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Connect Communication

19th November 2021

Kia ora Whānau,

Apologies for the slight delay in the publishing of our newsletter this week. It has been a very busy week. People mistakenly ask educators if they are winding down, when in fact, this is one of the busiest times of the year.
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A huge thank you to all those involved with the successful Quiz Night. This was once again a fantastic whanau event with lots of laughter. The THT is an incredible group of volunteers and this is one example of their mahi. Funds raised will go to improving the school grounds being put towards an area of astroturf. This will increase the areas that can be used in wet weather. Please take time to read their post below and support the lovely locals who supported us. Special thanks to Ray White as the principal sponsor, Chis and Aleisha our quizmasters and Clare Fahey for her gorgeous photos. I do think I might consider giving up my day job and going babysitting, I had no idea the going rate was so good!

It continues to be a turbulent year with many COVID associated challenges. We are working with the vaccination requirements. Our team is fully compliant, however, we need to hear from you and your over 12s. Please take two minutes to complete this form so we have your vaccination status on file. This will enable you to volunteer and help us use the new traffic light system.

COVID has impacted the way we will celebrate the end of the year. As soon as parents are added to the group mix, rules of 100 apply. We will be putting together a movie of class items to share with you and a video of our final hui. We now have 305 learners at Ararira so having parents to the final hui is not possible this year. Our year 8 parents will be able to be part of the farewell to their child by attending a dinner at the events centre.

We are currently working on putting together ako classes for 2022. Please email your child's ako teacher if there are things you would like us to consider. End of year report comments will start being published over the next week or two. All final assessments and data are being gathered and we will turn the graphs back on and publish next year's class in the last week of school.

As a growing school, we have the challenge of needing to leave room for people moving to the area. We are funded for staff in line with general Ministry ratios and will need to respond if we have unexpected enrolments. If you know about people moving into the area please get them to contact the office team.
Our new teams for 2022 are as follows;
Huarapa - Year 1: Nicky Harding, Larissa Jay, Lydia Borlase and Angela Shea in Term 2
Teretere - Year 2: Deb Wesley, Andrea Harrison and Shelley Smith
Kaunuku - Year 3/4: Kelly McIntrye, Sam Isaacs and Megan Newton
Hikuwai - Year 4/5/6: Blair Cook, Meeghan Coetzee and Michael McDermott
Hikuwai - Year 7/8: Danielle Donehue and Carolyn Sutherland

Check out staff profiles on the 'our team' page of the website. Enjoy a restful weekend and I look forward to catching up with you soon.
Kia pai tō wiki
Claire and the Ararira Team
COVID-19-Update

Health Order and Implications for Staff and Whanau

At 11.59 pm on Monday 25 October, the COVID-19 Public Health Response Order for Mandatory Vaccinations for Education came into effect. Everyone who works or volunteers for a school who may have contact with children or students or will be present at a time when children and students are also present must have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 15 November and be fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.

The vaccination requirements apply wherever face to face schooling occurs, such as on the school site, but also at school camps, swimming pools, museums, or where other education outside the classroom (EOTC) programmes take place. This means that we are only allowed to allow people to help at school events with children if they have had at least their first dose by 16 November, and are fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.

If you wish to be involved as a helper in any events after 16 November, please complete this short form so we can store evidence of your vaccination status. You can either upload the evidence in the place provided or bring it in to school if you prefer When school starts next year, we will need evidence of full vaccination by 1 January for any school helpers. We will store your information privately in our school database. The requirements do not apply to people who are just visiting the school, such as for a learning conference or a parent, whānau and community evening. At level 2, the wearing of masks would still be encouraged.

SPEED LIMITS OUTSIDE SCHOOLS

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) is consulting on the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices (Kura/School Signs) Amendment 2021 and the changes it proposes to make to the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (the TCD Rule).

We are proposing to enable bilingual school signs in conjunction with the proposed Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2021 (the proposed Speed Rule). If passed, the proposed Speed Rule will see new permanent speed signs installed outside schools from early 2022.

The TCD Rule specifies requirements for the layout and content of traffic signs. We are proposing changes to a number of school signs (and creation of a new permanent school speed sign) to require the use of both kura and school to make the signs bilingual.

This consultation is part of a programme of work Waka Kotahi is undertaking, with help from the Ministry of Transport Te Manatū Waka, and in partnership with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Mātāwai to support the use of te reo Māori on traffic signs in Aotearoa New Zealand.

He Tohu Huarahi Māori Bilingual Signs Programme forms part of the Waka Kotahi contribution to Maihi Karauna (the Crown’s strategy for Māori language revitalisation 2018–2023). ‘Maihi Karauna’ is aimed at ensuring there are everyday opportunities for New Zealanders to engage with and use te reo Māori.”

We are seeking feedback to ensure the proposed changes take account of the views of, and the impact on, people affected by the proposed change. We want to hear what you think about the proposed changes.

The consultation has two parts:

* an overview<https://nzta-landtransportrules.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdtljdl-miuhlqii-t/>, which sets out the proposed amendments
* a draft Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004<https://nzta-landtransportrules.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdtljdl-miuhlqii-i/>.

Submissions can be made until 5pm Friday 17 December 2021.

You can view the draft Amendment Rule change and provide your feedback via the online form at https://nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/kura-school-traffic-signs-consultation/<https://nzta-landtransportrules.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdtljdl-miuhlqii-d/> or by emailing rules@nzta.govt.nzrules@nzta.govt.nz>.

Submissions can be made in te reo Māori.

Please note your submission may become publicly available, should Waka Kotahi publish it or provide it to a third party. If your comments are commercially sensitive or, they should not be disclosed or you should not be identified as the submitter, please clearly indicate this and the reason why in your submission. Any request for non-disclosure will be considered under the Official Information Act 1982.

