Kia ora koutou. To kick start our inquiry learning in Room 11, we have begun exploring the many different insects in our environment.

Every Tuesday our kura comes together to learn kapa haka together. This is week 3 of lessons - we started in week 2, and already our learners are raising the roof of the canopy with their waiata and haka.

On Friday, Room 1 and 8 made paper boats to race in the newly painted swimming pool. We thought it was exciting watching the boats sail across. Some of the boats sank. Matua Tim rescued the sunken boats with a net. They were very soggy.

So much excitement this week as the pool opens for the first time this year.

This year, these two events will be combined. Due to be held on Thursday, 9th March. Getting together as a school community is important to us. Typically we have a community picnic early on in the year where our whānau are invited to share a picnic dinner together on the school fields.

ODD SHOE Day - a BIG, BIG THANKYOU to everyone who donated yesterday morning in support of those affected by the cyclone. We will be collecting items all week; any further donations can be dropped off at the School Office.

A reminder, if you have not already done so, to please download our school app to your phone. This can be downloaded from either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

To enable union members to attend this meeting, our school will be closed for instruction from 12.30pm on 1st March. We will need all children to be picked up from school by 12.30pm on this day.

We are now accepting enrolments from out of zone to start from Term 2, 2023 and have the following spaces available: New Entrant - up to three places Junior School - up to two places Senior School - up to two places.

Our After School Drama Club for Middle / Senior school students started yesterday in Room 15. This class is being held weekly on Thursdays from 3.15 to 4.15pm

Fifteen minute individual fife and flute lessons will begin on Tuesday morning, 7th March, in the Library. Catrin Hinton, who has taught at our school now for a number of years, is the tutor.

Violin lessons will begin on Tuesday morning, 7th March and will be held in Room 7. We have a new violin tutor this year, her name is Mary Smith. The class is now full.

Alison Trenwith will be returning to take the Māori Art Class from 3.15 to 4.15pm on a Tuesday afternoon in Room 10, beginning 14th March. This class is recommended for Year 3 to Year 6 children.

Vision Hearing Technicians from Community and Southern Rural Health will be visiting our school on Wednesday, 8th March. The objective of the test is to identify previously undetected vision and hearing defects. If any parents/caregivers do not wish their child to be checked, or their child is currently under specialist care for a vision or hearing defect, they should let the school know.

Our students are able to join the school banking programme with First Credit Union! Our Jimmy Jumper account is the perfect first savings account for any children aged up to 11 years old. There are no monthly account fees.

We are a club of junior teams of players from 4 to 13 years old. We are super excited to welcome new and returning players to Hillcrest United FC for the 2023 season.

Brent Taylor has managed to save 20 slots for the Tough Guy/Girl Challenge this year on the postponed date of Tuesday, 20th June 2023 at Ngaruawahia Christian Youth Camp.

34 Morris Road: 3 bedrooms plus office. Internal access garage, fully fenced section next to Jansen Park. $590/week. Phone 022 0178 443 for viewing times.

The YMCA are looking at running a Holiday Programme at Silverdale Normal School in April but would like to gauge the interest of running a programme.

A muster was held on 18th February but registrations are open all through out season. Also potentially looking for Coaches, managers and Senior players. If interested please add and follow us on Facebook.

My name is Tess Benseman and I would like to introduce 5678 Dance.