Having trouble seeing this email? View it online
Western Heights School  
Week 2 T1
 
 
 
 
Western Heights School
Our Vision
We are … Caring, Curious, Creative, Critical, ConfidentConnecting, Contributing.
Our Mission
Our children love to learn to lead as they dream, grow, shine and reflect. 
Love                - ourselves - others - our world 
Learn about     - ourselves - others - our world 
Lead                - ourselves - others - in our world

We Love to Learn so we can Learn to Lead so we can Lead with Love
Our Charter
 
 
 
Calendar of Events
Whanau Time is every second Friday in our hall, starting at 9:45 am sharp. Everyone is warmly welcomed to join us for these special WHS family occasions. 
Next Whanau Time - Friday 24 February - rooms 3 and 24 hosting.
WHS Calendar
 
 
 
Wednesday 8/2
Meet the Teacher Picnic - 5:30pm onwards.
Visit your children’s classrooms at 6:30pm then gather in Hall at 7pm. Finished by 7:30
 
Friday 10/2
Junior School - year one and two - Trip to Cornwallis Beach.
Travel by bus.
 
Wednesday 15/2
First Board of Trustees Meeting for 2017. We meet at 7pm in Principal’s office. Meetings are open to the public.
 
Friday 17/2
Middle and Senior School - year three to six - Trip to Orewa Beach.
Travel by bus.
 
 
Meet Our Teachers Picnic at WHS - Tonight
 

Tonight is your opportunity to come to school with your family for a picnic, followed by an opportunity to meet your children’s teachers, and then listen to a few words from me.

We suggest you try to get here between 5:30 and 6:30pm for the picnic. Teachers will be in classrooms between 6:30 and 7pm to share their plans, systems and expectations for the year ahead.

The carpark gates will be open - please drive down and round behind our enviro garden, and park on the grass.

*  Picnic time is 5:30 to 6:30pm

*  Classrooms are available for informal visits between 6:30 and 7pm

*  We all meet at 7pm in our ILE in our senior school - ask directions if unsure and we will guide you.

*  I am sharing some Big Picture information with you between 7 and 7:30pm


We are hoping for great weather and a great turn-out - fingers and toes all crossed.

 
 
Chinese New Year Celebrations at WHS - 2017
 

We had a lovely Chinese New Year Celebration last Friday. Lots of children wore traditional costume, and many more wore red and gold. We had a full school assembly where children were able to show off their outfits, and where three of our senior boys shared what Chinese New Year meant to them.

Haotian, Han, and Kevin did a great job explaining some of the special traditions that surround this event.

We were then treated to “The Dance of the Wild Geese” by Emma from AGC Sunderland School. This was arranged through Candy Xu, who is our Chinese Community Parent Liaison person. 

The dance was incredibly beautiful and moving - some photos below.

We are also planning consultation with our Chinese Community, with the support of Candy Xu. More on this - translated into Chinese - soon.

 
 


 

 
 



Our beautiful new Maori panels in our hall - thanks Whaea Trish, Whaea Mina and children.
 

Jonathan’s dad brought his inflatable water slide to school for two days at the end of last term. All our children had an absolute blast - and a lot of our staff too.
 
 
 

Our new sandpit is proving popular. The next stage will be to organise shade cover.
   
 
 
Powhiri for Mrs Maindonald at Mangere Central School
 

Yesterday was Mrs Maindonald’s first official day as the new principal of Mangere Central School. We took our Kapa Haka Ropu to support her and ‘hand her over’. There were two reasons. Mrs Maindonald worked at Western Heights three years ago, and it was an opportunity for our Kapa Haha children to put practice into action in a real event, and one where they were the visitors (Manuhiri), and not the hosts (Tangata Whenua).

They did themselves, Whaea Trish and our school proud. Special thanks to ex pupil Te Rina for stepping out of her comfort zone to be our Kai Karanga.

 
 
 
 
 
Student Absences - Very Important Information for You
 

Student Absences: 

It is so important that you let us know if your child is going to be absent. Our office staff often spend hours each day chasing up the whereabouts (and therefore safety) of children who are not at school and we have not been told why. 

There are lots of ways to let us know 

- send an email to our office - away@westernheights.school.nz

- click on the Absence tab on our WHS phone app - available on iTunes or Google Play Store for free. PS - this is an awesome app for parents and allows us to send urgent messages and updates to you quickly and easily.

- leave a message on our answerphone - 836 1213

- text to our school mobile - 021 0402125

If we dont know why your child is away, we make every effort to find out, and this can take ages, so, we are trying to find ways to sort this. 

