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.

I hope that you enjoyed Anzac weekend with the lovely sunshine that featured for us. As a school we held a memorable Anzac Assembly on Friday, April 24.

While we appreciate that this is not the actual Anzac Day and that many of our students attend dawn services with their families or the organisations they are a part of, many of our students do not attend such ceremonies. Therefore, in keeping with our vision statement to develop confident, connected learners who make a positive difference, we held an assembly that encouraged our students to consider the value of peaceful living, and the positive impact that can make on our society.

Our student leaders wrote and led the assembly, and our kapa haka rōpū opened and closed with karakia, while also leading waiata and haka throughout the time. We had a group of students who read the Ode of Remembrance in various languages, two students who gave a speech on the Māori Battalion and its impact on history, another student who gave a personal response to what Anzac meant to her based on her family's contribution, and the recitation of a beautiful poem written by a student about the meaning of Anzac. I also spoke briefly. We finished by taking our wreaths down to the flagpole by the Remembrance Gates, with all the students walking past the gates to see the names of our local community members who had given their lives in past conflicts. It was a moving time, and all our students were calm and respectful while participating in the assembly. Thank you to those family members and whānau who were able to attend the assembly with us. We always love having our community join us for these sort of events.

We are settling into the term with many exciting events coming up, and teachers looking to see good uptake of learning from their students with positive progress happening. Thank you so much to those parents and whānau who are actively working with their children in alignment with the current class focus. Such partnership really helps our students feel a sense of belonging to our kura as we walk together for their benefit.

Take care and stay safe.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

"Toi ki te Pāka is coming to Parrs Park!

Each year our mana whenua, Te Kawerau ā Maki, showcase the work of some of the schools they're partnered with, in local parks around Waitākere. For Matariki 2026 they're going to demonstrate artwork from the pupils of Oratia Kura! Although the pieces to showcase haven't been selected yet, here's a teaser of some of the work we've been producing for this kaupapa. This year's theme is "kauri trees."

OKK Oratia Update

We’re excited to introduce Taylor, the new owner of OKK Oratia, our before and after-school care programme. Taylor brings a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas, and is looking forward to building on what makes OKK special while taking it to the next level. She is passionate about creating a fun, safe, and engaging environment for our students, and we’re confident she will make a positive impact on the programme. Please see below for booking information.

Student Winter Sickness and Navigating the Seasonal Sniffles

Colds, flu and other respiratory illness are common in schools during winter. Here are some simple tips to prevent the spread of illness:

Wash and dry hands regularly, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, and using the toilet
Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hand.
Regularly clean high touch surfaces - door handles, taps, table tops, phones, computer keyboards etc.
If unwell, stay at home until 48 hours after symptoms have gone.

Health Statement Consultation

We are currently inviting feedback on our health statement, which details how health is taught at Oratia District School as part of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. This comes as part of our two yearly review process, guided by the Education and Training Act 2020. Please follow this link to find out more and have your say.

We would love to gain as many responses as we can. Thank you in advance for your contribution to tailoring this statement for our school's future teaching and learning. We very much appreciate those of you who have already given feedback.

Kiwi English, Mathematics and Science Competitions

There is the upcoming opportunity for Year 5 and Year 6 students to compete in the Kiwi Competitions, offered by the University of Canterbury. These skill-based competitions take place annually and are designed by New Zealand teachers for New Zealand students, closely aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum.

Each test is $10 and you can register your student on Kindo (closing date 8th May) for any or all of these, depending on their interest. You can find out more information at www.canterbury.ac.nz/cam/. Students receive a certificate and a prize will be awarded to the top student nationally. Parents will receive an individual student report of their child's performance. The tests are administered at school, under exam conditions, near the end of Term 2. Contact Matt Moncur for questions or queries: matthewm@oratia.school.nz.

Online Safety Hub for Parents and Whānau

Through our use of Linewise internet safety products, we have access to an Online Safety Hub for parents and whānau. You will also find a link to a safety app for parents, called Qustodio.

This short video explains what the Online Safety Hub can offer. For more information, please contact Matt Moncur at matthewm@oratia.school.nz

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.

Daily School Bus
School Swimming Pool
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)
EOTC Governance Roles and Responsibilities
EOTC Risk Assessment and Management

Follow these instructions to log on to schooldocs to review these.

1. Visit the website https://oratia.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (oratia) and password (0604).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.

9. If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.