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Welcome
Term 2 | 2025
Welcome
Term 2 | 2025
Ngā mihi from the ASL team.
Ngā mihi from the ASL team.
Kia ora koutou,
A warm welcome to this term's newsletter! Despite this being a short nine-week term, we have many exciting things happening within our kura. We understand the pressures our schools face with the fast-paced curriculum changes and want to assure you of our ongoing support. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. Sometimes, discussing challenges and learning about others' approaches can be incredibly helpful.
We encourage you to take your time to scroll through this newsletter. We aim to include useful links and timely, relevant resources to support our teachers, such as videos, helpful links, local dates of interest, podcasts, and glimpses into the activities of other schools.
Our workshops will be taking place in Week 6, offering a wide array of options. We hope you will all find something that can support your practice. The impressive number of workshops available truly highlights the talented kaiako in our region. Ngā mihi nui to our presenters for your generous support.
Please remember to sign up your school for the Piritahi Kāhui Ako Lit Quiz and the Piritahi Kāhui Ako Maths Relay (information below).
Dates of Interest Going Forward
Dates of Interest Going Forward
Term 3 - 2025 Dates
Week 4 Piritahi Kahui Ako Lit Quiz Wednesday 6th August 9:30am
Week 6 Piritahi Workshops - Wednesday 20th August
Week 8 Piritahi Kahui Ako Math Relay Wednesday 3rd September
Week 8 WSL Rūnanga Thursday 4th September 1-3 pm
Term 4 -2025 Dates
Week 3 WSL Rūnanga Thursday 23rd October 3:30 - 5 pm
Matariki
Matariki
Rangitāne Annual Matariki Gathering 2025
Wairau Bar, Wairau Bar Rd, Blenheim
Friday 20 June 2025 5:30am - 7:30am
Matariki at Te Kahu o Waipuna
Matariki at Te Kahu o Waipuna
5:00 PM Wednesday 18 June 2025
7:00 PM Wednesday 18 June 2025
Bring the whānau along to Te Kahu o Waipuna to celebrate Matariki.
Join us for kapa haka, waiata, stories and crafts for the entire family.
The Gallery will have two exhibitions running including a Kala Haka photographic exhibition.
Shared kai will be available.
All are welcome to attend this free event.
Click here for Matariki Resources for your classroom.
Grovetown School ANZAC Day 2025
Grovetown School ANZAC Day 2025
Grovetown School is one the few schools in the country with a war memorial on its grounds. Every year we commemorate the 13 fallen Grovetown soldiers whose names are etched in stone on our memorial, and every second year we hold a formal ANZAC service.
This year we held our ANZAC service at the end of our Term 1 Inquiry in which we had been using pūrākau to "Explore the world of Māui" with the view of learning to "Be like Māui " (our 2025 Big Idea).
Throughout the term our ākonga engaged in a range of learning experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of Māui.
Kaiako then supported our ākonga to compare and contrast the unique characteristics of Māui with themselves and others in our community such as our emergency services, armed forces and our ANZACs.
We are proud to be able to weave together the uniqueness of our place with the world of Māui to bring our local curriculum alive for our Grovetown ākonga.
Kōwhiri at Whitney Street School
Kōwhiri at Whitney Street School
Last term, all of the tamariki at Whitney Street School took part in a Kōwhiri afternoon, celebrating the various cultures around the school. Kōwhiri, the Māori word meaning 'to choose', is all about exposing the students to different cultures their fellow students are from. Choices this term included Japanese origami, Taekwondo, Samoan tapa cloths, 'old school' Kiwi games, Chinese Year of the Snake, Italian culture, Venetian Day and Malaysian Village Games. When asked, the feedback from students included:
Big thumbs up from tamariki in Rm 12 - they would love to repeat it
Rūma Tekau tamariki loved it thanks; more please!
Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu encourages us to embed resources that empower tangata whenua of Te Tauihu to see
themselves strongly represented in the classroom, kura and throughout the curriculum.
Mathematics
Mathematics
Here is a little something for our Principals.......
NZPF Mathematics Hui March 2025.mp4If you are looking for the 10 minute rich routines you can find them quickly at the link below.
We acknowledge Marie Hirst from https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelearnerfirstmaths for this mahi
Wondering how to include more hands on materials in your daily math lesson? Click the pic and check out these videos on Tāhūrangi.
Have you used discussNdefend activities?
The link to the slide below contains a collection of freely avaliable resouces that can be used as part of a discussNdefend routine in your classroom.
Lost your Math Teacher Only Day Booklets? No worries, click on the link above and download a new copy.
This poster starts the trajectory of necessary questioning that will help teachers and learners value and develop the words needed for any maths learning to be understood and retained.
New to your kura
New to your kura
This term Kura, Kōhanga Reo, and schools across Marlborough received three pukapuka created to bring to life the stories of Te Tauihu iwi. Led by Te Kāhui Mātauranga and supported by the Ministry of Education under the Aotearoa Histories in Schools initiative, this project celebrates the voices and histories of iwi.
All three iwi acknowledge kaituhi Rina Pinker, ringatoi Keelin Bell, and whakamāori Dr Tātere MacLeod for their dedication and skill. Special thanks also go to Whaea Nuki Takao and Hana Pomare of Hana Ltd, whose expertise helped bring these narratives to life.
