Kia ora e te whānau o Windy Ridge School

This week has been Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa (Conservation Week) across the motu (country). The week has focused on 'taking action for nature' and exploring how to care for our environment. Mrs Brown and our Nature Team led lunchtime sessions for our tamariki to explore our native birds and trees and plant harakeke seedlings. Many have enjoyed these sessions as they have learned more about how to care for nature and our environment, which is essential for ensuring a sustainable future for future generations.

Kick Start Breakfast Club
We have run out of cans of fruit for our daily breakfast club. If you would like to donate any cans of fruit, please bring them to the school office. We appreciate your support in ensuring we can continue to provide fruit as part of the breakfast club.

Cross Country
Yesterday, some of our tamariki joined other local schools at Kāpatiki Park to participate in the cluster cross-country event. As they traversed the muddy course, our tamariki showcased our school values, particularly manawaroa (resilience). We had some wins and placements; all our tamariki should feel proud of their accomplishments.

Kāpatiki Kāhui Ako staff meetings
On Tuesday, the Windy Ridge team headed off to schools across our Kāhui Ako to learn from our colleagues. This was an excellent opportunity for our teaching team to develop their skills and knowledge and explore teaching and learning approaches used by other schools in the cluster. We also hosted a session by Shirley Crosby, who shared her knowledge of loose parts play.

Calendar Art
The tamariki have been busy creating art for their Calendar Art. This will be available to purchase in the coming weeks in the form of calendars, mugs, diaries, etc. Teachers will be sharing examples via Hero next week and the purchase information will come home shortly.
 
Looking ahead...

Ngā manaakitanga 

Samantha Knowles

Tumuaki

We would like to invite whānau to join us on Thursday, September 19, at 1:30 p.m. to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Maori 2024.

The tamariki will participate in activities around the school, developing the concept of tuakana teina where our older tamariki will work alongside our younger tamariki.

You are invited to share this experience with your child and/or help lead a session.  If you are keen to be involved in leading or supporting a session, this could be teaching new waiata, sharing Māori legends or doing some artwork for example please contact Jackie van Erven at jvanerven@windyridge.school.nz

On the 22nd of August, we had our monthly board meeting. 

As a Board, we reflected on the new mandates from the ministry and government regarding the implementation of the new English and maths curriculums, teaching requirements, and assessment processes.

The new English curriculum sees the teaching of reading and writing through a structured literacy approach. As a school, we are already on the structured literacy journey and have been providing a structured literacy approach since 2022. Our teachers feel confident in this teaching.  Regarding the maths curriculum, we will support our school leadership to support our teachers and staff, with appropriate strategic budgeting and professional development to allow them to engage and implement the new curriculum and teaching sequences. Our leadership and teaching teams are dedicated to working through these changes to ensure the best outcomes for all our tamariki. 

During the meeting, we reviewed our international student programme, considering staff feedback regarding the impacts and benefits of short-term international students. As a board, we voted to pause the option for short-term international students and only accept long-term, year-long students for the foreseeable future. This will be reviewed at the end of 2025. 

As a school, we currently lease two classrooms to Wilson School. The board agreed to lease an additional classroom to Wilson School, extending its satellite provision at Windy Ridge School.  By providing this satellite option for tamariki with high-level learning and physical needs, we foster an environment of empathy and inclusivity, allowing our tamariki to build their understanding of diversity.

Each term, one of the boards key responsibilities is to evaluate our school policies to ensure they meet legal standards, adhere to best practices, and fit our school procedures. Your voice is valuable as members of our school community, and you can also provide feedback on our policies. If you would like to look at our policies and/or provide feedback on those being reviewed, please visit https://www.schooldocs.co.nz/ and log in using the details below.

Username: windyridge

Password: WRS0629

Finally, the board would like to acknowledge and thank the Windy Ridge School PTA for all their work supporting our school. Funds raised by the PTA and the community's generous support go towards improving facilities and providing additional learning opportunities for our tamariki. We value their commitment, passion, and dedication to making a positive impact at Windy Ridge School.

If you would like to know more about the board, please visit our webpage by clicking on this link or email BOT@windyridge.school.nz 

Ngā mihi nui,

Marie Cheeseman (Presiding Member), Niki Sherriff, Kavita Budhia, Susan Andrews, Victoria Xi, Tania Stephens (Staff Rep), Samantha Knowles

Playball is back at Windy Ridge School for Term 4 2024!

