Only 1 and a half days to go and we've finished another term.  

Since our last newsletter our tamariki have been involved in some fantastic learning:

The Ministry of Education has granted all schools in New Zealand a Teacher Only day in Term 4 to work through the next stage of the New Zealand Curriculum refresh.  Kuratau School will be closed for instruction on Monday 13th November.  Teachers will be working onsite to upskill their knowledge of the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh.  

In today's newsletter you will find a whanau survey to complete - Rongohia te Hau.  We would love to hear your feedback about our school, as we continue to work together to make Kuratau School a fantastic place for your children to belong, connect, create, innovate and thrive.  

On behalf of all staff I wish you all a wonderful two week holiday break with your children.  Let's hope this beautiful warm spring weather continues.  We look forward to seeing you all back at school on Monday 9th October.

Nga mihi nui

Please note:  School will be closed for instruction on Monday 13th November for a Teacher Only Day.

The Ministry of Education have allocated schools' four teacher-only days (TODs) over the next two years to prepare for the implementation of curriculum and assessment changes.  We held our first day during the Term 2 holiday break. We will use one of the MOE allocated TODs on Monday, 13th November, 2023.  On this day teachers will work together to unpack some of the changes that are occuring as a result of the NZ Curriulum refresh. 
 

Facilitators from the Taupo Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) will be visiting Kuratau School early next term to use the Rongohia te Hau tool. 
What is Rongohia te Hau and how can it be used?

Rongohia te Hau is a smart tool developed by the University of Waikato to provide a school wide snapshot of what cultural relationships for relational pedagogy currently looks like in your school.  It asks, ‘how is teaching being done and how is learning experienced across our school?’ and ‘what do students and/or whānau think of this?’

The first part of the Rongohia te Hau process uses online surveys for teachers, whānau and students. Data from surveys are presented back to schools. The surveys tell us what Māori students, non-Māori students, and teachers are saying about their teaching and learning experiences.

We encourage you to read the information below and please complete the Kuratau School whanau survey .  Data collected will be used to help us improve relationships at Kuratau School.

A massive well done to all the Senior Students who particpated at this year's Taiopenga.  You did a fantastic job. 

Huge thank you to Whaea Lena for all the mahi she has put in to this year's Kapa Haka group. 

The Tuwharetoa Taiopenga can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/heorotaiohi/videos/751461523108324.  Kuratau School features 3mins 18sec into this video.

Well done to all those who supported Child Cancer on Wednesday 13th September.  There were some fantastic wigs and wacky hair doos.  

We raised $327.60 - $200 in sausage sales and $127.60 in gold coin donations.

On Friday, 15th September, we held our annual Wai Whenua Day.  Massive thank you to those whanau who came along to help us out.

As kaitiaki of our nearby wetland area we have a responsibility to help maintain and care for this natural environment.  Our tamariki and volunteers worked together to plant a large number of trees.  They worked hard to release  and weed around more mature plants and enjoyed completing some scientific water sampling in the wetland area.  

Our plants this year came from three sources:

We sold 847 tickets in total and have raised $8470 towards our senior camp. Thank you to all those people who sold or bought tickets.  We appreciate your support.   

Results from the raffle are as follows:
 

 

Our student’s have been busy creating art work that can be made into affordable Calendars, Cards, Diaries, Mouse Mats and Sketch Pads.

Each product is made from your own child’s art.  On Monday 18th September the image your child created during this workshop was sent home via SeeSaw.  Check out their creativity!!  This will be the art used to create these products should you wish to order.  You are also able to upload your own images to create unique items for purchase.

These make unique Christmas gifts for family and friends and are perfect for posting overseas.

Follow these instructions to place your order online:

1/. Go to www.kidsartworks.com
2/. Use the Entrance Code: KZ1274
3/. Enter your child’s room & name when prompted

ORDERS are open until Monday 16th October 2023.

Payment must be made over the website via credit card or account2account.

If you have any questions please contact the school on 073865801

Bus fees for Term 3 are now due.  Spaces on the bus are at a premium and we now have a wait list for those wanting to join.  Please ensure that your Term 3 fees are paid prior to the start of Term 4 to ensure your child retains their space on the Bus.

Fees for Term 4 will be $382.50.  For those Room 1 and 2 students attending the Wellington Camp in Term 4 this fee will be discounted by 1 week ($37.50) per student as it is the schools decision to run a camp during this time.  Note:  As the bus is a chartered bus we are unable to apply discounts for any other reason (i.e. absence, family holiday etc).

Invoices for Term 4 fees will be sent in the first week of Term 4.

Enjoy the holidays!