Riverview School - Term 2, Week 9, 26 June 2025

Tumuaki Talk

Kia ora koutou, Greetings to all parents, whānau, students, and staff.

We are at the end of Term Two, which has flown by quickly. We wish all families/whānau a delightful break. During this time, the teachers are having a professional development and reflection day, examining mid-year data and reflecting on progress against factors such as attendance, gender, and ethnicity. We aim to use this time to reflect on our teaching and learning, ensuring that all children have the best possible opportunity. During this day, we will also continue our professional learning around Better Start to Literacy (BSLA) and iDeaL, focusing on the refreshed curriculum and the new Phases 1 (Years 1-3) and 2 (Years 4-6).

Thank you: Our Tamariki have been demonstrating the HEARTWISE Values and taking ownership of their behaviour when they make a choice that is not appropriate or acceptable. I must say well done and thank you for consistently showing our Values and owning your behaviour/actions. It is incredibly hard to do, even for adults. They are learning to Own it, Fix It, Learn from it and move on...Tu Meke Tamariki! Great role modelling for everyone!

2025 Events: So far, we have packed many learning and social events into the school year. Some of these include:

• Meet the staff BBQ.
• Staff iDeaL and BSLA Professional Development
• Kapa Haka.
• Think and Be Me Show.
• International Languages Week / Wear Your National Attire Day.
• Math-a-thon and Games night for whānau
• Maths Learning Support group.
• Literacy Learning Support groups. 
• Swimming Sports, Rippa Rugby, Girls Football. Cross Country.
• Road Safety Lessons and Keeping Ourselves Safe with Constable Rob.
• How Far Will Bo Go?
• New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Lessons and Show.
• Garden to table.
• Year 6 Camp and Year 5 EOTC Week.
• Project Island Song Enviro Group and lesson.
• Matariki Disco. 
• Parent-Teacher-Student Learning conferences.
• Ongoing Professional Learning for the teachers in Structured Literacy.

We are planning further events and hope to have the following later in the year. Below are some, but not all planned events/activities:

• Whānau quiz night (Term 3).
• Ice-skating (in the hall). (Term 4)
• NED Show.
• Peter and the Wolf Show.
• Science Fair.
• Speech competitions.
• Daffodil Day.
• Book Week.
• Cultural Festival. (Term 3)
• Athletics (Term 4).
• Year 6 Sailing Day
  
• School Hangi. (Term 4).
• End of Year Celebrations.

Professional Learning Day: During the holidays, teachers are meeting to continue their professional learning as described above. Many other schools/kura have been taking these during term time; however, we are committed to ensuring that we minimise disruption to learning and parents. 

Disco Fun: We had another fun disco last week for Matariki. The children all showed HEARTWISE Values and represented themselves well. It was awesome to see so many parents getting in and dancing this time. A lot of fun. Thanks to all those who organised and volunteered. Later in the year, we are hosting a mobile ice rink in the hall. As part of this, we will hold a skating disco, which promises to be a lot of fun. 

PTA Expression of Interest: Thank you to those parents who have emailed their expression of interest to join the PTA.  We will be organising a meeting early next term.

Holiday Fun and Learning: With the holidays upon us, it can be stressful having the kids home all day. Below are some ideas on ways to interact with the kids, engage in learning, and have some family fun. It is always essential to keep kids' minds active, so don't forget to continue reading, practising spelling, and reviewing basic facts, as well as some of the ideas below. Please send some pictures of the holiday fun, we might publish them in the newsletter next term. 

Enrolments for 2026: If you have a child or children who you intend to enrol in 2026, please let us know asap under the following categories:

• In Zone: If you are in the school zone and plan to enrol a child, please let us know as soon as possible. We will start to review classes mid-to-late next term. Please email admin@riverview.school.nz.
• Out-of-Zone: If you are currently out of zone and have a child at Riverview School, please let us know asap that you would like to enter the Ballot for 2026. Please email admin@riverview.school.nz. Please note that no out-of-zone enrolment is guaranteed until after the Board of Trustees Meeting in August.

Vision Board: Our tamariki have been gathering "Student Voice" and developing a 'Vision Board' for our kura. Some of the great ideas include:

Areas that work: The junior playground, the field, the Library, the nature path, the pool, the main playground.

Areas that need work: Have a front of the school entrance, the area behind Rooms 9 and 10, in front of Rooms 5 and 6, and a larger field.

Our children also shared that:

we want to have everyone who walks in our school to feel safe, happy, and welcomed.

'In our school we aim to have more natural green spaces that are well taken care of and provide calm places".

"We are proud to be HEARTWISE Kura, showing good values to everyone".

Note: We are currently engaging with people to address the concrete issues in front of Rooms 5 and 6, as well as converting the space between the Whare Hui and Rainbow Room into an outdoor learning space / sensory garden.

Holiday Fun and Learning at Home

Holiday Fun and Learning at home: 

1. Go home, stay home camping: Camp in your lounge with fairy lights, microwave s'mores and card games, and finish off with a movie.

2. Throw a breakfast pancake party: This could be post camp-out... and depending on the age and capability of your kids, get them helping with the pancake prep.

