Welcome to week 3

Kia ora koutou, 

We are already into week 3 of term 1 and the teachers in Turanganui syndicate are excited about the year ahead with our amazing group of students. 

You may notice on the side panel of this blog that a fourth Gisint value 'Excellence' has been added which is an exciting addition because our four school values now create the acronym 'RISE' - Respect, Integrity, Self Management and Excellence which fit perfectly with our school vision which is to 'Grow Great People'. The children are already becoming familiar with and using this terminology and each week our team will have a focus on these terms as well as our Turanganui Core Values of Kotahitanga - Unity, Whakawhanaungatanga - Relationships and Manaakitanga - Caring for others. 

Thank you to everyone who has returned their notices as this makes our lives a lot easier. We need to confirm our camp helpers in the next two days so please let us know by emailing, ringing, popping in or completing this Google Form if you can assist. Parent helpers must be able to transport students and we give each vehicle that transports students a $100 petrol voucher koha. We will have a parent helper hui next week to meet each other and go over organisation and expectations. Thanks in advance to everyone who can help - We can't wait to head to Omaio Bay. 

Here are a few highlights from week 2

Meet the Teacher Evening - Please complete this Quick Feedback form

Thank you all so much for attending. We loved meeting or reconnecting with you all and look forward to forming strong partnerships with our Turanganui whanau this year. We would love to have your feedback on how you found this evening so we can continue to improve to meet your needs and those of your child. Could all Aspirations sheets please come into school this week. If your child missed out on one, their classroom teacher will send one home tomorrow. 

Swimming Sports

Congratulations to all of our Turanganui swimmers who represented our team with pride. Koka Tracey reported that our swimmers raced hard and enjoyed their morning in the very hot sun. We are proud of all of our competitors regardless of where they placed. Due to the high calibre of students from right across the Gisborne region, the competition is a lot harder than at primary school. What we want our children to take from this challenge is to keep persevering and to focus on their next challenge which will be our syndicate tri next Friday. The top competitors for this event will go through to compete in the school tri on March the 22nd. 

Whole School Kapa Haka and Kapa Haka Extension

Papa Pura can be seen here taking our first whole school kapa haka session - Unfortunately our year 7's missed last week due to a tech catch up. Our Year 7's will attend this week and our year 8's will be at their tech catch up. 

In 2016 our schools extension group will have the chance to go to Tamararo should the commitment and desire be there. We are going to be getting new kakahu for our students and are overall excited about what lies ahead. For term 1 Turanganui syndicate will be attending the extension classes to support the rest of our school and to ensure that when we have in and out of school activities we are well prepared. All students who commit to Kapa Haka extension for the year will receive a leadership badge in this area. Your child will have the choice after term 1 to go into the Focused Friday cycle which starts in term 2 or to remain in extension. Papa Pura messaged to say he was thrilled with our first whole school and extension sessions. A big mihi to Hurene Kerekere-Haapu, Jade Vercoe, Skye Maurirere and Alyssa Herbert for leading the school on stage. This Friday we will need some of our Year 7's to step into this leadership role. 

Tech Arts

Our year 7 cookers lining up for their first session with Koka Tina Swann

Miss Murphy and our Year 7 Dance students. Miss Murphy was away on Friday so Koka Tania Keelan came in to take the children for an Art lesson. 

All Turanganui students begun their tech sessions last Thursday and Friday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their Dance - with Miss Murphy, Art - with Mr Notting, Woodwork - with Mr Ashman, Cooking - with Koka Tina and Music - with Mrs Hunt. Thank you to our whanau for ensuring your children were well prepared with their gear. It is vital that cookers and woodworkers have covered shoes for every session as a safety precaution. These do not have to be regulation uniform items but must only be worn for tech. 

All of Turanganui have tech again on Wednesday and Friday of this week.

Mr Ashman and his first Year 7 woodwork session. The students are designing and making a pinball machine so need to complete some homework before Wednesday to gather ideas for their own.



Mr Notting settling his Year 7 artists into his art room.  The Turanganui teachers can't wait to have their beautiful creations adorning our classroom walls. All artwork will be sent home at the end of the year but we aim to have a Turanganui syndicate showcase evening where the children can display their class and tech work from the first half of the year. 

What's happening this week in Turanganui?

Monday

• Rooms 19 and 21 are off to the Museum to complete the 'Taonga Puoro' - Traditional Instruments and 'Our Place' lessons. Both classes will leave as soon as their roll is done, students must have a packed morning tea, lunch and drink bottle and be dressed in immaculate school uniform. These lessons both flow into our Historical Walk lesson which half of the team are doing tomorrow and the other half on Thursday. These lessons also tie into our Term 1 Mindlab sessions as we will be getting our students to do digital retells of the historical information learnt through these excursions and the Marine Reserve trip. 

Tuesday

• Weetbix Tryathlon - Good luck to all Turanganui students who are competing in this awesome event. Please email your classroom teacher or the office to let them know if your child will be absent. 
• Historical Walk and Olympic Pool Camp Prep. All Cookers, Artists and Dance Girls will be attending these sessions and will need their togs, towels, school uniform, packed morning tea, lunch and large drink. We are paying for the Olympic Pools out of our camp budget so your child does not need any money s they will not be allowed to purchase food along the way or at the pools. The other tech groups will have a normal day at school with the remaining Turanganui teachers.

Wednesday

• Tech - Woodworkers and Cookers must have covered shoes.

Thursday

• Historical Walk and Olympic Pool Camp Prep. All Woodworkers, Musicians and Dance Boys will be attending these sessions and will need their togs, towels, school uniform, packed morning tea, lunch and large drink. We are paying for the Olympic Pools out of our camp budget so your child does not need any money s they will not be allowed to purchase food along the way or at the pools. The other tech groups will have a normal day at school with the remaining Turanganui teachers.

Friday

• Kapa Haka Extension 
• Whole School Kapa Haka
• Tech - Covered shoes essential for woodwork and cooking.
• Year 7 and Year 8 Assemblies 

Your child will be bringing home a Sugar Kitchen Donut fundraiser form to sell Cinnamon Donuts that will be delivered next week. This fundraiser is to cover their term 1 Mindlab trip and go toward the materials for their Turanganui Taonga that they will be making. We are very conscious of how expensive this time of year is for our whanau so we want the children to assist you by helping out and getting something back in return. By selling 2 donuts alone they cover their Mindlab cost and get two donuts to eat or share too. All money and orders need to be in by Friday.

Finally, last week a red scooter was taken out of the rooms 22 and 24 cloak bay. Someone in our team must have information to help return this item to it's owner. Please email Mrs Devery if you can assist ana.devery@gisint.school.nz. Thank you all in advance for your help. 

Have a wonderful week everyone

Your Turanganui Teachers