Nau Mai Haere Mai...Welcome
Te Puru School is a small country school located on a beautiful beach on the Thames Coast. We cater for children in years 0-8 and offer a well equipped Information Station (Library), a very new superb fully equipped hall for assemblies, productions and indoor sports and a Marine Centre full of kayaks for summer sport. Our school is a very unique place with a caring, friendly and nurturing culture where we have high expectations for learning and behaviour. We work together to provide a stimulating learning environment in which the team of highly-trained staff provide quality teaching in well-resourced buildings to address the special needs of our students in partnership with parents, the Board of Trustees, and the community.
School Development Goal 2012
“To continue to develop and modify our reporting process to ensure clear and concise information is given to key stakeholders in the school – Children, Parents/Whanau, Teaching Team and BOT.Reporting to Parents/Whanau will be in plain language, twice a year, and will show children’s achievement against National Standards.
Te Puru Teaching Team, February 2012.
Student Targets 2012
“To have 90% of our students at or above the National standard in Reading, Writing and Mathematics by the end of 2012”.Te Puru Teaching Team, February 2012.
Bits n Pieces from the Principal
Ki ora kotou katoa,Kauri and Nikau had an awesome hike up to the Waiomu Kauri last Friday. Thanks to Anne Kershaw and Scott Sell for their perseverance and never give up approach so the students could experience a wonderful piece of native bush in our area. We would also like to thank the many parents who supported this trip with transport and during the hike. We hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as the children.
ActivBoards
These are being installed in Rooms Rimu, Rata, Kowhai and Pohutukawa next Thursday and Friday. The InterWrite board in Totara and Kauri will have the ActivBoard software installed so we are all the same, except for Nikau. Scott is very happy with his board and we will be upgrading his software, so he can continue to make the best use of this technology in his classroom.
Teacher Only Day – Mon.28th May
School will be closed for instruction on this day so the teachers can learn about best practice with their new ActivBoards. In the early part of June we will have an evening to share with parents how we are using Inter-Active Whiteboards in our school and what they offer our students. We would love to share this with you and also have students demonstrate their skills and expertise as part of these sessions. The staff would like to thank the members of the BOT for their support and vision.
A quote from Bruce Hammonds in an article entitled, ‘If You Had to Teach Something, How Would You Teach?’
‘Successful future schools will be those that realize all their students’ gifts and talents. Such schools amplify each kid’s natural inclination to dream, inculcate passion in a new generation, and give kids the tools to learn more and faster, and in a way that has never been seen before.’
School Lunches
At this week’s Support Group Meeting, Karen Carruthers put forward a suggestion that once a week she would be willing to offer a healthy lunch menu for students to purchase. Karen would use the hall kitchen facilities to prepare the food. We have included a form in this week’s newsletter for any parents who would be interested in helping Karen or to give her feedback. Thank you for your support.
Principal’s Award
At last week’s assembly we recognized Luke Steward for his honesty, handing in $15 he found. I was thrilled to hear again this week that we had $20 handed in to the office. We have very honest students at our school.
This week’s award goes to Emma Flynn-Fleming and Aaliyah Dickinson for their Honesty. Well-done girls.
Have a great weekend
Mike Friis Principal
Story of the Week
"The Man Who loved to Eat"
by Mackenzie
Creative Writing Group
click here to check out their work http//:tepurucreativewriting.weebly.com/
Principal’s Award
this week goes to Emma Flynn-Fleming and Aaliyah Dickenson for their honesty.
Term Planner 2012
Term Dates
Term 1 Feb 1 - Thur 1st AprilTerm 2 Mon 23rd April - Fri 29th June
Term 3 Mon 16th Jul - Fri 28th September
Term 4 Tue 15th October - Thu 20th December
Holidays
Good Friday - 6th AprilEaster Monday - 9th April
Anzac Day - Wed 25th April
Queens Birthday - Mon 4th June
Labour Day - Mon 22nd October
Virtues
Our virtue for this week is “Friendliness”
Friendliness is being a friend, through good times and bad.
You take an interest in other people and make them feel welcome.
You share your belongings, your time and yourself.
Friendliness is the best cure for loneliness.