again taking part in the Classic 100 challenge to walk, run, skip or hop 100km each over the month of March. So far we have collaboratively walked over 2000kms! What a massive effort.
We are doing this to kohi pūtea (raise funds) for the "I have a dream" charity who are focused on inspiring dreams and enabling futures for tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth). Program participants (Dreamers) are supported and mentored by Navigators across their time at school and beyond to year 15, helping connect them to ongoing education and employment opportunities. We have raised $625 so far. A big thank you to everyone that has donated to this cause.
As we about to finish this challenge, it is the last chance to donate. If you are able to do so, please click this link. 
Ngā mihi nui!

Ruakākā School hoodies and tees, Whānau t-shirts and Te Whānau Harakeke hoodies and tees can be ordered online here. These are not being done as a fundraiser and are being sold at the lowest possible price for you all.
Happy shopping.
Any questions, please get in touch with Emma, info@designbyem.co.nz  

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. 

We are really fortunate that Helen from Lifewalk will be supporting our kura as a Wellbeing Mentor. She will be available for 4 hours each week to meet with any students who are needing extra support in a low key way to chill or chat. All conversations/sessions will have parent permission prior and no religious aspects will be part of the sessions.  If you would like your tamaiti to be able to talk with Helen please contact the office so that we can set that up.