Kia ora parents and whānau,

Welcome back to Term 2! We hope everyone had a lovely Easter and a restful April break. It’s been great to see the students back on site, full of energy and ready for the term ahead.

We’d like to give a warm welcome to our new students this term. Fausto has turned five and started school as part of our first new entrant cohort for Term 2. We’re also very pleased to welcome Odin into Year 1 and his sister Summer back into Year 3. Areena and Brianna have joined us in Year 7, and Maitea has joined Year 8. We're also welcoming back some familiar faces - Alena Paora into Year 7, and Corey and Blake into Year 8. It’s lovely to have you all with us!

Thinking ahead... If you are employing new staff for the dairy season and they have children, or if you know of any families moving into or out of the area, please encourage them to get in touch with the school as soon as possible. Knowing about enrolments or withdrawals in advance really helps us support smooth transitions and plan ahead. Our next new entrant cohort begins on Tuesday 3rd June, after King’s Birthday weekend.

We had school photos on Tuesday and all of our students looked great—lots of big smiles and tidy uniforms! We’re looking forward to seeing how the final photos turn out.

On Thursday we held our Primary Duathlon. It was awesome to see the students giving it their all, encouraging each other, and showing heaps of determination and sportsmanship. Ka pai to everyone who took part and helped on the day.

This year, period 5 Fridays will look a little different. Some weeks we’ll have a full primary assembly, other weeks there might be whānau games, singing, or something else fun and engaging. Class assemblies will now be led by classroom teachers, and students will share and celebrate the great learning happening in their class. If your child’s class is involved, their teacher will send a message out on Seesaw to let you know.

We now have a new sign in/sign out machine just inside the main primary building (to your left as you come in). If you’re collecting your child during the school day for any reason, please make sure to sign them out using this system so we know exactly who is on site in case of an emergency.

Things are definitely cooling down, with snow already showing up on the hills. Please make sure your child comes dressed in warm layers so they’re comfortable when they’re outside. A named jumper or jacket is always helpful at this time of year.

Coming up soon, we will be taking our Year 6 whānau leaders and four students from Year 7 and 8 to the National Young Leaders Day in Christchurch on Wednesday 14th May. It’s always a great day and an inspiring chance for students to hear from New Zealanders doing awesome things.

On Friday 16 May, we will be getting behind Pink Shirt Day. It’s all about spreading kindness, celebrating difference, and taking a stand against bullying. We want our school to be a place where everyone feels safe, included, and respected. Students are encouraged to wear pink to show their support. Please keep an eye on our school Facebook page for a few simple ways to get involved at home too.

Ngā mihi nui,
Becks Hawtin

Deputy Principal – Primary