Kia ora all, This is officially the last newsletter of the year, I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone. We have three and a bit days to go and yet so much to pack in!

Last Tuesday we had our Christmas Market - and what a successful event this was! The enterprise learning underpinning this, was so authentic as well as engaging! The students all had so much pride in selling their products and it was great to see all our community come together to support this. Combined, the students raised over $3000 for various charities. A super super effort.

We are now in a position to confirm our part-time teaching staff for next year. We are thrilled to have Jenelle Tocker back with us next year in a part-time capacity as well as Sally Pearson who will be in our Year 7&8 team. Many thanks to our PTA who have funded extra teaching hours next year ($32,000) - this massive contribution supports our school to maintain excellent teacher to student ratios, which are far smaller compared to other schools. All your fundraising efforts continue to support our students, and this is so appreciated.

Weka 1: Carolyn Smith (new entrants)

Weka 2: Sue James and Tanya Whiteford (Year 1&2)

Weka 3: Kayla Laking-Anderson (Year 1&2)

Kāka 1: Amy Parish (Year 3&4)

Kākā 2: Zoe de Groot (Year 3&4)

Korimako 1: Jude Edwards (Year 5&6) Jenelle Tocker - DP release

Korimako 2 Scott Pritchard (Year 5&6)

Kārearea: Karina Rako and Sally Pearson (Year 7&8)

The PTA funds are also supporting us in many other areas next year. I am going into this in detail on Wednesday night but our wonderful PTA have committed to fund our sports co-ordinator, pool, hall flooring, library, curriculum resources as well supporting aspects of the arts curriculum, which will include our school production in 2021. This totals $65,000 (including the teacher hours to maintain our excellent teacher/student ratios). We know that all our students are going to benefit from this so much. Massive thanks to you all, I know how much you all contribute to our fundraising efforts, it is really appreciated.

This Wednesday 16th December at 10.30am we have the Parent Helper 2020 Morning Tea in our staffroom. If you have helped in our school throughout the year; trips, parent help, putting away reading books, coaching, fundraisers, camps, school events etc. Please come along so our staff can thank you all.

Following the morning tea on Wednesday, we have our Final School Assembly at 11.30am (school gym). This is where we will be giving out various awards (basketball, sports and passion projects etc). Please do come along!

The students have successfully filled up another whole school reward! This will be a water afternoon with an ice block on Wednesday 16th December. Please send your child/ren to school with togs/towel and water gun (if you have one!). Water balloons are not permitted.

Just a reminder that all students need to attend our school prize giving this Wednesday evening. If students could meet their teachers  in the classrooms at 5.45pm and parents to be seated by 5.50pm, for a 6pm start, that would be appreciated. We look forward to this really special evening to celebrate all the achievements of the year and farewell our Year 8 students.

Thursday is our last school day for 2020. School will close at 12pm. At 11.30am, please gather around the Weka deck area for our bell-ringing ceremony. This is an Ōhoka School tradition for students that are finishing with us this year.

School starts again next year on Wednesday 3rd February, 2021.

I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday evening at our prize giving, if not, I wish you all a lovely Christmas and break. Thanks for your continued support and I will see you all next year.

Ngā mihi

Kate