Ka kite ano

Farewell to the year sixes 

Wishing you all the very best with your future. I have loved getting to know you all over the years. 

Thank you to the class librarians and lunchtime librarians for all your help and support. If any of you need references for librarian jobs at your next school, please email me.

Thank you to the book club for sharing your reads with me and with each other. Thank you to the drawing club girls - we had many years of fun! I'll keep that going after you have left. Thanks to Max for initiating the Minecraft chat club. I may find someone to keep that going too. 

Thank you to the Roundabout Reporters for all your excellent work. 

Thank you to those of you who have shown me some of your creative writing (keep going - you have talent). 

Thank you to the avid readers who kept asking for new books to read - you kept me on my toes. 

Thanks to those who just loved being in the library at lunch - we became a community - a whanau. 

I will miss you all so much!

Arohanui, Kate

Please return your books

Kia ora tamariki,

There are still 191 books out. 109 children have books out. So even if you only have one or two books out, bringing them back makes a big difference. If you've already returned all your books, you're a legend!

My automated emails are not currently working and I am looking into that, so in the meantime, this is just a general notice to say, please bring your books back next week, as it is the last week of term.

Many thanks!

Click 'n collect library books

Thank you Woodlands Park School for your enthusiastic response to the Click 'n Collect library book system. I appreciate all your kindly worded emails, and the children's excitement around getting books to read!

So far I've issued books to 68 children, and a few of those have whizzed through their first books and ordered more. Just a reminder as to how it works:

1. Please go to the library website: https://nz.accessit.online/WDL00/#!dashboard and search for books you would like to order. 2 books per child (on top of whatever books they issued last term)

2. Check the website to see if it they are available.

3. Email your request to library@woodlandspark.school.nz

4. I will find your book, issue it, and get it ready for collection. If I can't find the book you requested, I will email you to offer alternatives.

5. Keep an eye out for an email about your collection time.

6. Collect your book from the front gate of school by phoning 8175140 when you arrive.

7. If you'd like to return your books when you pick up more books, that's great.

Here are some of the freshly covered new books, available now.

Welcome back to Term 4 online

Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week

Fakaalofa lahi atu! (Hello in Niuen) 

It's Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue – Niue Language Week - here is the Facebook page with videos of new words and phrases you can learn.

We're back to online learning. I have a few exciting resources to share with you, WPS whanau:

Fabulous book reviews by kids on vid

Storylines have grabbed the ten-book shortlist of “Notable” Junior Fiction (age 7-13 years) and they want you to listen to the reviews and pick the best sounding read.

You can find all the reviews right here!

Once you've watched them, come back here and vote for your favourite book review. Every voter goes in the draw to win a full set of the top 10 books for your school library!

Here's more info on each of the books here

Check out children reviewing books on video. Fab!

BookTrust HomeTime authors read, how-to-draw & more

I've discovered HomeTime on the BookTrust website. There are wonderful videos where authors read aloud, how-to-draw videos, HomeTime for 0-5s for your kindie siblings, and so much more. Check it out here!

NZ Seabird Trust's posters on Seabirds under Threat - by NZ illustrator Giselle Clarkson

Award winning NZ illustrator, Giselle Clarkson and Stephanie Tibble worked with the NZ Seabird Trust to create 8 posters in a series, that follow their 2019 report "Threats to Seabirds in Northern Aotearoa New Zealand".

They said "These posters are accessible for tamariki, and raise awareness of the many threats to our manu moana!" Check them out here.

Book reviews

Woodlands Park School children, if you would like me to post your book reviews, please email them to me. library@woodlandspark.school.nz

Lastly - I made a signpost in the library, to some of the wonderful places you can go when you read.

Here it is. Can you think of a few more?

Last day of term reflections

To the Woodlands Park School tamariki

Thank you for engaging with your teachers and with me during the lockdown. On this last day of term, I want to briefly reflect on that.

What I have learnt, over the two years of intermittent lockdowns is that it is preferable to Zoom with children and classes than to record readings. In 2020 I recorded an entire chapter book in chapters and posted it to Seesaw during the first lockdown. There was some engagement, but the reach was limited. 

