Here is our draft calendar for term 2 - please note that dates may change. Just click on the calendar image to see it in full-screen size.
Arbor Day at OLOK
This year are celebrating Arbor Day a little differently, offering our families the opportunity to buy a plant on Kindo to plant at home as a family. See the poster below for more information and log on to Kindo to buy your plants.
Orders for plants close on Friday 17 May.
School Attendance
Going to school is critical for our children’s futures. The evidence is clear that every day of school matters; missing school leads to lower achievement. In New Zealand, learners are expected to attend school every day it is open, arriving before the bell and staying until the end of the school day. We acknowledge that sometimes lateness can't be avoided due to medical appointments, etc. Of course, children should stay home if they are unwell, but regular attendance is very important.
Just a reminder that the school day at OLOK starts at 8:50 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m. Being late for school has a negative impact on your child’s learning. Being just 10 minutes late every day adds up to an hour a week of lost learning. Over a year, this adds up to one week of missed school! Being late for class often means missing important instructions and disrupting the class. Your child may feel uncomfortable and excluded from peers. Children need to arrive on time, ready to settle into their school work. Arriving at least 5 minutes before the first bell allows your child to interact with their peers and teacher and prepare for their busy day.
Term 2 - Winter Uniform @ OLOK
Don't forget that Term 2 means it is back into the school winter uniform. NZ Uniforms in Porirua are our supplier of choice so either pop into the store or order your needed items online. We do have some secondhand items in the Admin Block so feel free to have a look there too.
The Big Reconnect - Kids Online
Welcome to the Big Reconnect!
Your school has signed up for a Cyber Safety package that allows their families to have access for 12 months. This is usually $99 per family but you are getting it for free!
In this course, you will learn about:
Cyberbullying - How bullies can reach our kids 24/7
Social media - How social media is affecting the mental health in 3 out of 5 children. FOMO, depression, anxiety
Gaming and the developing brain – An oversupply of dopamine leading to dopamine deficiency, synaptic pruning, and the underdevelopment of social skills and empathy
Naked Selfies - The pressure to send nudes from intermediate up through high school
Online predators - The methods they use, how to spot them
Online porn vs healthy sexuality - How consuming online pornography as a child or teen can create a sexual template where violence, aggression, and dominance are seen as normal and consent can become very blurry
Solutions
Filters - Which filters are best and how to install them
Smartphones - How to lock down a smartphone to make it a safe phone
Boundaries - How to put good boundaries in place around device use
3 golden rules - The 3 golden rules that will keep your kids safe
Talking to your kids - How to have difficult conversations with your kids
Challenging our own phone and device usage - Reconnecting as a family.
Alongside the information above for parents, you also get access to the modules for your children. There is a whole series to sit and watch with them which covers the following:
Each topic has different age groups, so use the ones that apply to your children's ages and/or understanding.
Cyberbullying - Why cyberbullies bully and how to keep yourself safe Naked Selfies - The pressure to send nudes from intermediate up through high school and how to say no
Social media - How social media is affecting the mental health in 3 out of 5 children. FOMO, depression, anxiety
Gaming and the developing brain - An oversupply of dopamine leads to dopamine deficiency, synaptic pruning and the underdevelopment of social skills and empathy Online predators - The methods they use, how to spot them and how to get out from under their control if you have been trapped Fake news, mis and disinformation - How online algorithms can create a very small world view Online porn vs healthy sexuality - How consuming online porn can create a sexual template where violence, aggression and dominance are seen as normal and consent can become very blurry Healthy relationships - What they look like and how to remove yourself from an unhealthy one
To access The Big Reconnect course, please click on the following link: The Big Reconnect
This will take you to the main page for you to enrol in the course. Click ENROL NOW This will then take you to the enrolment page.
Step 1 On the left side of the page put in your email address
Step 2 On the right-hand side of the page click on Add Coupon Code then copy and paste OURLADYKAPITIFREE
Step 3 Then click on apply
Step 4 Click on get it for free
This will then take you to a new page for you to:
Step 5 Add your name
Step 6 Create a password
Please find a Jpeg image below if you get stuck with the instructions.
Hockey Team Practice - Starting Tuesday 7 May
After-school practices starting from Week 2 of term onwards.
Meet Tuesday on our own School Playground Turf, warm-up at 2:50 pm , cool-down 3:30 pm.
Players must have own mouthguards. A practice bag with mouthguard, shinguards, running shoes and stick (if you have one) is good to bring to school on the day, but most important is the mouthguard.
We have plenty of spare sticks for players, and even some spare shinguards, but it is very important everyone playing has their own mouthguard.
Anyone keen to give hockey a go who is not already on a team is very welcome to join, as well as any older children keen to help with the practices.
Nursing Students Visits
As in previous years, we will be hosting a couple of nursing students on Thursday 30 May, and Thursday 6 June. The first-year Bachelor of Nursing students visit schools so they can start to develop an awareness and knowledge of child development in an educational and/or group setting. I have attached a letter from Whitirea which explains a little more about what the visit involves.
Our public health nurses are coming to your school in the week starting 6 May to provide immunisation for Y7 tamariki.
If you have changed your mind or your situation has changed please contact us at res-immunisation@huttvalleydhb.org.nz, or call us on 04 587 2949
If you have not yet consented, but want to, please collect a consent form from the school office or contact us on 04 587 2949
If you declined the vaccines last year but you have changed your mind and you now want your year 8 child to receive the vaccine(s) please collect a consent form from the school office or contact us on 04 587 2949
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at res-immunisation@huttvalleydhb.org.nz, or call us on 04 587 2949
OLOK School Enrolments for 2025
Community Notices
You are invited to a special movie fundraiser hosted by William Brian, a former student of OLOK School! William has been chosen to attend an overseas football camp, and he's organizing this event to raise funds for his journey.
Date: Wednesday 15 May Time: 7.00 pm doors open for 7.30pm showing Location: Event Cinemas Coastlands
Tickets ($25) are available for purchase through Sofie Brian at 020 412 83670. Each ticket includes admission to the movie and a lolly bag.
Can't make it to the event but still want to support William? You can donate directly to his cause by contributing to the following account: 02-0733-0227958-066.
If your child thrives on the energy of cartwheels, handstands, trampolining, flips, dancing, or even the art of parkour, they'll find their perfect match at Bigair Gym! Bigair Gyms classes not only promote fun, focus, and fitness but also provide a platform for children to acquire new skills and cultivate personal confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Safety and proper technique are paramount in the structured sessions, catering to everyone from beginners to those mastering advanced skills. Through Bigairs Gym Programme, children experience focused learning and tangible progress, fostering a sense of achievement. The diverse range of classes includes Gymnastics, Trampolining, Tumbling, Free Running (yes, parkour with flips!), and Cheerleading. Inquire about Bigair BIRTHDAY PARTIES too!