Our 26th Stars in Their Eyes event is quickly looming for Saturday August 19th. We have sold over 200 tickets and it’s expected to be the best event yet! If you haven't got your ticket, please do so as soon as you can, as this will help the catering team to ensure we have exactly what we need. Head over to the STARS page of the newsletter to find the link to Eventbrite ticketing

Have you seen the live auction items up for grabs? Please jump over to the school Facebook page to what will be on offer throughout the evening.

We can’t do this event without your help and contribution. Below are the things we really need help with;

• Items for silent auction hampers

• Mufti-day donated snack/platter food

• Set up and pack down help

Auction Hampers

At each STARS event we auction off four amazing hampers, with items donated from our community. We are asking that each student (from each team) bring an item for the hampers;

• Gardening hamper items - Weka 1, 2, 3,

• Sports hamper items - Kākā 1, 2, 3

• Pamper and Beauty hamper items - Korimako 1 & 2

• Homeware hamper items - Kārearea 1 & 2 

Tubs for these hampers will be out each morning and afternoon at the junior gate/Weka decking area. All items must be new. Your donation would be really appreciated!

Mufti-day Food Donations

Nibbles are provided throughout the evening for our guests! On Thursday 17th August, our school will hold a mufti day in return for donated items to go on the platters. One item per student. The categories are broken down into the class group as follows;

• Pickles/relishes/gherkins - Weka 1

• Pretzels - Weka 2

• Crackers (gluten free) - Weka 3

• Potato chips - Kākā 1

• Nuts (cashews, pistachios, almonds, peanuts etc) - Kākā 2

• Normal crackers, Snax biscuits, corn chips etc - Korimako 1

• Liquorice All Sort, bliss balls, block of chocolate etc - Korimako 2

• Cheeses / dips / hummus - Kārearea 1 & 2 

Food will be collected in each learning space on the morning of Thursday 17th August. Please ensure all items are in date (i.e. not expired). Your donation would be really appreciated!

Set Up and Pack Down Help!

We require lots of parent help during the following times with set up on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th, and then pack-down on Sunday 20th August. We require trailers! So if you have one, please bring this along. We have a variety of jobs available, some more physical than others.

Friday 18th August - 9am - 1pm (10 people)

Friday 18th August - 1pm - 5pm (10 people)

Saturday 19th August - 10am - 2pm (15)

Saturday 19th August - 1pm - 5pm (15) **also to help prepare platters

Saturday 19th August - 8pm - 10pm (5) **to assist with table clearing

Sunday 20th August - 10am - 2pm (20)

Please register yourself by clicking on the google form link below;

https://forms.gle/jMarJaLJKfRCALgP6

We thank you in advance - please know it take many hands to make this happen so even if you're not attending the event itself, your help would still be really appreciated!

Staffing Announcements for 2024

I have several pieces of news to share with you today in relation to our staffing for 2024;

Firstly, it is with great pleasure that I announce that Amy Tucker is expecting her first baby in early January. Amy will be taking maternity leave for 2024. We know that Amy is going to make a wonderful mother and we congratulate Amy and her husband Simon!

Secondly, Zoe de Groot has had a year's leave approved by the BOT for 2024 to pursue some travel overseas to spend time with whānau and take some time out. Zoe will be returning to us in 2025. 

Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I let you know that Sonia Hallmark will be resigning from her permanent role at the end of this year. Sonia and her family are relocating to Invercargill early next year. Sonia has been a wonderful member of our team but we also understand that life can often take us in different directions!

I know that these three announcements impact the Kākā teaching team but please feel rest assured that I am currently working on a great plan to ensure that the quality teaching and learning continue into 2024. As always, I will keep you updated. We are lucky to have the benefit of time to ensure that we recruit the best people possible.

In addition to the staffing news above, it would be really helpful to know from any families if you might be considering a change in schooling for 2024. This information is tremendously helpful and will assist me in making sure that we have the correct staffing allocation in the different teams. Please contact me directly. Thanks.

A reminder that we have whole school assembly this coming Thursday at 2pm. Our Year 5 - 8 Jump Jam teams will be performing in preparation for this Saturday's competition. Our Year 3&4 teams will perform at the week 6 assembly. 

It is also Wheels Wednesday tomorrow! Please bring your wheels (helmets compulsory!)

Coming up:

Wishing all the best to our Jump Jam teams who are competing this coming Saturday at Cashmere High School - go well. All teams are allowed to wear their Jump Jam t-shirts this coming Monday.

Best of luck to our Kapa Haka group who are performing at the North Canterbury Kapa Haka Festival next Friday 18th August at the Rangiora Baptist Church. Zoe has already sent the information and details and please let her know if you require your child to go into the event on the bus that morning. 

A reminder that next term we have two teacher only days;

* Friday 20th October (just before Labour Weekend). The Ministry of Education have stipulated that all schools take an extra day in Term 4 to work on the new New Zealand Curriculum refresh (much like the one taken in April).

* Thursday 16 November (just before Canterbury Anniversary weekend). This is our usual report writing day that we take each year.

Kaupapa Kōtahi event at Rangiora High School in week 6 (Wednesday 23rd August). This event is intended to celebrate the mahi by our kura across the kāhui ako and will be held in the big Rakahuri learning space at Rangiora High School (beside the school hall). Whānau are invited to come along (see the poster attached).

Have a great week everyone!

Kate