Tēnā koutou Parents / Caregivers / Sunnynook Whānau,

Tomorrow we are celebrating Matariki.  Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that appears in the sky over Aotearoa in winter. Matariki rises in midwinter and for Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. Iwi across New Zealand understand and celebrate Matariki in different ways and at different times. Matariki is a time of celebration, a time to reflect on the year that has passed and a time to set goals for the year ahead.  It is a time to spend with family and friends. 

As Principal I was very proud to see our Kapa Haka last night at Wairau Intermediate with Forrest Hill and Target Road schools also performing. Well done to our Kapa Haka rōpū for a polished performance!  

Congratulations to Meeree Berghmans who has secured a new position as a full time Resource Teacher of the Deaf at Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand. Meeree has been an asset to our school as a highly skilled teacher, dedicated to her students and the community. Meeree has taught at Sunnynook Primary School for eight years mainly in our senior school, and her latest role as the Room 2, Year 5/6 teacher for the Nga Kauri team. Meeree is an exceptional teacher who is very talented in music, having tutored Marimba and showcasing these children at various events.  I know the community,  children and staff are going to miss  you  Meeree,  and your family, as you also had your children during your time with us.  We will always remember you as part of our Sunnynook family! Whilst we are sad to  farewell you, we are also excited for you in this new career pathway. 

I would like to update you and let you know that Roseanna Baker, our Āwhina teacher, will be leaving us in Week 1 of Term 3.  Roseanna will be focussing on completing her doctorate studies.  Prior to Āwhina, Roseanna taught full time in Years 5 and 6 in the Ngā Kauri team. We wish Roseanna all the very best and would like to thank her for her huge contribution to the success of the Āwhina programme at school, and to her commitment to the Pasifika group and Choir.  The Board will meet to discuss how we continue to deliver this unique initiative.  

Last Thursday, Ngā Kowhai had their Scooter Day. It was a pleasure to watch the students practising their skills around the obstacle course, and over the past two days our senior students have been doing bicycle training.  These programmes aim to give students skills to keep safe on their bikes/scooters while having fun and keeping fit!

I would also like to thank our hard-working PTA and parent volunteers for the fabulous Neon Disco on Friday 21st June.  There was lots of excitement amongst our tamariki and I have heard many good stories from the night which was enjoyed by all.  Please see the notice asking for new PTA members later in the newsletter.  Please consider how you may be able to help our school.  

As you know, our tamariki have been practising their dance moves this term with the Footsteps programme, and they are looking forward to showing you what they can do.  We hope to see you at their performance next Tuesday, 2nd July at 2.00pm.

On Thursday afternoon, 4th July, your child’s report will be published on Hero.  You will also be able to book a time on Hero today, for the Student Learning Conferences on 1st August.  More information is available later in this newsletter.    

We do have businesses in our community that support our newsletter and school.  Please read the community notices at the end of our newsletter to see what is on offer from our sponsors.

  

I hope you celebrate and enjoy the long weekend with your whānau!

Ngā mihi 

Virginia

At Assembly:
Banner:
Week 8: Room 5.  For their Pepeha which are available to be viewed via a QR code!  A lovely colourful classroom which includes a map of where they all originate from and their scientific thinking as they work through a range of experiments.   
Week 9:  Room 12.  Learning about number bands to 10 and presenting them in a magical way with white crayon and dye.
         
Caught Being Good: 
Marlie R14 - for being a kaitiaki by picking up rubbish
Leon R20 - for showing responsible behaviour.
 
Yummy Apple:
Room 20 with 59 forms handed in!
A big thank you to Millie and Aiden Billington for removing 500 stickers off the cross country apples!
R4 -   Henry
R5 -   Celzie
R6 -   Aiden
R7 -   Leon
R17 - Yuvein
R14 - Judah
R5 -   Joowoon/Aiden
R20 - Millie

New Zealand Modern School of Music Awards:
1st Gold                               Room 22 - Lincoln Liu
2nd Silver                            Room 3    - Yutong Xiao x 2
                                              Room 6    - Alfred Chen
Very Highly Commended:  Room 22 - Khim Nathan Castro
                                               Room 4   - Archy Vasilev
                                               Room 6   - Alfred Chen
Highly Commended:            Room 16 - Charlie Ashcroft
                                               Room 16 - Stanley Sim
                                               Room 22 - Khim Nathan Castro
                                               Room 22 - Lincoln Liu

In Ngā Kōwhai we have been learning about transport.  We have learnt about different types of transport, what they are used for and how transport has changed from the past to today.  

On Thursday, we brought our scooters to school.  Scooters are a type of vehicle.  We had so much fun riding our scooters at school and making different courses with the cones.  Scooters ar much faster than walking!

