|
|
|
|
Newsletter ~ 1 May, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
From The Principal
Tena koutou ngā whānau, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa,
|
It certainly has been a wet day today. Thank you to everyone who was able to pick their children up early. Teachers made a valiant effort to get to school but we did end up focusing on safety (and ensuring teachers did not get stuck at school) and therefore recommended teachers out of the local area turn around and return home.
|
Next week our middle and senior teachers begin in-depth Structured Literacy training. This will provide teachers with additional expertise in implementing explicit and systematic literacy instruction, and enhance teachers’ ability to tailor their approaches to individual student needs. While our junior classes have a strong emphasis on phonic decoding and encoding (linking sounds to the grapheme/letters that represent the sounds), once students are confident in these areas they focus on high level literacy skills such as comprehension and developing vocabulary. A reminder that we are closing at lunch-time on Monday to support this professional development.
|
Alongside this, we continue to refine and target assessments so that we have a very clear picture of the needs of our students, where their strengths are, and areas for growth. We appreciate the work that many parents put in at home while their children are learning the relationship between letters and sounds. While in our junior classes we spend a substantial amount of time focusing on this, the students who make the most progress are those who have additional support at home, practicing sounds and reading the decodable texts. If you have any questions as to how best to support your child please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.
|
Earlier this week, there was a Hero post regarding Health Education. This provides you with both the opportunity to comment on the nationwide curriculum refresh for Relationship and Sexuality Education and our school Health Education programme.
|
The weather looks wet and cold for the rest of the week so stay dry and warm, and we look forward to an improvement in the weather next week.
|
|
|
|
Te Kohanga Year 1
|
|
|
3, 2, 1 ... Blast Off!There was great excitement on Monday morning as students arrived to find the Year 0/1 classroom had been transformed into a space rocket and space rocket launch station.There has been amazing dramatic play happening this week, the students' imagination has been fully engaged.
|
Did you know? Dramatic play encourages children to interact with their peers, negotiate roles, and collaborate on imaginary scenarios. This helps develop important social skills such as communication, cooperation, and empathy.
|
|
|
|
Wacky Hair Day 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last term, on Wednesday, the student council brought the fun with Wacky Hair Wednesday—and wow, did things get wild! The school was bursting with color, creativity, and crazy cool hairstyles. Everyone went all out trying to top the wackiness charts!
|
|
We all gathered on the court for the much-anticipated Wacky Hair Parade, and Ruby and I kept the good vibes going with some fun tunes as each class showed off their fabulous hairdos. It was so hard to pick the best ones, but in the end, only six prizes were up for grabs—each one winning a sweet reward from Ninja Valley!
|
Here’s the rundown of the winners:
Bluebelle took the top spot for the senior group
|
Maddie and Billie represented Patiki in style
Leiah wowed us for Te Kohanga
Alexis and Otto stood out in Karen’s class
|
|
And let’s not forget our awesome teachers—Karen and Anna totally rocked their looks and scored Warehouse Stationery vouchers!
|
|
All in all, it was a super fun, laughter-filled day full of personality, music, and some seriously wacky hair!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pātiki Space Art
|
|
This term for Inquiry, Pātiki is learning about space. We've been exploring the vibrant, retro rocket art of Peter Thorpe, and it has truly inspired us. Using his bold style as a springboard, each of us created our own unique rocket artwork. After finishing our masterpieces, we took time to reflect on our creative process and how our final pieces turned out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooking With Leila
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Tuesday, Kiara, Leila, and I made Anzac biscuits for our class.
We made the biscuits because Anzac Day was last week, and we wanted to do something special to remember it. First, we combined the dry ingredients, including oats and coconut. Then we added golden syrup and rolled the mixture into little balls.
Everyone really enjoyed them!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School Youth Worker
|
|
|
Last term I have been working in school for the Diamond Harbour Youth and Community Trust (DHYCT) as the 24-7 Youth Worker. This role is a collaboration between DYCT, the school and the Harbour House Church.
|
|
I have spent the last 20 years in the youth work sector as a youth worker, Professional Supervisor, volunteer manager and in governance. Over that time I have worked with young people from many different communities and families but the unchanging theme with any youth work is always that it is relationships that make the difference. All of us need positive relationships with caring adults as we grow up if we are going to not just survive but thrive as adults. The youth worker relationship provides an extra avenue for additional caring adult in a child’s life.
|
|
As part of the in school hours I have been supporting students at break times by running structured games for anyone who wants a place to hang out. We also have breakfast (pancake) club on a Wednesday morning and I have been offering one to one catch ups with young people. In term 2 we will add to this with a Friday morning Weetbix Club from 8.10-8.40am for any kids who wants to eat together and play some board games before school.
|
If you want to check in about your child or discuss how I can best support them, in my role as 24-7 youth worker, please don’t hesitate to reach out: Info.diamondharbouryct@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
Garden to Table News
|
|
|
|
|
We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone in the community who has helped us replace the plants and seedlings that were stolen from the school garden over the school holidays, it is lovely to see the community come together and support the Garden to Table programme. We look forward to planting the new blueberries and harvesting them later in the year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food Fairy Fun Run
|
|
Wednesday 21st May, is the Food Fairy Fun Run. Students will each run laps of a track and will be asking for donations of non-perishable groceries to be donated per lap that they run or walk within an hour. This unique event allows our students to demonstrate their school values of Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga and Hauora to our wider community and can be added to their “Giving to Others” Diamond Challenge.
|
Your child will be bringing home a sponsorship form for them to ask friends, family and their wider community.
|
|
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Phillipa or to talk to your child’s class teacher.
|
|
|
|
|
Swimming Pool Key Return
As our swimming season has come to an end, the school pool will be closed from the start of the school holidays on Friday, 11th April
|
If you have a pool key, we kindly ask that it be returned.
|
Additionally, if you paid your bond online, please email the office with your preferred bank account details so we can process your refund.
|
|
Thank you for your support of our school pool—we truly appreciate it
|
|
|
|
What's Coming Up at Diamond Harbour School
|
- Monday, 28th April first day of term 2
- Monday, 5th May early finish 12.30pm
- Friday, 9th May Pioke Assembly
- Monday, 12th - 16th May Road Safety Week
- Wednesday, 14th May School Photos
- Friday, 16th May Pink Shirt Day - Diversi-tea Party
- Monday, 19th May Board Meeting
- Wednesday, 21st May Food Fairy Fun Run
- Friday, 23rd May Patiki Assembly
- Wednesday, 28th May Food Fairy Fun Run Postponement Day
- Friday, 30th May Staff Only Day - School closed for instruction
- Monday, 2nd June King's Birthday - Public Holiday
- Wednesday, 4th June Zones Cross Country
- Friday, 6th June Te Kohanga 2-3 Assembly
- Monday, 16th June Board Meeting
- Tuesday, 17th June Enviro Afternoon
- Friday, 20th June Matariki Public Holiday
- Thursday 26th June Matariki Night Makete
- Friday 27th June Last Day of Term Two
|
Lunch programme $3:50 per week (a slight increase from the last few years) - Thursdays
|
|
After School Care: Contact Ursi - ursina.riederer@diamondharbour.school.nz
|
|
|
|
What's Up In The Local Community
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What's Up Outside Diamond Harbour
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
