Y7&8 Syndicate Newsletter

Term 1 2024

Welcome to Year 7 & 8 Syndicate for 2024. I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer break and the wonderful hot and sunny weather.  A big welcome back and welcome to new students joining the Te Rapa School community. We begin the year excited to be back at school with the students and are ready to provide the students with a fun, exciting and engaging year of learning. 


Term One Learning Focus:

This year we begin again with the  focus  on “Belonging.” The focus for this will be developed over the course of the term. 

Developing our students to use Google Applications like Google docs and PowerPoint and also creating and organising specific subject folders.  Being safe online and digital citizenship will also be covered.

Kiwi Swimsafe swimming programme and team building games.



Te Rapa HEART

The emphasis is on the development of personal skills and attitudes. HEART represents the values 

Honesty -Pono, Excellence - Hiranga, Aroha- Kindness, Respect- Manaaki, Teamwork - Kotahitanga.

By exploring these values within our classrooms we aim to provide opportunities for our students to reflect on how they think and act as individuals and its overall impact on others within their community.





Tech Arts @ Te Ao Tamatea - St Andrews Middle School


Tech Arts will begin on Thursday 8th February. The students receive specialised teaching in the following areas: 

*Food - Design and Evaluation; *BioTech - Body Products, Digital Imagery & Product Labelling; *Hard Materials - Design Process; *Visual Art. *Electronics - DV


This year Tech Arts will be split into year groups. Year 7’s will be the first group to attend, leaving school at 8:45am. Your child will need to arrive at school by 8:30am for the daily roll each Thursday from Week 1 Term 1 and 2. Students travel by bus to Te Ao Tamatea for classes and Year 7’s will return by 11.45am.  

Then the Year 8’s will leave at 11.50pm for Tech Arts and arrive back at Te Rapa at 2.50pm.


While your student is not at Tech Arts, they will be in one of the Senior Classrooms (it may not be their own) here at Te Rapa. They will be doing a variety of activities such as learning basic Spanish, Coding, Science, Music and Speech Craft.


If your child is absent on a Tech Arts day, please ring into the school office before 8:30am. 


The first day of Tech Arts is Thursday the 8th February. Students will get further information from Te Ao Tamatea during this session. A Bus Code of Conduct will be sent home today with this notice, please discuss with your child and return to their homeroom teacher before Thursday the 8th February 2024.


Please make sure your child comes to school in covered shoes for Tech Arts. This is a health and safety requirement.



Stationery

It would be appreciated if all students had their stationery as soon as possible. We would really like all students to begin in their books by Week 3. Covering student books is not compulsory. Students will have the opportunity to name and label their books with the class once all the students have their stationery.


Swimming 

We will have swimming lessons every day using the NZ Swim Safe Programme. Swimming is compulsory so if your child cannot swim on a particular day, a note written or email is required. 

Suitable swimwear at school please: Boys - swimming shorts.  Girls - one piece swimming togs, shorts can be worn over togs if wanted (no bikinis at school please). Rash tops are optional.


Sunsmart 

Please remind your child to use sunscreen everyday before school and to bring a sunhat to school. We have extra sunscreen here at school to top up with during the day. Students are also encouraged to have a water bottle in class for hydration.


Homework

Please expect your child to have homework from Week 3.  Further information will follow in Term 1 regarding homework expectations. 


Leadership

This is your child’s opportunity to extend themselves and prepare for high school and life! Please encourage them to discuss with you the types of goals they have as a senior student and what they would like to achieve. Students need to remember to listen out for notices and to step forward when various opportunities are offered.


Sports Camp - 10-14 June 2024 (Week 7, Term 2)

We are excited to offer the opportunity for children to apply to attend Sports Camp in Term 2. In Week ? this term, information will come out for those children who are interested in applying to attend Sports Camp. We select up to 38 children to travel with Miss Curtis to Totara Springs for this event. 


Parent/Teacher Contact

You are welcome to contact us through email or phone message. If you would like a face to face meeting please email or phone the school office and leave a message so we can arrange a meeting time.


Important Dates for Term 1



Ngā mihi

Yr 7 & 8 Teaching Team