If you no longer wish to receive information about Land Transport Rules or if your contact details have changed, you can update your details online<https://nzta-landtransportrules.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdtljdl-miuhlqii-h/>.

Alternatively, contact Waka Kotahi at: rules@nzta.govt.nz

Ngā mihi,
Waka Kotahi Regulatory Policy Team
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Welcome to Te Puna o Ararira

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This week we welcome Isabella to Huaruapa, Arlo to Kaunuku and Lyndora to Hikuwai. We know you will soon love Ararira as much as we do.

SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

Kia ora koutou,
The school board met for the first time this term on the 27th of October. We were pleased to confirm new staffing appointments to the school for 2022.

We have been advised that the School Board elections 2022 have been deferred until September to allow changes in legislation to enable e-voting. We will advise when a date for the 2022 elections is confirmed.

The Pataka Kai has been built by Mike McConway and the board would like to thank him for his time and efforts to complete this for the school. We would also like to thank THT for their time, flexibility and creativity in the organisation of the quiz night. We hope that you enjoy the event.

Our next meeting is Wednesday 24th November, 6:30 pm in the staffroom.

SCHOOL DOCS REVIEW
We would like to remind you that the Māori Education Success policy is up for review this term. To be a part of this review process, please visit our Schooldocs site at https://ararira.schooldocs.co.nz. Our username is "ararira" and password "russdrive".
IMPORTANT DATES - 2021
  • 24 Nov - BoT meeting in school boardroom, 6.30 pm
  • 25 Nov - New Entrant Information Evening 6.45 pm in Pūtahi (library)
  • 26 Nov - Yr 6-8 girls cricket, 12-2.30pm
  • 29 Nov - Wellbeing Come as Yourself Day - Bring a can of food
  • 2 Dec - Jump, Throw Mini Athletics Day
  • 6 Dec - Yr 7/8 Career Day
  • 08 Dec - Class lists and all comments published on Hero
  • 09 Dec - Presentation with Claire, tour of school for new families (except New Entrants), 1.30-2.30pm
  • 09 Dec - THT meeting at The Lab 7pm
  • 13 Dec - Transition Day, 9.15-10.30am
  • 14 Dec - Year 8 dinner 6-9 pm, Bayliss Lounge, Events Centre
TERM DATES - 2022
Term 1: Tues 1st Feb - Thur 14 April (TOD - 31st Jan & 18th March)
Term 2: Mon 2nd May - Friday 8th July (TOD 7th June)
Term 3: Mon 25th July - Friday 30th September
Term 4: Mon 17th Oct - Fri 16th Dec (TOD 10th November)

CAMP DATES - 2022
  • Year 5/6 head to Living Springs in Week 3 from 16 - 18 February
  • Year 7/8 head to Tekapo in Week 5 from 2-4 March
SUNHATS
Sunhats are compulsory when playing outside in Term 1 and 4. We have plenty in stock in the office, so if you purchase via Kindo you can collect straight away.

Te Hapori Tautoko THT

Te Hapori Tautoko (THT) means Community Support Group in Te Reo Māori. Our main aims are to provide opportunities to tautoko (support) and connect our school community and fundraising for school initiatives, and resources that benefit our school. To date our fundraising has helped to pay for:
  • Sports uniforms owned by the school, that are lent to tamariki as required
  • Community events such our annual Matariki evening
  • Coffee mornings
Fundraising in 2021 will go towards play areas and equipment at the school.

If this is something you are interested in, we would love to see you there. We always welcome new people.

NEXT MEETING - Thursday 9th December at The Lab - an end of year celebration

QUIZ NIGHT - 5th November 2021

We did it! Quiz Night 2021 was a massive success! We raised $7217.56

Competition was tight, with only 1 ½ points between the top 4 teams. Congratulations to Quizzy Rascals captained by Kelly Serrant for taking out the title.

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A huge thank you to all the THT members and friends of THT on the organising committee, all the helpers on the night, parents that donated items for hampers and quiz goers that got into the spirit of the night.
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We were very fortunate to get loads of support from businesses both in the Lincoln community and those associated with Ararira Springs whanau. Special mention goes to Ray White Town & Country that supported the event financially and donated their time and prizes. Also to Tekapo Springs | Tekapo Star Gazing for donating a massive holiday package that we auctioned on the night. Claire Fahey at Lime Blue Photography for capturing the night with amazing photos, such as the ones above. We love locals supporting locals!

Please support these businesses that made donations for Quiz Night 2021.
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TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP
Coffee catch ups are on hold during Level 2, but will be running again every Tuesday morning from 8.45 in Putahi as soon as we are at Level 1.

FRIDAY COFFEE GROUP
We also plan to arrange Friday afternoon catch ups in Putahi at Level 1, and will advise when these are happening in this newsletter and on the online whanau page.
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Facebook Page for Ararira Whānau Māori

We have created a Facebook page specifically for our Māori families. This is a space to post successes at home and school, share ideas and resources, and make connections. The page is called Te Puna o Ararira Whānau Māori. Nau mai, haere mai!
If you have pātai about the page, please contact chloe.cull@ararira.school.nz
KELLY CLUB - Next week the Kelly Club Kids have picked what we do for the whole week with kids choice! Join us for this fun-filled week.
6. Weekly Activity Plan - Kids Choice (All Ages Combined)
Kelly Sports has now expanded in Christchurch and we are operating our Kelly Mini Sports Programme for children between 1 & 5 years of age. This programme is designed to allow children to discover sport while developing their fundamental motor skills, confidence and social skills. We have venues in Halswell, Parklands and Rolleston currently with more being added all the time. For more information please contact Steve at christchurch@kellyminisports.co.nz
Kelly Mini Sports
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