What a beautiful, joy-filled day this was for everyone: for our kindergarten and school tamariki and their whānau, their friends and family who arrived from further afield, visitors from our local community and for the many former Te Rā students who dropped in yesterday - it was wonderful to see them all!

Class 4 recently had a wonderful time exploring our surroundings as part of the Local Geography Main Lesson. We embarked on the steep and stunning (and stormy) Mataihuka Walk.

On behalf of the Te Rā School Board, a massive thank you to the parents and staff who pulled off an amazing fair. From the organising committee to all the hours spent preparing food, crafts, activities, animals, music, and general ambiance, to being the face of the school for whatever duty you assigned yourself to; the fair sparkled, and not just with sunshine! What a day!!

Our kindergarten ākonga will be celebrating their Ngāhuru festival on Thursday 6 April. Please bring your child to kindergarten with an offering for the sharing table, which will be set up in the afternoon so tamariki can choose something to take on their way home. In the past people have bought produce from their gardens, homemade preserves, or seeds. Please collect your children at 2.30pm so there is time for all to choose from the sharing table before going home.

Akomanga Tuawhitu have enjoyed a diverse and adventurous camp in Taranaki last week.

We a tight team here in the office, and it's pretty hard to imagine what it will be like without our Rhonda! As most of you will know, Rhonda is finishing with us in a couple of weeks. We all wish Rhonda the very, very best in her new dream job, and she knows that we will keep in touch. From Cat, Tonia, Tash, Jason, Amanda and Kerstin: Haere rā Rhonda, thank you for all your care and your hard work over the last years!

We would like to support kindergarten and school whānau by publishing notices that may be of interest to members of our community. Publication in this newsletter is not a formal endorsement of events, services or goods advertised.

Believe me, you don't want to miss it. This is an amazing opportunity for parents (and staff) from our kindergarten and school to hear one of the probably best speakers on this issue in our country, with eye opening information and practical advice! Paekakariki School and Te Rā School are teaming up to invite our communities to a Cyber Safety evening, and it will be hosted at Paekakariki School. Massive thank you to principal Julia Bevin and her team!

Our sister school in Lower Hutt, Raphael House, is looking for families to host international students.

Gumboots at the ready ... an unexpected froggy visitor outside a classroom last week reminded us that, just as nature is getting ready, so should we.

If you have a child born in 2020 or 2021 who is a sibling of a currently enrolled student and you would like to enrol for Class 1 2027 and 2028, please fill out the Expression of Interest on our website.

In this final newsletter of the term we would like to thank you all for your support this term and wish you all the very best for the Easter break.