Welcome back to Term 4 everyone, and a special welcome to the families of our 6 students who have started with us this week. Next week we have a Mihi Whakatau to welcome the 12 students who have started with us since we last held this ceremony last term! All of our current families are also invited to come along and welcome them to our community if available on Monday morning.
We have also been joined this week by our new Learning Assistant, Tara Murrie.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday October 21st 9am - Mihi Whakatau welcoming new members of our community
- Tuesday October 22nd - Individual and Class Photos
- Friday October 25th - Teacher Only Day for the new English and Maths Curriculum
- Monday October 28th - Labour Day public holiday
Hats and Uniform
Now that we are into the (hopefully) sunnier and warmer terms again, a reminder that hats are compulsory for Terms 1 and 4 each year. Any hat is fine, otherwise students will need to play undercover or in the library at lunchtime.
I will also take this time to remind people that our uniform is the Nukumea top and fleece jumper (we also now have a rain jacket added as an optional item) and then any navy shorts/skirt/pants.
Road Safety
Road safety is crucial for our Nukumea School community, and especially important as we continue to see more changes to housing and traffic in our area. To keep everyone safe, there are several important points for both parents and students to remember. First, always use zebra crossings when available; they are specifically designed to keep pedestrians safe. For parents dropping off or picking up their children, please drive slowly in the PUDO (Pick-Up/Drop-Off) zone to ensure everyone’s safety. It’s essential to keep an eye out for young children who may be crossing.
Additionally, for students who ride bicycles or scooters please check that helmets are fitted correctly before heading out. A well-fitted helmet significantly reduces the risk of injury in case of a fall. By following these simple guidelines, we can create a safer environment for all our students as they travel to and from school. Let’s work together to keep our school community safe!
Harvest Hub Recipe Book
Last term we had our wonderful Harvest Hub event where the community was able to gather for an afternoon in the Hall and enjoy some baking in celebration of our school gardens. The recipe book from this event is now available through this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkHhXke3jQJxxVkrjzM7TNEydA3OF9nr/view?usp=sharing
For those who enjoyed this event and may want to get involved more with our gardens, we are starting some more regular afternoon working bees that are open for all in the community to join. See below for more information.
Managing Worries
Whether it's off to school for the first time or back to school after the break, transitioning into the school routine feels big. We all worry - it's part of what makes us human! Mitey helps students understand that worries happen because a part of our brain, called the amygdala, wants to protect us from danger, although sometimes - in reality - we don’t need protecting. Mitey gives students a kete of tools they can use when they feel worried. A story we visit in our Mitey lessons is ‘Aroha’s Way’. Check out how Aroha manages her worries!
Talking things through with our kids can really help to soothe any back to school nerves. Mention their teacher’s and friend’s names, what lunchtime might look like, what happens at end of the school day and even spend some time here out of school hours to familiarise them with the environment. You could try the ‘5 Things’ technique to help calm their amygdala, recommended by Mitey. What are 5 things you can see? 4 things you can feel? 3 things you can hear? 2 things you can smell? 1 thing you can taste?