Updates from Jude
Each week in the newsletter Jude writes a reflection piece.
Below is this week's reflection - scroll down for other topics.
Also see the Positive Education page - one of Jude's passions!
12 April 2024
So now we find ourselves at the end of Week 11 and this means the tail end of Term 1. Every year has a particular flavour and I think that Term 1 sets the scene for the rest of the year. The tone.
If I reflect on this first term, the words that come to mind are connection, inquiry, creative and heads together.
We started with a welcome back Whānau Picnic at the beach. Even though the weather wasn't our best friend, it wasn't in full foe mode either and we braved a bit of a breeze and got to chat and ease our way back in. I love the way this event is often a way for visiting grandparents and friends to also connect with the school.
Hot on the heels of the Whānau Picnic, we had our Hikoi around the hill - a bit of a local history walk.
The Mihi Whakatau and formally welcoming children and their extended whānau to Te Kura o Whetūkairangi is always a special day and another good chance for parents to mix and mingle. Stay and Play proved to be a great followup and we were pleased the children enjoyed the health benefits of fruit on a Friday afternoon.
Goal Setting meetings with you, your child/children and their Base Group teachers create the triangle - the strongest shape. These events really do a lot to support home and school being on the same or, at the very least, a very similar page.
The Positive Education Parent Workshop proved to be a highlight and was enjoyed by us all. It's always good to be able to have a bit of a laugh together as well! Shining up our Character Strength of Humour!
Literacy and Mathematics, Sailing, Moanamana, Sports teams, Ākau Tangi sessions, ....School Camp has to be a highlight and the feedback from the teachers... "The best camp yet!" So much is going right, in fact very right..... for the pieces that maybe aren't there yet - this will be a focus for teacher's thinking and planning in readiness for Term 2. Written reports are also being drafted and you can anticipate these meetings before mid Term 2-ish.
In the meantime, as you know, the teachers will contact you if they are worried about anything - please do the same. The triangle needs to be high functioning!
My desire is also for us all to have a bit of downtime - we need to be well rested to be able to dream and enact the magic Term 2 may sprinkle.
Jude's Reflections 2024
12 April 2024 - Term 1 Reflections
22 March 2024 - Our Positive Education Programme
15 March 2024 - Learning 'outside'
8 March 2024 - Localised curriculum
1 March 2024 - Strategic Plan and Annual Goals
23 February 2024 - Relationship building opportunities
16 February 2024 - Goal Setting for 2024
9 February 2024 - Aspirations for 2024
Jude's Reflections 2023
8 December 2023 - What a Year!
1 December 2023 - 2023 Highlights and Challenges
24 November 2023 - Many hands make light work
17 November 2023 - The Fair
10 November 2023 - Our Supportive Community
3 November 2023 - Strategic Direction
20 October 2023 - Spring is in the air!
13 October 2023 - What's happening in Term 4?
22 September 2023 - Term 3 Reflection
15 September 2023 - The Arts Celebration
8 September 2023 - Visual Arts
1 September 2023 - Positive feedback
25 August 2023 - What sort of school would we say we are?
18 August 2023 - Change across the Education Sector
11 August 2023 - What does success look like for your child?
4 August 2023 - "Other People Matter"
28 July 2023 - Year 6 "Flourish" Programme
21 July 2023 - "What are you looking forward to?"
30 June 2023 - Term 2 Highlights
23 June 2023 - School in Action Morning
16 June 2023 - Localised curriculum
2 June 2023 - The Library
26 May 2023 - Student Voice
19 May 2023 - "Change the question and you will change the conversation"
12 May 2023 - Mental Health Education Guidelines
5 May 2023 - Kāhui Ako
31 March 2023 - Striving for Excellence
24 March 2023 - New Zealand Curriculum Refresh
17 March 2023 - Motivation and Engagement Wheel
10 March 2023 - Community, Rōpū, bunch, band, neighbourhood...
3 March 2023 - Goleman's Emotional Intelligence
24 February 2023 - Emotion Coaching for Parents
17 February 2023 - Language is powerful
10 February 2023 - National Education Learning Priorities (NELPS) for Aotearoa/NZ
Jude's Reflections 2022
9 December 2022 - Whānau Social Events - End of 2022 / Start of 2023
2 December 2022 - Creatives in Schools programme
25 November 2022 - End of Year Events
18 November 2022 - Fair Feedback
11 November 2022 - Encouraging a Community to Flourish
4 November 2022 - Use of Technology
21 October 2022 - Positive Accomplishment
23 September 2022 - The importance of Student-led Conferences
16 September 2022 - The joys of Camp!
9 September 2022 - Strategic Plan
2 September 2022 - Physical Health
26 August 2022 - Te Wā Mahi Tahi Movie
19 August 2022 - Fair Volunteer Form
12 August 2022 - I am connected! Relationships and communication.
5 August 2022 - Family Music Jam
29 July 2022 - Launch of Te Wheke - our Zine.
8 July 2022 - Upcoming community events
1 July 2022 - Together we can, individually we can't !
17 June 2022 - Te Kura o Whetūkaingi is 125 years old !
03 June 2022 - Visual Literacy
Jude's Reflections 2021