Kia ora koutou,
As we come to the end of another exciting month at Te Aroha Primary School, I am thrilled to share some highlights and accomplishments from the past four weeks.
Matariki Hangi Preparation: Our school community has been actively preparing for the upcoming Matariki Hangi on Thursday, 27 June. This event is a significant cultural celebration for us, and I am incredibly proud of the effort and enthusiasm shown by both students and staff in organising this occasion. It promises to be a memorable experience for everyone involved, fostering a deeper appreciation of our cultural heritage.
Classroom Observations and Learning Focus: In the last month, I had the pleasure of observing various classrooms and witnessing the outstanding teaching and learning happening at every level. From our youngest learners in Year 1, focusing on writing sentences and understanding their progressions, to our Year 5 students engaging in procedural writing through the creation of Fry Bread recipes, the dedication to student learning and development is evident. Special mention to Miss Marshall's Year 1-2 class for their impressive work on factual writing about tigers and achieving individual learning goals.
Structured Literacy and Writing Assessments: Our ongoing review of structured literacy documents has been a crucial part of our commitment to improving literacy outcomes. Additionally, I have been collected writing books from each classroom, spanning Year 1 to Year 8, to better understand and support our students' writing journeys. This comprehensive approach ensures that we tailor our teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of our learners effectively.
Professional Development - all our team are meeting tomorrow after school to continue our work on Restorative Practice and Trauma informed teaching. This is exciting learning for our whole staff. We will keep you updated with any developments.
Netball Coaching and Student Engagement: Our netball teams have been actively training and competing, with our year 8 team showcasing their skills impressively. At the same time, our younger, more inexperienced teams have shown remarkable progress in grasping the basics and developing their abilities. The dedication and teamwork demonstrated by our students and coaches are commendable and reflective of our school’s spirit.
Classroom Activities and Learning Adventures: We recently enjoyed a performance from the percussion band STRIKE. Our Year 6-8 students have today been at Te Aroha College watching their production. We have two teams representing us in a netball tournament today. We recently took our Year 8’s to the National Young Leaders Day and last week we named our Totara Springs Town and Country 2024 team.
As we move forward, I am confident that the foundations we are laying through these initiatives and activities will continue to enhance our students' educational experiences. Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive parents/whānau and caregivers, and enthusiastic students for making Te Aroha Primary School a vibrant and nurturing place for learning.
Ngā mihi nui,
Justin Bertrand
Principal/Tumuaki
Te Aroha Primary School
