We recently sent a survey and asked for feedback on our health curriculum. Thank you to those who took the time to fill this in. Here's an overview of the feedback we recieved:

The average satisfaction score with our current health curriculum is 4.62 out of 5. Overall there is a high level of satisfaction with our current health curriculum and wellbeing initiatives

Common themes around what is working well included:

• The overall care provided by teachers
• Efforts in maintaining and improving student wellbeing
• Friendship and relationship building
• Clear behavioural expectations
• Positive reinforcement and reward systems

Common themes around areas of improvement included:

• More education and understanding around gender diversity
• Including further strategies to support students to stand up for themselves
• Having Harold and the Life Education Trust visit 

We appreciate all the feedback received and will use these insights to continue improving our health curriculum and wellbeing initiatives for our tamariki. We are pleased to let you all know that Harold the Giraffe and the Life Education truck is scheduled to make a visit to school at the end of this term. 

Lastly, congratulations to Amisa Patel - winner of the Warehouse Stationery Vouchers. We will send these home to you. If you haven't given feedback and wish to, please click the following link.

There are a few important upcoming dates to make sure you have locked into your calendar:

• Wednesday September 11th and Thursday 12th - Production (further details in this newsletter)
• Tuesday 17th September - Senior Cross Country at Hawera Showgrounds (postponement Friday 20th)
• Tuesday 24th September - Junior Cross Country held at school
• Friday 27th September - Last day for Term 3
• Monday 14th October - First day of Term 4
• Friday 18th October - Pet Day / Grandparents and kaumatua day

For many whanau and tamariki this will be their first production experience down at the theatre. I have tried to include all the info you will need, but if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher. 

Tickets

• Tickets are available to pick up from the office - please look after them, it is a good idea to take a photo of your tickets in case you misplace them. 
• Tickets need to be paid for before they can be collected. Payment can be made by cash, eftpos or online payment to the Tawhiti School BOT account.
• Tickets are for allocated seat numbers. Please be patient and kind to the people who are helping with seating, and please sit in your numbered seats as indicated on your tickets to avoid confusion or delays.
• We still have some tickets available for the 1pm shows - please call in to the office if you would like more tickets.
• Doors will open at 12:30 for matinee and 5:45 for night shows. 

How the week works...

• On Monday 9th of September and Tuesday 10th, children will be walking to and from the Memorial Theatre to practise. Teachers who require support walking their children to and from the theatre will send a notice out this week. 
• On Wednesday and Thursday, we will walk down to the theatre for matinee shows, leaving school at 11. In the case of bad weather on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday we will organise buses. 
• Children need to be collected from the theatre on Wednesday and Thursday after our day shows - not from school. Bus children will be collected from the theatre. A note will come home this week so you can let us know whether you will be collecting your child, whether they will walk home from the theatre or whether they will be on the bus. If you are collecting your child, you will need to come in and sign them out. We will require the form returned if you wish for your child to walk home, no child will be allowed to leave without your form stating they are walking. 
• A lot of practise has gone into our show and all 320 children are important. No matter how big or small their role is, it all contributes to the overall show. He waka eke noa! Therefore, it is important that children attend all shows (unless sick).  
• We understand that show week can be really tiring, so if children need a sleep in that is more than ok. They are welcome to arrive to school anytime between 8:30 and 11am. 
• There is no subway on Wednesday. Children will need to bring their own kai (food) all week. Our regular school rules around food apply during production time (including the night shows). Children will require substantial lunches during production week and may like to bring a snack to the night show but no lollies or fizzy drinks please. 

Our night shows... 

• All children are required to be at the theatre by 5pm to get ready for the night shows. No children are to be dropped off at the theatre before this time as there will be no-one there to supervise them. 
• When dropping off children please ensure they go directly to their teacher to sign in and let them know they are there. Likewise, when picking up children, make contact with their teacher to sign them out. This is essential as teachers will be taking rolls and need to know exactly which children are at the theatre at any given time. 
• We estimate that the show will be an hour to 1.5 hours so please come to pick your child up at 7:30pm.   

Dressing rooms

• Theatre dressing room closest to stage - Main characters 
• Middle dressing room - Kauri 
• First dressing room (just down the stairs) - Puriri
• Hall Lounge - Pohutukawa and Rewarewa
• Hall - All other classes

Parent help…

• Production is a really busy time for all involved and wouldn’t be possible without a team of parent helpers to support us! I know that many of you will have already helped out with costumes - thank you! Teachers will send out a notice this week outlining the help they require during production week. If you are able to help out with any of this, please tick what you can do and return to school. We will send out a list of confirmed helpers, jobs, and times the week before production so you will know when you are needed and what for. 
• With props and the large number of children involved, space side of stage and back stage is at a premium. Therefore, no parents will be able to come down to the greenroom or backstage during the show. If you are staying with your child while the show is on, you will need to remain in their dressing area while they go to perform. 

Lastly but possibly most importantly - nits! ALL children need to be checked and if necessary treated before production. We don't want to spread crawlies and will not be able to do your child's hair for the stage if they have them. 

We have an exciting and busy couple of weeks ahead of us! Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any other questions regarding our production.