Week 6, Term 3

ATTENDANCE - MINISTRY OF EDUCATION STEPPED ATTENDANCE RESPONSE (STAR)
All New Zealand state schools are required to implement a Stepped Attendance Response Strategy (STAR). It is a Ministry of Education aim that by 2030 80% of students attend school 90% of the time.

This increased emphasis on attendance is due to research undertaken by the Education Evaluation Centre that highlighted a concerning decline of attendance by students in Aotearoa New Zealand schools. The point that stands out most strongly is the direct link between time spent at school and student achievement gained. Put simply - the more you are at school the better you do, the less you are at school the worse you do.

The impact of attendance is graphically illustrated with the below chart:

We want your child to thrive at Waitohu School. Them being at school gives us the best chance of enabling this to happen. If you ever have concerns we encourage you to speak with your child’s teacher, our deputy principal Shelly Matheson or our principal Maine Curtis. We want to work together to remove any barriers you feel are in the way of your child being at Waitohu.

Shelly Matheson, our deputy principal, is the person who keeps a close eye on how well students are attending school. As outlined below Shelly makes contact with whānau to check in and offer support. The Ministry of Education has set thresholds for contacting whānau. While these are outlined below, we want you to contact us and we want to contact you as soon as possible if you have any concerns about having your child at Waitohu.

Ministry of Education Attendance Thresholds:

Threshold One - Worrying - Up to 10 days absence in a school term:

First formal communication from deputy principal
- Attendance information outlined
- Barriers to attendance discussed
- Need for support offered

Threshold Two - Concerning - Up to 15 days absence in a school term:

Next formal communication from deputy principal
- Attendance information outlined
- Barriers to attendance discussed
- Need for support offered

Threshold Three - Serious Concern - More than 15 days absence in a school term:

Next formal communication from deputy principal
- Attendance information outlined
- Barriers to attendance discussed
- Need for support offered
- Attendance Plan developed
- Involvement of Ministry Attendance Officer outlined

We all know that students get sick, significant whānau moments such as tāngī are going to happen and students will be away from school. These are not our concern. We are not going to be ‘attendance police’. As we have always done, and will continue to do, we want to be in support of your whānau, ensuring your child is at school. How well they achieve is greatly influenced by this.
When your child is away from school, as always we ask that you inform us before the start of the school day, outlining the reason for their absence. We are required to record the reason for absence. Starting next week:
- You will receive a text from school if we have not been informed your child is going to be absent or we do not know the reason for your child's absence. We ask that each day, before 9.00am, you phone 364 8272, text 027 545 0530 or email absences@waitohu.school.nz to inform us that your child is away and the reason for their absence.
- To provide you with absolute clarity, we will email you updates of your child’s attendance, twice a term (mid and end of term). This Monday, you will receive the first of these updates. Celebrating great attendance with your child or noting improvement is needed, is the aim of these emails. If improvement is needed, we are here to support.

Our apologies for the error yesterday in emailing the term attendance summaries for your child. We did not intend for you to receive an attendance summary without the above explanation planned for today's newsletter.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact either Shelly Matheson or Maine Curtis.

NETBALL

Have a great netball game today.

Next week’s netball draw is as follows:

Draw Week 4 - Thursday 28 August
3.30pm Ōtaki Domain
Waitohu Teina Year 3/4 vs Ōtaki Tima Teina Tau 3/4

Year 5/6
4pm Ōtaki Domain
Waitohu Pango vs Te Rito Mana
4.30pm Ōtaki Domain
Waitohu Whero vs Ōtaki Time Tuakana Tau 5/6

Waitohu Kowhai - BYE

KAPITI LIBRARIES POETRY COMPETITION OPEN MIC NIGHT - TOMORROW FRIDAY 22 AUGUST
A number of Waitohu Senior Students have entered a poem into the Kapiti Library Poetry Competition. Tomorrow, Friday, 22nd August, there will be an "Open Mic Night" at Paraparaumu Library, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. This is when students can stand up and read their poem and share their poem in front of a friendly, supportive audience, if they want to. All are welcome to come and support.

LUCKY BOOK CLUB

Scholastic Lucky Book Club Offer 6 2025 orders are due by Monday 25 August. The online ordering system now available is explained in the brochure or bring in your order and correct cash to the office.

DAFFODIL DAY – FRIDAY 29 AUGUST

Next Friday 29 August we will be supporting the Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day appeal. All students who donate will receive a daffodil sticker. This is a great way to see how everyone giving a little can make a difference. Tamariki are encouraged to wear something yellow or cheerful to show support.

ŌTAKI COLLEGE ENROLMENTS FOR 2026

For those wishing to enrol children at Ōtaki College in 2026, there is an online enrolment form available on the College website, or you can go directly to https://otakicollege.school.kiwi/ to start the enrolment process. If you prefer to fill in a hard copy form, this is not a problem. Forms can be downloaded in pdf form from the College website, or collected from Waitohu School or Ōtaki College offices.