Term 2, Week 5

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu

Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly

Email: office@kereru.school.nz
Website: http://www.kereru.school.nz/
Location: 2306 Kereru Road, RD 1, Hastings 4171

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday - 8:30 am - 3 pm
Phone: 06 876 0923
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084298596659

Kia ora e te whānau,

As I write this week’s newsletter, I’m fortunate to be in Christchurch attending the Rural & Teaching Principals’ Conference. In this time of major curriculum change, attending conferences like this is incredibly important for networking and staying ahead of what’s happening in education. Over the course of the conference so far, I’ve had opportunities to explore other schools, listen to insightful keynote speakers - including Lucy Hone (wellbeing and resilience researcher and expert) and Erica Stanford (Minister of Education) and attend a range of relevant workshops.

We’ve had a great start to Term 2 and have packed a lot into just five weeks: Ki o Rahi, a visit to Omarunui Landfill and Sustainable Hawke’s Bay, and the Y7/8 Triathlon & Y7/8 Chess Comp. We’ve also had Jack Gay teaching our tamariki rugby skills, Emily Gaddum sharing her hockey expertise, a visit from the Kererū Fire Brigade to complement our Firewise learning, and a visit to Tots and Dots. We also joined Maraekakaho School for some great Ki o Rahi practice. Our afternoons have been filled with sports as we prepare for the 5-Aside tournament at the end of the term. With all these opportunities comes a fair bit of travel and logistical juggling - we really appreciate our whānau who help get our tamariki to these events. We couldn’t do it without you and truly value your support.

Term 2 is typically a busy one, and with the short term and two public holidays, it feels like it’s absolutely flying by. I’d like to acknowledge our awesome kaiako, who have been putting in big hours planning learning experiences, trips, and events, while also working through assessments, reporting snapshots, and the rollout of the refreshed Maths and Stats curriculum, and English curriculum. It’s a huge amount of work, and I know it’s appreciated. Mid-year reporting guidance was published on Hero earlier in Week 5 to provide more clarity about what to expect this term.

Noho ora mai,

Kelsie Allen

Principal

Roll: 26

A big Happy Birthday to:

• Mrs Charteris 27/07
• Lachie H 01/08

A special welcome to:

• Oliver who joins Kākano in Year 0
• Florence who joins Kākano in Year 2

Mornings: Please contact Megan on FB Messenger or 027 307 5852 before 7 am if your child is not on the bus. After this time, Megan is on the road and may not check her phone.

Afternoons: Please contact Sheryn before 2 pm if there is any change to your normal bus routine (Mon - Thurs). Please contact Kelsie before 2 pm on Fridays.

Term 1 Dates: 31/01 > 11/04 (includes Waitangi Day)

Term 2 Dates: 28/04 > 27/06 (includes King's Birthday & Matariki)

Term 3 Dates: 14/07 > 19/09

Term 4 Dates: 06/10 > 16/12 (includes HB Anniversary & Labour Day)

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Our next Curriculum Day will be on Thursday 23rd October 2025. Teachers will be participating in Maths Curriculum PLD. School will be closed for instruction on this day.

This link (below) takes you to our school website. Our events calendar is updated regularly with key dates for all upcoming school events.

You are more than welcome to join us at our Assemblies. All dates are on the Events Calendar. Next up is:

• Week 7 - Wednesday 11th June @ 2:30 pm

• Reading snapshot

• Maths snapshot

• Subject effort sliders

• A short ‘Writing’ statement reflecting where your child is in relation to the new curriculum

See Hero for more in-depth detail.

Congratulations to our students who received certificates at our recent Assembly.

Can you use these phrases at home?

Quiz Night

Here's a summary of our progress to date:

• Goal 1: Implement a rich, responsive curriculum that promotes self-directed learning.

• Our teaching team is actively engaging in professional learning to implement the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, particularly in maths and literacy.

• Staff are working with external experts, including ImpactED and the Ministry of Education, to align teaching plans, assessments, and resources with new curriculum expectations.

• Teachers are using Oxford and Numicon resources to support the maths curriculum and have begun using structured assessments to better understand student progress.

• We've connected with the National Library to provide audiobooks and e-books for senior students, supporting varied learning needs and preferences.

• A structured literacy programme (BSLA) is being introduced for Years 0–3, with training under way for our junior teachers.

• Additional learning support has been secured, including RTLB support and input from a paediatric occupational therapist to help students with learning tools, seating, and classroom setup.

• Goal 2: Connect to our people, place, and local environment.
• Promoting Kererū School to new families and welcoming connections.