To our tamariki:

I would like to say a special thank you to you all for all your hard work  in making our Matariki performance at Wairau so special last night.

 I loved seeing you all perform alongside Forrest Hill, Target and Wairau Intermediate schools. I definitely had the best view in the front row. Great to see so many proud parents too.

I also loved seeing our past tamariki at Wairau representing their school!

Lots of people came up to me and said WOW your Kapa haka is amazing and I said to them yes,yes,yes  they are, they are  the Matariki ‘Stars’ of the show.

Thank you too to  the  parents who helped in the dressing rooms to prepare our tamariki and to the many extra offers of help as well.  A great night was had by all.
Mrs Montague

This week and next week here at kura, we are celebrating Matariki and the coming new year in a number of different ways.

On Mane (Monday), we had a Matariki assembly where we learnt some new things about this special time of year, our kapa haka rōpū performed a Matariki waiata and finally, we all enjoyed singing waiata together.

Across the week our Tuakana-teina have been engaged in various activities with the buddies such as weaving and art activities. Today, we sat in our 4 houses to enjoy eating lunch together with our ‘at school whānau’. 

Next week on Wednesday, as a whole kura, we will be planting a native tree to mark the new year, something which we intend to be a tradition for us in forthcoming years.

Our kapa haka rōpū have been busy representing our kura and various events. They were invited to perform at the workplace of Matua Darius which saw them excitedly travel by bus to Newmarket and share kai with the staff. We were also invited to perform at Sunnynook creche to mark their Matariki celebrations and last night, the group performed to a very high standard at the Wairau Intermediate Matariki Festival.

Kapa haka performing in the city:

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Your child's report willl be available next Thursday, 4th July on Hero. To access this from your device,  follow these simple steps:
1) On the home page that has the Sunnynook Sun logo go to the top left and click on the three horizontal lines
2) Click on the arrow next to your child's name
3) In the drop down choices under the arrow you will see 2024 Report. Click on this to be taken to the relevant page.

In Terms 2 and 4 you will notice that the achievement graphs for reading and maths have been updated. This reflects the level your child is achieving against expectations from the New Zealand curriculum.

When your child is in Year 0 or Year 1 the writing graph will not be updated in Term 2. It will be updated in Term 4. This is because the focus on reading and writing in the first two terms covers structured literacy. Your child will still be taught reading and writing for 1 hour a day however, at this stage writing focuses on letter formation, writing basic decodable words and using them in simple sentences and writing heart words. The second half of the year students are exposed to a range of writing conventions.

Flatlining:

The New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) is divided into levels, each level takes 2-3 years for children to work through.  Children in both Year 1 and Year 2, are expected to be working at Level 1 of the NZC.  Children in both Year 3 and Year 4 are expected to be working at Level 2 of the NZC, and children in Year 5 and Year 6 working at Level 3.

In our graphs on HERO when we report in terms 2 & 4, you are shown the level your child has achieved in Reading, Writing and Mathematics, alongside the level expected of children at this Year level.

     1A = (Level 1 End) achieving at the top end of Level 1

     1P = (Level 1 Middle) achieving in the middle of Level 1

     1B or 1 early = (Level 1 Beginning) achieving at the start or beginning of Level 1

All children learn at different rates and across their time at school can sometimes accelerate quickly and other times may remain at one level for some time. This can be due to needing to consolidate knowledge at different phases of their learning.

Your child’s classroom teacher will contact you if they have any concerns however please feel free to see them with any queries you have about your child’s progress.

On Thursday 1 August we will be having our student learning conferences. These differ from our Term 1 parent/teacher conferences which are adult led and one-on-one.  The idea behind student learning conferences (SLCs) is for children to have an opportunity to share their learning experiences with you and to have agency around their learning.

For Room 8 and Room 17 Caregivers:
Room 8 and Room 17 will have individual learning conversations instead of the group ones, as the students in these classes have only just started school.  Please bring your child with you.  

For All Other Rooms:
There will also be other families in the classroom with you as your child shares their learning successes.  Teachers will ensure they check in with each family, although this will be for just a brief chat.  Each interview slot lasts 20 minutes.  You will find this process different from the interviews in Term 1 as students are leading these conversations. Therefore it is really important that your child comes  with you.  If you are hoping for a more indepth, private conversation about a specific concern you have for your child it will be necessary for you to organise with the teacher another time to do this.

You are now able to book your SLC online on Hero for Thursday, 1 August from 3.20-7.20pm.  
Bookings open on Thursday, 27th June and will close on Tuesday, 30th July at 3pm. 

