Tēnā koutou Parents / Caregivers / Sunnynook Families

This is our last newsletter for the term, and it has been a very busy few weeks.  It is great to see our students out and about enjoying their learning and the activities at school.  The Sunnynook Try-athlon, Travelwise Easter Egg Hunt and the Sports Tabloid to name a few.  See the great photos in this newsletter.  

The Sunnynook Try-athlon and Sports Tabloid were both a great success for students and a lot of fun.  These type of events encourage students to stay active and healthy through a programme of participation.  There have also been many activities with the Travelwise students and the Easter Egg Hunt was a special treat.  Thank you to all those who contributed to these successful days and events.  The winning house at the Try-athlon was Kea house with 1460 points.  They have been rewarded with an extra 15 minutes of playtime at lunch today.

A professional photographer has also been at school to take photos and videos of our students in action - and this also created much excitement.  We are looking forward to seeing the finished video and will let you know when this has been completed and showcased on our website.

The PTA  held their Annual General Meeting on the 28th March, and I would like to congratulate:
- Elected Chair - Jenni Fox

- Secretary - Bridget Phuong

- Treasurer - Amanda Clark

Thank you also to Natalie Wilson for her time and contribution as PTA secretary.  The school is very grateful to all the members of our PTA for their hard work and fundraising efforts. 

Many of you will have come to know our Property Manager, ‘Mr Mark’, over the years.  After seven years of dedicated service to our school Mr Mark you will be missed.  Your hard work and commitment to ensuring the smooth running of our school has not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for your contributions.

While we are sad to see you go, we are also excited for you as you embark on a new journey in Nelson and a new home. You have been an integral part of our community, and we will miss your cheerful personality, attention to detail, and willingness to go the extra mile to make sure things are done right. We will always remember the good times we shared and the impact you had on our community.

Thank you for your years of service, and we wish you well on your new path.

Finally, a reminder that Thursday, 6th April is a mufti day (gold coin donation) and school will finish at the normal time. Remember that our clocks go back on Sunday for daylight saving.  I look forward to seeing all our students back for Term 2 which begins on Wednesday, 26th April.  I trust that you have a relaxing and safe Easter break and school holidays.

Ngā mihi 

Virginia

Caught Being Good:
Queenie Huang R5           for reading to kids in the library.
Jasper  Huang   R9           for picking up rubbish.

Yummy Apples Stickers:
Pena Rehrer       R2

Banner:
In week 7, the school banner went to Room 9 for their Fantail art by Margaret Mahy and their ice cream artwork. 

This week the banner went to Room 2 for the beautifu kakahu about times when they were brave, and for the amazing asbtract art hanging up in their room.

Principal's Certificates:
Congratulations to the students receiving the Principal's Certificate at Assembly.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday 5 April:                   Jesters Pie Day - PTA
                                                      Milo & Muffin - Travelwise
                                                      R7 last swim
Thursday 6 April:                       Mufti - Gold Coin
                                                      Last Day of Term
TERM 2
Monday 24 April:                       Teacher Only Day
Tuesday 25 April:                       ANZAC Day - School Closed
Wednesday 26 April:                 Classes begin for Term 2


2023 TERM DATES
Term 1 

Monday 6 February - Waitangi Day (Public Holiday)

Monday 24 April - Teacher Only Day

Tuesday 25 April - Anzac Day (Public Holiday)

Wednesday 26 April - Classes begin for Term 2

Monday 5 June - King's Birthday (Public Holiday)

Monday 23 October - Labour Day (Public Holiday)

On the 17th of  March, we had a Tabloid sports day. Parents were invited to watch and compete. There were three activities: three-legged races, multisport and rob the nest. The activity that most parents got involved in was the three-legged race. In the three-legged races, there were eight teams. Each team had a different colour band to fasten around our legs.

The multisport activity had four activities: frisbee, soccer, basketball and netball. A teacher would call a number for example five and then five people would run from each team. Sometimes parents would get involved.

