Wairau Valley School
Newsletter Week 4, Term 2, 2025
From the Acting Principal
Dear parents/caregivers and families,
It has been a busy start for our Wairau Valley School learners and families. Sports teams are doing well, and the enviro team that went to Fairhall to work with other Marlborough learners, did us proud. Our cross country practices are getting our learners ready for the big afternoon at Tua Marina on the 6th June.
We have a team of Year 4-6 rippa rugby players representing the school on the 28th May, and a Year 7/8 team on June 4th. Our Wairau Valley senior netball team have their 2nd game this weekend.
It is all go on the sporting front.
We have a school trip to the Falcon Trust coming up, so our juniors and year 5/6 learners can see the native Falcon/ Karearea up close.
Parent interviews finish today. A huge thank you to all the families who made time to come and talk about their child's learning. The partnership between home and school is well documented as being an important part of a child feeling successful at school.
The school lunches are still a bit variable. Certainly, I complained about the quality of Monday’s meal, but family feedback on the lunches is always welcome.
A health update for Karen. She is receiving treatment, and when I spoke to her this week, she said she is "missing the school, and in particular, the kids". I sent her all our best wishes with her treatment.
A big thank you to Goldpine and Steve McCabe for the fabulous new bike gate. Bikes are definitely providing some energy release for the kids, although we are ironing out some right-of-way rules, it is generally harmonious. The gates mean the bikes stay safely at school.
Our trial of eating lunch together at 1pm seems to be working well. It is great to see that the children actually do eat their lunch. They are also not eating packets of doritos and chips when they arrive at school in the morning. My vegemite sandwiches are there if they are hungry, a far more nutritious start to their day. I see packet chips as a nice treat from home to have with lunch or even morning tea, but it can’t be all they eat until lunchtime. Again, any parent/caregiver feedback on what the kids say to you about the lunch eating change, will be appreciated.
A huge thank you for the support you give the school. It is truly appreciated by the whole staff and Board.
Kindest regards
Dr. Anne Malcolm
Acting Principal
CLASS NEWS
Art shirt
We are doing more art these days, and paint and pastel on clothes is not ideal. If anyone has some old adult size shirts they could donate as art shirts, or aprons, we would love them in the classrooms.
Science Inquiry Focus
Both classes have a Science inquiry focus currently. The New Zealand science curriculum focuses on students understanding the natural world through six main strands: Nature of Science, the Living World, the Physical World, the Material World, Planet Earth and Beyond, and Developing Scientific Skills and Attitudes. The curriculum encourages students to explore how science and technology work together to understand the world, and to develop the skills and attitudes needed for scientific inquiry. The juniors are looking at the solar system and our planet earth natural resources. The seniors are focused on biology and the universe; how things work, and how they fit in our universe.
Maths
A big focus currently is on understanding and using fractions across both classes.
Literacy
Writing , Reading and our structured literacy approach to building and spelling vocabulary, are embedded across all aspects of the curriculum, with specific and explicit focus on building each learner’s own capabilities.
Te Reo
We are currently trialling using Scottie Morrison’s learn Te Reo books to build up vocabulary and common phrases. All learners can say our karakia and sing a few Waiata.
Music and the Arts
We have just had 12 ukuleles donated from the Ukulele Trust, so Mrs Malcolm has scheduled two weekly lessons for classes. We dance at lunchtime every day. We will enter a team video of our kid’s own sequences for the Jump Jam competition.
You will see snippets of our art on the school’s Facebook page.
Sport
Cross Country practice is happening daily at the moment, along with rippa rugby and netball skills.
School Assessment and Progress.
We have standardised tests for year 4 to 8, and the data for our school is very good.
Across all year levels in Mathematics, our children grouped in year levels, gender and ethnicity, are above or at New Zealand Mean levels.
In reading, they are above in all year groups. In Listening, they are above or at in all year levels. Year 4 are developing their vocabulary understanding and grammar conventions, but all other year levels are as a group, above the NZ Mean.
Our Maori students are all within or above where they should be, and although traditionally boys literacy in these age brackets is generally weaker than girls, our children are identified as similar in achievement. We retest in term 3 which is when we can show progress.
Nits in school.
Parents please check your children’s hair as we have a couple of children whose parents advised us they have nits. Thank you.
KIWICAN
We are very sad to hear that the Kiwican programme will be ending this Term. The last Kiwican lesson for Wairau Valley School will be 3 June.
FOR RENT
For families of children coming to Wairau Valley School
IMPORTANT DATES
Calender
Parent Interviews - 20, 21 May
Pink Shirt Day - 23 May
Assembly full school - 23 May 2.25pm Chalice Room
Yr 4-6 Rippa Rugby - 28 May
Yr 7-8 Rippa Rugby - 4 June
Kings Birthday - 2 June
Cross Country - 6 June
Karearea (Falcon) Trust visit - 10 June
Parent visits to class - 12 June
TEACHER ONLY DAY - 16 June
St John in Schools - 19 June
Matariki Holiday - 20 June
School Disco - 26 June
Last Day of Term 2 - 27 June
First Day of Term 3 - 14 July
Reminders
Please remember to call or message the school office if your child is sick.
Students are welcome to arrive at school from 8.15 am.
Please inform the school if you are removing your child from class early.