• Building partnerships with Garden to Table, Enviro Schools, and the Hastings District Council.

• Celebrated community events, including our BBQ to mark two years on from Cyclone Gabrielle.

• Students are busy in the garden - cooking, creating, and sharing meals together.

• Taking part in a range of EOTC activities such as sports events, leadership workshops, and camp.

• Strengthening local links through the Kererū Gorge opening, including performing Kererū e, and developing a pou project in partnership with Te Piringa Hapū.

• Sharing our learning and successes regularly through social media, newsletters, and featuring in community publications like Te Matau-a-Māui.

• Updating our transition booklet to support families new to Kererū School.

• Learning new waiata and actions to support our weekly Hui-a-Kura.

• Goal 3: Strengthen the wellbeing and resilience of ākonga and kaiako.

• Partnered with Sport Hawke’s Bay to offer activities like HungerBall and sport leadership development.

• Rugby, hockey, and football sessions planned for Term 2.

• Signed an MOU to continue our involvement in the Healthy Active Learning initiative, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.

• Prioritised water safety and confidence through weekly swimming sessions with Erika Berendsen.

• Staff unpacked the STAR Attendance Framework to build a shared understanding and commitment to supporting regular attendance, with ongoing reporting to the Board and whānau.

• Shared useful attendance information and Ministry of Health resources with families to promote whānau engagement.

• Continued professional learning, including AI in Education and Curriculum Leadership webinars, to build staff capability and resilience in adapting to change.

• Applied for Structured Literacy PLD for Years 0-3, with RTLB support also accessed to strengthen teacher aide input in literacy and numeracy.

• Built strong links with external expertise - including regular support from MOE Curriculum Leads and RTLB.

• Celebrated student success and encouraged perseverance through involvement in events like the Sherwood Triathlon and the GRIP Leadership and PALS workshops.

• Supported peer connection and collaboration by joining with other schools for events and sporting activities.

• Invited community members to share their skills with students, including helping with bottling and using produce from our garden.

This term, the Board and Staff will review specific policies and procedures on SchoolDocs. You can access these documents at any time. Instructions for viewing our policies and procedures are available on our website and below in this newsletter.

Topics:

• Planning and preparation for Emergencies, Disasters, and Crisis
• Communication during an Emergency, Disaster, or Crisis
• School Closure
• Emergency Management
• Disaster Management
• Crisis Management

We are going to have a Working Bee on Friday 13th June at 1 pm.

We would love as many families to join us as possible, many hands make light work and there are jobs for everyone. If this date/time doesn't work, and you'd like help, please let me (Kelsie) know and I'll give you a job.

Thank you!

A big thank you to all of the community members and businesses who contribute to our school through Fern Fuels points. We are grateful for your support.

Thank you to;

• Allen Farming Company Limited
• Beeline Limited
• Corson Farming Limited
• Forest Road Farm - NZ Red Deer Ltd
• Freethlands Limited
• Hilltop Spraying Ltd
• HWS Agri Limited
• MD & KA Hinton Partnership
• Ohara Farming Company Limited
• Olrig Limited
• R Haselsteiner T/A Matangi Station
• Rangimoe Farming Limited
• SH Harper
• Simmons Contracting Ltd
• Stephen J Averill
• Summerhill Partnership
• Te Whana Farm Family Trust
• Topaki Limited
• Tuapae Farm Limited
• Tuturo Farm Limited
• Universal Livestock Limited
• Wakarara Farms
• Whenuapapa Limited

As we enter influenza (flu) season it is time to get prepared as flu can spread quickly in schools and colleges. Immunisation is recommended and free for tamariki aged 3 to 12 years and those 4 years or under who have had a stay in hospital for asthma or other breathing problems.

Winter Illness and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Cold, flu and other respiratory viruses including RSV are common in schools and early learning centres during winter. These illnesses can be easily spread by sneezes or cough droplets. RSV infections may progress to cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis, especially in pēpi.

Common symptoms:

• a runny nose
• coughing or sneezing
• fever, wheezing and difficulty breathing
• loss of appetite
• difficulty feeding due to breathlessness

Reminders

• Anyone who is unwell should stay at home until they are symptom free and feeling well.
• Your tamariki should not return to school or early learning until 24 hours after their symptoms (cough, runny nose) have gone
• Wash and dry hands thoroughly and often to stop the spread of illness
• Shortness of breath or abnormally rapid breathing always requires immediate medical attention If your pēpi or tamariki has these symptoms

Resources

Winter illness - what to do if your child is sick fact sheet [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Influenza brochure [PDF, 93 KB]

Influenza fact sheet [PDF, 92 KB]

The school works on a subscription basis with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies that have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and the school supplies specific information such as our charter, and procedures for behaviour management, reporting to parents, etc.

