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Connect Communication
06 November 2024
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The past two days have been spent undertaking professional learning with Dr Ross Greene and developing an understanding of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). CPS is a tool used to work with children who exhibit complex (or unlucky) behaviours and how to unpack what might be happening.
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From Maine, USA, Dr Greene is a clinician and author who has worked successfully with 1000s of children and educators on this approach. His website, livesinthebalance.org has many free resources and links should you be dealing with children not meeting expectations at home.
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It was sobering to learn that 17 states in the USA still allow corporal punishment, restraint and exclusion. This learning will support my sabbatical study in 2025, which is focused on supporting children with complex behaviour.
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On Friday 25th October, Whaea Donna and I had the pleasure of attending the Town Hall Music Festival. The sound produced by the choirs, concert band and orchestra is stunning. Our choir will be performing at a few assemblies before the end of the year. A big thanks to Angela Shea for supporting this group across the year.
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Save the date for our Ararira in the Park event on December 3rd. Come to school for a picnic dinner or purchase from one of the food trucks on site from 5pm. Around 6pm we will share an hour of entertainment from cultural groups and hapori. It is sure to be a treat.
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We have almost finished our appointments for 2025. We have had a few challenges this year that are not quite over. However, we can share the teams and locations for 2025.
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Nicky Harding (team leader)
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Meeghan Coetzee (team leader)
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Blair Cook (team leader and release teacher)
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April Tougas & Andrea Harrison
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If you have anything we need to consider when placing your child for 2025, please let their kaiako | ako teacher know.
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Finally, we wish the Kaunuku team and our Year 8 learners all the best as they head off to Wellington next week. Organising a local camp is a challenge, and this is magnified when travelling further afield. Thanks to Meeghan and the team for all their work in making this inaugral camp happen. It will be amazing!
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From the Office
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Absences - If your child is going to be absent or late we ask you to please let the school know before 9.00am.
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Mana Ake is offering an online form to arrange a drop-in at a time to suit. If you would like to meet with Shannon our Kaimahi for parenting advice, or to help your child manage emotions for mental well-being feel free to fill in the form via this link.
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To check for Mana Ake courses available during term 4, follow this link.
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IMPORTANT DATES 2024
- 06 Nov - Board Meeting, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
- 08 Nov - Curiosity Clubs, 11.45am-12.45pm
- 14 Nov - Teacher Only Day (school closed to students)
- 15 Nov - Canterbury Anniversary Day (school closed)
- 19 Nov - Children's Uni Graduation Ceremony, Town Hall 5.15pm
- 29 Nov - Hui (Teretere), 9.15am in the Hall
- 03 Dec - Ararira in the Park, 6-7pm
- 04 Dec - THT Meeting, 7pm at The Laboratory
- 10 Dec - Class Swap Day, 9.10am
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School Board
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Next meeting - 06 November, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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The board's first meeting of the term is this evening at 6:30 pm in the staff room. This term we will be reviewing progress on our annual and strategic plans; student achievement data; drafting next year's budget while we await final confirmation on staffing and entitlements in January 2025; and hearing about preparation for the implementation of the government's required curriculums and teaching approaches next year.
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This term we are reviewing policies on school donations and student activity payments; expenditure; property planning and maintenance; and prevention of bribery, corruption, fraud, and theft. SchoolDocs (username: ararira | password: russdrive)
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Te Hapori Tautoko (THT)
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THT - Te Hapori Tautoko - providing opportunities to tautoko (support) and connect our school community and fundraising for school initiatives and resources.
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Our next THT meeting is 04 December at 7pm at The Laboratory.
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Please come along and see how you can get involved and support our tamariki.
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Support Our School with Style!
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Introducing our Mānu e Whakatika: It Starts with Me! reusable tote bag! Crafted from pre-consumer recycled cotton, this eco-friendly bag features reinforced handles for durability and a beautiful design that reinforces our school values.
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By purchasing this bag, you’re not only getting a sustainable product but also supporting our school's fundraising efforts!
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Orders are to be placed on KINDO, and will be delivered straight to your child's classroom by Friday of the week that you order.
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Want to see it before you buy? Drop into the office and check out the one on display.
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Make a difference today—because it all starts with us!
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They have an incredible range of items from books, games, toys to clothing, homewares, and much more. There is something for everyone on your list!
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Enter Ararira Springs Primary School when you check out and 10% of your order will be donated to our school.
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Second-Hand Uniforms - THT has a small selection of second-hand uniform items available for purchase. Click here to view a list of the items we currently have available. If you have uniform items to donate please contact Charlotte via charlotte.mcmenamin@ararira.school.nz
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Katrina Robinson has been teaching guitar and ukulele now for a number of years at schools and also from her home. She loves to sing too and is a professional musician playing in wineries and cafés as well as weddings and private functions. Katrina likes to make her lessons fun and really enjoys teaching. You can read more information on Katrina at www.thesingingdiva.co.nz
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Thank you to all the parents who emailed in pictures of their child’s extracurricular activities. We will be putting together a display in the foyer. As soon as it is complete please come in and see it!
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Zones Athletics Day - Years 5-8
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We would like to wish all our athletes taking part in the Zones Athletics Day on Thursday all the best. Thank you to the parents who have put their hands up to volunteer on the day. If you would like to come and support us please do. We will be at Ngā Puna Wai Athletics Track from 9:30 am. Zones Athletics Day
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Weetbix Tryathlon is now open for registration!
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Registrations are now open for the 2025 Weetbix Tryathlon. We have created a school group so you can register your child for the event. Click on this link to register:
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Please note: Race packs WILL NOT be delivered to the school but can be collected on race day.
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Don’t forget to check out the “What's on offer?” page for clubs advertising their sport.
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The closing date for Issue 8, 2024 is 06 December 2024, but we recommend you place your order by 22 November to ensure you received it by the end of the term.
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All orders will be delivered to school in batches and distributed to the classrooms as they arrive. Any orders marked as gifts, we will put to one side and contact you when they are ready to be collected.
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Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum Curriculum Refresh Updates, Term 4 2024 The New Zealand Curriculum is currently undergoing a review and refresh. The English and Mathematics and Statistics curricula have been released on 31 October and must be taught from Term 1, 2025. The Ararira Springs Primary staff have been undergoing professional development to understand the changes and …
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Learning through play is a key approach in education in today's world. While most common in early childhood education, it also benefits students throughout their school years. This blog post explores the importance of learning through play in a primary school context, drawing on extensive research to highlight its many advantages. The Concept of Learning Through Play Learning through play …
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During the last week of term 1 and into the term break I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of an Education Delegation to China. This was organised by Hangzhou University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan and the Confucius Institute University Canterbury (CIUC). The delegation included professors from UC, leaders from High Schools in Christchurch and Dunedin, and …
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As part of the 100-day plan, the new National Government announced the change to mandate an hour of reading, writing and maths every day. In reality, this is not very different from what your child is already experiencing at Ararira. The teaching of reading, writing and maths is an average of one hour a day. It also includes reading, writing …
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Ararira Springs' Balanced Scorecard The Springboard Trust offers a suite of fantastic professional learning for school leaders and late in 2022 we took part in the Balanced Scorecard for Schools in Aotearoa programme. This asks schools to think long-term and develop 10-year objectives that will guide the school through the next phases of strategic planning. These objectives were established by …
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Expectations for Behaviour at Ararira Ararira is a wonderful place to learn and we guide our learners' behaviour with clear expectations that are linked to our values of being caring, curious and capable. These are short, sharp and memorable and might be good to refer to at home as well. Caring is our first value supported by aroha and manaakitanga. …
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