Tēnā koutou e te whānau

A huge welcome to the 2023 School Year

I hope you had lots of time with whānau and have started the year happy and well.

It has been a fantastic start for us. Our tamariki have settled back quickly and it's so nice to see and feel our kura full of life again.

I'd like to welcome Davidia Porter and Jakalah Jacob to our Arataki whānau. Davidia is the kaiako in Ruma 11. Jakalah joins our specialist teacher team, she will be running an amazing programme for our Year 5/ 6 akonga.

I'd also like to welcome back Sherree Clarke. Sherree rejoins us as Team Leader for our Mauao team and kaiako in Ruma 24.

A warm welcome to all our new whānau. It was lovely to meet so many of you at our Pohiri on Tuesday. We will be holding Pohiri twice a term, to accomodate moving to Cohort Entry this year.

2023 is the start of our new strategic direction. We have 3 main focuses that we are launching.

1. Curriculum Development. To start this work we will be looking at Who Are We? And developing a clear identity narrative. We want to hear from you whānau. Keep an eye out for opportunities to have your say.
2. Learning Support. We are investing additional funds to increase our Learning Support Team. This includes an additional part time teacher and a full time teacher aide. There is a significant shortfall of support from the Ministry of Education and we need to ensure that we are providing the best for our akonga - targeted support when they need it!
3. Structured Literacy. We are working with IDeal, up-skilling all teaching staff. This is a school wide approach and commitment.

The exciting thing is the variety of staff who have taken the lead in these areas, ensuring we have a range of talents and skill sets we can draw from to be successful.

PAID UNION MEETING

You may be aware that teachers rejected the Governments offer late last year. This means our union members need to meet to decide on further action moving forward. The majority of our teaching staff are union members and they will be attending their Paid union Meeting on THURSDAY 2 MARCH. We ask that children be collected at 12:30pm this day. Reminders will be sent out over the next few weeks.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Ngā Mihi

Shelley Blakey

In this issue:

• Dates for the Diary
• News and Events
• From the Sports Desk
• ATK All Day, Every Day
• Pre Loved Uniforms
• Extra-Curriculars @ Arataki
• After School Care/Program
• Community Notices
• Report an Absence

Dates for the Diary

1 March - Swimming Sports - Y5-6

2 March - Paid Union Meeting - ask children to be collected at 12.30pm

14 March - Kopukairoa/Montessori Teina - Beach Education

15 March - Kopukairoa/Montessori Tuakana - Beach Education

5 April - Last Day for Term 1

6 April - Teacher Only Day

Click here for 2022 and 2023 Term Dates

News and Events

From the Sports Desk

ATK All Day, Every Day

For more information on attendance please click the link below.

Pre Loved Uniforms

Needing a few pieces of uniform.  Come and see our pre-loved uniforms at the school office. 

Have your tamariki grown out of their uniforms?

Please consider donating them back to the kura.  These uniform donations are :

• sold to our whanau for donations of $5-$10. The money raised is used for resources that support the learning of our tamariki. 
• used for our tamariki who may need them.

These donations are gratefully received at the school office.

Extra Curriculars 

@ Arataki

After School Care/Program

Community Notices

Reporting an Absence

Does your child need to stay home today?

To let us know about any absences, please:

Call our absence line (07) 575 3497 select option 1.

Text 022 565 0021.

Email office@arataki.school.nz.

Complete our online form

Please include your:

• child's name,
• room number, 
• how long they will be away and the
• reason for your child's absence.