Kia ora e te whānau,

We have already gone past the halfway mark of the year – it is absolutely flying! It has been wonderful to see our tamariki engaged in learning, friendships, and opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. 🌟

🎉 Celebrations

Warm Lyttelton Welcome – A very warm welcome to Maeve and Gracie who have recently joined our kura, and their school friends in Harakeke.

Student Achievement – Congratulations to our 50+ students who represented our school at Winter Sport this year. We are proud of the effort, teamwork, and values they displayed. A huge thank you to Tim, our Sports Coordinator, for his organisation, and to our parent coaches – Marcelle, Blair, and Lindon – for their time and support.

Classroom Highlights – All classes have been working on science-based learning linked to our inquiry How the World Works. It has been inspiring to see the creativity and critical thinking shining through.

📅 Looking Ahead

Union Meeting – Monday 25 August 🍎🗣️
On Monday, August 25th, our staff (teachers, support staff, and myself) will be off-site to attend a union meeting facilitated by NZEI Te Riu Roa. Staff will attend either a morning or afternoon meeting, so we can remain open as required. Please note that we will be splitting classes and running alternative educational programmes on this day as we support staff to attend these important meetings.

Daffodil Day – Friday 29 August 🌼
The Student Council is supporting Daffodil Day by encouraging students and staff to dress in yellow/orange and bring a gold coin donation on Friday 29 August.

Aupaki Cultural Festival – Tuesday 16 September 🎶
You are warmly invited to the Aupaki Cultural Festival. Kapa Haka groups from across Aupaki will be performing, including our own school group.

📍 Te Aratai College Auditorium
🕕 6:00 – 8:00 PM

🌱 School Life

We continue to focus on our school values of Manaakitanga / Respect, Ngākau Aroha / Empathy, and Manawainui / Perseverance. This week we celebrated our first group of students who have achieved 100 Lyttel Reps! To recognise this consistent demonstration of our school values, they enjoyed an ice-cream outing with the Principal. Our values underpin not only how we learn, but also how we look after one another as a community.

🤝 Lyttelton School PTA

Next Event: Community Breakfast – Friday 29 August (in partnership with Daffodil Day). ☕🌼

Next Meeting: Monday 15 September – All are welcome!

💛 Want to get involved? The PTA would love to have you on board. Sign up and help make a difference in our school community.

💛 Whānau Support

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Brad or myself if you need support for your child/ren or whānau. We’re here to help. The Mana Ake service continues to be available to support tamariki and their whānau with wellbeing and mental health needs. 🌿 Your child’s wellbeing matters — we’re in this together.

🙏 Thank You

A huge thank you to staff, students, and whānau for the way you contribute to making our school a vibrant and supportive place to be. Your involvement – whether through classroom help, coaching, or simply encouraging your child at home – makes a real difference. ❤️

Ngā mihi nui,
Jenny
Tumuaki / Principal