Term 4 Week 9: Friday 13 December 2024
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Important Dates 2024
Monday 16 December – Final Assembly, 11:15 am followed by a family picnic on the field. End of Year reports will be posted on Hero.
Tuesday 17 December – Term 4 ends – all students picked up at 12:30 pm.
2025 class placement and stationery lists will be posted on Hero.
2025
Monday 3 February – Meet the Teacher Conferences
Tuesday 4 February – Start of Term 1 – regular classes commence
Thursday 6 February – Waitangi Day, school closed
Friday 21 March – Family Fun Fest, 4:30 – 7:00 pm
Please refer to the Hero calendar on your app or click here to see future events at Sunnybrae.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Principals Address
End of Year Countdown: Final Assembly & Picnic, Last Day of School
Whānau Māori Hāngi
Year 6 Farewell and Prizegiving
Sports Update: Splash Polo, Basketball Success, Teacher vs Students
ESOL Graduates
BOT News
Meet the Teacher Conferences 2025
Crossing Monitor Needed
Donated Uniforms
Community Notices
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The PB4L focus for next week will be on:
Assemblies Lessons Recap
- Entering and exiting quietly
- Making a good choice about where we sit
- Sitting quietly
- Respecting the speaker
- Actively listening and participating
- Performing with enthusiasm
- Showing respect when receiving an award
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PRINCIPALS ADDRESS:
End of Year Review
As we come to the end of another fantastic school year, I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who have contributed to the success of our school community.
A special thank you to our incredible teachers, learning assistants, and support staff. Your dedication and passion have played a crucial role in the progress of our students, and I am truly privileged to lead such an exceptional team. Your hard work, creativity, and care have not gone unnoticed, and our students have benefited greatly from your commitment.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the outside agencies who continue to provide invaluable support to our school. Your partnership is vital to helping our students thrive.
To our wonderful parents and caregivers – thank you for your ongoing support. Whether through volunteering your time, offering kindness, or making donations, you help make our school a warm and welcoming community. We treasure each and every one of you as a valued member of our Sunnybrae Family.
As we bid farewell to our Year 6 graduates, I want to wish you all the best as you move on to Intermediate school. You have achieved so much here, and we are incredibly proud of you. Don’t forget to come back and visit us often!
The Year 5/6 teachers, led by Mrs Richardson, did a fantastic job with our Year 6 Farewell Celebration on Thursday, 12 December. It was a wonderful occasion, and we thank everyone who attended. The students’ Kapa Haka performance was exceptional, and the ukulele group added to the festive spirit with some of our favourite songs. A big thank you to Mr Vella for leading our cultural and musical groups on the night. It was truly special to see so many students dressed in traditional cultural attire, showcasing our diverse and vibrant school community.
We were also lucky to hear from two of our alumni, Abbey Mackay and Thomas Raybould, who are very strong high school students. Their words of wisdom were inspiring, and it was a real pleasure to have them back with us. A special thanks to Anil Nathoo, also one of our alumni, who presented an award on behalf of Kaipatiki Rotary. Anil’s connection to our school, both as a former student and now a supporter, makes his involvement even more meaningful.
I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the planning and development of our new playgrounds. We are excited to be moving through the selection process and will keep you all updated as we move closer to construction. This will be a fantastic addition to our school, and we look forward to seeing it come to life.
Our deepest thanks also go to the members of our Board of Trustees (BOT), the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and our Crossing Duty Helpers. Your contributions in countless ways help make our school a better place, and we are immensely grateful for your ongoing support.
As we wrap up the year, I would like to remind everyone about our Final Assembly on Monday. It will be a wonderful occasion, and we hope to see you there. After the assembly, we invite you all to join us for the Family Picnic on the School Field/Covered Turf. It will be a lovely way to celebrate the end of the year together.
During the holidays, the painters will be busy. The interior and exterior of the pool building, the Uniform Shop/Costume Building (inside and outside), and the exteriors of Rooms 8 – 12 and the interiors of Rooms 15 – 20 will be painted, giving our school a fresh new look for the year ahead.
Finally, I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. For those of you travelling, please stay safe, and for those staying closer to home, I hope you enjoy a well-deserved break filled with fun and relaxation. We look forward to welcoming you all back next year.
