Week 5, Term 4 Newsletter
In this week's newsletter:
School Life
This Week
Measles
Calendar Art
Half Marathon Results
Marae Trips Next Year - Police Vetting
Leavers and Studio Placements
Term Dates for Next Year
Freaky Friday - TOMORROW NIGHT
Other Opportunities
Fill the Blues Bus
Paediatric Dental Services
School Life
This Week
We've been struck by a bit of illness amongst our staff this past fortnight. Fortunately, we have an amazing team of regular relievers who keep our programmes running when teachers are home recuperating. We are so grateful to them!
We are very excited to announce that our school website (www.westmere.school.nz) has been updated! Please hop on and have a look at our refreshed site. We hope you find it easier to navigate. Don't hesitate to let us know if there's something that you think we've left out!
We're looking forward to Freaky Friday tomorrow evening! We know how much the kids love this event. Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered on stalls - you're helping to create lots of lovely memories for our kids! Tickets have gone home with the tamariki today, so please check their bags. If you haven’t paid yet, please do ASAP so we can issue tickets and send them home tomorrow.
Measles
Measles is circulating and is very contagious. There is now measles in Northland, Auckland, Manawatu, Nelson and Wellington, and further cases are expected across New Zealand.
Watch out for symptoms:
fever
cough
runny nose
sore eyes
and a blotchy rash
What to do if someone is sick:
Anyone with measles symptoms must stay at home and should seek urgent advice by ringing their doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Anyone who is closely exposed to a measles case must stay at home. Heath New Zealand will provide individuals with advice on a case-by-case basis (including when they can leave quarantine at home).
Health New Zealand is actively working with the schools that currently have measles cases.
Immunisation:
People are considered immune to measles after having two doses of a measles vaccine from 12 months or older, or if you have had measles before. For more information on measles immunity visit: Measles immunity – Health New Zealand
Check your own and your child/childrens’ immunisation status through My Health Record: My Health Record – Health New Zealand
Anyone born between 1969 and 2004 may have only received one vaccine dose and might not be fully protected. It’s safe to get extra doses. A free vaccine can be booked online or via the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26.
Calendar art orders are now open!
Need Christmas gift ideas? Keepsakes? A 2026 Calendar? Greeting cards? What better artwork for these than your own child's art?! The tamariki have been very busy letting their creative juices flow to create their beautiful pieces for this year's items - calendars, greeting cards, diaries, mouse mats and sketch pads, all adorned with your child's beautiful artwork.
Orders are open now and will close at the end of the day Tuesday, November 17.
Profits contribute to the WSS's fundraising efforts so this is a great way to get some Christmas shopping done, support the school and your children!
To order:
1. Go to www.kidsartworks.com
2. Use the Entrance Code: KZ1111
3. Enter/Search your child's room & name when prompted
There are samples of the items available to purchase in the office.
Any questions email rahatchaudry@gmail.com
Half Marathon Results
Congratulations to our Westmere children who placed 4th, 5th, 8th respectively in the Auckland Marathon 5k Run over the weekend.
Marae Trips Next Year - Police Vetting
NUONI tamariki, as well as our Year 3 and 4 students, have their marae trips in March 2026. If you are planning on going you will need to be police vetted. If you are unsure if you have a current police vet done through us, please check with the office. Police vets can take some time and we want to avoid the rush in the new year, so if you want to go, please fill in your form this side of Christmas - that would be greatly appreciated. You are welcome to come into the office to get a form or print and fill in the form below.
PLEASE NOTE: You must bring 2x forms of ID for Anita to sight. We cannot take these electronically and must be in person.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14EGCtVrT1BMojWbNeZXmXnLlDE1fgfo8/view?usp=sharing
School Leavers and Studio Placements
If you are planning on moving or changing school in time for the 2026 school year, please let the office know in advance, as it's helpful for planning our studio placements and class numbers.
Studio Placements - If you have any information that you think will be useful to help us with this process, please email us at studioplacements@westmere.school.nz by Monday 10th November at 5pm.
NB: There may be some staffing changes for 2026 so please be aware that we cannot accept teacher or studio requests.
Term Dates for Next Year
Term 1: 9 February-2 April (Waitangi Day - 6 Feb)
Term 2: 20 April -3 July (Anzac Day observed Mon 27 April / Kings B'day - 1 June)
Term 3: 20 July-25 September
Term 4: 12 October-18 December
Our last day for 2025 is Tuesday 16 December.
Freaky Friday - TOMORROW NIGHT
Other Opportunities
Fill the Blues Bus
Last year, Westmere School contributed to the Blues effort to collect food for families in need. We are doing this again this year and ask for your help. Please drop off non-perishable food items to the boxes in the office by the end of November. We will make sure it gets to the Blues to distribute before the Christmas and summer holidays. Your kindness is appreciated.
Paediatric Dental Services
