We start our newsletter with a whizz and a bang by celebrating the recent success of Year 6 student, Rylee van Dijk.

Rylee was the winner of the Western Bay of Plenty Speech Finals Competition held on Tuesday of this week. Rylee was up against tough competition from other speech finalists from across the Bay so this is an awesome result. This is the first time that a student from Tauriko School has won this prestigious title. Congratulations and well done Rylee.

Our annual Book Week was a roaring success with students actively involved each day in the many activities and events on offer from making bookmarks to buddy reading, Book Parade (albeit a bit different due to the weather!) and from Grandparents Day to Milo and Marshmallows with our PTA and Tauranga City Librarians. Thanks to Lynda Palfrey for overseeing the wonderful week with awesome support from the Literacy team – Tim Stanley, Nicole Johnson and Colleen Wilkie. Thanks also to the parent helpers, in particular Carolyn Fleet, who supported with the running of the Book Fair itself, you are amazing!

This week our Tall Poppies class are at Sports Camp at Totara Springs, competing for all their worth across 22 codes. A huge thank you must go to our Tall Poppies teacher, Jo Te Whaiti, for the incredible amount of organisation in preparation for the week away. The class have started the week well and are holding their own with great results in a number of sports. As this newsletter goes to print I hope to be heading over the hill to do some side-line cheerleading!!

Next term brings a busy first week with our annual Agricultural Day and PTA Gala. The wheels have been turning and much is already in place for what is always a fantastic day. School will be finishing at 12.15pm on Thursday the 19th of October. Judging in the animal rings will start promptly at 2pm so please do come along as it is always great viewing. Ag Day prizegiving will start at 4pm and the PTA Gala will officially kick off at 4.30pm.  Community involvement is a huge part of this day so if you are able to support in any way, shape or form please contact Jolene, our PTA Chairperson.

In Term 1 of this year, the School Council in consultation with classes, planned to fundraise for a new drinking fountain. In partnership with the PTA, a new fountain will be purchased and installed over the holiday break. This will mean all students will have access to drinking water when playing out and about on the back field which is fantastic!

On that note, I would like to thank our incredible PTA for the awesome job they do and the voluntary hours they each put in. The PTA do so much for the learners in our school and their support is much appreciated by all.  Our RAFT (Relatives and Friends of Tauriko School) also work away behind the scenes contributing to a real team effort.  A special mention and thank you must go to Jolene Nelson. Jolene frequently goes beyond and above her role as PTA Chairperson and it is a real pleasure working alongside her.

On Friday Term 3 draws to a close and there is a two week break before school resumes again on Monday the 16th of October. Thanks to each and every student for a fabulous term of learning – rest up and come back ready for an awesome Term 4.

A huge thank you and ‘shout out’ to all the staff and parent community for the wonderful support over the term, I wish everyone the happiest of holidays.

Lisa Rose
Acting Principal