OTAHUHU INTERMEDIATE
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
3 March 2017
Ph 276 6421
Term 1 Week 5
Fax 276 9194
Kia Ora, Malo e Lelei, Mauri, Namaste, Ni Hao, Talofa Lava, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu,
Bula Vi Naka, Hola, Kia Orana, Greetings to you all…..
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Whanau and Students
Our term 1 Social Science inquiry ‘Who Are We?’ is focused on our cultural identity and its impact on us as
individuals and a community.
This week the Otahuhu Intermediate School staff and Tongan students paid their respects to the passing
of the Tongan queen by wearing black on Wednesday. Understanding and respecting other cultures and
traditions is very important living in our multi-cultural community and city.
Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all our Tongan friends and families at this time.
School-Wide Achievement Assessments - Reading, Writing and Mathematics
Over the last few weeks we have been doing our school-wide e-asTTle assessments in reading and
mathematics, and asTTle writing. This week we have completed the e-asTTle catch-ups in reading and
mathematics. Our teachers are currently completing their asTTle writing assessments.
Next week I will give you an update on the beginning of the year school-wide assessment data relating to
these learning areas. Also, over the next three or four weeks we will be inviting parents from our major
ethnicities (Maori, Tongan, Samoan, and Indian) to come and review the student achievement data and
discuss ways of how we can assist parents and students to achieve future success when working towards
achieving National Standards.
Reminders
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Year 8 students should have indicated whether they are attending the Year 8 Port Waikato
Camp.
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Chocolate sales finish next Friday 10 March 2017.
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Camp paperwork completed and returned to class teacher by Friday 10 March 2017.
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All camp monies paid by Friday 17 March 2017.
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School donations for term 1 should have been paid ($15.00 per term or $60.00 for the
year).
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All students should have correct full PE gear by now.
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Maori Whanau Hui focused on Maori achievement and engagement is being held on
Tuesday 7 March from 5.00pm - 6.00pm
Thank you to all the parents, caregivers, whanau and students that supported the Otahuhu Community Fun
Day last Saturday. It was wonderful to see so many of our students and whanau, as well as ex students at
this wonderful event.
Student School Day
- 8.45am - 3pm.
We look forward to your support with our upcoming school events too.
Break 1- 11am-11.35am.
Break 2- 1.40pm-2.10pm.
Uniform Shop Hours
Have a fantastic weekend.
- 8.30am - 9.30am.
Brent Woods
OUR VISION:
‘Excellence for All’
Otahuhu Picnic Evening
Port Waikato Year 8 Camp
REMINDERS
If you want your child to go to camp,
the cut off times are fast approaching.
Chocolate sales end in one week
Friday 10 March 2017.
All camp forms to your child’s teacher by
Friday 10 March 2017.
All camp money must be fully paid by
Friday 17 March 2017.
We really want our students to have this amazing
experience, but we must have cut off dates to
finalise the overall organisation.
We encourage you to ensure that you have
completed all the required forms and make full
payment by the dates given.
Calendar
of Events
ICAS Payment DUE!
Friday 3rd March
Immunisation Talks
Monday 6th March
South West Zone
Boys Softball
Tuesday 7th March
Reading Together
6pm - 7.15pm.
Wednesday 8th March
A big thank you to the parents who have already
complete the paperwork, fundraised by selling
chocolates and paid the required monies.
SW Boys Softball
Saving Day
Thursday 9th March
You are truly awesome.
Don’t let your child miss
this experience of a lifetime.
Chocolate Sales End
Camp Paperwork Due!
Friday 10th March
TRUANCY (Feb)
Fia Fia Evening
Wednesday 15th March
Truancy is not condoned at any school and it is law that
if your child is 6-16 yrs they must be enrolled in a
school and attend on a regular basis.
Parents are not to condone truancy and let their children
stay at home when they are not sick or have a good
reason. For every day that your child is not at school
with a reasonable excuse you can be prosecuted at
$30.00 per day they are absent. If you are on a WINZ
benefit, this can also be affected, as you are not
adhering to your social responsibilities.
Sports Corner…...
Well done to the girls softball teams…. Congratulations to
the Y7 girls who placed 3rd=. FULL PE gear is needed for
softball! Sports running shoes and black socks also to
participate at the up coming softball tournaments.
Good Luck to the boys for Tuesday. Cost $8 each.
ALL Camp Payment DUE!
Friday 17th March
Otahuhu Cultural
Festival
Otahuhu Rec Centre
9am - 3pm
Friday 24th March
EOTC WEEK
&
Y8 Camp
Monday 27th March —
Friday 31st March
School Blurb – School Newsletter Blurbs
TERM 1 – Focus this term 2017
Constable Pete VEUKISO
Travelling safely
As a parent you have a very important role in practising and reinforcing road safety skills, whether it is
walking, cycling, driving, or as a passenger.
Children are vulnerable road users. Every year children are killed and injured on the road, as passengers,
pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and other road users.
Children are at risk on or near the roads because they:
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do not see and hear things in the same way that adults do
are easily distracted by noises and such things as animals
are short and can't see over or round things easily
can't judge safe distances and so make poor decisions about crossing the road, may forget road rules
if something unexpected happens, such as a ball bouncing on the road.
Young people are at risk because of hormonal changes, peer pressure, access to high-powered vehicles
and insufficient experience when operating a vehicle on roads.
http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-and-community-advice/school-portal/
information-and-guidelines/information-parents
Responsible Citizens
Practical things you can do as a parent to encourage social responsibility
To help your child protect their own and others’ property you can teach them to:
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put things back in the right place
always ask if they can borrow something and return it promptly with thanks
treat possessions with care
think about how they would feel if one of their possessions was damaged or taken
follow your example of looking after property well
lock up possessions like bikes.
To prevent your child stealing:
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explain that stealing is wrong
expect and show honesty
help children to recognise and overcome the temptation to steal
talk about how we feel when someone steals our possessions
show them sensible alternatives to stealing to get the things that they need or want help them to
sort out what things they can't have.
http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-and-community-advice/school-portal/information-and-guidelines/
information-parents
SAFETY AT THE SCHOOL GATE
Before and after school is a busy time for everyone. Therefore if you drop your children off at school in
the morning and/or pick them up after school you need to adhere to the parking rules to help protect your
children. If you park illegally, even for a few minutes, you put children at risk of being injured and you may
receive a fine. If you drop your children off make sure they use the pedestrian crossing or school road
patrol to cross the road to school. If you get out please set an example and use the crossing yourself.
Toia – After School Children’s Club.
Where: Otahuhu Library, Mason Avenue, Otahuhu
When: Monday to Wednesday Time: 3pm to 5pm.
Jyoti Naidu, a Senior Children’s & Youth Librarian at Otahuhu Library who facilitates the
after school children’s club. The after school programme is targeted at helping children
with their homework. It is designed to support children with their reading, spelling,
mathematics, as well as assisting them with digital learning too. Students attending will
be encouraged to join the library for free and take the opportunity to borrow lots of free
resources.
OIS has had a number of students involved in the After School Children’s Club in
the past, and we encourage parents/caregivers to utilise this kind offer by the
Otahuhu Library.
Otahuhu Mangere Youth Group
Go along and join in.
Its FREE…
A trial for the first 6 weeks. If it is popular they will continue.
Old Library - next to the Town Hall, High Street, Otahuhu.