Kia ora parents and whānau

It has been fantastic to see our students settling into their classroom routines and engaging in some great learning over the past few weeks. The enthusiasm and effort they bring each day are a joy to see, and we are incredibly proud of the way they are embracing their learning.

We've had an exciting and busy time across the school with lots of fantastic events. Our Year 1-6 students proudly displayed their artwork at the Amuri A&P Show, with this year’s theme being Autumn. It was wonderful to see their creativity on display for the wider community. Also at the show, we had two Year 5/6 teams and one Year 7/8 team take part in the Top Team Challenge where they worked together in a series of fun and competitive team-building activities. It was great to see their enthusiasm and teamwork in action!

Last week our Year 1-6 students took part in Splashtacular, a fantastic showcase of water confidence and swimming skills. It was brilliant to see so many parents coming along to cheer on our water babies—thank you for your support! Some of our Year 4-6 students also competed in the senior swimming sports, with some of our strongest swimmers going on to represent us at the Year 7/8 Combined Country High Schools Swimming Sports and the HPSSA Championships. Well done to all of our swimmers!

This week were lucky to have St John’s visiting to teach our students about DRS ABCD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, and Defibrillation). Ask your children about what they have learned—it's a valuable life skill!

Looking ahead, we have our first assembly of the year, a singing assembly, on Thursday 14 March, followed by the start of our Bible in Schools programme on Friday 21 March. On Wednesday 20 March, we are excited to welcome the Kiwi Kids Charity as they stop by on their Great Kiwi Road Trip, "Doin' Miles for Smiles," bringing fun and inspiration to our tamariki. Then, on Tuesday 26 March, we will host NED’s Resiliency Ride, an interactive 45-minute performance focused on building resilience. NED stands for: Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best! This will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn valuable life skills in a fun and engaging way.

A quick reminder to continue being SunSmart, even when the sun isn’t shining. UV levels can still be high on cloudy days, so please remind your children to wear their hats and apply sunscreen before coming to school.

As students settle into the school routine, it's important to remember that healthy lunches and snacks play a big role in supporting their energy levels and focus throughout the day. We encourage families to pack nutritious, balanced meals to help fuel their children for learning. Food fuels not just their bodies but also their thinking, helping them stay engaged and ready to learn. Thank you for your continued support in providing healthy choices for your children.

It’s been a great start to the year and we’re looking forward to more exciting learning and events in the coming weeks. As always, if you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Ngā mihi nui
Becks Hawtin
Deputy Principal – Primary