The final activity was Rob the nest. There were seven teams. At first, you steal one ball at a time. Then once the person comes back you can send another person to get another ball. The teams with the most balls win! We didn’t win but we had fun! 

Tabloid sports day was very fun and I loved finishing it off with lunch on the field with my friends.

On Tabloid sports day I played an egg and spoon race. I'm not the fastest but that's ok I can let the other teams win.  I am kind and helpful because I am not always the winner. We played with Room 21 and they won the multi-sports game. We played games and they were tricky but my class never gives up and that's what it's about.

On Friday at tabloid sports, Tainui and I kept falling down and we had fun at the tabloid sports day. The three-legged race was the best. 

I went to tabloid sports day, there was Rob the nest. We were picking balls and then we had to steal balls and the team who got the most balls won. Then we did the egg and spoon and if you dropped it you had to pick it up and keep going, don't stop!!!!  With the relays, when you get to the end you put your hands on your head to show you had won. It was the best day!!

On Friday it was tabloid sports day. I was so excited to play Rob the nest egg and spoon race multi-sports. My favourite sport is multisports because it has soccer in it. I really enjoyed having my parents there for the picnic after the sport was finished. 

On Friday the 17th of May it was tabloid sports for Nga Totara and also St Patrick's Day. The word Tabloid sort of means multi. Ruma tekau ma waru and rua tekau ma rua did Rob the Nest first.  The second sport was a multisport game and the last game was an egg and spoon race.  In a three-legged way, the parents could participate when the children were done. 

A huge congratulations to the whole school for participating in the SPS Try-athlon. Many house points were earned, plenty of smiles adorned the faces of our tamariki but most importantly we moved bodies and spent some time being active. Room 1 students and three of the ESOL groups planned all the activities on the day. A number of Year 6 students also helped with the running of the day. A big thank you to all involved. The following is a reflection from a student who organised the SPS Try-athlon. 

Teacher in Charge of Sport

Emma Morrison 

On Tuesday 21st of March, it was the Sunnynook Primary School Try-athlon. It was a long day and sooo hard! I got very very tired because I skipped so much. I even had to refill my drink bottle two times. First, the Year 1 and 2s came to our skipping rotation on the field. Next were Team Totara and then Team Kauri after lunch. When the students tried hard we gave them a house bead which was 10 house points. They put the beads in their house jar. Students wore their house colours to school. The PE Shed is where we got all of the skipping ropes from for our game. There was a lot to prepare before the try-athlon could begin. We needed to get 30 long skipping ropes and some short skipping ropes too. We set up near the cricket pitch and practiced explaining the rules for the game. All of the students that came to our game had fun. The purpose of the day was to get kids moving and give the school an opportunity to earn house points. It was a great day.

Jenny Le

ESOL - Evee Group 

Room 5

Travelwise Tree:
Wow! Look at how our Travelwise Tree grew over the week with children using alternative transportation to cars. We are very proud and are impressed with the number of Sunnynook students who walk, scooter, bike and park and walk to school! A fabulous celebration of being a Travelwise School.  

Room 4 was the lucky winner with 60 points in total for the four-day week.

A big thank you to all the teachers helping the Travelwise Team with the tree and the leaves. Your participation and enthusiasm during the Travelwise Tree week were greatly appreciated!  Thank you to all the parents who contributed to making our school Travelwise by encouraging your children to walk, scooter, bike and park and walk to school.  It really does make a significant difference to the congestion at the main gate! Thank you to the new travelwise leaders for this year, for helping create the travelwise tree. 

Travelwise tree after each day of the week of walking, scooting and biking!

Easter Egg Hunt:

Last week, the walking school bus and children who scooter and bike to school enjoyed their Easter Egg Hunt in the Library. They searched high and low to find their Easter treats to enjoy.  A huge thank you to Cara and the other parent volunteers for walking with our students to school.