3. Math Games: Try some of the games you learnt this term with your children.

4. Nerf challenge: Set up a Nerf challenge where certain targets have to be hit in a certain order and give kids a tally card to keep score of points.

5. Pizza party: Kids can have a go at making their own dough from scratch and decorating their own pizzas with various toppings. (Bonus – dinner is now sorted!)

6. Baking: Kids love making cupcakes and decorating cookies, and the baking process is a great real-life learning experience, too. Level up – try an extra challenging recipe you don’t usually have time for. We’ve never made a gingerbread house, so we're going to give it a go these holidays.

7. Gardening: Gardening is such soul food. Whether its planting vegetable seedlings or tidying up your current garden, get the kids involved and chat about what you are doing so they learn how to care for the earth... perfect timing with Matariki too.

8. Press pause for some mindfulness: Practise mindfulness or yoga together. You can use an app or YouTube clip, or sit down together with some mindfulness colouring in.

9. Listen to stories: Storytime From Space is a unique experience: NASA astronauts read stories to kids while floating around in space! We also love the Kiwi podcast Story Space, as well as Story Pirates. A great way to entertain kids without watching a screen.

10. Make greeting cards: Simple watercolour paints on white card can result in some charming effects.

11. Build a fort: You're never too old for the classic blanket hut! Build a fort in the lounge and have a movie night inside it.

12. Study science: Sure, why not! The Smithsonian Science Education Centre and Mystery Science let kids discover loads of science-based topics, and offer free online games and resources which are loads of fun.

13. Sewing: Kids can be really keen to sew stuff. Starting basic, and create things as simple as little pillowcases or handbags to carry around the house. And if sewing's a stretch, set them a wearable arts challenge (and after dinner fashion show), conjuring a garment from recycled and waste materials they find at home. Messy, but magic!

14. Lego Masters: Challenge your kids to a masterful Lego project and give them an hour to submit their entries (prizes optional – it's a brave parent who chooses one child's creation over another!) 

15. Some good links for learning:

• Scratchpad Coding for Kids (includes coding, robotics, electronics, 3D design and printing)

• Bricks4Kids (a LEGO STEAM holiday programme)

• Little Scientists offer some amazing school holiday science-based programmes.

Daffodil Day - Friday 29 August

Our student council selected 4 social actions to support this year.  In Term 3 we will be supporting and fundraising for the NZ Cancer Society.  We have set up a page for donations and will be asking you all to help to raise our target of $1000.  There will be more information about the planned events as we get closer to Daffodil Day, Friday 29 August.

Below is the link to our page, if you want to get in early and donate, check it out!  We will also be accepting cash donations at school.

https://daffodilday.org.nz/riverview-school-kerikeri

Inter-School Cross Country Results

Under 5 girls: 3rd Briar Cumming

5-year-old girls: 2nd Karlee Arama-Manuel, 3rd Piper Colebrook

6-year-old girls: 1st Heidi Wright

6-year-old boys: 2nd Blake McDowell

8-year-old girls: 3rd Millie Wyatt, 7th Hazel Birt, 8th Cora Michalick, 10th Alyssa Robertson, 11th Emery Keen

8-year-old boys: 3rd Scott Geraghty, 5th Reid Bickers, 6th William Moore, 8th Hugo Ducker, 11th Charlie Connolly 

9-year-old girls: 2nd Avalon Arama, 7th Carter Wiki, 10th Julieta Marin-Salinas, 11th Elizabeth Jago

9-year-old boys: 2nd Karson McIsaac, 4th Miles Skellon, 5th Zachary Gartland,  6th Jacob Webb, 11th Onyx Best 

10-year-old girls: 7th Asha Watson, 10th Faja Pekel, 14th Ava Wensor, 15th Marie Dodd Yakas, 19th Olivia MacDonald

10-year-old boys: 3rd Joshua McDowell, 6th Duco van Manen, 7th Wyatt Howard, 8th Clevedon Williams, 10th Joshua Ellis

Matariki Disco

Standouts of the Week

Congratulations to the following students, who their teacher has nominated to receive a Stand Out of the Week certificate over the past two weeks. 

Ataahua Rihari-Taiapo, Sam Deal, Zachary Butner-Carlow, James Blanshard, Thorne Backhouse-Smith, Atlas Forster, Lyla-Rose Burgess, Lila Moselen, Zoe Reid, Kael Hamilton.

Term Three - Overview

Assembly - Friday's 2.00pm in the hall

NED's Resiliency Ride - Friday 25 July

http://thenedshow.com/ned_program.html

NED's Resiliency Ride, is a character education program that centres around three important messages that have lifelong relevance: Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best. During the assembly, students will learn about the importance of these three life skills while also enjoying storytelling, magic, humor and yo-yo tricks.  NED will be at Riverview on Friday 25 July.

We will be selling yo-yos and NED products at school the following week, Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August at 8.15am outside the front office.  Cash or EFTPOS will be accepted.

OSCAR Holiday Programme

The OSCAR winter holiday programme is out, so book early to guarantee your child’ s place.  There are lots of arty-crafty activities, trips (including Opito Bay and Inline Skating), baking for yummy afternoon teas, and much more.  The programme is available from the school office, the hall, and on the school website.

Lunches - available every Thursday

Community Notices