We are supporting the Waikato branch of Women's Refuge with donations of non-perishable food (tea bags, pasta, canned goods etc) and particularly festive items such as chocolate santas, jelly, candy canes and similar, as these are the special items families in need will not be able to consider in tough times.

We would also love to be able to donate unwrapped Christmas gifts for children in need.

You can place your donations under the Giving Tree in Te Aroha (office) up until the last day of term.

Because we continue to take many more in-zone enrolments between now and the first day of school 2025, we delay working out class/teacher placements until much nearer the start of the 2025 school year. In January alone, we sometimes enrol close to 50 students with a surge of new enrolments (across all year levels), as well as factoring in any school leavers. If your child will not be returning next year please notify the office ASAP if you have not done this already.

Here are our projected timeframes for communication (please note the dates):

• Tuesday 28th January: Classroom placements confirmed and parents/students advised via email. This will also include information about stationery orders (through OfficeMax online) and optional BYOD (bring your own device) info for Tūī Rua/Kāhu students.

• Friday 31st January (Time to be confirmed) Optional Meet the Teacher drop-in session. This will be held at school and our teachers will be on site to enable you and your child to call in and say "hi".

• Monday 3rd February: First day of school 2025.

Teachers and leaders in the school have carefully considered all placements, taking into account various social, emotional, and academic needs. While your child's placement may not be the preferred choice, we believe we have found the best fit for each student. 

This process may result in children not being placed with their closest friends, but this offers an opportunity to build new relationships and prepare our children for life's realities; teaching them resilience in the face of not always getting what they want. Fostering resilience is crucial in equipping children to handle setbacks and challenges in their future lives.