Newsletter 12th May 2025
From the Principal
A warm welcome to our new families. After an amazing summer we have had a real mixed bag of weather lately. Another month until it's officially winter but the days are cooling down fast. Please ensure all jumpers and jackets are clearly named as often left in cloak bays, hall and on the field. The lost property box is located between Room 6 and Room 7.
Pink Shirt Day - Non uniform day - This Friday May 16th
This is an anti-bullying campaign that emphasizes celebrating diversity and fostering inclusive environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. It's a day to stand against bullying and promote kindness and inclusion, typically celebrated in May in New Zealand and other parts of the world.
We encourage everyone to wear a pink shirt or similar. If you don't have a pink shirt then a colour close to it is fine.
Children are asked to bring along a can of food which will be donated to The Salvation Army on Ti Rakau Drive. This food will support local families in need.
Reminder Teacher Only Day
Friday May 30th - School Closed for students
A Ministry of Education mathematics facilitator will be working with the teachers learning about the new approaches and teaching the new mathematics curriculum. We try to have our teacher only days in the holidays whenever possible but sometimes the facilitators are not available.
Public Holidays Coming Up - School Closed
Kings Birthday - Monday June 2nd
Matariki - Friday June 20th
Staying Safe on Your Way Home from School - A guide to share with your children
As children get older and become more independent, it is important to ensure they understand the importance of staying safe when walking home from school.
Here are some practical tips that can help you in these conversations with your child.
Stick to Safe Routes
Plan a route home that is well-lit, busy with other pedestrians, and avoids isolated areas like alleys or empty parks. If possible, walk with friends or siblings.
Tell Someone Your Plans
Always let a trusted adult know your route home and what time you expect to arrive. If your plans change, inform your parents or guardians as soon as possible.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Avoid distractions like wearing headphones at full volume or looking at your phone while walking. Stay alert and take note of who is around you.
Trust Your Instincts
If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your gut. If someone makes you uncomfortable, walk away quickly and seek help from a trusted adult.
Know Safe Places
Identify safe places along your route, such as shops, libraries, or the homes of family friends where you can go if you need help.
Never Accept Rides from Strangers
If someone you don’t know offers you a ride, say “No” and walk away. Even if they claim to know your parents, never get into a car with someone unless your parents have specifically told you it’s okay.
Keep Personal Information Private
Do not share details like your full name, address, or school with strangers. Be cautious even with people who seem friendly.
Have a Safety Code Word
Create a family code word that only trusted people know. If someone claims your parents sent them to pick you up, ask for the code word. If they don’t know it, do not go with them.
Know Emergency Contact Information
Memorise important phone numbers, including your parents' numbers and a trusted adult’s number, in case you need help and don’t have access to your phone.
Practise What to Do in an Emergency
Role-play different scenarios with your family, such as what to do if a stranger approaches you or if you feel lost. Knowing what to do in advance will help you react calmly and safely.
If your child has their own cellphone, consider using location sharing apps like “Find my Friends” (iphone), “Samsung Find” or 3rd party apps like “Life360” (NB - these are suggestions only as we do not endorse specific apps, and there may be other apps that may suit your family situation). Location sharing apps have the ability for family members to check in on each other’s whereabouts and have a range of customisable features to suit your needs.
By following these safety tips, children and their families can help ensure a safe and confident journey home from school.
Remember, being aware and prepared is the best way to stay safe!
Fintan and Sue
House Captain's Parliament Trip
On Wednesday the 9th of April 2025, Mr Ward, Miss Su and Mrs Harper accompanied the House Captains on an AMAZING excursion to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand!
First, we all met at the early hour of 6:00 am outside the school with our bags full of supplies for the day. After driving to Auckland Airport, we regathered, went through airport security, and waited until our flight was called. We were all very excited as we walked along the bridge into the aeroplane.
Once we found our assigned spots, we waited while the final passengers boarded. The plane started up and we drove along the runway, building speed until the plane lifted off and our ears popped. Our adventure had really begun!
After flying for 45 minutes, we finally arrived at our destination – Wellington Airport! It was chilly, so we rushed into the warm airport where we marvelled at the hanging eagles playing out an amazing story above our heads.
It’s incredible what you can see and learn in just one day! Our highlights included Te Papa, where we had a great time exploring the many interesting areas including Rongomaraeroa, the "heart of Te Papa". We also visited Parliament, even getting to see a discussion in real time and learning a little about how things are run, what happens in the debating chamber, and much more. The Cable Car ride was another exciting experience and a fantastic way to see some thrilling sights of Wellington!
During the plane ride home, we were happy yet exhausted. In fact, Mr Ward dropped off to sleep right in front of us! The flight attendants were really nice and gave us an entire bag of airplane lollies – a sweet ending to a wonderful day.
We would like to give a big thank you to Mr Kelly for allowing us this opportunity to experience Wellington, and of course Mr Ward, Miss Su and Mrs Harper for coming along with us. It was definitely a day we will never forget.
Alex McIntrye and Lauren Rosser (on behalf of the House Captains 2025)
Enviro News
This term the Enviro Leaders have been busy with various projects, the first of which was looking after the school worm farms. The composting bins were cleaned out during a working bee to tidy up the school gardens. After this, new bedding, soil and special blankets were added to keep the hundreds of worms warm and moist. The Enviro Leaders then placed new food scrap bins outside the classrooms and explained to students which foods from their lunchboxes are suitable for the worms to eat.
The other major undertaking for the Enviro Team has been the Moth Plant competition. Every day, Enviro Leaders have been counting, photographing and bagging up all of the seedlings, vines and moth pods that have been collected by students and their whānau. The total number of items we have collected as a whole school is an outstanding 15,214. A big thank you to all of those who contributed to getting rid of this harmful pest in our local environment.
The other exciting job for the team has been planting herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers in our garden beds. We will be using these to provide opportunities for our students to learn about growing, preparing and cooking healthy and delicious foods.
Celebrating Excellence
PTA News
Hi parents - welcome to Term 2! This term we will hold the PTA annual general meeting (AGM) and would like to hear your thoughts as we enter into a new financial year. One of the functions of the PTA is to foster a feeling of community within the school and provide an environment where families can get together and socialize while supporting their kids. To do this, we have created a survey in order to try to increase relevance and engagement - if you can take 5 minutes to fill it out it would be great.
Kind regards,
The PTA Team
From the Community