Walking School Bus Leader Training 

On Tuesday, Louise Cameron from Auckland transport trained up three children to be Walking School Bus Leaders. Congratulations to Cynthia Santoso for completing the training to have her Full Licence. Fern Evans and Hridika Aich completing their Learners for this training. 

These children are the leaders of the Walking School Bus in the mornings. They help other children with sneaky driveways, walking the right way and watching for obstacles that may harm other children on their way to school. 

Each class shared some work from the weeks prior, proudly holding it up for the rest of the school to see. We also sang our favourite songs from Ngā Kōwhai assemblies, "Mr Clickety Cane" and "Herman the Worm".

We had so much fun and are proud of the work that we have done. Thank you to the parents that were able to come and watch us present.

Mitey Whanau Evening
On Thursday, 4th May at 3.30pm, we will be hosting the Health Curriculum whānau evening for parents and caregivers. This evening will unpack the Mitey mental well being programme and give feedback about the Health curriculum survey that was undertaken at the end of last year.

Anxiety and Young People
Parents and Caregivers may be interested in the Resource Toolkit from Tuturu supplied by the Ministry of Education for strategies to help young people with anxiety.

Mindfulness
We have  used the bi-lingual M3 whānau app in classes for mindfulness and we would like to share this link with parents and caregivers to try.

Tēnā koutou whānau, 

In 2022 the new Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum was presented to schools to be implemented in the following years. An important part of the Curriculum is our Tūrangawaewae (the place where we stand). 

Together with Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke, we would like to collect and collate stories from our rohe. Our goal is to create a cultural narrative for Sunnynook Primary. 

A cultural narrative recognises the historical relationship between the area and its mana whenua. It describes what is unique about the place and the people your school is part of. It helps build a common understanding of heritage, traditional and spiritual connections, and values.

Do you have any information/stories/photos passed on to your whānau, about:

Any historical piece of information is valuable and we would appreciate your input. If you are interested to share please contact Bedelia Matthee bedeliam@sunnynookschool.nz and your preference of how you would like to share your information. Kia ora!

Ngā mihi nui,

Bedelia Matthee

Te Kāhui Ako o Pupuke Within School Lead

Sebastian Wood:
Hello my name is Sebastian,  

School life at Sunnynook Primary has been an amazing journey so I thought why not give back to the school and become a student leader. My jobs at school include peer mediation, helping with the lunchroom and a wet day monitor. I have a lot of useful leadership qualities. I speak two languages, English and Chinese. I am an excellent problem solver and can help with conflict situations. I am excited to work on speaking in front of the school and I am determined to make a great student leader. 

My interests include reading, maths, soccer, cricket, fishing and diving.

Thanks 

Sebastian Wood

Isabella Holt Coetzee:
Hi, my name is Isabella, I have been at sunnynook for two years, I absolutely love it here.  Sunnynook is such a welcoming school. I love it because it has  so many opportunities and great people . I am so happy to be chosen as a part of the 2023 student leader team.  I am also lucky to be a peer mediator and wet day monitor. I love being around people and I am very bubbly. Outside of school I love playing sport and spending time with friends and whanau. I take part in touch rugby, netball, rhythmic gymnastics, rippa rugby and surf life saving. I have also signed up to do a Junior netball umpiring course next month. Some of the subjects I enjoy at school are writing, P.E , art and inquiry. I am a confident and reliable student that is hard working and willing to help others feel safe and welcome in our kura. I love collaborating with others to  organize and run fun events.

You are invited to participate in a workshop with the Devonport-Takapuna Ward to contribute to the development of the Ethnic Work Plan.

Basketball
28 March.    Sunnynook Lightning (Y3/4) Bayview Celtics.    17 - 2 (Lost)
Player of the Day:  Avery Vivdich

Today we will be having our student learning conversations. These will occur from 3:20 pm - 8:20 pm. In the past these have been called Parent / Teacher Interviews or Parent / Teacher conferences. It is recommended your child attends with you. Time-slots are 10 minutes. 