Follow the instructions below on how to make a booking on Hero.

Tēnā koutou Parents / Caregivers,

As you will be aware, each Tuesday, our tamariki have been experiencing the dance curriculum with a footsteps teacher. 

On Tuesday 2 July, at 2:00 pm, the entire school will gather to perform their favourite dances in groups, highlighting the incredible skills achieved under the guidance of our dedicated instructor from FootSteps Dance Company.

Throughout this programme, students have had the opportunity to enhance their social skills, confidence, fitness, creativity, and coordination. The program has provided a safe and stimulating environment, fostering personal growth in both dance abilities and physical fitness.

Remember to make use of all 5 entry points to our school:

If you have yet to pay for this programme, please do so via your KINDO account. We look forward to seeing you at Sunnynook School and sharing this wonderful celebration of our students' achievement in dance.

Term two is always one of the busiest for school sports, Sunnynook students have been busy at school, attending Super Cluster events, and extracurricular sports. The priorities at primary age are participation and development, striking a balance between competitive teams and providing adequate opportunities for all our young athletes. 

One of the highlights of youth sports is seeing kids growing in their sports, forming friendships and learning to form a lifelong love for physical activity.  Thank you to all our incredible coaches, managers and families supporting our tamariki.

Super Cluster Cross Country team - 4th

Flippa Ball Blue Fins - 1st

Flippa Ball Mako - 5th 

Basketball 5&6 Girls - Wahine Toa - 1st

Good luck 

Year 1&2 and 3&4 Junior Breakers teams and Year 5/6 Harbour Basketball Boys playing their Semester One semi and finals games over the next two weeks.

Year 1&2 Newbies Splash Polo

Basketball Semester Two (term 3-4) LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

Year 1/2 - Jnr Breakers Tuesdays

Year 3/4 - Jnr Breakers Mondays

Year 5/6 - Harbour Basketball Wednesdays

Year 5/6 Girls - Harbour Basketball Thursdays

Flippa Ball/Splash Polo - Term 3 LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

Year 5/6 Sundays

Year 3/4 Splash Polo

Aug 6 - Netball Super Cluster

Aug 8 - Rippa Rugby Festival Day 2

Aug 22  - Hockey Super Cluster

Aug 28 - Sports Team Photos

August - Touch Rugby Registrations

Sep 19 - Football Super Cluster

Extra Curricular 

Nov 6 -  Gymnastics North Harbour

Nov 14 - Sunnynook Primary School Athletics Day

Nov 27 - Super Cluster Athletics

Extra Curricular 

Managers here is the link if you would like to record results for publication in the newsletter: SPORTS RESULTS

More information about sports available can be found on the Sports page on Sunnynook School Website.

Any questions can be emailed to: sports@sunnynookschool.nz

Flippaball
Photo of the year 5/6 flipperball team after they beat Sherwood 3-1 in the final.  Well done team!

Flippaball - Bluefin

On Sunday, 23rd June it was our last Flippaball game for the term.  We met at AUT Millennium a couple of minutes before our game.  One of our team-mates handed out our caps - we wore blue caps.   Straight after that we got told our positions and walked to our side of the pool.

We hopped in and 3,2,1 we were off! Our team got hold of the ball many times and scored many times too.  At the end we managed to get around 7 points and the other team got 2 points, so we won the game.

After the game our coach Kayla handed out the player of the day certificates and there were two people that got them.  After that we went to McDonald’s as a team to celebrate our last game of the term.  The team met at a table and we talked about how proud everyone is and how well we did.  Next we had McFlurry’s to celebrate.  We got to choose Oreo, M&M’s or caramel and I chose Oreo but most people chose M&M flavoured McFlurry’s.  Then we played in the playground and the parents talked while we played. A while after everyone started to go home.

48 students were chosen for the Super Cluster Cross Country. This event was held at Sunnynook park. Sunnynook competed against seven other schools - Campbells Bay, Murrays Bay, Browns Bay, Mairangi Bay, Pinehill, St Johns and Pinehurst. Every student managed to finish the race to earn points for our school. Sunnynook was placed fourth for this event. I am incredibly proud of our students’ commitment, perseverance and sportsmanship. 

Ashley Harding

3rd Place -  Felicia Kuo

3rd Place - Oliver McCracken

2nd - Filip Golubovich

The sun beat mercilessly down, its invisible rays creating dappled sunlight through the trees. The morning frost melted into dew that dripped off the small blades. When we arrived everyone walked the course. It twisted and turned up hills, down hills, under trees and over roots and unsturdy earth. All the races were neck and neck and by the time it was my race I was alight with nerves. The mud squelched under my feet as I walked to the start line. The banger went off. Everyone rushed off in a pack pushing and shoving like dogs as we found our spots.

