VOGELTOWN SCHOOL TE KURA O HUATOKI
WEEK 5, TERM 4, 2025
Kia ora koutou parents and whānau,
At school, we’re well and truly immersed in that busy time of the year. We’re hit with a flurry of activities, teaching and learning continues at pace, and alongside it all, teachers are carrying the extra responsibility of writing school reports. It’s a time when our well-being can feel exposed and I know the same can be true in our homes as well.
This is when it’s important to slow the pace a little, to take a breath and recognise how well we’re actually doing. It’s hard to fill something using an empty cup. Here are five small ways to maintain a sense of wellbeing:
Step 1 – Connect
Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth, give you an opportunity to share positive experiences, provide emotional support and allow you to support others. Being social means different things for different people – you might prefer being in quieter situations with one other person, or you might like being in big groups.
Step 2 – Get active
Many people find that physical activity helps them maintain positive mental health. There are many different things you can do to be a bit more active. Studies have shown that getting active can help you sleep better, have happier moods, and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and racing thoughts.
Step 3 – Take notice
Reminding yourself to take notice can help you to be aware of how you're feeling. It can help you understand what triggers your feelings of stress or anxiety. Some studies have shown that savouring ‘the moment’ can also help you to feel more positive about life.
Step 4 – Learn
We're always learning new things – often without realising it. Feeling like you're learning and developing can boost your self-esteem.
Step 5 – Give
There's been lots of research about the effects of taking part in social and community life. Some studies have shown that people who help others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.
Even if just one of these ideas resonates with you - give it a go. Small steps can make a big difference.
Ryves
We are only two weeks out from our school hāngī!
As in previous years, the kai we share on the day is made possible through the generous donations of our community. We truly rely on these contributions to make the hāngī a success, and we appreciate your support.
Our Year 6 students will be staying overnight on Thursday 20th November to prepare and put down the hāngī. We expect kai to be served from 1:30pm onwards on the Friday but will confirm all details closer to the time. We warmly invite you, our Vogeltown whānau, to join us for some kai. To help reduce waste, we kindly ask that you bring your own plates and utensils.
If you are able to contribute any of the items listed below, please arrange to drop donations of food to the school office:
Potatoes
Kumara
Pumpkins
Onions
Fresh whole chickens (no chicken pieces please)
Beef rolls (boneless)
Pork rolls (boneless)
Pork shoulders
Mutton/Lamb roasts
For storage purposes:
Vegetables can be brought to school from Tuesday 18th November.
Meat (fresh - not frozen please) can be brought on Thursday 20th November.
For every item brought in, your child will receive a token for their whānau.
Thanks to all the whānau who have offered to help with the hāngī - Mr Hunt will be in touch with you very soon via email.
We are about to start our stocktake of library books and we have a lot that have not yet been returned! We would appreciate it if all whānau could have a good look around at home for any library books (or home readers) and return them to school as soon as possible. No questions asked, we are just grateful to have them back!
It’s now that time of year when our tamariki need protection from the sun’s harmful rays. During Term 4, bucket hats must be worn every day.
We have the popular Vogeltown School bucket hat available from the senior office for $20 each, but children are welcome to wear any bucket hat. Please note, students without a hat will be required to stay in shaded areas during break times.
Thank you for your support in keeping our children safe under the sun!
This year, we’re partnering with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on a fun and easy school fundraiser with the new Taranaki Monopoly board game!
For every game purchased before the end of the school year using our school’s unique code, our school receives a $10 donation (you must use our school's unique code).
It’s the perfect Christmas gift that encourages family fun, and every purchase directly helps our school.
How to support us:
- Visit taranakimonopoly.co.nz/schools
- Add the game to your cart.
- Use our school's unique code at checkout: VGS (enter this at checkout where it says 'discount code')
- We then get a school donation!
Thank you for your support!
Our school policies, like many schools, are now in an online system called Schooldocs: https://www.schooldocs.co.nz/
Any time you want to bring up a school policy, just log in to schooldocs and you can access them.
The login is: vogeltown
The password: huatoki
Email: office@vogeltown.school.nz
Website: www.vogeltown.school.nz
Location: Vogeltown School Huatoki Street, Vogeltown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: (06) 753 6843