After a successful first term in term 3, we are excited to be bringing Playball to Windy Ridge School in Term 4 2024!

Playball is a sport and movement program for children between the ages of five and nine. All of the programs are taught in a fun-filled, energetic and positive environment.

Playball programs are age specific, with each of our programs taking into account the difference in the cognitive, emotional, social and motor development of the children in each age group.

Our Playball North Harbour coaches are dedicated to providing the best learning environment for children by using physical activity as a vehicle.
Some examples of sports we focus on in schools are; Hockey, Football, Tennis, Basketball and many more! We also bring in competition and more team elements to our 5-9 year old program to prepare the children for sport in the future. Each week will be different, to build on the skills and movements learnt in previous lessons.

Classes at Windy Ridge School will be held on:
Fridays from 3:15-4:00 starting October 18th.
The cost for the term will be $110 with an EARLYBIRD price of $99 available until October 11th.
If you would like your child to take part this term, please click the following link to complete the sign-up process: https://www.playballkids.com/parent-zone/basket_bookings.php?classid=64375
Use the code "EARLYBIRDWR" at the checkout for the discount.

Classes will be held on the school field.
If a class is postponed, parents will be notified ahead of class time.
Please let me know your child's classroom.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Coach Reuben on 0277674060 or reuben@playball.co.nz 

Every second Friday on assembly days we will now have a coffee cart on site for you to purchase a hot drink.

If you're interested in coming along and finding out more about what the PTA does and how we contribute to the school, please get in touch with Chris Bone through our email address (pta@windyridge.school.nz) or come to our next meeting on Tuesday 10 September at 7pm in the staffroom.

Term 4
Calendar Art  
School disco - Friday, 15 November
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, Bunnings Glenfield - Sunday, 24 November

Carols on the Green supported by the PTA - Thursday, 5 December 

Carols on the Green supported by the PTA- Thursday, 12 December - saver day

PTA Chair - Chris Bone

PTA Secretary - Emma Ryburn-Phengsavath

PTA Staff Reps - Nicola Tyler and Joy Marshall

PTA Members - Kieren Striefler (Treasurer), Jade Upton, Marie Cheeseman, Niki Sherriff, Ruth Niu, Amy Dennis, Luisa Cardenas, Marcia O'Brien, Kyle Aitken, Danielle Church, Caroline Carpenter

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets up our minds and bodies for learning. Breakfast clubs offers children Weetbix and fruit everyday in the Gardens (over in team Kotare). If you are able to assist with Breakfast Club from 8.30am - 8.50am please contact Jane Brown on jbrown@windyridge.school.nz. We are always needing cans of fruit to enjoy with our breakfast. All donations of fruit would be gratefully accepted through the office.

Kickstart Breakfast programme delivers free breakfast to 1400 schools around New Zealand The KickStart Breakfast Programme https://www.kickstartbreakfast.co.nz/ is a joint initiative between Fonterra, Sanitarium and the Ministry of Social Development. The programme is designed to positively impact child well-being through providing access to nutritious food at school.

In term 3 we are reviewing topics in the Employer Responsibility Policy section. 

See the full 2024 Review Schedule and Board Assurances

Who reviews our policies and procedures?

The board is responsible for board-level overarching policies. The table below shows which topics the board should review. Note that other reviewers can review these topics too; they're not exclusively for the board. See Board Responsibility.

The review opens Monday 8 July. To start reviewing, click on a topic name below, then click the Start your review button. If a link is inactive, your school doesn't have the topic.

Note that if you'd like to provide feedback on a topic that's not listed below, you can still do so if it has a review button.

Term 3 review topics 
Concerns and Complaints - Board review
Media 
Performance Management - Board review
Professional Development
Protected Disclosure - Board review
Staff Conduct 
Staff Leave  

Reviews who are not able to use the online review tool can use the Policy review form

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By now everyone is using the HERO app to receive community notifications and to report an absence - thank you.
Throughout Term 3 you can expect to see a personalised learning story and photo about your child at school.
 

Term Three

Friday 13 September - Whole School Assembly 9:00am - Kōtare hosting plus coffee cart

Wednesday 25 - Friday 27 September - Year 5 and 6 Camp
Friday 27 September - 9:00am, Year 0-4 Assembly - plus coffee cart
Friday 27 September- last day of term - 3:00pm finish 

Monday 21st October - PhotoLife Class & Individual Photos
Monday 28th October - Labour Day - SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday 17 December - Last day of school 12.30pm