Whenuakura 

School 
 
Newsletter 
 

 
 
‘Growing 
Personal 
Excellence’ 
  

Thursday 16th  
May 2019 
Term 2 Week 3 
Hi everyone,

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation last Thursday which allowed staff to attend the union
meeting. You will be aware of lots of media attention surrounding the negotiations teachers are having with the
government. There is a nationwide strike planned for Wednesday 29th May.
As you can see, our annual Quiz Night is on Friday 7th June​, 7 pm at the clubrooms in Patea. This is always a fun
night out, so get a team together and come along. Please contact school to register your team, as there are
limited spots. Last year we almost had to turn teams away at the door!

Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt day is this Friday 17th May!
Pink Shirt Day is about working together to stop bullying by celebrating diversity and promoting positive social
relationships. We ask that learners wear anything pink to show their support. Please share around.
Absences from School
If your child is going to be away from school can you please let your
teacher, or the office know as early as possible in the day. It is a Ministry
requirement that all schools must be notified of any absences as we have
to mark them with the correct attendance code - justified, explained
unjustified, or medical.
Nationwide examples of ​justified include:
• Unplanned absences such as a bus breakdown, accident, road closure,
extreme weather conditions etc
• Planned non attendance such as national/local representation in a
sporting or cultural event in New Zealand or overseas.
• Approved absence can also include bereavement, visiting an ill relative,
exceptional family circumstances or a Section 27

Explained unjustified:
The explanation for the absence is accepted by the school as the reason
for the absence. But the reason does not fit within the school's policy as a
justifiable reason to take the student off school (even though there has
been a written explanation). E.g. “Molly had to stay home to look after
her younger brother”

Headlice
We need to remind you all again please to consistently watch out for headlice in your child's hair.
The best way to break the cycle of headlice is daily combing or brushing of your children's hair in the evenings to
check. This needs to be done every evening 50 times. If you would like treatment shampoo, please let us know
and we can organise with our district health nurse.

Rippa Rugby
Active learners are happy learners.
Congratulations to our junior and
senior rippa teams on their success
at the rippa tournament last week.
Special congratulations to our
senior team even placing second!
Thank you to Marichen and Al for
coaching and everyone who helped
with transport.
Bhana Cup
All year 5 and 6 children are participating in the Bhana Cup Tournament and involved in either rugby, netball,
hockey or soccer. Practices will be held at Patea Area School and we may need help with transport for these. The
practices are from 11.30 - 12.30 on Friday 17th May, Friday 31st May and Friday 14th June.
The tournament is on Wednesday 26th June in Hawera.

Duffy Theatre
Duffy Theatre is always entertaining and always teaches valuable lessons about the power of reading.
This year the theme of gaming was explored and was about whanau connections, using reading to help solve
problems, and the hidden talents of our elders.

Library Book Amnesty

We have a lot of library books that are overdue or lost

from school and we would like to have them returned
please. Can you all please search EVERYWHERE for
these! Under beds, under furniture and cushions, at
Nana & Grandads etc!!

Please return any that you find - no questions asked!

Spring Daffodils
We are most fortunate to have been donated lots spring bulbs from the council. We would like to plant these
along the road frontage and really need some help please! We will have a planting working bee on ​Friday 24th
May at 2 pm. ​ If you can come along, with a spade that would be most helpful.

National Young Leaders Camp

It's not long now until our year 6 learners go away for the National Young Leaders Camp in Wellington. This is an
overnight camp where we attend the National Young Leaders Day, with thousands of other learners in
Wellington, as well as experiencing some activities around Wellington.
Remember the updated dates are leaving on Wednesday 22nd May and returning on Thursday 23rd May. The
subsidised cost for this is $80 per child, with any adults attending paying their own way. Payment needs to be
made before we go on Wednesday, so please make arrangements for this.

School Pool
Another reminder - if you have a school pool key, can you please return it to the office.

School Donations
Many thanks to those who have paid their school donations. If you need a copy of the invoice please let Sally
know.

​ oard of Trustees Elections

B
By now you would have all received the Board of Trustees Nomination forms in the mail. If you would like more
information about becoming a Board member, please talk to Kat or one of the present members. There is also a
flier with this newsletter.
Nomination forms can be handed in at the school office, and these close at 12 noon on Friday 24th May. Any
received after this time cannot be accepted.
Dates to remember:

Fri 17th May Bhana Cup Practise, Yrs 5 & 6, 11.30 to 12.30

Wed 22nd/Thurs 23rd May National Young Leaders camp, Wellington

Fri 24th May Board nominations close, 12 noon.

Fri 24th May Plant bulbs, 2 pm

Wed 29th May Strike Day across New Zealand

Fri 31st May Bhana Cup Practise, Yrs 5 & 6, 11.30 to 12.30

Fri 31st May Assembly, 2.30 pm

Mon 3rd June Queens Birthday, school closed

Fri 7th June Quiz Night

Thurs 13th June Whanganui Chess Tournament

Fri 14th June Bhana Cup Practise, Yrs 5 & 6, 11.30 to 12.30

Wed 26th June Bhana Cup, Hawera

Regards, Whenuakura School Staff