2024

2024 is going to be a fantastic year. We have 5 new teachers who have joined us.
Whaea Sophie in Room 21, Whaea Amanda in Room 20, Whaea Kimmy in Room 4, Whaea
Lauren in Room 2 and Whaea Loren in Room 1.

We welcome them all to our Whakaahu whanau.
Our school remains very popular and we continue to have an enrolment scheme in place.
What that means is if you are in zone, and we have maps avaiable in the office , you have
direct entry into our school. If you are out of zone you go into a ballot which is drawn at the
end of every month. New entrants and other juniors generally get accepted through the ballot system.

I am sure you have seen the new requirements for education set out by the new National
led Coalition Government. Three hours of intructional teaching per day, one hour
Mathematics, one hour Reading and one hour Writing. We do that now, a combination of
explicit teaching within the identified curriculum areas and supplemented through the
integration of the other learning areas.Explicit teaching takes place within the integration
process. If you have any questions please feel free to make contact with me.

Western Heights Primary School has an open door policy. If you need to see me or my
executive team we will make time to see you. One of us will be around to provide support.
Its really important if you have something to share that you take the time to come in and
see us.
We have a strong connection with our community and your view point is important to us.

School is open for student entry at 8.30am. Thes gates remain locked until 8.30am to allow
our teachers the time required to prepare adequately for the day ahead. It also gives our
tamariki a little longer to sleep in. Our tamariki should be getting 10 hours sleep every night
to function well at school. If you require an early entry because of work commitments
please connect with your childs teacher to arrange that. Seesaw is the best way to engage.

Term 1 and 4 are hat terms. We are a bronze accredited Sunsmart school. During the hot
months it is really important that we protect ourselves from New Zealands harsh sun.
New Zealand has the worst Melanoma rate in the world. Protection at a young age reduces
the chance of our tamariki getting Melanoma in the future.

We have free school lunches. we have a policy that all kids give the lunches ago. Five bites
and you are out. If you like the kai after five bites great, if you don’t it is not compulsory to
eat it . We all give it ago. Obviously cultural and dietary requirements are in play. We adhere
to those requests.

I am so lucky to have the staff I have. Our tamariki are so lucky. Our children are marvellous
and our cmmunity is so supportive of our Kura. This is a recipe for success. Lets work
together to make sure 2024 is our best year ever.
Nga mihi
Brent Griffin