Term Two, Number Ten
Tēnā Koutou Whānau
Thursday 6th July, 2016
2016 Te Wiki o te Reo Maori - Māori Language Week
The theme for Maori Language Week this year is ākina te reo – behind you all
the way, which is about using te reo māori to support people, to inspire and to
cheer on. We believe that this year’s focus aligns perfectly with the school
P.R.I.D.E. value of Partnership (P). This year, the Maori Language Commission
have developed 50 phrases in te reo māori that are simple to use, even for those
with little or no grasp of the language. Over this week, teachers have been
exploring some of these phrases with the children. You could try a few at home
too….Ka mau te wehi! That’s outstanding! Kia manawanui! Hang in there!
Welcome to Our Newest Teacher at Upper Hutt School
We warmly welcome Ms Rachel Grant (no relation) to the Teaching Team at Upper Hutt School. Rachel is
going to start our next New Entrant class in Little Acorns. Rachel brings many skills and interests including
physical education and dance. For the first week of next Term, Rachel will be Team teaching with Mrs
Claire Martin until the numbers get big enough to start the next classroom. Welcome Rachel!
Growth Mind-set and Our Brain
If you went for a walk through our classrooms and corridors right now, you
would see our walls and classrooms filled with all the children's learning
about the Brain and Growth Mind-set. We believe that every child needs
to know how their brain works and needs to approach their learning with a
growth mind-set. In fact, we believe in it so much, that from now on - every
child that comes to Upper Hutt School will learn about these two important
things. Our 5-year-olds in Rainbow Room are developing a growth mindset and have been referring to their brain as their ‘Mind's Eye’!
Rainbow Room children said this about their Mind’s Eye...
It helps us to think - Sophie
It helps us learn - Juliet
It helps us to not say mean things - Te Awa
It helps us to do a capital letter for the start of our story - Aries
It helps us to do a full stop at the end of our story - Luke
It helps us to be kind to others - Te Kohe
It helps us to move every part of our body - Kameryn
When you've made a bad choice, it helps us fix it by saying
"Should I?" or "Shouldn't I?" - Te Amorangi
A song the children created - sung to
the tune of Frere Jacques
We are thinking
We are thinking
Yes we are...
Yes we are...
Thinking about learning
Thinking about learning
Yes we are!
Yes we are!
Reports and Learning Conferences
The last two weeks of this Term have been important in terms of assessment and reporting to parents. Last
Monday, many of you received a Report on your child’s learning progress and achievement. On
Wednesday and Thursday, we invited all families to come and meet with their child’s teacher. We would
love to have any feedback from you about the Report that came home or the Learning Conference you
attended. Please speak with your child’s class teacher or email [email protected] with any
feedback. We are always looking for ways to grow and develop. We want to make sure that our reporting
schedule and process is both purposeful and timely for all families.
Playground Under Repair
We recently paid for a ‘playground audit’ to be carried out to check the safety of all our
playgrounds. We wanted to make sure our playgrounds met the latest safety specifications
and requirements. The detailed audit identified a number of areas that required work. As a
result of this report, we closed our oldest playground (outside Rooms 6 & 7) on
Wednesday so Phil (Caretaker) could immediately start work on the identified areas. Our
plan is to have all playgrounds fully operating by the start of next Term.
Partnership/Collaboration - Kia kaha e hoa mā! Let’s go team!
At Upper Hutt School, we know that children learn in many different and unique ways. One way that
supports many of our children, is learning through collaboration. Brain research has shown that when brains
are connected - they light up! Over the first six months of this year, our
children have had multiple opportunities to learn collaboratively. All our
Year 4-6 classes start the morning with a karakia and shared Fitness. On
Wednesday afternoons, they participate in Kapa Haka or a tikanga
rotation. Room 8/9 provide multiple opportunities for children to learn
collaboratively also. All classes are learning collaboratively on Friday
mornings with our recently started P.R.I.D.E. Projects. Throughout the
week, all children often have opportunities to learn with children in their
class and other classes as well as with other teachers. We are noticing
that through this collaboration, children are more ‘active’ in their learning, engaged and willing to show a
growth mind-set (I can do it, we can work on it together etc).