Ngā mihi nui,
Lorene Hurd, Principal
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END OF YEAR COUNTDOWN:
Monday 16 December
Final Assembly and Family Picnic – Please join us for our Whole School Final Assembly in the School Hall from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm.
This is followed by the Family Picnic from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm. After the assembly, parents/caregivers can meet up with their children at the classroom before enjoying lunch as a group. Parents/caregivers are to bring their own blankets and picnic lunch. The bell will ring at 1:30 pm, and all students are to return to class for a fun activity afternoon until 3:00 pm.
If you are attending the assembly and you have a large picnic basket, please leave this in the Music Room, located in the hallway off the rear of the Hall, as space in the Hall is limited. In the event of a wet day, the picnic will still go ahead as we have plenty of undercover spaces where you can enjoy your family picnic.
School reports will be sent to all parents/caregivers after 3:00 pm via the Hero app.
Tuesday 17 December
Last day of Term 4 is Tuesday 17 December, with an early finish at 12:30 pm.
In the morning, students will meet their 2024 teacher and spend time in the classroom with new classmates. All students must be collected from school at 12:30 pm. Bookings for YMCA Out of School Care can be made by clicking here. Any student not collected by 12:45 pm will be placed into YMCA care and costs oncharged to the parent/caregiver.
From 1:00 pm, your child’s 2025 Class Placement will be available to view on the Hero app along with 2025 stationery lists and a welcome message from the class teacher.
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Whānau Māori Hāngi
Whānau Māori celebrated a school year of huihui/gatherings and kōrero by laying a hāngi on Friday 29 November. The weather was ataahua/beautiful and we had the perfect spot on the Sunnybrae lower field. We gathered wood from our ngāhere/bush and whānau donated plenty of veges. While our Māori tamariki did the hard mahi/work of digging the holes, gathering wood and preparing the kai, the whole school participated in learning about the hāngi process by watching what was going on and learning about hāngi in classrooms. We are grateful for the knowledge, expertise and practical help that the de Silva whānau and Om from CraftLab NZ shared with us. A huge mihi also, to Owen Sinclair for donating firewood, to Gary and everyone else who helped on the day and to all the whānau Māori who were able to attend that evening.
Our term one Whānau Hui is in the calendar for Thursday 3rd April 2025 at 5:30 pm. We’d love all Māori whānau to join us for casual kai and kōrero. Your extended family and tamariki are very welcome too.
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Student recount:
I liked when Om first lit the fire because it was nice and shiny. Digging the hole was tough, hanging around in the hammocks was easy. I loved having mum and my sisters there and the hāngi food was delicious. By Cruz
During the day I was chosen to go to the kitchen and prepare some delicious food. I laid banana leaves on the baskets and made stuffing. Then we got called because Om was lighting the fire. We said karakia before he lit it to make sure we were lucky. The hammocks were so relaxing. At the end of the day my whānau came and we all ate the delicious food. I wanted to go for seconds but I wasn’t brave enough. By Talia
I liked spending time with people from my culture who I wouldn’t usually spend time with. I learned more about my Māori culture. By Noah M.
I liked doing lots of work and digging up the holes. I liked spending time with people I wouldn’t usually spend time with. The hammocks were very comfy. By CJ
It was definitely a good learning experience. I liked how we did some mahi first but then we got to hang out with the rest of the kids for the day. By Zoe
It was quite new to me – I’ve never been through that experience so I learned heaps. It was good having my whānau there so they could try it with me. By Alyana
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Year 6 Farewell & Prizegiving
On Thursday, 12 December, the Year 5/6 team celebrated and said farewell to our Year 6 Leavers and presented the Year 6 Achievement Cups. This was a special occasion for all, and the teachers are immensely proud of not only the award and nominee recipients but also the performances and presence of Year 5 students. Thank you to the whānau who joined us to celebrate our wonderful tamariki.
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Cup Winners 2024: Best All-Round Achievement – Conor Boekweit & Miu Sato, Outstanding Academic Achievement – Conor Boekweit, Elissa Wang & Laura Zhao, Sportsperson of the Year – Elliot Farquhar & Zoe Cameron, Outstanding Contribution to the Arts – Maxim Sharov & Carrie Shi, Outstanding Citizenship Skills – Conor Boekweit & Nhea Santhosh, Kapa Haka Skills – Noah Moata’ane & Zoe Cameron
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From left: Noah, Miu, Zoe, Laura, Elissa, Elliot, Maxim and Connor.
