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Western Heights School  
Week 8 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 31 March - rooms 9 and 18 hosting.
WHS Calendar
 
 
 
Wednesday 22/3
Indian Community Hui in our ILE in our senior classroom block. 7pm - 8pm
 
Wednesday 22/3
World Water Day - not water fight day, water awareness and appreciation day.
 
Friday 24/3
Liston College visiting our year six boys
 
Wednesday 29/3
Regular Board of Trustees meeting - 7pm in principal’s office - all welcome.
 
 
Indian Community Hui - Wednesday Evening:
 

Thank you to those who attended our Chinese Community Hui. Some great discussion and ideas resulted.

Our community hui this week is for our Indian Community. Please come along and find out how our children are progressing, share ideas and ask any questions you may have.

Thank you to Smita D’Lima - who will join us - for her support, for being an awesome teacher, mum, Indian Dance Tutor and advocate for Indian Culture and traditions.


Hui Schedule:

Indian Community Hui - Wednesday 22 March - 7pm in our ILE - Senior School Block

Board of Trustees Meeting - Wednesday 29 March at 7pm in Principal’s office - no hui this week.

Full Community Open Hui - Wednesday 5 April - 7pm in our ILE - Senior School Block

 
 
Sushi on Mondays:
 

We now have sushi available on Mondays at lunchtime from 

Sushi Yu for children and the staff.

If you wish to purchase please follow the link below.                               

https://whs.sushi-yu.net/

You will need to create account and log in, then you can order.

When you order you will need to make your payment by Direct Credit.

Orders must be placed by noon on Friday 

and the sushi will be delivered to our school office 

before lunch on Monday.

Picture at right is one example of what you can order.

 
 
Rainy Day Traffic Issues:
 

We REALLY need your help on this one. 
  • A rain jacket or poncho that stays in your child’s schoolbag is a great idea.
  • A compact umbrella to fit in the schoolbag is a good idea.
A walk in a bit of rain is also a good idea - much better than parking illegally just so your child doesn’t have to walk a few extra metres.
No child is going to die from getting wet outside our school. However one could easily die or suffer serious injury with the way some parents are parking and stopping dangerously.

 
 
Junior School HOLI Celebrations:
 

This special day at WHS for our junior school could best be summed up as - lots of fun, lots of colour, lots of mess, lots of happy children and teachers.
Thank you Smita D’Lima for coordinating this event. Thank you staff for getting into the spirit of the occasion and getting messy.
















Holi is a spring festival celebrated in India and Nepal, also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love and light. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and make new friends. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest.

 
 
Whole School St Patrick’s Day Celebrations:
 

This special day at WHS for our school could best be summed up as - lots of fun, lots of green, lots of food,  lots of happy children and teachers.
Thank you Iris Morrison-Raju (Mrs M-R) for coordinating this day. Thank you staff for getting into the spirit of the occasion and getting green.













The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.
Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, Irish traditional music sessions (céilithe), and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Our children were treated to Irish Dancing at our Whanau Time by a special guest.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Rippa Rugby Tournament - So Close!
 

Once again our sports representatives did themselves, their coaches and their school proud.
Thanks Tim Taura and all the dads who helped - especially Jamie - you did a great job.
Our top team finished second, losing the final (this bit hurts) to Summerland by one point.
Summerland were worthy winners though, so we cannot complain. It was a real battle all the way and a great game to watch.





 
 
Key Competencies - Life Skills for All Learners
 

There are five Key Competencies - Thinking; Relating to Others; Understanding Signs, Symbols and Texts; Managing Self; Participating and Contributing.
We simplify these down to our TRUMPs
Thinking; Relating; Understanding; Managing; Participating.

 
 
Key Competencies - Relating to Others
 

A First Look:
This competency is about how we make meaning – how we express and communicate our ideas, experiences, and information. People use a rich mix of language, symbols and texts, including spoken and written language, visual language such as photos and video, the symbols used in maths and science and much more. It is crucial for 21st century learners to have strong capabilities in this area.

A Deeper Look:
This key competency includes the important foundational skills of basic literacy and numeracy but it is more than that. For example, if you’ve ever learned a second language, you’ll know that languages are so much more than different words for much the same thing. You have to learn to “see” the world through different eyes. Another example is when different people experience the exact same set of events but read very different meaning into them. That happens when we interpret things in the light of what we already know, or think we know. Meaning builds on our existing knowledge, experiences and beliefs. How we make meaning in different contexts and using different tools and modes of communication is the focus of this key competency.

