Term 4 Newsletter 4

From the Principal

Welcome to the penultimate newsletter of the 2023 academic year!

We are in a very busy period for school! We are currently finalising the classes for the new year, placing teachers and students, writing and editing end of year reports, collating student achievement data to share with the board and ministry, testing children for 2024 learning programmes, holding talent shows and choir celebrations, celebrating our amazing school volunteers, trying out EPro8 at BBI, publishing a yearbook, rehearsing for assemblies and prize-giving events… Oh- and we actually continue to teach children between 9am and 3pm!

We are sure your own end of year preparations are equally hectic- it is just the time of year! The dates below will help make sure you don’t miss anything in the next few weeks.

Celebrating Identity and Mental Health Education in Kahikatea Team

Mophead Reflections:

In the spirit of celebrating our unique identities in various contexts, the students have delved into the rich narrative of “Mophead.” This poem recounts the experiences of a young Afakasi girl facing teasing, prompting insightful discussions about embracing individuality.

Drama Conventions in Room 21:

Room 21 embraced drama conventions such as ‘Mirror, mirror on the wall’ and ‘Conscience Alley’ to explore diverse emotions and feelings. One comment made was, “You don’t have to believe them. You can be different!” This powerful statement captured the essence of the lesson — empowering students to embrace their uniqueness.

Portraits of Resilience in Room 20:

Students in Room 20 drew portraits that encapsulated all the names they have been called in their lives, both positive and negative. This exercise not only fostered self-awareness but also highlighted the strength and resilience within each student.

Learning from Mistakes in Room 23:

In Room 23, the focus shifted to the idea that mistakes can often lead to positive outcomes. We were looking at making mistakes can often turn into something good, and now looking at our names, who we are and what feelings we feel when we are bullied, if we have not been bullied we put on a hat on how it may feel if we got bullied.

Whānau Engagement:

We encourage you to continue these discussions at home, reinforcing the importance of embracing one’s identity and supporting positive mental health.