One is to keep encouraging you to remember to let us know.

Another is to work smarter. Linc-Ed, our student management system, will help us as we can send automated text messages to our parents mobile phones letting you know your child is absent and we have not been informed why. Please respond to these messages as soon as possible to help us keep our children safe.  

 
 
Principal’s Year Six Graduation Speech
 

Each year we have to limit attendance at our Year Six Graduation Assembly only to families of graduates. It’s sad, but our hall is just not big enough to cope. Last week I shared our Board Chairperson’s speech - it showed a deep understanding of what we are about at Western heights and what we are trying to achieve.

This week I share my brief speech to our 2016 Graduates.

Today is a special day - a sad day, a proud day, a celebration day and a nervous day.

Special, because it’s all about you.

Sad, because you are leaving your second home and second family.

Proud, because you made it to Graduation.

A celebration, to mark the achievement that came from your hard work.

A nervous day, because you don’t really know what the next step is going to be like.

Most of all though, it's a New Day - because it marks a new beginning for you all.

We want you to go on from here and build great lives for yourselves.

Builders of course need tools, and that has been our focus over these past six years with you - to give you the tools to build that great life.

One of the things that makes me feel proudest is hearing our senior kids talking about Love to Learn to Lead. In their everyday conversations, in their learning, in their inquiry focus and in lots of situations.

This is so cool because it shows that phrase and focus has really got into your brains, into your thinking, into your sub-conscious. That’s awesome because it is a tool to help you build that great life. You Love, Learn and Lead first in your own life, then with others, and then in the wider world.

Being a Bucket Filler - filling others’ buckets to fill your own, not being a bucket dipper and knowing how to protect your bucket are also tools that will help you.

Pay It Forward is also a great tool to help you build a great life. In caring for and serving others we learn to love and value ourselves. We find happiness is grounded in kindness and caring. We know that some of the richest and most selfish people in the world are also some of the unhappiest. We know our world is going to be a better place because you are in it.


You have the tools, you have the attitudes, work habits, self management skills and Grit in the Pit that you need to be successful and build a great life. So go out there and build it. 

Have fun, work hard, never give up, love your family, be kind, fill buckets, never ever forget how many people love you, and Love to Learn to Lead in all you do.

Manaakitia koutou - a blessing upon you all. We love you, we’re proud of you and we expect you to come back and share that great life you are building with us.

 
 
   
 
 
       Our Very Own Author


Eleanor from our Office is a published author. 
  at Western Heights.…..…


Room 19 enjoyed interviewing her and listening to one of her stories.
 
 
PlayBall West Auckland
 

Playball is an introduction to eight different sports, Soccer, Basketball, Netball, Cricket, Baseball, Tennis, Hockey and Rugby.
Calling all year 1, 2 and 3 students.
Our aim is not to create superstars, but rather to provide children with the opportunity to develop a host of necessary social, educational and personal skills, by giving children competence in sport.
Playball for term one will commence on Thursday 16 February from 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm and will run every Thursday for eight weeks at WHS.
Ask about a free trial today. 
To enrol your child/children please sign up online
Any queries please call James on 027-481-7000 or email james@playball.co.nz

 
 
French Beginners’ Classes for Years 2 to 6: 
 

A fun, eight session French taster course is being offered at Western Heights this term, and beyond. The major emphasis is on communicating orally through the interactive use of fun games, song, role-play and ‘real life’ activities. For more information, please email admin@Lpa.co.nz or contact La Petite Academie on 022 358 2211. C’est si bon!

 
 
 

 
 
 
  Love Our Place and Our People

Mrs MR loves ‘ ling’ and when she met up with her class for 2017 at the end of last year, she invited them to bring ‘blibg' for the first day of school. Crystal remembered!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  I Teach...
 
 
 
 
 
Thoughtful Thursday
I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it.                                   Groucho Marx
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Welcome to our Newest Western Heights Whanau
 

The warmest of warm Western Heights welcome to
Mosiana Fa’aui and Waisele Haapai.
We are delighted to have you join our Western Heights whanau and hope and trust you all feel right at home here, are happy, and Loving, Learning and Leading.
  

 
 
 
Unsubscribe                                         Update Email Address  
Western Heights School
126 Sturges Road
Henderson
Auckland 0612
P -  09 8361213
M - 021 779 009
 
 
 
 
 
© [2016] Western Heights School
Share on FacebookTwitterForward to a Friend                 







 
Direct Mail for Mac This email is powered by Direct Mail for Mac. Learn MoreReport Spam