Embracing Learning. Building Resilience. Achieving Excellence. "Ka whangaia ka tupu, ka puawai"

That which is nurtured, blossoms and grows Newsletter No 11 20th May 2015

Week Five, Term Two 2015 Kia ora, welcome to this fortnights newsletter.

Celebrating Achievement Barbarians Rugby Game Congratulations to our Barbarians rugby team who represented our school at the tournament last weekend. The team worked well together, gave 100% and played in the spirit of the game ensuring that they displayed good sportsmanship at all times. Thank you for representing our school so well. Our thanks also to Jared Williams who coached the team and to all the parents who supported them on the day. Tread Lightly Caravan Last week our middle and senior students enjoyed some interesting, hands-on activities at the Tread Lightly Caravan’ that have helped to raise awareness of our environment and to form further questions for inquiry. These types of authentic learning experiences help students to make connections with their own lives, which enhances the learning process. We look forward to seeing where their inquiries into sustainable practices takes them!

Professional Learning Communities Over the next fortnight our teachers will be working alongside our math facilitators within the classrooms. These opportunities for hands-on professional learning will benefit both teachers and students. We look forward to this opportunity to co-teach and learn alongside our facilitators and students.

Intermediate (Year 7 & 8) Information Evening We will be holding an Intermediate Information Evening, on Wednesday 3rd June at 6.00pm, dedicated to discussing the transition to year 7 & 8. Karaka is a full primary meaning that we offer a traditional primary and an intermediate education. We appreciate that decisions about your children’s future schooling can be complex at times and we wish to provide you with an opportunity to gather the information you require in order to make an informed decision. A separate flyer with more information, including an RSVP date, will be sent home next week. Nga mihi nui Sarah Hynds Principal@karaka.school.nz

PhotoLife Class and Individual Photos PhotoLife will be coming on Friday 29th May. They will be taking both class and

individual photos all on the one day this time. We will be using the online ordering system again. After photo day, each child will receive a unique “shoot key code” so you can view and order the photos online. The office will also have some

ordering envelopes if you are unable to do this online. There is a free delivery period of three weeks to place orders and photos will be sent to the school. If you miss this

timeframe then there is a $5.00 charge and it will be delivered to your home address. Sibling photos are PRE-PAID only if your family requires a sibling photo to be taken.

These will need to be paid for before the 29th May or the sibling/ family photo will not be taken. Envelopes available at the office. National Young Leaders Day Our 4 Head Students, 2 Sports Captains, Head Enviro Leader, Head Peer Mediator and our Head Community Leader will attend the National Young Leaders’ Day this Thursday 21st at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau. The National Young Leaders’ Days inspire and encourage students to think about leadership in their own lives and in the lives of the speakers they hear from. Students are given the opportunity to hear from a range of high profile personalities, from all walks of life, who model positive leadership.

Scholastic Book Fair / Book Week Please note that Book Week will be commencing in Week 8 of this term. We will have a wonderful display of quality books in the school library. Families may wish to purchase a book for their home libraries or purchase a book to donate to the school. We plan to give our students an opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character and have a Grandparents’ morning. More information will follow soon.

Fundraising for Nepal Thank you very much to all the people who supported our fundraising for Nepal. The raffle was won by Jacob A's auntie and raised a total of $321.60. The coin trail raised $118.50. Thank you to Jacob A. and Jessica G. for showing the virtue of caring by helping to organise these fundraising events.

Kids 4 Kids Choir Any children in years 3, 4 or 5 are welcome to come to Room 8 at 12.35pm (after lunch eating) if they think they might be interested in joining the Kids 4 Kids choir. The children will receive a note letting them know details of the concert night. We will practise each Thursday lunchtime.

Mathletics Mathletics is a computer based maths programme. It provides your child with the opportunity to work on fun maths activities at home. It supports the numeracy curriculum taught at school. At Karaka School we sign up all of our senior school students because this programme is part of their home learning activities. In the middle and junior school it is optional. The cost for the year is $30.00 and children can use the programme until February 2016. If you would like to sign up your child please pay at the office or send in payment and details of your child’s name, class and age.

AG Day MeetingYes, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to start thinking about our annual major fundraiser - Agricultural Day. The first meeting for the Agricultural Day Committee and helpers is set for Tuesday 26th May, 7.00pm in the staffroom. Please come along and hear what the day is all about. This is a major fundraising day for the school with the showing of animals, stalls, auctions, quick fire raffles etc. We would love to see some new faces, especially from

the new families to the school. If you have some ideas, skills or contacts, don't be shy, please come along. If you have any queries please contact the school office on 2948166 Enrolments 2016

If you have children who you wish to enrol in 2016, or have friends, family or neighbours who have children they would like to enrol, please bring this notice to their attention. We would like to encourage you to enrol your children as soon as possible. We have very limited spaces available for out of zone enrolments.

Thanks very much to Matt Stirling for the paint he has donated to the school.

End of Year Magazines Limited stock available 2013 and 2014 editions. $7.00 each, available in the office.

Meeting TONIGHT There will be a PTA meeting tonight, 20 May, in the staffroom at 7pm. We have many items planned this term, Oxford pies, Entertainment books and a Social Event. Come along and share your ideas. All welcome.

Successful PTA Fundraiser.

Thank you to all community members who contributed towards the Scrap Metal Fundraiser, to raise funds for our Pool Project Incentive. Thank you to Jo Wilcox for organising this fundraiser and Pete Sim for his brilliant tractor power. Overall we raised

$1950. Thank you everyone.

OXFORD PIES Yum yum!! It's that time of year again to stock up on easy, comfortable meals. An Oxford Pie order form is attached to this week's newsletter. Many delicious flavours to choose from. Please note the due date – Friday 5th June, we cannot accept any late orders, and the pick-up date – Monday 15 June. Thank you for supporting this fundraiser.

REMINDER DATES 20 May PTA Meeting 7.00pm 20 May Otago Maths Problem Solving 21 May National Young Leaders Day 25 May Aims Games Parent Meeting 6pm 26 May Middle Team Trip – Botanic Gardens 26 May AG Day Meeting 7pm Staffroom 29 May PhotoLife Photos – Portrait & Class 29 May Assembly 03 June Intermediate Information Evening 05 June Oxford Pie Orders Due Back 15 June Oxford Pies orders to be collected from hall

Community Notices

Hockey Skills – Wednesday Afternoons at School I will be holding a hockey skills session after school on a Wednesday for the rest for the term depending on interest for anyone in the Junior or Middle Teams wanting to give hockey a try and learn some basic skills. Meet in the junior courtyard at 3pm for about 45mins – 1hr. So come along and give it a go or contact Kelly on 021646911 for more info.