REMINDER – NO SCHOOL – 16 March 2023

Dear Parents 

Just a reminder that school will be closed tomorrow due to the national teacher strike. 

Kelly Club will be open for a one day holiday programme day on Thursday March 16th! The theme of the day is ‘Slumber Party’ so children can come dressed in their best Pyjamas and be ready to enjoy some yummy smores, make sleeping masks and watch a movie with midnight movie snacks and more! If you require care for this day, follow the link to book in: https://kellyclub.co.nz/kelly_events/view/15559 and email westpark@kellyclub.co.nz if you have any questions. 

BOT – School Charter And Process

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BOT – STRIKE NOTICE

See notice Attached 
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Kia ora, 

Recently, we have had a large influx of lost property handed in to school. In an effort to clear these items, we will be laying them out in the hall on Tuesday 14th March. We invite all parents to come and have a look and collect any lost items in the hall between 9-10am on this day. 

Thanks, 
Laura Bell and Laura Haughin

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – STRANGER DANGER

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

Yesterday afternoon there was an isolated incident involving a child on their way home from school and a stranger. Police were notified and are dealing with the matter. They will let the school know if there are any further actions we need to take, or if there is a risk of recurrence. 

Please note that the child took excellent actions and subsequently ensured that they were kept safe, immediately informing their parents and in turn the parents notifying the school and police.

Please find below some information on preparing students to deal with stranger danger if you wish to discuss this matter with them. 

I will let you know if anything else comes to light that you may need to be made aware of. 

Yours Sincerely,

Michael Joseph

Acting Principal

Stranger Danger – A Guide to preparing your children
What is Stranger Danger?

Stranger Danger has passed into popular usage as the shorthand for the rules and safety tips children which can be taught to protect themselves from adult strangers. Adages such as, ‘Never accept sweets from a stranger’ form a central part of the concept of Stranger Danger. Crucially children need to understand that a person they do not know can be dangerous even if they are female or look ‘nice’.

Teaching children about stranger danger

Basic Stranger Danger rules include:

· never go anywhere with a stranger

· never accept gifts or sweets from a stranger

· never get in a car with a stranger

· never go off on your own without telling your parents or a trusted adult

· tell your child it is okay to break the rules if they are in danger

· encourage your child to YELL, KICK, SCREAM, LIE or RUN AWAY, if they feel they are in danger

· give your child a code word or sign that only you and your child (and another parent/carer) know. They can use it when they feel they are in danger but don’t want other people to know

· tell your child to stay with their friends and not to go e.g. to the park on their own.

Strangers

A stranger can be described as someone that we don’t know or someone that we don’t know well. Say that nearly all people are kind but that there are a small number of people who might not be. We cannot tell who is kind just by looking at them. We must never go anywhere with a stranger or do anything for a stranger. It doesn’t matter what they say to us, we should always tell the grown-up who looks after us if a stranger talks to us.

Safer strangers

As well as understanding that some strangers are dangerous, it’s important for children to know about adults they can turn to if they are on their own and in trouble.

Safer strangers will usually be wearing a uniform.

Safer strangers could be Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, traffic wardens, shopkeepers, check-out assistants, paramedics and others. Say we can all recognise them quickly because of their uniforms.

Safer buildings could be banks, post offices, libraries, medical centres, shops, supermarkets, leisure centres and others. If your child can’t see a safer stranger outside they should look for a safer building to go into to ask for help from the people who work there.y

Tell the safer stranger their name and where possible the parent / carer’s phone number.

Help your child to learn the safer strangers, safer buildings code gradually, so that it eventually becomes ‘second nature’. Talk about it in a low-key, matter-of-fact way, whenever the opportunity arises naturally. The phrase safer strangers, safer buildings, is a positive alternative, giving children an immediate strategy to use, as part of their growing understanding of stranger awareness.

Safe people and places

Stranger Danger is not just about teaching children who or what to avoid, but also includes positive rules so that children know how to keep themselves safe. For example:

· Knowing who they can trust if they need help – such as a uniformed Police Officer or a teacher.

· Having the confidence to trust their instincts if they have a bad feeling about a place or person.

· Being aware of their surroundings.

· Learning to be assertive.

· Knowing that they should tell a trusted adult if they have been approached by a stranger.

Fire Drill 23 Feb

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

On Thursday the 23rd of February West Park School will conduct a Fire drill. During this the bell will ring, the students will evacuate to their evacuation locations. 

It would be wonderful if you could discuss with your child that this is coming up, and is just a practice. Furthermore, on the day that it occurs it would be great if you could discuss how it went. 

Thank you,

BOT News 
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Year 5-6 ASB Trip Notice 

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Year 3-4 ASB Notice 

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Year 1 -2 ASB Trip 

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Cross country

year 1-2 

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Cross Country Notice 

Year 3 – 6 

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Parents 

Please see note – Last Call for the Touch Team 

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Home and school committee meeting Monday 13th February, 7pm

Kia ora koutou,

We hope that you and your whanau have had an amazing summer and that everyone is settling back
into school.

The home and school committee are on the lookout for some people to join us to help
organise some community events this year. In the past we have organised discos, quiz nights and
funathlons.

They have been great fun and we know that our Tamariki have especially enjoyed themselves.
The committee is meeting on Monday 13 th February at 7pm in the staff room at school and we
would love for you to come along. If you have any questions feel free to email the address below.

We will have some biscuits and hot drinks available so if you could RSVP to
homeandschool@westpark.school.nz so we have an idea of numbers that would be great!

Ngā mihi nui,
The home and school committee

Kia ora koutou,

I just wanted to send this email to everyone to formally welcome you all to the school powhiri this Friday, at 10:15. Please let me know if you would like to be on the manuhiri side and be welcomed to the school.

Small run sheet:
10:15 Tangata whenua (The school) gather in the hall and practice singing Tihei Mauri Ora 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ekAF-HrhA 

10:15 Manuhiri (guests/visitors) Gather in the tree house rm 16/17 and practice their waiata: Te Aroha.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uefJdSCkzPo 

At 10:25 the manuhiri will make their way through the car park to the front gates.

The Karanga will start at 10:30.

—
Ngā mihi,

Angelina Alsford
Rm 19Teacher
West Park School