Wednesday 14 February – Newsletter

SILVERDALE SCHOOL

School Newsletter

Learn to Journey – Journey to Learn

Ako ki te Haere – Haere ki te Ako

Newsletter – Thursday February

Kia ora, Talofa, Malo e leleli, Kia orana, Fakalofa lahi Atu, Taloha Ni, Ni sa bula, 你好, Namaste, 안녕하세요, Hola, Xin chao, السلام عليكم.

Welcome

Welcome to Lucas Wade, Rhode van Wyk and Dian van Wyk. Our current roll is 750.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Bryan Peng, Max Briant, Emma Moradi, James Collins, Maggie Derriman, Carter Honore, Mae Dalere, Elsie Taiapa, Daniel Maeng, Julia Banach, Emily Zhang and Rosa Meng.

Whole School Pōhiri/Pōwhiri

Our Whole School Pōhiri to welcome all our new students was held on Monday 12 February. This was a fantastic occasion for our new children, staff and whānau. We hold a Pōhiri at the beginning of each term to welcome our new children and staff to our school.

Pōhiri are set in place for the safety and wellbeing of both manuhiri (visitors) and tangata whenua (locals). The pōhiri process is a loving and respectful beginning of a new relationship.

The following is a basic outline of the steps that we follow to welcome new members of Silverdale School.

Tomokanga

The manuhiri (visitors) meet at the front of the marae, outside the entrance in the area referred to as the tomokanga, waiting to be called on. At Silverdale School, this is by the flagpole. Usually the women are at the front, flanked by the men. The kaikaranga (female caller) stands at the front.

Pūtatara

The sound of the pūtatara (conch shell) could be heard over long distances, so it is ideal for signalling and for ceremonial purposes. At Silverdale School, the pōhiri begins with the pūtatara sounding three times.

Wero

A wero or challenge is performed by a warrior or warriors, advancing on the manuhiri (visitors) to look them over and establish intent – to decide if they were friend or foe. The warrior lays down a rau (leaf). If the manuhiri (visitors) are intent on friendship, they should pick up the offering. Not taking the offering was seen as a declaration of war.

Karanga

Following the wero, is the karanga. This is the voices of women from both sides, calling to each other to exchange information to further establish the purpose of the visit. It is said that the kaikaranga (callers) between them, weave a mat laid upon Papatuanuku binding the two sides together.

The manuhiri (visitors) move up slowly behind the kaikaranga, until they reach the mahau. The karanga will continue until the manuhiri (visitors) reach the mahau of the Marae. At Silverdale School, this is the doors to the hall.

Haka Pōhiri

The tangata whenua will perform the haka pōhiri, a chant and dance of welcome, during which the manuhiri (visitors) are symbolically drawn onto the marae. The chants often use the symbolism of hauling a waka onto the shore.

Seating

Manuhiri (visitors) move into the Marae and move to the seats allocated to them. At Silverdale School, new students sit at the front left of the hall. New staff members sit on the stage. Traditionally, the men sit in the front and the women at the back. At Silverdale School, we sit in our class groups.

The kaikōrero sit on the paepae at the front of the group of seats on the stage. The kaikorero hongi on their way to their seats.

Whaikōrero

Next is the mihi or exchange of greeting by the kaikōrero (speakers) from both sides. During whaikōrero, links between the ancestors and the living are made, and genealogical links between tangata whenua and manuhiri are emphasised.

Each speech is followed by the performance of a waiata by the speaker’s support group. The quality of the singing reflects the mana of the speaker and the speaker’s support group.

The protocols for whaikorero are determined by the kawa (practices) of the marae or by the local iwi. At Silverdale School, the speeches and waiata are as follows:

Tangata Whenua Student Speaker #1 (Tu Tira Mai)

Tangata Whenua Student Speaker #2 (Te Pou)

Manuhiri (visitors) Matua Will (on behalf) (Te Aroha)

Open to All Speakers

The official part of the pōhiri is conducted in Te Reo Māori. Matua Mark will close the official part of the pōhiri and open the floor to all speakers. This is when Mr Lockie will speak, along with new staff to Silverdale School.

At the conclusion of all speakers, Matua Mark will wrap up the pōhiri with the karakia, Unuhia, and as a school we will sing Utaina.

Hākari

The pōhiri concludes with the hākari – sharing of kai. The food removes the tapu (sacredness) from the manuhiri (visitors), so that the two sides may complete the coming together. As in all cultures, the sharing of food signifies a binding together.

Meet the Parent Evenings

Our Meet the Parent Evenings are being held on Wednesday 21 February and Thursday 22 February from 3.15pm to 6.00pm on both days. These interviews will be 10 minutes and the main purpose of these interviews is for you to let your child’s teacher know about your child. It is also a time for you to gain some information about how your child’s class will operate and learn about the journey your child is embarking on this year. Children will not be required to attend.

To make a booking go to: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz.

The school code is: 3946t

Uniform

Children are expected to wear the school sun hat in Terms 1 and 4 at school. Silverdale School has a no hat, no play policy.

Shoes are a part of the uniform and should be worn to and from school. These should be black in colour and can either be sandals, lace-ups or buckle shoes. Headbands and hair ties for girls should be in one of the school colours (green, black or white). The only jewellery that is permitted are watches or stud earrings.

Car Parking

Just a reminder that there is no parking in both carparks at school. Please don’t park by the kindy as these parks are reserved for kindy parents. Thanks for your cooperation with this.