In the second lockdown, I organised a few Zoom Storytimes where anyone from school could join. One of them turned to custard when the tsunami warning siren went off in the middle of it!

This time, I offered to pop into class Zoom meetings to read picture books to classes. This has been my favourite way of interacting by far, and I hope to be able to do that again if we hit another lockdown, down the line. 

I have loved seeing all of you, and your teachers—and reading to you in your class groups. I visited 11 classes; some of them twice, and read a number of stories. I got to hear your thoughts and opinions on the stories, and to see your pets/siblings/favourite toys/funky Zoom glasses/backgrounds, etc.

These are some of the books I read:

I also pulled out my daughter's Hairy Maclary & Friends—Scotland, please note, Lynley Dodd is a kiwi author :)—and read a few favourites.

We met as a Book Club - late in the lockdown, and wished we'd done it sooner. There was a great turnout, and I think we all enjoyed hearing about what one another is reading. I was so impressed to hear your summaries and thoughts on your current reads. And it was heartwarming just to see you all again.

I tried to update the blog almost daily, with resources for you, and I hope you found that helpful. Here is one of my working companions:

I also really enjoyed sharing your pics of 'reading in interesting places', and I look forward to doing the lucky draw next term. Thank you for engaging in this way - sharing our collective LOVE of BOOKS and READING! 

Remember, if you've run out of books at home, you can read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks on the Libby app if you have a library card.

I hope you have a happy and safe holiday, and I'm looking forward to seeing you in person.

Mental health awareness week

Kia Ora,

It is mental health awareness week. MĀ TE KŌRERO, KA ORA - A little chat goes a long way. Through conversation comes wellbeing. Whether you need to talk to someone - or you can think of someone who would appreciate a call - do pick up the phone and have a chat. 

Last year we ran an inquiry around Hauora and Te Whare Tapa Wha. Here is a reflection on Te Whare Tapa Wha:

Taha hinengaro is your emotional and mental wellbeing. I hope you are being kind to yourselves.

Tahi whanau is your social wellbeing. Have you phoned your grandparent/s or an elderly relative who is home alone today? Just a quick cheery "hi, how are ya?". Getting on with whanau in a shared bubble can be challenging - but family can also be a great source of love and company.

Tahi tinana is your physical wellbeing. I bet you're better at exercising than I am! A daily walk is lovely though. And I've been doing some online Pilates and hopping on the exercise bike now and then :)

Taha wairua is your spiritual wellbeing, "the values and beliefs that determine the way people live, the search for meaning and purpose in life, and personal identity and self-awareness (For some individuals and communities, spiritual wellbeing is linked to a particular religion; for others, it is not.)" 

Take care, whanau.

Ka kite ano

Kate

Toitoi - opportunities for young writers and illustrators!

Kia Ora Woodlands Park School,

We subscribe to Toitoi, a quarterly publication that publishes Kiwi tamariki's writing and art. I received an email from them today with heaps of exciting things with you.

Collaboration with the School Journal

"We are delighted to announce a collaboration with the School Journal! This is an amazing chance for Toitoi writers to have a piece of work published in the world’s longest-running serial publication for children, alongside established and celebrated writers from Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are now inviting submissions on the theme of ‘Tūpuna’, to be published in one of the three May 2022 School Journals:‍

- Level 2 (students in years 3-4)

- Level 3 (students in years 5-6)

- Level 4 (students in years 7-8)

Email your writing to schooljournalsubmit@toitoi.nz by October 29, 2021 and include your name, age, school and a parent or teacher's name and contact details. Please note your year level in the subject line of your email. We can't wait to hear from you."

Submission guidelines

WPS tamariki - I challenge you to give it a go! (A ‘Tūpuna’ is a grandparent or ancestor.)

Another Writing Opportunity

"The Michael King Writers Centre have announced an exciting new opportunity for young writers (aged 16-21) to showcase their talent with three writing awards that offer cash prizes and a writing mentorship with a Penguin Random House New Zealand author for the overall winner! 

Enter online here by October 15

Digital Archives

Toitoi have also released digital archives. To read other children's work, and view their art, etc - click on these icons below:

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Ka kite anō

Kate