Rangitāne’s book, Nuku’s Toki, tells the story of life at Te Pokohiwi o Kupe in both te reo Māori and English.
The Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō pukapuka, In the Footsteps of Kehu, follows a young girl using the skills she has learnt from Kehu to navigate her way to Rotoiti. It is available in both Te Reo and English. .
Ngāti Kuia's book Ka Whati Te Tūātea, is available in Te Reo and English and it tells the story of the arrival of Matuahautere into Te Tauihu and his discovery of the whenua as he followed the oral maps of his tipuna Kupe.
The recently released Parent Portal aims to empower whānau to take an active role in their child’s education, with practical videos, activities, and resources to support learning.
It includes ‘parent-friendly’ versions of the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
Are you looking for some (old school) MATERIAL MASTERS to use in your class? Check out these newly released resources on Tāhūrangi
Pink Shirt Day 2025
Pink Shirt Day 2025
On Pink Shirt Day Mayfield tamariki played host to Lee, a Youth Worker for a local trust who has two moko attending Mayfield School. Lee came in to korero with our tamariki about inclusion, respect and kindness for other people. As a teaching team we shared resources with each other in order to celebrate this very important day in our school calendar. In the Pōhutukawa class, students wrote positive messages on pink day t-shirts. These are in our class window and it was great to see parents stopping off to read them on Tuesday. Kia kaha!
Pink Shirt Day at Te Kura o Hato Mere
Our kura proudly wore pink to stand united against bullying. Pink Shirt Day is a powerful reminder that kindness, respect, and courage can change our communities for the better.
As a Catholic school, we are guided by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching - particularly Human Dignity and Solidarity. Every person is made in the image of God and deserves to feel safe, valued, and loved. Standing up against bullying is one way we honour that truth.
Our school values - Whakaute (respect), Manawanui (Perseverance), and Whakamana (Empowerment) were truly lived out on Pink shirt Day.
Together, we are building a community where all tamariki can thrive in the light of Christ.
Resources for your classroom
Resources for your classroom
This term you will hopefully have noticed Three new books for He Kōrero Tātai in your Kura.
This Māori-medium series supports kaiako to bring to life Te Takanga o Te Wā in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. The books contain a variety of illustrated stories and articles written by Māori authors to engage students learning about Aotearoa histories.
Each kura has been sent printed editions and multi-media versions are online here: https://bit.ly/3Ec9ipM
Growing Readers using the Year 3 CHAPTER SERIES
Do you know about the Chapter Series?
This series of books has been designed to support students in year 3 to make the transition to reading longer texts.
Local Sites of Significance
Local Sites of Significance
Have you seen this.......
Have you seen this.......
Matavai is here!
In early May the Ministry of Education were excited to introduce Matavai, the Ministry of Education’s brand-new Pacific education e-newsletter for parents and caregivers!
Filled with the latest updates, helpful tips and inspiring stories, Matavai is here to support and celebrate Pacific learners and their families.
Together, we’ll continue to strengthen the journey of Pacific education, honouring culture, connection and success.
Stay tuned for more!
Read the first issue here: https://bit.ly/3Ecpt6D
Teaching Today Podcast: Teacher wellbeing
This episode focuses on teacher wellbeing and brings together Professor Meihana Durie and psychologist Jacqui Maguire to discuss the importance of teachers taking care of themselves and each other, and keeping emotional intelligence in check.
Have you heard about DIBELS?
Click below for all you need to get started.
QUICK READ.........
When students feign interest: new research shows how to get them back.
The importance of belonging and connection to student mental health
QUICK WATCH..........
Implementing teaching to the North East with Russell Bishop.
NZSL Art Competition – Celebrating 19 Years as an Official Language!
NZSL Art Competition – Celebrating 19 Years as an Official Language!
Apr 4, 2025
🎉 On this day 19 years ago, New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) was officially recognised as an official language of Aotearoa!
This was a huge step forward for the Deaf community, acknowledging our language, culture, and identity.
NZSL is more than just a way to communicate—it connects us, carries our history, and ensures full participation in society. As we look ahead to the 20-year milestone in 2026, we want to celebrate the power and significance of NZSL through art!
Enter the NZSL Art Competition:
We invite Deaf artists of all ages to create an artwork that captures what NZSL means to you. The winning design will inspire the official merchandise for next year’s 20th-anniversary celebrations!
Competition Details:
📅 Competition Opens: 6 April 2025
📅 Deadline: 9 a.m., Monday, 22 September 2025 (during the International Week of Deaf People)
🎨 Theme: What does NZSL mean to you? Express it through your art!
📝 Submission Details: Along with your artwork, include a short description (100–200 words) explaining your design and how it represents NZSL..
Click on the photo above to download your copy of The Writing Teachers' "Writing Goals".
"Molly Ness recorded this presentation for the Sharing Best Practice conference in Auckland 2024. Molly's book, Read Alouds for All Learners: A Comprehensive Plan for Every Subject, Every Day, is supported by current research and personal experiences, and demonstrates the sobering effect an absence of Read-Alouds in classrooms has on students’ comprehension skills. She provides intentional directions on planning and implementing a read-aloud routine that supports young learners’ literacy development, content-area knowledge, social-emotional learning, and academic achievement".
Click the pic to read Mollys Book
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