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Newsletter - Term 3 Week 6
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Almost Spring greetings!
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It's hard to believe we're over half way through Term 3 already! The daffodils in the valley appear to be coming out in full force and the air has certainly turned the corner towards Spring. A huge thank you to everyone that helped out and chipped in while I was away. A lot of mahi has happened since and it's awesome.The team have been really focussed on the R.I.V.E.R. values and we have started a breakfast club! A chance for a 'second breakfast'! Shout out to Rachel for sorting it in the mornings and Ollie for helping prepare it.
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Some of the learning this term focuses on the School Board and the governance of the school. School boards play an important role in New Zealand schools by providing community oversight and setting the strategic direction of the school.
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Following last year's board elections, we discovered that our board constitution does not accurately reflect the number of elected parent representatives currently serving. This situation arose from an historical alternative constitution that was in place while the school was under a Commissioner, along with subsequent board member resignations. While the issue is administrative in nature, it is important that we formally correct it.
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With only 22 whānau currently enrolled at Wairau Valley School, the Board considers that four parent-elected representatives will provide appropriate governance and community representation. The Board is therefore proposing to amend its constitution to reduce the number of elected parent representatives from five to four pursuant to section 121(1)(b) of the Education and Training Act 2020.
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The Wairau Valley School Board gives notice that a Special Board Meeting will be held at 3:30 pm on Monday, 7 September, at Wairau Valley School to consider this proposed constitutional amendment. This meeting is open to parents of enrolled students should they wish to attend. If you would like to provide feedback on this proposal, submit it in writing to office@wairauvalley.school.nz for consideration by the School Board before 3 PM on Monday 7th September. Boards may alter their constitutions in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020.
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After this process has taken place, Wairau Valley School will then hold a by-election to fill the vacant parent-elected vacancies. More information will be provided after the 7th September.
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Pets Day: Preparation is well under way for Pets Day. The date for Pets Day is Thursday 22nd October. We are busy getting all the information together and it will come out in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you know of any businesses that are keen to donate things for the grocery raffle, please put us in touch with them. We will call for parent donations closer to the time.
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Our Values Focus this Fortnight
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Over the past fortnight we have been taking a deep dive into our R.I.V.E.R. value of Respect (Whakaute). Rather than simply talking about respect, we have been unpacking what it truly looks like, sounds like and feels like in every part of our school. Through discussions, partner activities and real-life scenarios, students have explored how respect creates positive ripples, how one small choice can influence others, and how our actions shape our classrooms, playgrounds, buses and wider community. It has been so rewarding to hear our students talking about the "ripple effect" throughout the week and sharing examples of times when they or someone else have shown respect and created a positive ripple for others. Those conversations show that our learning is extending well beyond our Monday Morning Meetings and into everyday life at Wairau Valley School. Together, we are building a shared understanding that respect isn't just a rule to follow, it's the foundation that helps our whole school thrive.
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For the remainder of the term, we will be focusing on Integrity | Pono. At Wairau Valley School, that means we:
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- Tell the truth.
- Own our actions.
- Follow instructions the first time.
- Manage ourselves.
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Congratulations, Superstars!
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Kobe Hoult: This award recognises the massive growth you have shown this year in your attitude, thinking, choices, and the way you manage challenging moments. You have stepped into leadership with real mana, becoming someone others look up to, and it has been awesome to see the impact you have on others being used in such a positive way. This growth is shining through in the classroom too, where your learning is really starting to click — you should be incredibly proud of how far you have come.
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Alex Keane: It's like you have been at Wairau Valley your whole life, Alex. You contribute to our kura, taking your school lunch duties very seriously and stepping up when Rachel is away. You have some wonderful connections with classmates and can be relied upon when needed. Awesome stuff mate.
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Gracie Howard: Gracie has demonstrated growing confidence in class discussions and actively participates in learning experiences. She asks thoughtful questions and shows a positive willingness to share her ideas. She is making steady progress in Reading and is developing greater confidence in her ability to understand and respond to texts.
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Wairau Room update
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Wairau Room tamariki have been busy learning and making progress in all curriculum areas.
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Inquiry – New Zealand Native Birds Ngā Manu o Aotearoa
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Our Inquiry learning has taken flight as we have been exploring New Zealand’s native birds. We have been learning about what makes our birds unique, their habitats, the threats they face, and ways people can help protect them.
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To demonstrate our learning, the children chose a native bird and created a diorama of its habitat. They carefully considered where their bird lives and included environmental features that help it survive. We have enjoyed seeing their creativity, research, and growing knowledge come together in these wonderful projects.
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Mathematics – Geometry
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In Mathematics, we have been exploring Geometry and learning to recognise and describe 2D and 3D shapes, angles, reflection symmetry, flips and turns.
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The children have been developing their mathematical vocabulary and learning to explain how they know something is symmetrical, what happens when a shape is flipped or turned, and how different shapes and angles can be identified in everyday objects.
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Here is a demonstration of some of the fantastic learning taking place in our classroom.
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Writing – Persuasive Writing
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Our writers have been learning how to persuade others by sharing an opinion and supporting it with strong reasons and supporting details.
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We have been exploring a range of fun and thought-provoking topics and learning how to choose convincing vocabulary to influence our readers.
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One of our favorite writing challenges was:
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Should we have Subway for lunch on Fridays?