This key competency reminds teachers that students need help to crack the "codes" used to construct knowledge in different areas. In mathematics, for example, students learn how numbers and symbols convey ideas. In dance, drama and kapa haka they learn the language of movement as a specific language. In science students learn to justify explanations by drawing on evidence from investigations, and they learn how to use scientific conventions as they read and write in the texts of science. This can be described as learning about the “nature” of a subject and sometimes you will see the relevant aspects of competency described as specific types of literacy (for example, science literacy, or statistical literacy).

Three Things To Try At Home:
Check on the meaning your child is making as they work with different types of texts or languages. If they make a statement that something “is” so, ask them how they know, or what makes them think that? This can help them think about other possibilities and it is good practice for reflective conversations at school, when teachers focus on learning-to-learn skills.
Talk about the language of marketing when you flick though the junk mail or watch television together. Students need to learn how to discern how the text conveys its knowledge claims, and what it leaves out.
Comment when you see a symbol used in a new way, or the same symbol used to mean different things in different contexts. Talk about who might have “invented” each use, and why. For example, the @ sign so widely used now for email addresses used to mean “and the cost is” – for example, “three packages @ $2 = $6 total”. A slightly different example is the morphing of a tick symbol into the Nike “swoosh” as a positive branding strategy. 

 
 
Introducing Board Member Malcolm Purdon:
 

Hi! I’m Mal Purdon. 
I have been involved with Western Heights School for about 15 years - since my oldest daughter Stacey attended. Two other daughters, Zoe and Molly have also come and gone through our school, and currently my youngest, Will is in year 6.
When I’m not at Western Heights I am working hard repairing Auckland’s windows and doors for our Joinery Maintenance business.
I’m a Warriors fan so you can see I’m a patient man. I love my golf, which is very much like being a Warriors fan, lots of ups and downs. I also coached kids’ league for three years, which was both challenging and rewarding.
My involvement with our school has been wide and varied - from cooking sausage sizzles, to DJ-ing our school discos, to general repairs, and accompanying school trips. Western Heights has been a huge part of our lives.
Being involved with my children’s education seemed like a good idea, but until I stepped out of my comfort zone and put my hand up to volunteer it was just ‘an idea’. My advice to any parent would be ‘put your hand up, volunteer for everything you can and get to know everyone involved in your child’s learning experiences. 

 
 
Young At Art Offer:
 

‘Young at Art after school art classes are now available for Term 2 in your area. Workshops for children aged 5 years - 15 years are open for bookings in Titirangi. You can also book for the upcoming Easter holiday classes in venues around Auckland.  For more information and bookings please check out www.youngatart.co.nz        
or email:      anna@youngatart.co.nz
Anna Molineux
Young at Art Limited 
Mob. 0297 712 923 

 
 
Receptionist / Assistant to Office Administrator & Directors
 

Receptionist / Assistant to Office Administrator & Directors required for busy consulting Structural Engineering practice in Henderson, Auckland.  
Hours 9 – 4, Monday to Friday.  Role includes, but is not limited to, answering phones, administrative support to structural engineers, and general office duties.  Knowledge in Microsoft Word & general computer skills is required.  
Please e-mail CV’s to mel@sullivanhall.co.nz or to contact for a more detailed job description.  Closing date for applications, Monday 20 March 2017.

 
 
Pasifika Festival - An Event Not To Be Missed:
 

Western Springs Park will be transformed into 11 Pacific Island villages, each with a performance stage and market stalls. Experience the sounds and flavours of Pacific Island cultures without leaving Auckland.
WHAT: 25th Pasifika Festival
WHEN: Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 March
TIME: Saturday from 10am - 5pm; Sunday from 10am - 4pm
WHERE: Western Springs Park
ENTRY: FREE!

 
 
  Love Our Place and Our People


Room 11’s Clean-Up Crew with a lunchtime rubbish collection. True Zero-Heroes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  I Teach...
 
 
 
 
 
Thoughtful Thursday
42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Welcome to our Newest Western Heights Whanau
 

The warmest of warm Western Heights welcome to
Xavier-Ma’a League, Nathan Nansen, Patricia Wang, Ataahua Patricia French and Scarlet Pomeroy.
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.
  

 
 
 
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Western Heights School
126 Sturges Road
Henderson
Auckland 0612
P -  09 8361213
M - 021 779 009
 
 
 
 
 
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