Riverview School - 2025 - Term 1, Week 1
Around our Kura
SWIMMING AT LUNCH
Last year, our tamariki asked for lunchtime swimming. As we are all about making connections and creating a culture of inclusion, we started this yesterday. Here are some of the kids enjoying a dip at lunch. Thanks, Ms Fish and Mrs Hodgson, for taking this. We will have swimming at lunch four times per week (Monday - Thursday) for Years 3 - 6 tamariki.
Swimming
Room 7 - Monarch Butterfly
Room 7 has a swan plant in the class, which has three (now two, as one is a chrysalis) caterpillars. The children named them Leaf, Dump Truck, and Rosie. Mr Kelly shared a taonga/treasure of his. This painting was gifted to him and tells us that our tamariki/children are like butterflies. They come into Riverview School as the little egg, like the caterpillar; they grow and learn. They leave in year 6 as the beautiful HEARTWISE Monarch Butterfly. Mr Kelly shared that a fantastic artist parent (Sarah Nicholson) of his previous Kura developed this painting along with a huge mural to represent the tamariki of the Kura.
Room 7 Monarch
ROOM 10 Maths
We had another lovely day in Room 10. The children made Maths Robots using shapes. Here are a few of them.
An enormous thank you to the parents who came in to help out with the books and stationery. It is very much appreciated!
Room 13 Te Reo with Mrs Cooper
Each week, Mrs Cooper takes Te Reo classes. Our staff also participate in this learning journey.
Te Reo Lessons
Tumuaki Talk
Greetings to all parents, whānau, students, and staff,
Welcome back to the year and the adventures that are ahead. In this newsletter, we have some reminders of processes, reflection on the week, and looking forward.
At the start of the week, we welcomed new tamariki to our kura with a Mihi Whakatau.
We welcome:
Room 1: Piper Colebrook, Coby Connelly, Frankie Lawson, Luke Perrin, Ashleen Singh, Koa Winkler, Pearson Abercrombie
Room 2: Wilder Kriz, Charlotte Marshall, Isaac Stratford, Ahi Teu
Room 3: Harper Hutcheson, Ayeman Islam
Room 4: Roman Burgess
Room 6: Meilah Dryden
Room 7: Luna Lavakeiaho
Room 9: Cali Lavakeiaho
Room 10: Georgia Snedden
Room 11: Olivia Moffat, Lyla-Rose Burgess
Room 12: Jua van Manen
Room 13: Carter Wiki
Room 15: Pippa Bailey
Room 18: Duco van Manen
Our Kura:
Last year, we saw fresh beginnings and exciting possibilities. So far in 2025, our dedicated team has been committed to providing an enriching and nurturing environment that fosters excellence, personal growth, and well-being for all tamariki. We will continue cultivating a culture of innovation and curiosity, empowering our students to explore their potential and reach new heights. Our revised Connections, Culture, and Curriculum goals aim to evolve all areas of our kura and tamariki and shape the future of Riverview School.
We have gathered student / akonga voices at the end of 2024 to help guide us into developing areas of the school. Ideas included events, sports, learning, and the environment. Last week, as a team, we met with our Enviro-Schools kaitiaki, Zoe Jefferies. During the day, we looked at Enviro concepts and aimed to develop a 'Vision Map' of the school environment by the end of the term. This will give us a visual map of our goals for the climate of our Kura. We will contact parents/whānau for input in the coming weeks.
Waitangi Day:
I hope everyone enjoys Waitangi Day. We look forward to hearing from those who visited. Although Thursday is a public holiday, we request that whānau not take Friday off and have a long weekend, as everyday absence can impact our children's learning. I encourage whānau to attend Waitangi if possible, as this could provide a rich learning environment for our tamariki and whānau.
The Mullet Matters
We proudly support Kade, a Year 3 student from Room 8. Inspired by our legendary mullet grower and all-around awesome kid, Ted (Y6 2024), Kade has entered the "Mullet Matters" competition to raise funds for Mental Health awareness. Ka pai, Kade!!
Please follow Kade at https://themulletmatters.co.nz/taryn-rench and consider contributing to this fantastic cause.
Kade, this is genuinely HEARTWISE, and we are very proud of you.
Ngā mihi
Eamonn
To further develop our HEARTWISE School, we focus on our Connections / Culture / Curriculum for success in learning
This supports our vision of Growing - Discovering - Learning for Life
Above: Kade - our 2025 Mullet Matters entrant. Ka Pai!
