Term 1 Week 1
Kia ora e te whanau,
Happy new year everybody and I trust this short OVS update finds you refreshed and ready for 2025. While for most of us this is ‘welcome back,’ for some students and whanau it signals the start of a brand new learning journey here at OVS. So, on behalf of the Board of Trustees and Staff I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all. It was a pleasure to meet you all at our mihi/whakatau on Tuesday.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Matiu Dennison who volunteers his time to support and whaikorero on behalf of the manuhiri each term at our whakatau. It is a very special way for students and whanau to be welcomed into our school and his expertise is greatly appreciated.
Staffing changes for 2025
Sadly we farewelled Whaea Heidi from her full time teaching role at the end of 2024, but… we are excited to warmly welcome her back on a regular basis in a relieving capacity in Room 1 & 2 in 2025!
We also welcome Rachel Dickens to her new teaching role as the kaiako in Room 2, Rachel will be well known to some of you through her previous teaching here at OVS. We are also thrilled to welcome Sue Jensen to her new teaching role in Room 5.
Meet the Teacher
We would like to warmly invite you to our Meet the Teacher Evening to be held on Tuesday 18th of February.
This will be held for Junior Rooms 1,2 & 4 from 6.00 -6.30 and for Senior Rooms, 5,6 & 7 from 6.35 – 7.05
The purpose of the evening is to give all whanau /caregivers the opportunity to;
- meet your child’s new teacher
- find out about classroom programmes for the term and classroom nuts ‘n bolts.
- provide an opportunity for teachers to outline expectations for the 2025 year.
- an opportunity to meet other parents and to find out how you can all support and help build a valuable partnership with your child’s class this year (class helpers / camps etc)
If childcare is an issue, your tamariki are welcome to play here at school while the meetings are on.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
Attendance at OVS just keeps getting better…but we still have some work to do!
A huge thank you to all whanau who have taken school attendance to heart and I am very encouraged by the progress we have seen over 2024. This represents a 30% gain in 12 months which is impressive. However, we still have 29% to go and so look forward to even more improvement throughout 2025. Remember regular attendance is 90%. Please make this a whanau goal for 2025. I have included a summary below for parents that illustrates our progress.
Term 4 Attendance Summary
Regular attendance at OVS Term 4, 2024 = 61% (Compared to 31% in Term 4, 2023)
Irregular Absence 25% (Compared to 39% in Term 4, 2023)
Moderate Absence 9% (Compared to 17% in Term 4, 2023)
Chronic Absence 4% (Compared to 13% in Term 4, 2023)
Absence reminder: If your child is absent for any reason, please contact the school office the morning of your child’s absence, or prior if it relates to a pre booked appointment. A text message will be sent daily if we haven’t heard from you.
Property and grounds Improvements
We have been busy over the break with Mr T and Sid have been working hard on the grounds including with the formation of a new environmental area at the rear of the school fields. Watch this space…a work in progress!
A huge thank you also to Matua Peteski, who gave up his time to work tirelessly tidying, planting and creating new garden areas at the front of the school.
Also taking shape is the new ‘pump track’ that we are creating to spice up the bike track. It is going to be great!
A special shout out also goes to Darcie who has been managing our student gardens over the break. These were planted last year and they have certainly been pumping out the produce. If you haven’t seen the facebook messages watch out for them as the produce is free for you to grab as it is harvested.
BOT Spot
A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.
If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.
Request for a by-election should be sent to: admin@otaika.school.nz by 3 pm on Wednesday, March 5th.
Melissa RusselPresiding member (chair)
Otaika Valley School Board
New building programmes at OVS.
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce we have two projects scheduled for commencement this term. At this stage they are scheduled to start late March and will continue over the April break. The first is a project that will incorporate a brand new junior toilet block, including new access ways and significant new decking for the Room 1 & 2 area. The second project is a much needed additional toilet for the admin block. We will keep you posted with updates, a programme of works and any likely disruptions as further information comes to hand.
Ōtāika Valley Miniball
OVS Phoenix – Year 5-6
Kensington Stadium – Game times vary from 3:30pm to 6pm
It is your responsibility to get your child/ren to the games each week on time. For more info or queries, contact Darcie 021471980 or d.price@otaika.school.nz
DATES: (Dates are subject to change)
February 12, 19, 26 – Mar 12, 19, 26 – May 7, 14, 21, 28 – June 4, 18,25
Uniforms
Shirts will be given out at the beginning of each game and handed back at the end of the game. Please bring water bottles, supply your own shorts and non-marking shoes.
Training
Training at this stage will be Tuesday 11am lunch break at school.
Registration and Cost
If you give permission, please email me with your name, childs name, emergency contact details and pay the fee before February 19th. No pay, no play. ( d.price@otaika.school.nz )
| $60 for Term1 and 2 paid to: |
| Otaika Valley School |
| 12-3115-0198137-00 |
| Ref: Miniball |
Sunsmart
Remember term 1 is a sunsmart term and all students require a hat to play outside. Students without hats are required to play in the shade.
2025 Dates
All OVS dates can be found on our website. This has all term, holiday and initial event dates for 2025.
Waitangi Day
Please note there is no Teacher Only Day on Friday the 7th February. School is open for instruction.
Teacher Only Day – 7 March
There will be a Teacher Only Day for kahui Ako Schools in Whangarei to unpack the new Curriculum Refresh . Schools will be closed for instruction on this day.
Term Dates
| Terms | Start | Finish |
| Term 1: | 4 Feb | 11 April |
| Term 2: | 28 April | 27 June |
| Term 3: | 14 July | 19 Sept |
| term 4: | 6 Oct | 16 Dec |
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