Term 3 Newsletter, No 1 2024

Principal's Message

Kia Orana Parents / Caregivers / Sunnynook Whānau,

‘Ātui’ia au ki te vaka o tōku matakeinanga meaning connect me to the canoe of my tribe'.

A huge welcome back to our students for the start of Term 3! I hope that you all had some time together over the holidays to relax. I would like to especially welcome our new ‘tamaiti’ and their families who have started and are new to Sunnynook Primary this term:

We also welcome the following staff members to our kura:

Leigh Humphries - Leigh, a Classroom Release Teacher will be
providing CRT across the school, teaching music and taking senior choir for Term 3. (See

curriculum corner for further details).

Zelda de Witt - Zelda is a New Entrant teacher in Room 17.

Soniya Veran - Soniya will be teaching in Room 2 for this term.

With Mrs Baker having left our kura, we are exploring options to ensure the continuation of our Āwhina programme. In week 3 we will hold a whānau hui to consult on this.

Please don’t forget to book a time on Hero for the Student Learning Conferences on Thursday, 1st August. More information is available later in this newsletter.

Tomorrow Ngā Totara students are participating in the 100 days of Olympic fun! We look forward to seeing what our tamariki can do.

We enjoy celebrating the richness and diversity of our cultures at Sunnynook Primary School. We have several language weeks coming up this term, and we would encourage parents to help us with sharing the knowledge of your culture. Please see further details in this newsletter as to how you might be able to help. Next week is Cook Island Language Week and we ask that our Cook Island students come to school in their national dress on Thursday, 1st August. We will send a reminder out on Hero next week.

Over the next three weeks Years 3-6 tamariki will be participating in an exciting programme of Gymnastics at school. Gymnastics helps to develop flexibility and mobility in our children as well as social skills. I am sure we will see plenty more handstands and cartwheels around the playground following the programme.

Ngā mihi

Virginia

Music & Outdoor Education Lessons for our students

Sunnynook Primary School teachers (as well as all teachers in New Zealand) are entitled to classroom release time according to the conditions of their employment agreement. We ensure that classroom release time supports teaching and learning programmes at our school, and the professional growth of our teaching staff. Classroom release time acknowledges the work involved in teaching preparation and assessment, and other responsibilities of our staff (e.g. pastoral care, curriculum, administration).

At our kura (school), we work hard to secure quality release teachers who are inducted into the practices of our school and who can enhance the learning for our students. We ensure that while teachers are released, our students (where possible) have the same release teacher for the continuity of their learning. This term we are trialing a different format in which our akonga will receive specialist teaching in other curriculum areas.

We are very excited to announce that we have a music teacher for the term! We welcome Ms Leigh Humphries, an experienced teacher who has a background in music and music education. During the term, all students will receive Music lessons in their classrooms in 1.5hr blocks spread across the term. Ms Humphries has planned an exciting programme to suit our various age groups which includes; beat, rhythm and tempo, music appreciation, singing, playing instruments and music theory such as elements of music and different genres.

In addition to this we have introduced specialist Physical and Outdoor Education lessons. Many of you will be familiar with Mrs Hayley Cooper who has been a regular reliever for a number of years at our school. Mrs Cooper is a trained P.E teacher and this term she will be providing block P.E lessons as well as Outdoor Education lessons. As well as specialist P.E lessons, Years 3-6 will be going into the Sunnynook Reserve for a variety of lessons focused on outdoor education and learning through direct experience in nature. This supports holistic development, including physical, emotional, and social skills. There is a focus on fostering a connection with nature and promoting environmental guardianship. Children learn about sustainability and the importance of conserving natural habitats - enabling our tamariki to experience our school value of Kaitiakitanga in real life.

An exciting term ahead!

Please note: As these lessons will be going ahead in all weather, please diarise to have your child pack their raincoat on their Outdoor Education day:

29 July: Rms 2, 4, 5
5 August: Rms 3, 6, 22
12 August: Rms 19, 20, 21
19 August: Rms 7 & 18
16 September: Rm 4
18 September: Rm 3

Footsteps performance

Last term, we were thrilled to see an incredible "Footsteps Dance" performance at Sunnynook School. This event showcased the talent and dedication of our students as they performed intricate dance moves they learned through the Footstep Dance programme.

The performance was a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of all our students, who also demonstrated excellent self-management skills throughout. It was heartwarming to see the school community come together, with many parents in attendance, showing their support and celebrating the achievements of our children.

Thank you to our teachers at Sunnynook, whose commitment and guidance made this dance program such a success.

Thank you once again for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to more exciting events and achievements in the future!

A MOMENT IN TIME - Footsteps Performance Year 3, Room 7

Next to me Sam stood waiting. My brother looked at me then ‘Butter’ played. My arms were going side to side. I bounced and flicked to the beat. I jumped to the song! Everyone clapped.

By Grace

Eventually I got on stage and then the music started. Mum smiled and I started dancing. Next I put butter on my toast and I bounced and flicked my hand and touched my knees and then did it again. Out of nowhere the crowd started singing and I was ecstatic. My mum said that was very good Aaron, I’m very proud.

By Aaron

Eventually the song started. I was so excited and I was ready. The song was ‘Butter’. Everyone danced. I waited for what was next. We did the moves. We did sidesteps and butter angels. I had a smiley mouth at the end.

By Zephyr

Suddenly I danced to the beat and I could not hear my self think because the clapping from the crowd was as loud as a lion roaring! As loud as 1000 dogs barking. We started in a basic pose called ‘Butter the toast’. Eventually I put on my best and only smile. Next I reached up high for butter angels. Everyone cheered and I was happy.

By Madison

Nervously I was standing infant of the crowd and the kids waited for the music to start. Then BOOM!!! The music started and all of the year threes started dancing at the same time. Lots of the audience were also singing the song ‘Butter’. We were doing sidesteps and butter angels. My arms rippled from left to right and I put on my jacket. At the end my Mum gave me a hug and said good job.

By Finley

My friend was gazing at me. I was standing nervously waiting for the music to start… then BOOM! The music started playing. The song ‘Butter’ exploded through the speaker. We went from left to right then forwards and backward. My arms swayed left and right. Everyone clapped and cheered.

By Mia

As soon as I got on stage we all got in position. Patiently I waited for the music to start. Everyone joined in happily, doing the ripple as ‘Butter’ was blasting out of the speakers. We all did the moves and it just started flowing. I still got some moves wrong even though I’ve been practising for ten weeks.

By Amanda

“Can the kids from Room 7, 18 and 19 please come up. They will be performing ‘Butter’.” Nervously I walked up to the stage. Everybody was staring and looking at me! With a …BOOM! CRASH! BAM! The music started. As we practised the song for at least two weeks it was a breeze. Anderson (my Dad) and My Grandma had the BIGGEST smiles in the crowd! They were so proud of me. We energetically bounced and flicked. Our buttery hands slipped off our knees. Eventually the song ended. All of us were exhausted. Exploding applause echoed.

By Luana