General Information and Reminders:
Cellphones and Smartwatches:
The school policy is that cell phones are not allowed at school for educational purposes and should be left at home. If a child needs to bring one, they must bring it to the office before school starts and pick it up at the end of classes.
The same requirement applies to any “smart watches” with phone or recording capability. The development of this technology is very impressive, but should such expensive devices come to school, they may be misused or damaged, lost, or stolen; we strongly recommend that anything that expensive should not be at school.
Parent-Teacher Association:
We have a dedicated whānau who meet monthly to discuss, plan, and organise various fundraising activities and support our Kura. If you are interested in participating, the next meeting is on Tuesday, February 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the staffroom.
Attendance:
Attendance is important for more than just learning. Did you know that reduced attendance has shown to:
- increase schoolwork-related / social anxiety,
- impact social and emotional matters such as friendships and can decrease a child’s sense of belonging and well-being.
At Riverview School, we aim to build each child's self-confidence and support their learning, social, and emotional needs, enabling them to be the best they can be. Regular attendance helps us achieve and maintain positive outcomes for learners.
Arrival Times:
We ask that children not be dropped off at school before 8:00 a.m. This is a health and safety matter, and staff are busy preparing for the day and may be unable to supervise your child.
Here are some quick notes for you to know about:
- Newsletters: They come home on Thursdays every odd week. We prefer to send them by email, but if you need a paper copy, please let the office know.
- The swimming pool: Each class has several lessons a week, and children will need togs, towels, and a swimming cap.
- This Thursday (February 6) is a public holiday (Waitangi Day). There is no school.
- Riverview School sunhats: These are required in Term 1 and 4 and can be purchased from the office.
- Drinks for children: We are a water-only school, so please do not send other drinks. Our water fountains all have filtered water. We recommend that children have a named water bottle and refill it from a fountain if needed.
Appointments with staff:
If you would like to meet with a staff member, please take the time to contact the school to make an appointment. Please don't show up and expect to see someone, as this may cause frustration or disappointment for you if they are unavailable. Please make an appointment if you require to see the Principal, Deputy Principal or Assistant Principal. On arrival, please wait at the front desk; someone will find them for you. Please do not walk directly to their offices.
Assembly: These are generally held bi-weekly. One week senior school (Rooms 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18) and the other a junior school assembly (Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10). We will inform you the roster for these. If you come to the assembly, please do not park in the 'Roundabout' / Pickup bay. Often, parents run late, causing congestion, frustration, and dangerous situations.
Term One - Concept and Focus
Core Learning Concept:
Culture and Belonging
Enviro Focus:
Me in my Environment: Zero Waste, Vision Mapping
Māori Concept:
Ukaipō / Manaakitanga: Belonging and connection to place/extending aroha / helping
Events: (Please see the calendar for more dates and events).
(note: some dates may change - please keep an eye on the calendar)
2025 - Riverview School - 3 Cs
This year, we have reviewed our Strategic Plan. We decided to look at the overarching goals more holistically, one that captures the essence of who we are, ties in HEARTWISE, learning and working together towards the success of our tamariki and the school. Our core goals for 2025 - 2027 are:
Connections (for success in Learning): Mahi Tahi—Working Together
At Riverview School, we aim to develop effective communication and community engagement. Positive home-school relationships will enable all parents and whānau to actively support learning.
Culture (for success in Learning):
We aim to develop clear expectations and programmes to support all children based on our HEARTWISE Values.
The school culture around Te Ao Māori and Hauora will be reinforced and linked with the HEARTWISE Values.
At Riverview School, Tikanga, Te Reo & Te Āo Māori will be valued and interwoven in the bi-cultural / multi-cultural, inclusive life of the school.
Curriculum (for success in Learning): Akoranga - Learning
Our aim is that each Riverview Learner will progress, accelerate and achieve to their highest possible educational, social and emotional potential through the use of reliable achievement data, targeted planning and quality teaching and learning.
These are specifically in this order, as we believe that without a foundation of a strong connection with whānau/families, our hapu, the wider community and other stakeholders, we cannot successfully support children to succeed. It then flows to the importance of developing and maintaining the school's culture, based on the HEARTWISE Values, and each child's identity as a New Zealander, intricately linked with the bicultural/multicultural society we have.
Finally, with those foundations, we are able to develop a school curriculum that benefits all tamariki.
We have also reviewed the data from our assessments in 2024 and have 'Target Learners' whom we will carefully monitor, give additional support to, and report on the 'actual' impact our teaching and learning has had on them. We will also review information carefully and regularly to assess the 'actual' difference our teaching and learning is having on the tamariki.