We are currently designing the new learning spaces for Room 1-5 for next year. These spaces will have
both individual and collaborative learning options for all children. As soon as plans are drafted - we will be
displaying them to you for some feedback...Watch This Space!
Golden Acorn Celebration - Tapatapahi ana! Cool! Choice!
When Bradley counted up all of the Golden Acorns Certificates that were in the Golden
Acorn jar last week - there were nearly 2000!!! That means that this Term, the children at
Upper Hutt School have been recognised nearly 2000 times for their P.R.I.D.E.
behaviour...and that deserves both recognition and a celebration! Tomorrow, we will be
holding a Golden Acorn Celebration Day for the whole school. Children will be split into
their House Groups and join a rotation of 8 activities. This will include Games, Art, Dance,
Te Reo and more! Tau kē Upper Hutt School! Awesome Upper Hutt School!
F & PC
Generosity - Partnership - Thank you!
We would like to thank two very generous families/businesses for their recent donation to our school. Your
generosity is greatly appreciated by our whole school community and benefits every child :)
 The Gregory Family ****Need to find out their business name donated four wheelie bins to help
store our sports equipment
 Phil Wootton - Maycroft - for our new lime green sun shade
Welcome To Our Newest Families - Sunshine Room - Brooklyn Taylor, Amelia
Harris, Harry Darrall & Keanu Lim
Dates to note – please check our website regularly
Friday 8th July
Term Two Finishes at 3pm
Monday 25th July
Term Three begins ☺
Tuesday 26th July
A group of Japaneese exchange students visit for the afternoon
Thurs 11th Aug
School NED Show, 9:15-10am
We wish you all a wonderful school holiday. There are a few ‘bugs’ around with many children unwell – so a good chance to rest up
and rejuvenate for Term Three. I want to thank the amazing staff at UHS for another fantastic Term. They work so very hard and
they too, are very deserving of a break/ holiday! See you next Term.
Jo Grant & Staff
Community Notices - Lots of ideas for the holidays!
Mad for Marshmallows
Staglands yummy winter marshmallows are back and for a limited period only, during the July
School Holidays, they will be given away FREE to all visitors!!
Toast your own on the cosy Barn campfire and enjoy some wild cooking in the great outdoors.
www.staglands.co.nz
School Holiday Writing Course for Senior Primary and Intermediate Students
11 July – 15 July 2016 inclusive
From 11am – 12:30pm
Held at Writer’s Plot Readers Read Bookshop
2/893 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt (opposite the Upper Hutt Railway Station)
Numbers limited so bookings essential
$50 for three days or $75 for all five days
For further information:Email: [email protected]
Phone: 04 5284549
http://writersplotreadersread.nz
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow – School Holiday Events 11-24 July
Come along to Upper Hutt City Library's awesome school holiday events!
Believe It Or Not - Tuesday 12 July 11am
Many more events planned...
Register at:upperhuttcity.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=16186&lib=
July School Holidays Roller Disco Both weeks, Mon – Fri, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Entry $7 Skate/Blade
hire $3
PJ Theme Disco, Saturday July 30th October 6:30 – 8:30 pm Entry $7 Skate/Blade hire $3
Regular Sat afternoon Disco till mid-Dec, 3.00 – 5.00 pm Entry $7 Skate/Blade hire $3
www.skatewellington.org.nz [email protected]
Rink phone 04 9390507
Upper Hutt Roller Skating Club
4A Railway Avenue, UH
School Holiday Arts & Crafts Programme
Every weekday from 9:30 - 11:30am
Small classes for children aged 7-12 year olds
Pottery - hot water bottle covers - no sew scarves - pom pom animals - sock snowmen…
Classes are held at the Upper Hutt Women's Centre 6, Sinclair Street Upper Hutt
Please phone 5270017 or email [email protected] to book. $5 per class