ORATIA SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM MS LINDA

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Oratia. Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Zdravo. Ni hao. Namaste. Kamusta. Greetings Oratia whānau and families.

We celebrated World Teachers Day last Friday. Thank you to those families who were able to send their child's teacher a note of appreciation or thanks. If you haven't done that yet and would like to - or get your child to do so- then it is not too late to make our teachers' day. Positive feedback is not often received in our jobs, so when it comes it means a great deal to us. Many thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Thank you to Taylor and the OKK team for creating such a fun event for our students to hang out at on Friday, to celebrate Halloween in a safe space. It was very crowded and well attended by so many of you. I hope you had a great time.

Our Year 6 students that are heading off to Glen Eden Intermediate School next year had a transition morning this week. They were picked up by a bus, accompanied by Miss Hamlin and Mrs Mansell, and had a good time getting acquainted with the new school.

We have two big events this week. Thursday was our Whānau morning where we welcomed parents and whānau to the school. You could hang out in the classroom and see what happens on a Thursday, including our whole school kapa haka waiata practice. We shared morning tea with you and invited you to have a look at the Calendar Art our students have created. This will be available for order online, and is on display in the Learning Centre. There was also tea and coffee, and a Garden to Table stall with seedlings on sale. We loved seeing you all here.

The other event is our big Kapa Haka competition(Te Kahu o te Rehia) at Matipo School on Saturday morning. Our slot starts at 9.00am so it is an early start for everyone getting ready for their performance. We wish you all the best for your competition. Tickets are $5 each at the gate, so come along and support our rōpū if you can.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

Valley Shield Secured!

What a game! Our Oratia rugby team travelled to Henderson Valley for the second game of the Valley Shield series and managed to pull off another incredible victory, securing the shield with two wins from two games!

It certainly wasn’t easy. Henderson Valley came out firing, scoring two quick tries and putting us on the back foot early. What followed was one of the closest, toughest and scrappiest games I’ve seen this team play.

The experience of our older players really came through as the team fought their way back into the game. There were moments of individual brilliance, outstanding tackles from our backline, crucial turnovers, and fantastic counter rucking and driving play from our forwards. Quick thinking by Issac, and two late tries from Frank and Bodhi eventually sealed a hard-fought victory, six tries to four.

What impressed me most wasn’t just the rugby, but the character the team showed. In such a scrappy and physical game, it would have been easy to get caught up in the frustration of refereeing decisions and what was happening around them. Instead, the boys kept themselves together, maintained their composure and stuck to their values even when things weren’t going their way.

I couldn’t be prouder of this group. Winning the Valley Shield is a rare achievement for Oratia, and to secure it in such a challenging game makes it even more special. Without a doubt, this was the best performance I’ve seen from this team, not just because of the result, but because of the resilience and determination they showed along the way.

A huge thank you to Miss Hamlin for organising everything and to all the parents for their constant support. You can really see and hear how much having you on the sidelines lifts the boys as they play. It makes a massive difference, especially in those tough moments.

Every purchase helps support Oratia School and the many activities, resources and opportunities that make our school a great place to learn. Your support helps enrich the school experience for our students, giving them more opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills and create lasting memories. Thank you for supporting Oratia School and helping us make great things happen for our school community!

How will this fundraiser work? We have chosen to run a Go Raise It Sunscreen fundraiser. Purchase from a great range of premium Sungard by Esko sunscreen products.
Sungard sunscreen is laboratory tested and meets AS/NZS 2604:2012 standards, providing trusted, high-performance protection for the whole family. Includes SPF50+ and a SPF30 combined with insect repellant. A practical, family-friendly way to stay sun-safe while supporting a great cause.

By running our product sales campaign online, it makes it super easy for everyone - no more door knocking, your family can fundraise from home - no need to worry about handling all that cash and keeping track of orders. You simply sign up on the fundraising website, share the link with family and friends and they can arrange to collect their products from you at the end of the fundraiser.

How do I sign up to fundraise online? Each fundraiser can sign up for their very own fundraising web page to send out to friends and family to collect sales.

Go to this website page OR scan the QR Code to go there:

https://oratiasunscreen.raiseit.co.nz/

Ideas for promoting/selling:

Share your fundraising page around your workplace/colleagues and tell them a date when you will bring their purchases for collection
Use the links on your fundraising page to share with friends/family via email & social media
For family & friends who don’t live locally – offer to give their purchase to a local charity you support

What happens at the end of the fundraiser? Check your fundraising website for final day for sales and pick up date. Your school/club fundraising manager will be in touch with you regarding further details for your pick up day and where you can collect all your products. Before pickup day, you will be sent a report (to your registered email) showing all the supporters who have purchased from your fundraising web page and what items/quantities they have purchased. You pickup all the products sold on your fundraising page and arrange to get them to your supporters.

Thank you for supporting us with this fundraiser.

PICKLE - a story written by Rua Beere

I'm a pickle. A detective pickle!

How can a pickle can be a detective? So I will tell you the story. I was a normal pickle in a Nuclear Power plant worker's lunch box. He picked me up and accidentally dropped me into the waste and it turned me into a detective pickle!!!

I ran to solve a mystery...

Rua Beere

Lone Kauri

CONGRATULATIONS EPRO8 TEAM

Well done to the team from Room 17, 'MTV' who placed second in the Epro8 mathematics and engineering West Auckland regional heat. From early on in the 2.5hour competition, the girls were high in the rankings and did well to maintain their position during the problem-solving and construction. With the creation of their 'balloon obstacle course' they have earned a spot in the Epro8 Auckland semifinal.

WHY ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT

Regular attendance at school is essential for your child's learning, social development, and overall success. Every day at school provides valuable opportunities to build knowledge, develop friendships, participate in classroom activities, and establish positive learning habits. When children are absent, they can miss important lessons and experiences that are difficult to fully make up. We understand that there are times when absences are unavoidable, such as during illness or important family circumstances, and we appreciate parents keeping the school informed when these situations arise. By working together to ensure your child attends school regularly whenever possible, we can support them to achieve their full potential and remain engaged in their learning journey.

Kiwi Competition Detailed Results

Certificates are due to be handed out to students in the next Tuakana assembly; if you would like the detailed results for the test(s) your child sat, please email matthewm@oratia.school.nz

DID YOU KNOW? Basil and marigolds are your garden’s best friends! Basil isn't just a great cooking companion with tomatoes; it helps deter pests as well. Marigolds are a natural insect repellent, keeping aphids and nematodes away from precious crops.

THE CARETAKERS CRACK=UP!

What's the riskiest thing you can say to a teacher?
"Are we actually learning anything useful today, or is this just another lesson in patience?"

Many thanks to Steve, Anna, Emma and Ben who physically picked up the new shed and lifted it onto its new, wooden base last week. And a particular shout-out to Steve, Ben, and my 2 boys who gave up their Sunday recently to travel to Browns Bay to collect the shed and haul it here in one piece. Exemplary teamwork. Well done team teachers!

Bike the World The bike train is steaming ahead, if you child is keen to ride please see here for more information and sign up:

https://forms.gle/eA5ZaGrxkyqdWegM9

SIGNING IN WHEN VISITING THE SCHOOL

When you are visiting the school or on school grounds during school time, please remember to sign in at the office first and pick up a visitor badge. This is for health and safety reasons so that we know who is on site in the case of an emergency.

POLICY TO REVIEW!

This term, the scheduled review focuses on behaviour management, staff wellbeing and safety. For more information about the review, go to the Current Review tab at the top of your SchoolDocs site. A summary is provided below.