SchoolDocs updates, modifies, or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our board of trustees has the opportunity to view changes/additions and comment on them before they are implemented.

Policies are up for review each term. You can access, view & review our policies and procedures anytime.

http://kereru.schooldocs.co.nz

Username is “kereru”

Password is “kereru1912”

If you ever find the need to raise a concern or file a complaint with a member of our staff, we value open communication and encourage you to follow our concerns and complaints process.

We recognise that we can't always please everyone. We appreciate your understanding that we are committed to doing our best. We value diverse perspectives and acknowledge that opinions may differ.

We encourage you to reach out to your child's classroom teacher, who is your first point of contact for any concerns. They play a crucial role in addressing issues promptly and effectively.

These links will give you some ideas on how to help your child's learning at home:

• Ministry of Education Website: https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/learning-and-development-at-home/ideas-to-help-with-reading-writing-and-maths/
• Maths at home: https://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house
  
• Writing prompts and ideas: https://app.pobble.com/auth/
  
• Mindfulness: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
• Early letter formation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=609NcinTkGI

If your child is unwell, please keep them at home to prevent the spread of the illness.

Gastro

• "People with gastro should not go to work, school and early childhood centres until they have been well (symptom free) for 48 hours. There will be viruses in your poos for several weeks after you become well. You should continue to wash and dry your hands thoroughly after you have been to the toilet."
• Here is the link for a brochure: https://www.rph.org.nz/public-health-topics/early-childhood-centres/current-illnesses/gastroenteritis/gastro-brochure.pdf

Covid-19

• If you or someone in your whānau tests positive for Covid-19, please let Kelsie know ASAP and then follow the MOH guidelines: https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-isolation/if-you-have-covid-19/

School is open for students to arrive from 8:15 am - 3:15 pm.

Our staff sometimes arrive late or need to leave straight after school. Please ensure you can pick your children up no later than 3:15 pm, otherwise you will need to make alternative arrangements.

Hero gives you (parents) the opportunity to send through your child's absence with a click of a button. This is a quick, efficient way and gives our staff a notification and message of the reason your child is away.

This is the way we would like you to let us know if your child won't be here. If there is additional information that the school needs to know, please contact Sheryn directly.

You can find out more information about our Student Attendance & Attendance Procedure policies by heading to School Docs and searching the above headings. Link to School Docs - https://kereru.schooldocs.co.nz/

Just a friendly reminder to help us with the end of the day organisation, please ensure you let us know if your child/ren will not be on the bus in the afternoons.

Unless we have heard otherwise, or you put on your sheet at the beginning of the term, we will assume that your child is on.

You need to contact Sheryn before 2 pm with any changes.

We would love to have a better understanding of who will potentially come to Kererū School in the (near or distant) future. This is to ensure that you, as parents, receive information such as transition visits and school information before your child's start date.

We would love to hear from you if your child is between 1 and 4 years old. To make sure we have you on our 'potential enrolments' list.

Please email office@kereru.school.nz or follow the link to our enrolment section on our website to find out more information.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has introduced new attendance expectations starting in Term 1, 2025. These changes aim to ensure students attend school regularly, as regular attendance directly supports learning success.

Key Changes:

• A student is considered a regular attender if they attend school more than 90% of the time (fewer than 5 days absent per term).
• Schools must now record, monitor, and report all absences more closely.
• Parents/guardians need to notify the school of every absence.

Justified vs. Unjustified Absences:

Justified absences include;

• illness
• bereavement
• significant family emergencies
• important cultural/religious observances (approved by the school)

Unjustified absences include;

• taking a day off for a birthday
• a family trip during term time
• staying home without a valid reason

What This Means for You:

• Ensure your child attends school every day they are well.
• Notify the school promptly if your child is absent and provide a reason.
• If absences become frequent, you may be asked to attend a meeting to discuss support options.

Knowing if your child is well enough to come to school:

"Going to school every day is important for all school-aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence and social skills, and to achieve their education and life ambitions. This information helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home and when you should contact a health professional for advice." - Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora

Health guidance has been released by Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand to help schools and parents to decide if a student is well enough to attend school. Knowing if a child is well enough to be at school – Te Whatu Ora

Regular attendance gives your child the best chance to succeed. We appreciate your support in making this a priority.