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STUDENT RECOUNTS:
The Remains of Room 16, 2024
When all that remains of the year is the tired teachers,
like a cat purring before sleep.
I still remember the banger baking,
The interesting inquiries,
The peaceful library.
When the last student has left,
I know that I could finally relax
– and still be glad I was in Room 16.
By Sebastian
When all that remains of the year is the dirty jumper on the floor,
like a puddle ready to be cleaned.
I still remember the burning sun on the fitness trail,
the loud laughter from children,
the busy students doing math sheets.
When the last chatter has finished,
I knew that everyone had gone home to get ready for the next year
– and still be glad I was in Room 16.
By Nathan
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ESOL:
Congratulations to the following students will graduate from the ESOL programme this week: Fernanda, Haeun, Joshua, Shukichi, Jeddah, Livia, Ashley, Luca, Eden, Megha, Dhanvi and Louis.
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BOT NEWS:
Update from the Sunnybrae Normal School Board of Trustees
During the school’s Teacher Only Day on 29 October, all staff were involved in a full day of professional development, including:
– Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories (new curriculum) planning
– Fundamentals of the Science of Learning which underpins the refreshed curriculum areas
– Reviewed the first draft of the new English curriculum
– Assessment for learning training
We wish all staff, whānau and our community a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful summer holiday break.
Catrina Scott, BoT Staff Representative and Room 14 Teacher/Kaiako
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SPORTS UPDATE:
Splash Polo
A huge congratulations to the Sunnybrae Sharks, who played their final game of Splash Polo (formerly Flippa Ball) for Term 4 on Sunday 8 December. They placed first in their grade. Well done team, it was a fabulous game to watch.
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From left: Phoebe, Kennedy, Talia, Madelyn, Indie, Joseph, Benjamin, Benson and Benjamin L. with Coach Sunny Ren.
Basketball Success
Congratulations to the Magic basketball team for placing second in the top grade for semester two basketball. Well done team, it was a fabulous game to watch!
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From left: Coach Paul Cameron, Ronal, Elliot, Noah P, Zoe, Ryuji, Deacon, Nikau, Noah M and Kyle.
Well done to the Stormers basketball team who placed third in their grade on Wednesday evening. Ka pai team.
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From left: Hank, Jackson, Woorim, Levi, Joseph, Ammon, Darren with Coach Mitchell McIntyre. Absent Ruihan and Chenyu.
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Teacher vs Student Sports
There has been an exciting buzz around lunchtime recently, with teachers showcasing their athletic prowess in friendly matches against the students. Last week featured a spirited game of netball, followed by an action-packed match of touch rugby on Tuesday. These events have not only brought out the competitive spirit but have also encouraged physical activity, strengthened relationships, and boosted morale. Such moments create lasting memories for both teachers and students, emphasising the importance of fun, teamwork, and community in education.
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MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2025:
Meet the Teacher Conferences
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Meet the Teacher sessions on Monday 3 February 2025. Students are encouraged to attend the conference with their parents/caregivers. The teachers will spend the whole day meeting with all of their parents/caregivers. The YMCA will provide a programme during the day if you need childcare outside of your Meet the Teacher booking. Bookings for YMCA Out of School Care can be made by clicking here.
Your involvement in these early conversations will help set the stage for a positive and productive year for your child. Together, we can create the best possible learning experience for every student. You will be notified in advance via the Hero app as to when conferences are open for booking.
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SAFETY AT SCHOOL:
Crossing Duty Monitor Needed
We are seeking a parent volunteer to assist with crossing duty on Wedesday afternoon from 3:00 pm to 3:10 pm. This would be effective from the start of Term 1, 2025. Your help would be greatly appreciated in ensuring the safety of our students as they leave school and need to cross Sunnybrae Road at the pedestrian lights. If you’re available and willing to assist, please contact the office on office@sunnybrae.school.nz
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Donated Uniforms
Any Year 6 students who no longer needs their Sunnybrae uniform can dontate to our Donated Uniform Room. Please drop off clean items to the School Office.
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Kind regards
Lorene Hurd, Principal
SUNNYBRAE NORMAL SCHOOL
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