Kia orana, Hola, Mālō e lelei! We have enjoyed Cook Island Language Week (last week) and Spanish Language Week (this week) and next week is Tongan Language Week. We appreciate the opportunity to learn some new phrases as well as learn about different cultures and share in some music and dancing. We are very grateful to have students and their families share their cultures with us.

Board of Trustees Triennial Election Update: You will have received notification from our Returning Officer (myschoolelection) that we had five nominations for five vacancies and therefore we can announce from September 12, our Board of Trustees will include current board members Anna Smith, Dee Wheeler, Naneh Manoa and we welcome new board members Leeah Wilkinson and James Cleave, along with Miss Helena Rossellini as Staff Representative. We are hugely grateful to outgoing board members Regan Broker and Nanae Perry for their dedication and hard work to support of our school. Our next board meeting (19 August, 6pm) will be the last meeting before the new board starts in September.

Production tickets: will be available for collection from the school office Tuesday, 12th August, between 8:30am and 3:30pm only.

• Each family is entitled to 4 tickets in total — these can be used across either or both show times: 11:00am and 6:30pm on Friday 12 September.

• There is no cost for the tickets.

• Please note: once tickets for a session are gone, they are gone — there are no holds available.

• Tickets are for general admission only (no assigned seating).

• Lost tickets cannot be replaced, and entry will not be permitted without a valid ticket.

• The cut-off date for collecting tickets is Friday, 29th August.

Thank you for your understanding and support. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Paid Union Meeting Thursday 21st August (12.30pm Early finish): NZEI (The Union) has called for all members (teachers, principals and support staff) to attend a Paid Union Meeting on Thursday 21st August at 1.30pm. Given there will only be only two or three staff on site from 1pm, we are asking if parents can pick up their child/ren at 12.30pm. Kai for Kids will be giving the children lunch in a paper bag that day, so that it can easily be taken home. Any children left will be supervised in the playground until 3pm. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your support as we cannot safely run an afternoon programme with so many staff offsite.

Year 5/6 Swim Week: Our Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed daily lessons in small groups at the EA Networks Pool last week. They will build on these skills in their second swim week in Week 9 of Term 4. Being safe in the water is such an important life skill to have, especially living in a country with so many lakes, beaches and rivers.

Hampstead Friends & Whanau: We are delighted to hear we have some caregivers that would like to get involved with our Hampstead Friends & Whanau. We would like to invite anyone interested in getting involved to an Afternoon Tea on Thursday 28 August, from 3.15pm in Rm 1. We will have a few activities for the children to play with while we chat. This is not a fundraising group and we do not assign set roles. All welcome.

Student of the Week: Eddie (Rom 5), you are a valued member of the classroom community. Your kindness towards others and caring nature make you a wonderful friend to those around you. You demonstrate pride and respect in upholding the school's values. Eddie, you are very conscientious and hard working and I love how you always strive to be the best you can be with your work and how you treat others. You are a great role model and a pleasure to teach. Room 5 are extremely lucky to have you as part of our class. Eddie, you are a star! Terri (Rm 8) is a kind, caring and thoughtful member of Ruma Waru. Terri always does her very best in all areas of her school work and has a fantastic attitude toward school and school life. She is a conscientious and hard working student. Terri is a neat and careful worker who always likes to take care with the presentation of her work. Terri is always ready to help others and to help out with any classroom job. She is friendly and kind towards others and is a wonderful role model for everyone in the class. We are so lucky to have you as a member of Rima Waru Terri!

Upcoming Dates:

Year 5 Ski Day: 14 August

Tongan Language Week: 18-22 August

Board of Trustees Meeting: 19 August, 6pm in Puawai

Paid Union Meeting for Staff: 21 August (afternoon only)

Winter Tournament: 22 August (PP 25 August)

Hampstead Friends & Whanau Afternoon Tea: 28 August, 3.15pm in Rm 1

Daffodil Day: 29 August

Midlands Science Fair: 8-11 September

Whole School Production: 12 September (11am & 6.30pm)

Maori Language Week: 15-19 September

Intermediate Open Evening: 16 September, 7pm

End of Term 3: 19 September

Start of Term 4: 6 October

Nga mihi nui,

Claudine Campbell (Principal)