We have released Miss Katrina Cooper to undertake targeted intervention in Better Start to Literacy (BSLA) to accelerate the learning of tamariki who need further support.
Each teacher will send home an A4 piece of paper as homework for our parents on Friday. This is to gather as much information about our children as possible from you. We will be requesting that parents share information such as:
- What is something really special about your child?
- What is something they are amazing at?
- What is something we may not know that could better support them?
- What challenges may they face?
Attendance
Throughout 2024, we regularly communicated the importance of regular attendance and the impact it has on learning. Every hour and every day of school counts. Attendance has a strong impact on connection, engagement, learning and, consequently, achievement. This year, we have a goal of having an overall attendance of 90% or more and at least 75% regular attendance for the whole school. (This is regularly attending school/days in a row).
We will again contact whānau/families whose children's attendance is low, whether due to illness, holidays, or unjustified absences.
Parents planning on taking children on holiday during term time must notify the Principal via this email: admin@riverview.school.nz
Waitangi Day
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS at WAITANGI.
Waitangi Day is an important day for New Zealand. It is a day to come together and honour the traditions, pain, and mahi endured by all past and current people to make NZ a better place. We must focus on celebrating and supporting Te Tiriti o Waitangi to benefit all tamariki. We must also take these lessons beyond one day, and continue these in the mahi we do daily.
"Ko ngā pae tawhiti whaia kia tata, ko ngā pae tata, whakamaua kia tina” - The potential for tomorrow depends on what we do today. This reminds her that even the smallest of tasks contribute to the bigger picture.
If you are heading to Waitangi, look at the programme above. It will help you understand what amazing things are happening.
Please also watch the video below, which provides information about the day, including areas to travel and park.
Policies and Procedures
The school works with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies, which have been well-researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and the school supplies specific information such as our Strategic Plan, and procedures for behaviour management, reporting to parents, etc.
SchoolDocs updates modifies or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our Board of Trustees can view changes/additions and comment on them before implementation. We will advise you when policies are up for review and how you can participate.
We invite you to visit the site at https://riverview.schooldocs.co.nz (note that there is no "www."). Our username is "Riverview," and our password "heartwise".
The review topic this term for parents and caregivers is:
- Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy (esp board)
- Safety Management System (esp board)
- Risk Management (esp board)
- Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation
- Healthcare (esp board)
- Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness
Please follow these instructions:
- Visit the website https://riverview.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- Enter the username (riverview) and password (heartwise).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
RIVERVIEW SCHOOL OSCAR ASSISTANT
Riverview School OSCAR is a well-established and successful provider of care for primary school children both after school and during the school holidays. We have a part-time position for an OSCAR Assistant beginning February 2025 onwards. Under Ministry of Social Development standards the minimum age for this position is 21. During term time the hours are two afternoons a week (3.00pm to 5.30pm). During the school holidays the hours are 9.00am to 4.00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. These are our trip days when a second adult is needed to provide extra supervision. The position also includes providing full-time cover for annual holiday leave of the Programme Manager. There could be some room for negotiation regarding the number of hours for the right candidate.
We are seeking a mature, energetic, reliable, resourceful person to join our small team, with good communication skills, who can relate well to children. As a more senior member of the team, being able to direct other members of staff and deal with parents are required skills. Experience working with children, and working in a team are an advantage. Recent first aid training would be a bonus. All OSCAR staff are subject to a Police VET and reference checks are made.
Please email a CV and cover letter, including names of two referees to the Programme Manager Shelley Robinson at oscar@riverview.school.nz. Please feel free to contact the Programme Manger with any questions you may have about the position.
COMMUNITY CORNER - EVENTS and NEWS
NETBALL 2025
Welcome Back to Our Amazing Volunteers!
As the Kerikeri Netball Centre competition kicks into gear, we’re excited to welcome back all our incredible coaches and umpires! To start the season strong, we’re hosting a series of workshops designed to support and prepare you for the year ahead.
We also want to hear from you! Tell us about your goals for 2025 and how we can support you in achieving them. Please make sure to register for the workshops so we can gather this information in advance and tailor our support accordingly.
Welcome Back to Coaching Workshop : 11:30am - 2:30pm 15th February 2025
Welcome Back to Umpiring Workshop : 6:00pm - 8:00pm 27th February 2025
Click on the links below for more details-
Looking forward to another great season with you all.
Kerikeri Netball Centre Exec Team
Ballet
Riding for Disabled