School Values

Our school values are:

Kindness/Atawhai

Excellence/Hiranga
Respect/Whakaute

Integrity/Ngākau pono

Our School Values in Chinese

Kindness – 善良

Excellence – 卓越

Respect – 尊重

Integrity – 正直

Our School Values in Korean

Kindness – 친절

Excellence – 우수

Respect – 존경

Integrity – 청렴

Our School Values in Afrikaans

Kindness – Goedhartigheid

Excellence – Uitnemendheid

Respect – Respek

Integrity – Integriteit

Our School Values in Hindi

Kindness – दयालुता

Excellence – उत्कृष्टता

Respect – आदर करना

Integrity – अखंडता

At Silverdale School we believe:
* positive behaviour can be learnt and difficult and disruptive behaviour can be unlearnt;
* individual children are not a ‘problem’ – we need to change the environment around them to support positive behaviour;
* punishing and isolating children doesn’t bring about long-term and sustainable changes in behaviour;
* we need to concentrate on a small number of evidence-based programmes and frameworks that we know work;
* there are no quick fixes. Behaviour change takes time.

We have already seen significant positive behaviour changes within our school. Our children are continually learning what it means to show Kindness/Atawhai, Excellence/Hiranga, Respect/Whakaute and Integrity/Ngākau pono and are continuously making great efforts to show these values.

If a child doesn’t know how to read, we teach.

If a child doesn’t know how to write, we teach.

If a child doesn’t know how to multiply, we teach

If a child doesn’t know how to swim, we teach.

If a child doesn’t know how to behave….we teach!

(adapted from Colvin, 2007)

These values came out of discussion with the children and staff in 2017. Our school-wide incentive programme is our Caught by KERI Stars, children can receive a Caught by KERI Stars for displaying one of our values. These Caught by KERI Stars and then collected and the children go into a draw to pick out of the prize box at our KERI assembly.

Getting to and from School

If your child/ren are walking/biking/scootering to or from school can you please go over with them how to do this safety. Below are some general tips.

How to stay safe when walking

Use pedestrian crossings or cross at traffic signals.
Stop and check at every driveway.
Walk on the footpath, close to the houses and away from the road.
Hold hands if walking with a young child near roads or in carparks.

Crossing the road, when there’s no pedestrian crossing

be patient and cross the road only when it’s safe to do so (it takes time for a vehicle to stop)
then use the kerb drill:

Stop one step back from the kerb.
Look and listen for traffic coming from all directions.
If there is traffic coming, wait until it has passed and then look and listen for traffic again.
If there is no traffic coming, walk quickly straight across the road.
While crossing, look and listen for traffic, wherever it may come from.

When using a pedestrian crossing

Use official crossings where possible – in fact, if you’re within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing, the law requires you to use it.
Check that approaching vehicles have seen you and can stop before you step out.
Cross as quickly as you are able.
For crossings with signals, only cross when the green person or message shows.

School Donations

Our school donation is $200 per child. This money was used to pay for a large number of additional curriculum resources, subsidise a number of school wide activities such as swimming, production, art, dance and drama resources, sporting functions, developmental material and related photocopying and other essential resources. No child was excluded from using these resources but it does seem that quite a number of families relied on the goodwill of others to support their child.

Each term the BOT puts all the names of those donations that have been made into a draw to give one child the chance to have their fees paid for the following term. The families that have received these in the past have been very grateful. We understand that a donation is voluntary and that it can be at times very difficult to manage. Mrs Reid in the office, is very happy to discuss possible arrangements for meeting this cost for your child. Each small contribution adds up across the course of time and helps to enhance the substance of this school.

A huge thank you to all those families who paid their donation last year.

Year 6 Common Room

We are in the process of setting up a Common Room for our Year 6 students and we are on the hunt for donations of board games and puzzles (with all pieces intact). If you have anything you’d like to donate, please send it to Alex Franklin in Room 22. Thank you so much!

Newsletters

Newsletters will be sent home each Wednesday. We will be emailing newsletters to each family. If your email address has changed from last year please send us your new email address so we can update our records.

Traffic Concern

There has been an increase in parents dropping their children off on Longmore Lane, by the roundabout. For your own safety, and the safety and convenience of other road users, there are certain areas where you must not park. You risk being fined $60 and/or having your vehicle towed away if you park in these areas. You must not park or stop your vehicle:

where it will be in the way of other people using the road (including pedestrians)
on a marked bus stop or taxi stand
in front of, or closer than 1 metre to, a vehicle entrance
on ‘no stopping’ lines (broken yellow lines) marked within 1 metre of the edge of the road, which you may see near pedestrian crossings, intersections, driveways or narrow roads.

Please do not park in the bus stops.

Please do not park on broken yellow lines, it’s for the safety of ours and your children. There is plenty of parking at Metro Park carpark, by the cricket nets and it is only a 400m walk to and from school. Children can walk there and they don’t cross any roads. This is a safe option for children.

Parking on Stella Maris Lane

I have had a number of complaints from the residents of Stella Maris Lane about our parents at pick up time. The complaints are parents parking on broken yellow lines, parents parking over their driveways. Please be respectful of the residents. Please do not park on broken yellow lines, it’s for the safety of ours and your children. There is plenty of parking at Metro Park carpark, by the cricket nets and it is only a 400m walk to and from school. Children can walk there and they don’t cross any roads. This is a safe option for children.