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.

Thank you so much everybody!

Our Country Fair on Saturday was a wonderful success with so many people who came to enjoy the activities and fun. The weather was so good after our terrible rain earlier in the week, and there was so much to see and do. I hope that if you attended that you had as good a time as we all did. Of course we are now all exhausted by the hard work that goes into making such an event a positive affair, so I want to thank everyone who lent a hand either in the lead up to the day, or by helping out at a stall on the day, who contributed to the setting up or breaking down at either ends of the day, and to all those who spent their hard earned money on all that was on offer.

There were some very lucky prize winners for the raffles, and the kayak at the fishing game, who have been listed later in the newsletter. We had some amazing sponsors who were so generous to us and helped boost our prizes, sponsorship and income for the day. Thank you sincerely to all our contributors. We are still working out the last bits and pieces for finances, and should be able to tell you how much we raised shortly. We hold the Country Fair every two years, and next year we will host our community picnic in the first term instead.

Big things coming up in Term 2 are Tuakana Camp on Kawau Island, and rehearsals for our whole school production. Life at Oratia kura is busy and full of fun!

I wish a Happy Easter to all who celebrate it. May this upcoming non-contact break be a time for relaxation and family time together, and we look forward to having you all back with us on Monday, April 20 for the first day of Term 2.

Take care and stay safe.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

What a wonderful day it was at Oratia School on 28 March, when our community came together to enjoy the Country Fair under beautiful sunny skies.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came along to support the event — it was fantastic to see so many smiling faces and families enjoying the day.

A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors whose support helped make the fair possible, as well as to our dedicated staff, volunteers, caregivers, and students who worked so hard behind the scenes and on the day itself.

From the great atmosphere to the sense of community spirit, the fair truly showcased the best of Oratia School. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support.

Thank you to our wonderful PTA for their incredible hard work and dedication in organising the Country Fair. From planning and coordination to the many hours volunteerd before and on the day, your efforts created a memorable event for our whole community. We truly appreciate the time, energy and care you put into making the fair such a success - it wouldn't have been possible without you.

Travelwise WoW Week Round Up

The last part of WoW Week is letting AT know how it all went, with a quick survey for parents and whānau, available at this link: WoW Week Survey

Survey responses will go in the draw to win one of 5 prizes of $500 for our school.

The more responses, the better our chances! You can also opt-in for a prize draw to win one of 10 $50 supermarket vouchers.

Thanks everyone for keeping travel active!!

Ngā Rākau Kaha - Bush Walk

This week, our senior students in the Ngā Rākau Kaha leadership group enjoyed a special trip to the beautiful Arataki Visitor Centre for a bush walk experience.

As part of their leadership journey, students are exploring the importance of connecting with the outdoors, building resilience, and appreciating the natural environment around us. The walk provided a wonderful opportunity to slow down, take in the sights and sounds of the ngahere, and learn more about our unique local ecosystem.

It was fantastic to see our students supporting one another, showing leadership, and embracing the experience with such positivity.

Ka pai, Ngā Rākau Kaha – we are proud of you!

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 (can you embed this video in the newsletter?) explains what the Online Safety Hub can offer. For more information, please contact Matt Moncur at matthewm@oratia.school.nz

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. We have extended the survey for one week longer and will close it on Thursday 2nd April. 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.

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.

Alcohol, Drugs and Other Harmful Substances Policy
Sun Protection
Digital Technology and Online Safety
Cellphones and Other Person Digital Devices

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.

BLAKE'S FUNDRAISER

Blake Rebolledo Withers in Room 17 is fundraising for an orphanage in Indonesia. If you would like to learn to surf this weekend, please see the poster below.