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The children had to convince our Principal that Subway would be a great Friday lunch option. They considered reasons such as health, price, taste, variety, and having a change from our regular lunches.
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It has been fantastic to see our tamariki developing confidence in expressing their opinions, explaining their ideas, and using persuasive language to strengthen their arguments.
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Below are some examples of our effective persuasive writing!
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You will have to come and see for yourself what your children have been learning in our class.
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By Ari Neville
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🌼 Daffodil Day at Wairau Valley School 🌼
On Friday 28 August, we’ll be supporting Daffodil Day! Students are encouraged to wear YELLOW and bring along a gold coin donation, with all donations going to the Blenheim Cancer Society.
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We’ll also be running a Daffodil Day colouring-in competition, with one winner from each year level! Entries will close Thursday 27th August and judging will take place that afternoon.
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Speech Competition
This term in writing, both classes have been learning the craft of persuasive writing. We have explored the features of this style of writing and we are now beginning the next stage of this learning. Students are beginning to plan, write and prepare a speech for our annual Speech Competition.
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"Me and what is important to Me."
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On Wednesday 2nd September all students will present their item in class (timetable to follow soon). From here 3 children in each section will go through to the school final.
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Year 0-3: present a poem related to this year's theme
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Year 4-8: present a speech related to this year's theme
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Wairau Room students and families are asked to select a poem to learn and present. If you need support with this, please get in touch with Mrs Kumar as she can assist with some options and ideas.
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The bulk of the speeches will be written and crafted at school. However, students may need to spend time at home planning, writing and practising their speeches. Your support could include listening to them, encouraging clear and confident speaking, and helping them craft their speech.
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AI may be used as a tool to help generate ideas or improve wording, but the speech must be the student's own work. The most successful speeches are authentic and personal. Strong delivery, including eye contact, expression, pace and confidence, can only be developed through practice.
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- Wednesday 2 September: Class speech presentations (timetable to follow soon)
- Tuesday 8 September: Wairau Valley School Speech Finals
- 23rd September: Rural School's Speech Competition-hosted here in the Valley
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Thank you for supporting your child as they prepare for their speeches. Please get in touch if you have any queries.
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Wairau Valley School Bus Procedures and Bypass Applications
This letter has been submitted to go into the next publication of the Wairau Valley News. Please note this does not affect any Wairau Valley School students.
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Kia ora Wairau Valley Community,
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As a Board, one of our responsibilities is ensuring that Wairau Valley School operates in accordance with Ministry of Education requirements and that all policies are applied consistently, fairly and transparently. Over recent months, alongside several other Marlborough Schools who operate bus services, we have reviewed our school transport procedures and the Ministry of Education's School Transport Assistance framework. Following this review, the Board wishes to advise the community of several changes that will take effect from the end of Term 4.
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The Ministry of Education's transport assistance system is designed to support students attending their closest eligible state school where distance creates a barrier to access. It is not intended to provide unrestricted transport choice, and any transfer of transport eligibility or carriage of ineligible students is subject to specific Ministry requirements and board consent processes.
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As part of our review, the Board has resolved that all existing bus bypass permissions for students who do not attend college (Y9 or above) but travel on the Wairau Valley college bus will cease at the end of Term 4. This is in support of the decision that Go Bus has made to no longer accept ineligible students on any services in Marlborough who do not have bypass permission. Families currently relying on these arrangements will therefore need to make alternative transport arrangements unless a new application is submitted and approved through the Board's bypass procedure.
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We also wish to clarify that the college bus service exists primarily to transport college-aged students. It was never intended to function as a general transport service for primary-aged students, and this distinction is an important part of ensuring the transport network operates as intended. Further, students who are eligible for the college bus due to Section 204 of the Education and Training Act (2020) will continue to be eligible for this bus service provided they follow the bypass application procedure.
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Families who wish to seek an exemption or bypass permission moving forward will be required to submit a formal application. Each application will be considered individually by the Wairau Valley School Board against the relevant Ministry guidelines and the school's operational procedures. No assumptions should be made that approval will automatically be granted. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and decisions will be communicated in writing to all parties involved (the applicant, GoBus and the attending school).
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Go Bus has already been advised of this process and will continue working with the school to ensure compliance with Ministry transport requirements. Families affected by these changes will have until the end of Term 4 to make alternative arrangements or submit an application for consideration.
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We recognise that this decision will be disappointing for some members of our community. Change is rarely easy, particularly when it affects family routines and transport arrangements. We understand that some people may not agree with this position, and we genuinely acknowledge those concerns. However, the Board believes it is important that transport assistance is administered consistently, fairly and in line with the expectations set by the Ministry of Education. The public rightly expects taxpayer-funded services to be used for the purposes for which they were established, and the Board has a responsibility to ensure that occurs.
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At the same time, we make no apology for one of our strategic priorities: encouraging local children to attend their local school. Growing our roll and strengthening Wairau Valley School is essential to maintaining a vibrant and sustainable rural school for future generations. A strong local school helps create a strong local community. Rural communities have always been at their best when people work together, support one another and focus on what benefits the wider community. While there may be differing views on this issue, we hope everyone can appreciate that these decisions are being made with the long-term interests of the school, our students and our community in mind.
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If families have questions about the process or wish to discuss an application, we encourage them to contact the school.
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Wairau Valley School Board
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Community Notices
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Wairau Valley School students are performing on Wednesday night
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