OUR MISSION:
Maintain a challenging learning to learn community that responds to the interests, needs, and talents of our learners.
OUR VISION:
Positive difference, Creative learner, Effective communicator.
Tēna koutou Tūhono whānau,
Welcome back to what is going to be an exciting 2017 in our new collaborative learning environment “Tūhono” (to join together). We are looking forward to working with you and your child this year and sharing in all of the amazing learning experiences and activities we have got planned along the way. A special welcome to Ashley, Isaac, Jae, Jay-dee, and Kaeylon and families who are starting a new learning adventure for the first time with us at Frankley.
Someone else who is starting a new learning adventure at Frankley is me, Mrs Trinder. I have come from Oakura School and am in my 15th year of teaching. I have three energetic boys, Maaka 11 who attends FDMC, Kairangi is in Te Kakano and Te Arei is almost two. I am married to Rangi, who is a stay-at-home dad at the moment. I love teaching because no two days are ever the same and I get to hang out with cool kids all day! I am really looking forward to working in a collaborative space with Kim and all of your children. We have spent a lot of time together over the last three weeks planning, sorting, moving and decluttering and we are now ready to add the most important part, our students.
I am excited to be working in partnership with Anna Trinder. We have been meeting together during the holidays and I know that we will work hard to meet the learning needs of your children. Even though all of the Tūhono students are new to us in our space, there are links with prior siblings from Frankley and beyond. I have been teaching in New Plymouth for a good while and have been at Frankley School for nearly 15 years. It is a very special place to be - a place with a lot of spirit and history. I have a passion for music and performing arts (and dressing up!!!).
My own children, Rosie-19 years (2nd year university in Wellington) and Saffy - 17 years (last year at Sacred Heart) were both educated at Frankley. My husband, Michael, is a chef which certainly keeps us all well fed and up to date with the latest cuisines. It is very exciting to finally be starting 2017 with our Tūhono learning family.
Starting the Day
- The bell goes at 9:00am. We would encourage students to arrive before that so that they have plenty of time to organise their belongings and resources independently.
- Our bag hooks are now outside the rooms and the students can choose where they hang their bags.
- Devices need to be brought inside straight away and stored in one of our ICT cupboards. We would like to encourage students who are bringing their own devices this year and who have them to bring these to school everyday. Please don't hesitate to contact us should you wish to know more about BYOD (Bring your own device).
- Drink bottles may be brought inside and put on a bench in either space. Please ensure these are clearly named.
- Sunhats can stay in bags until needed - please note that it is a requirement for Frankley children to wear a sunhat in Terms 1 and 4.
Swimming
Tomorrow we will start our Aquatics programme as part of Health and Physical Education. Students will need to bring their togs and towel to school everyday. Please ensure they are all clearly named. Our daily swimming is at 10:00am-11:00am every day. Next week we will split into two groups for instruction lessons.
Library
Our library session will be every Wednesday. Mrs Cameron (our school librarian) is on board during this time and it an excellent chance for our students to explore the reading material available. All library books must be issued and taken from the library in a book bag (waterproof and available from the office. Most students will already have one of these so please have them packed and ready for action.
Stationery
Stationery lists will be issued tomorrow and are available for purchase via the office. You are able to purchase elsewhere if you prefer. As we don’t have individual desks we are using plastic ‘magazine boxes’ to store students’ work tools and books. The price we have negotiated for these will be $4 at the school office. They are more expensive if buying in shops. A photo of the type required will be on our blog and we will also show the students tomorrow. We will post a list of what the workbooks will be used for so you can label the books appropriately. We hope that all stationery will be ready for use for next week.
Tūhono Blog, Individual Class Blogs, Google Site
Our main form of communication in Tūhono will be through the use of our class blog. Please make sure to subscribe to your child’s individual Blog by entering your email address into the “Follow by Email” box at the top right of the class blog, the school app and the school website to obtain up to date notices, newsletters and communication. Each child’s individual learning blog can also be accessed via the link on the right hand side of the class blog. We encourage you to comment on your child’s learning and acknowledge that this is their learning journey so please view rather than edit and correct. Tūhono will also have a google site that will be set up as a learning resource for the students at school and at home as needed. We will share that site with you shortly once it is fully up and running.
Vertical Horizon Camp
As mentioned on earlier notices, all of Tūhono and the Year 4 students from Te Pihinga, will be camping at Vertical Horizons 20-22 March. We will be getting information collated for you all once we have received confirmation of our programme from Vertical Horizons. Below is a copy of the first notice sent home about camp that most of you have already received.
Tuhono Camp
We are booked to camp at Vertical Horizon Camp on Monday 20 March-Wednesday 22 March. This camp has great facilities and activities and the students stay in self-contained cabins. Catering is all organised by the camp staff and most activities are run by trained facilitators. The camp itself is an easy drive from New Plymouth.
It is expected that the cost for this camp will be in the region of $130-$145 dollars per student. This has already been subsidised by pizza fundraising from 2016. It would be great if we could do more fundraising in the first 8 weeks of school to offset the cost further for everyone. We would like to sell Juicies and Sherbet at the Frankley Family School Picnic but any other ideas for other initiatives are most welcome. I know that Countdown at Spotswood allow sausage sizzles but we would need a family to transport their barbecue (or schools) to the venue. Perhaps there is a group of parents that would like to organise some events for us? Please make contact with us so we can all get there.
We will need some parent help to stay full-time with us during the camp and of course families are welcome to visit. There might even be a concert!!!!
More camp information will be shared as we move through the term.
Contacting Tūhono Teachers
If you would like to contact us about your child’s learning, please email both of us to organise a suitable time. Student Talent Interests and Needs conferences will be held in Week 3. More details to follow. Please make contact before this time if there is information to share that you would like us to know before then.
We look forward to meeting all of you and being a part of your child’s learning journey for 2017.
Ngā mihi
Anna Trinder and Kim Cribb
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