Together We Grow  – Ka Tupu Kotāhi ai Tātou

We certainly enjoyed a great start to Term 2 at Ōtāika Valley School last week. We welcomed a number of new students and whanau to our kura with a lovely new mihi/whakatau ceremony on Monday. This was a special inclusion as one of our male tamariki sat on the taumata for the first time ever, and spoke on behalf of the tangata whenua. I am always impressed by the level of respect shown by our tamariki at occasions like these, and their warm welcome and singing was a perfect way to make our new students feel very welcome.

Term 2 is also typically a more settled term, and we are looking forward to a strong academic push focusing on progressing our new math and structured literacy initiatives.

On the horizon for the latter part of the term is our inaugural Kapa Haka festival to be hosted here at Ōtāika Valley School on the Monday 13^th June. This will see Portland, Maungakaramea and Waiotira join us for a great morning of performances. We will also be holding our Matariki evening again. This is two days of activities culminating in our evening for school whanau on Tuesday 2^nd July. Make sure you pop these dates in your calendar.

Our ‘old Block’ Building Project

It is exciting to see our newly renovated ‘old block’ nearing completion and we should be taking occupancy some time next week (exact day to be confirmed). The final glazing and joinery is currently going in, and it is all coming together very nicely. These rooms include the facility to combine them into one large space for assemblies and events through the addition of large sliding doors. They will also share a new ‘tech space’ with a wet area, sinks and cooking facilities to support classroom programmes. They will certainly be wonderful learning environments for our tamariki and set the standard for classroom modifications to follow.

New Playground and WORKING BEE – WE NEED YOU!

A big shout out to Mr T, Sid and Dylan for their mahi to erect the first ‘element’ of our new playground. It looks incredible! Now that this is constructed and concreted in (courtesy of Golden Bay Cement), we can drill the remaining holes and then complete the remaining 2 elements.

To do this however we need the good old Community Working Bee.

This means we will need about 12 able bodied helpers and a couple of concrete mixers for a few hours. The jobs are to put the elements together, brace them and then fill the footings with concrete.

So…please check your diaries! We are aiming for Sunday the 19^th May for the Working Bee (9.00am to approx 12 midday with a postponement date of the 26^th). If you are able to help please contact the school and let us know as soon as possible.

We will bring you more specific details next week but will definitely need wheel barrows, shovels, patience and a sense of humour!

Noho ora mai,

Rick Sayer

Tumuaki/Principal

Star Spot – Celebrating Student Learning @ OVS

Every week at assembly we celebrate super OVS students, and this week’s shout out is to say a huge congratulations to our R.U.R.U award winners from the last two assemblies.

Well done to Liby, Lacey, Elijah, Kodin and Lexie.  Awesome Learning!

          

Star Spot – New students.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following students and their whanau : Taylor, DJ, and Aidan.  And welcome back to Nova, Gypsy and Amelia.

Haere mai ki te kura o Ōtāika Valley!

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