Week 1, Term 1 2025
Welcome Back to 2025
A warm welcome back to everyone, especially our new families who have joined us. We have begun the year with 258 children and expect to add a second New Entrant class within the first half of the year.
Each fortnight a newsletter will be emailed out as well as reminders and updates are sent by text. Please make sure you let the office know of any change to your contact details so we can keep you connected. Teachers will also set families up with a Seesaw account login so you can catch up with what your child is doing in the classroom.
Attendance at School
Welcome back to the term. This is a reminder about the importance of school attendance. Last year we had 65.69% or 197 children out of 300 attend more than 90% of the year. This is below the new Board target of 85%.
From the beginning of this year the Ministry of Education are automatically uploading school attendance data daily. This means we must have our data correct, including the reasons as to why your child is absent.
We are reminding parents and families that consistent attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and overall development. Missing classes can disrupt your child's learning pace and understanding of important concepts.
School provides a valuable environment for children to interact with peers, develop friendships, and learn essential social skills. Regular attendance allows them to build positive relationships. Consistent school attendance helps your child establish a routine, develop time management skills, and learn the importance of responsibility.
It does not take long for irregular attendance to add up. Last term 71 children missed 5-10 days of school. After six years of schooling that equals missing an entire school term of learning and access to the many opportunities school offers.
What To Do If Your Child Is Absent:
- Notify the school office - 308 4555 or office@tinwald.school.nz
- Inform the office as to the reason why your child is absent
Please note, while it is convenient to message a teacher via Seesaw, busyness in the classroom may mean that message does not get to the office for awhile. This can result in you being sent a text reminder.
House Colours Mufti Day
This Friday our school will come together for House Time. We celebrate the first time we do this at the beginning of the year with a House Colour Mufti Day. Children wear clothing of their House Colour. Children are allowed to wear face paint and hair chalk as well.
PTA Next Meeting
The PTA will meet on Monday 24th February in the Staffroom. The PTA play an important part in supporting activities for all of the children in the school. They welcome new members to join them at any of their meetings. They would also like to thank the support they have received during last year from parents and families of the school.
Next Board of Trustees Meeting
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday 17 February in the Principal's Office. Any items for the agenda must be emailed to the presiding member - Chris Hill, by the Friday before the meeting. He can be contacted on TinwaldschoolBOTPM@hotmail.com
This year is an election year for our board. If you are interested in being part of the board, or know of someone who is, please contact our Chris about what the role entails.
Duathlon - 5 March
Parents and families are invited to our Duathlon on Wednesday 5th of March. The postponement will be on Friday 7th of March. Our Year 0-2 children will start at 10am, there will be a whole school lunch, then our Year 3-4 children will race at 12.30ppm followed by the Year 5-6 children at 1.30pm. Parents and families can join us for lunch.
Concerns
The following flowchart outlines the procedures for raising concerns at school. In the first instance it is best to see your class teacher. Please be aware that teachers are very busy between 8.30-9am and expecting to have an in-depth conversation during this time may leave you disappointed. The best option is to book a time when our teachers can give you their full attention.