Mrs Ko and Mrs Morrison, our ESOL teachers, are also available to meet with you. If your child speaks English as their second language and you would like to meet Mrs Ko or Mrs Morrison our new ESOL teacher, please also book a time slot with them.

Ms Baker, will also be available to meet with you on alternative days.  Please email to arrange a time with her. This year, she will be working with our tamariki and whānau Māori and would love to have a korero with you about your aspirations for your child/ren, if your child identifies as Māori. 

Glenfield Bunnings is inviting everyone  to their free Easter Family Fun Night on Thursday the 30th March from 5pm till 7pm.

Fun for the whole family with Zoo Adventures ( petting zoo) a magic show, ice cream, popcorn, sausage sizzle, kids Easter DIY and Adults DIY and raffle prizes.

IOnce again many thanks and we look forward to seeing you there.

 

With people travelling overseas again, there’s a risk that someone with measles could unknowingly bring the disease back to Aotearoa. 

 

Measles spreads easily and quickly, usually between people who are unimmunised or only partially immunised. It can be serious and life threatening. In the 2019 measles outbreak in Aotearoa more than 30% of the people infected had to be admitted to hospital.  

 

The best protection against measles is the free MMR vaccine. It will protect you and your whānau, and prevent the virus from spreading. 

 

You will be protected against measles if you: 

 

• had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine

• had measles before

• were born before 1 Jan 1969.

 

If you’re unsure if you or your tamariki have had any or both doses of the MMR vaccine, check by calling your GP or hauora provider. Alternatively, check your Plunket Well Child Tamariki Ora book. If you’re still not sure, be safe and get immunised – there are no safety concerns with having an extra dose. MMR vaccines are free at your local health provider and many pharmacies. 

 

As measles still occurs in many countries, if you’re travelling overseas these holidays it’s especially important to be immunised to prevent the risk of being unknowingly infected and causing an outbreak in Aotearoa on your return. 

 

More information about the measles vaccination can be found here:

 Measles vaccination – Ministry of Health

Please send your child's up-to-date Vaccination Certificate to: reception@sunnynookschool.nz

We are currently seeking the support of an adult volunteer to help supervise the road crossing on Tonkin Drive weekly on Thursday mornings from 8:15-8:45am. If you are able to volunteer please contact Rebeccah Bassett-Smith. Your support is greatly appreciated.

School Hours
Our school day is structured as follows:

Late - Students who arrive after 8:50 am need to report to the office via the student entrance for their late pass before going to class.

Absences - If your child is going to be absent from school, please inform the school office every day that your child is going to be absent by either phoning 410 6534 option 1, via the Hero app or via our website. If possible, please inform the school office before 9:00 am.

In Terms 1 and 4, your child needs to wear a hat at school when they are outside.  During these months, the New Zealand sun is very strong, and the wearing of hats together with the application of sunscreen, will ensure that your child is protected from the sun. 

Please note that the only hats that can be worn are the school wide-brimmed hats as pictured, as these offer the most protection. Caps have not been part of our school uniform since 2017. Any child without the correct hat will need to stay in the shaded playground at school during breaks.

Hats that can either be purchased from the office for or online through Argyle Uniforms on their website:  www.argyleonline.co.nz/ for $13.60.  Please ensure you write your child's full name clearly in their hat.    

Working together with Kindo and ezlunch, our School offers you a simple and quick way to view and pay for items, order lunches and complete forms.  This is our payment system, so any emails you receive from Kindo will not be spam. 

Please set up your Kindo account by following the instructions  on our website here.

This is our preferred method of payment and we encourage you to set-up your myKindo account today.

In 2023 our main form of communication with you - our school community, will be via Hero. On the Hero app, the little bell icon at the top right of your screen shows whether you have any new notifications.  At times if the post is a longer one you may need to click ‘read more’ to view the whole message. We would appreciate it if you could also use Hero to report absences.

Any parents/caregivers who haven't yet signed up for the Hero App can do so by clicking on this link.