Kia ora e te whanau. You may have seen that our shed upgrade is all but complete and is looking great! The main gate on Wellington St is open again for access. Please ensure the gate remains closed as we have children that we have to keep safe. The bike and scooter stands will remain over by the old bike sheds beside Rm 17 and these are also getting a wee bit of a makeover which will improve our storage of bikes and scooters. Please make sure all scooters and bikes are clearly named as we have many that look the same and occasionally these get mixed up and go home with the wrong person.

Support for World Down Syndrome Day: It was lovely to see so many coloured and odd socks today to support "Rock your Socks" World Down Syndrome Day.

Fantastic Attendance: Our board and staff were very proud to learn that our Term 4 attendance was up 10% from Term 4 in 2023. Our return to school was amazing with over 95% attendance everyday for the first 6 weeks. This is something to celebrate as research shows that a child's opportunities in life is greater enhanced by regular school attendance as this not only supports them in learning but also in social and wellbeing outcomes. We are here to support all our whanau, so please reach out if you ever have any challenges getting your child to school. It's a team effort.

Cultural Hauora Afternoon: We have been collaborating with Percy from Tangata Atumotu Trust to plan a fun and interactive afternoon on Tuesday 8 April that celebrates wellbeing and culture within our school. Families are welcome to join us for all or part of the afternoon. More details to come on Hero, but for now, please save the date.

Class & Individual Photos: Heritage Photography will be at our school on Thursday 27 March. They will take class and individual photos. If you would like to have a sibling photo taken, please bring your children to the hall at 8.30am on the day.

Swimming Progress: We were really pleased to get six weeks of swimming lessons in for the children. Many have developed increased water safety and confidence. You will receive notification of a post detailing your child's progress during the season in Hero at the end of the term along with a Māori comment on the Celebrating Learning page.

Student of the Week: Nani (Rm 13) is a quiet student who consistently impresses us with her hard work and friendly nature. Her dedication to doing her best in all she undertakes is inspiring. Nani's amazing presentation skills shine through every aspect of her schooling. Her love for learning is always present during all topics. We are so grateful to have Nani in Room 13 and she is always ready to lend a hand and support her classmates. Jethro (Rm 11) is an energetic boy who is always willing to help others and take on extra responsibility. Jethro applies himself to every learning task with enthusiasm and is really working hard on improving his presentation. Jethro is always polite and respectful towards everyone and has empathy and understanding of what makes everyone an individual with their own special character. Jethro, you are a delight to have in Room 11 and we are very lucky to have you as a student in our class and at Hampstead School.

Upcoming Dates:

Board of Trustees Meeting: 25 March, 6pm in Puawai

Class Photos: 27 March

Cultural Hauora Afternoon: 8 April

End of Term 1: 11 April

Please see attached PDF to Join Scouts and the HitPlay April Holiday programme.

Nga mihi nui,

Claudine Campbell (Principal)