After the first first lap every one was tiring, all the adrenaline was fading. I pictured in my mind a simple finish, just following the path, but to my dismay, the second lap was even longer, snaking it’s way around the park.

My breath was heavy, my heart thundering in my chest. I just had to focus on the girl in front of me and putting one foot in front of the other. 

Finally, the finish line loomed in front of me, nearly there, I found my last source of energy deep within me. As the cheering of the crowd roared in my ears, I sprinted down the muddy straight. 

Collecting my place number my legs felt like jelly and a feeling of pride washed over me.

As the end of term approaches we notice students becoming tired and needing support on how to handle disagreements with their friends and classmates. Being a good friend and showing kindness and respect is part of our school culture and values. Here is one strategy we use across all year levels at school that may be of assistance to you when your child comes home and wants to discuss with you a problem they had.

Use you WITS

Seek help can be from a peer mediator who wears a bright yellow jacket or from a duty teacher in a bright orange jacket if something happens at a breaktime..

 2025 Enrolments are now open for both in zone and out of zone students.  The Principal and Deputy Principal will be conducting enrolment interviews from 13 – 16 August and 20 – 23 August.   Information on how to book an interview time is included in the enrolment pack.  Out of zone applications close Wednesday 4 September (no exceptions), and the ballot drawn on Wednesday 11 September 2024.  We look forward to meeting your child on their Transition Day.  Enrolment information can also be found on our school website www.wairau.school.nz.  

We are currently seeking the support of parent volunteers to help supervise the crossing on Tonkin Drive on Friday afternoons.  Afternoon supervision is from 2.50pm-3.15pm.
 

Without parent volunteers we will be unable to supervise this crossing on a daily basis.

If you are available to volunteer, please email Mrs Bassett-Smith at rebeccahb@sunnynookschool.nz

Thank you! 

Please be considerate to our neighbours when you come to school to pick up your child.  Do NOT park across driveways or on footpaths.  

We are receiving a number of calls from the community in the surrounding streets, and in particular, Tobago Place, where our neighbours are unable to enter or leave their properties because of caregivers parking across their driveway.

Please remember that we are a community, and we must also think of others.

Tickets are available at the following link:

We have a large number of items sitting in Lost Property that are either unnamed, or we are unable to read the name on the item.  

We do endeavour to re-unite children with their property, and have returned a large number of polar fleeces.  However, it would help us if you could please make sure you have named your children's uniform and gear so that these can be returned to them.  If your child has lost any items, please come to and check our lost property box.  If the items are not collected, they will be given away as we do not have enough space to keep these

Thank you for your help and understanding!  

Go-Deli Catering are adding some exciting new menu options for term 3, 2024

Go-Deli
New items:
- Garlic bread (Contains: Gluten, wheat, soy, dairy; May contain egg , tree nut, sesame )
- Bacon & Egg Panini (Contains: Gluten, dairy, egg)
- Bacon & Egg English muffin (Contains: Gluten, dairy, egg
- Blueberry Muffin (Contains: gluten, egg, dairy)
- Savoury Muffin (Contains: gluten, egg, dairy)
- Twist Juice – Blackcurrant flavour 125ml
- Anchor Milk 250ml
- Chicken Noodle salad (Shredded roasted chicken, egg noodle, vegetables, dressing)

Changes to current items:
- All “triangle” sandwiches will be changed to bigger size

The following Combos will be available on the 20% Off Promotion Menu:
- Lunch Combo 1 (Large): Chicken wrap, pineapple pieces, Charlie’s Tropical Juice, Popcorn
- Lunch Combo 2 (Large): Chicken sandwich, pineapple pieces, Charlie’s Tropical Juice, Popcorn
- Lunch Combo 3 (Large): Ham & Cucumber Sandwich, Grapes, Yoghurt, Organic seaweed (snack pack)
- Lunch Combo 4 (Large): Tuna sandwich, Grapes, Yoghurt, Organic seaweed (snack pack)
- Snack Box 1 (Small): Blueberry muffin, Twist Juice (Blackcurrant flavour), Pineapple pieces, Organic seaweed (snack pack)
- Snack Box 2 (Small): Popcorn, Yoghurt, Grapes, Cookie
- Rice sandwich Combo: Rice sandwich (Tuna & Avocado), Twist Juice, Mini brownie
- Tofu pocket Combo: Inari with rice (2 pieces), Twist Juice, Mini brownie

Hero School App
In 2024 our main form of communication with you - our school community, is 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.

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. It is important that your child arrives on time.

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.