In this week's newsletter:

School Life

• This Week

  • Thank You Lucy Farrugia!!!

  • Absences 2026

• Touch Rugby - Westmere Warriors

• Touch Rugby - Term 1 2026

• Library Books and Readers

Other Opportunities

• Holy Moly Arts and Crafts

• Skids Holiday Programme

• Sparkly Night Ride to the MOTAT Christmas Lights!

• Summer's Out Pool Party @ Pt Erin Pools

• Little Scientists Holiday Programme

• Suki Swim - Support Local

• NZ Childrens Choral Academy

School Life

This Week

Thank You Lucy Farrugia

Whether you realise it or not, everyone at this school has benefited from Lucy's hard work and dedication to this school.

We have nicknamed her Miss Rabbit (from Peppa Pig) because she is everywhere doing all of the jobs! She has run the WSS, countless sports, run club, been a road patroller, volunteered on endless trips, to name a few of the things she does.

The money she has helped to fundraise has paid for the library books your children read, the shelter they find from the supertop, the turf they love playing on, the nature areas they love playing in, etc. The events she's helped to run or organise have provided your children with opportunities to engage in sport, community and fun!

So a massive thank you to you, Lucy. We are forever in your debt and forever appreciative of the massive contribution you have made to our school and community.

We will be thanking Lucy and farewelling Melinda, Kiri, Emma and Savannah at our Farewell Assembly tomorrow at 12:30pm. All are welcome.

Absences in 2026

The Ministry have made attendance a National priority. This means rules around absences are getting much stricter. Please keep in mind that if your child has absences of 5 days or greater in a term, we will be required to make an attendance plan with you. If absences start to creep higher, Attendance Services and other agencies have to be notified and involved in further attendance plans.

This is time-consuming for all and takes away from our core job of teaching and learning. We are requesting that you do not book holidays during term time. Our regular attendance was 51% last term. Holidays during term time are becoming a serious issue at our school. We are giving you plenty of notice so you can consider your bookings for 2026 carefully. We appreciate your support with this.

Library Books and Readers

It is stocktake time for the library. Please have a look under beds, in book shelves, under sofas, in the back of the car for any books and readers with Westmere School stamps and stickers - and bring them back to school ASAP. Many thanks in anticipation of a mountain of books!

Touch Rugby - Term 1

Touch Rugby starts again in Term 1 next year. Some of our teams will rollover but we may be looking for new players. If a current team is full, we will look at starting a new team but require parent help with coaching and managing these teams. If you are a newbie to touch and would like to play - please fill in the expression of interest form here. Each team needs approximately 7-8 players.

Location: Cox’s Bay Reserve, Westmere
Season Dates: Term 1 2026: Feb 17 – Mar 24 (7 weeks; rain day Mar 31)

Approx Game Times (Depending on team entries):

• Year 1–2: 4:00pm

• Year 3–4: 4:00pm & 4:30pm

• Year 5–6: 5:00pm

Separate Boys & Girls Grades for Years 5–8

Other Opportunities

Holy Moly Arts and Crafts

Skids School Holiday Programme

Sparkly Night Ride to the MOTAT Christmas Lights!

Friday 5 December 7.00-8.15pm - TOMORROW NIGHT

Join Bike Hub Grey Lynn for a Sparkly Night Ride to the MOTAT Christmas Lights!

Bling up your bike with Christmas lights, get dressed up in theme, grab your MOTAT Christmas Lights tickets, and meet us at Bike Hub Grey Lynn for a family-friendly sparkly ride through beautiful greenways to the MOTAT Christmas Lights.
Not going to the lights? You're still welcome to join the ride!

See their Facebook event for more details.

Summer's Out Pool Party @ Pt Erin Pools

This is not your standard pool afternoon. Fruzio is taking over Pt Erin with:
- Free Smoothie Pops (launched this month)
- A live DJ to kick off summer vibes
- Manu + hoop competitions
- Free sausage sizzle by Bostock Brothers & Daily Bread
- Exclusive Sonnie spot-prize kidswear
- Giant bubbles, pool toys, slides, diving boards + aqua run

We’d love for the local community to join us for a sunny afternoon, enjoying the delicious new Smoothie Pops, a new allergen-friendly, all-natural Fruzio product made in Nelson.

Event details:

• Fruzio x Sonnie School’s Out Pool Party

• Thursday 11 December, 4–6pm

• Pt Erin Pools, Herne Bay

• (Pool entry applies; all activities are free)

Little Scientists Holiday Programme

Support Local

Hi Westmere SchooI,

My name is Amelia, I’m a local mum to two little girls under 2 - and the founder of Suki Swim, a brand new New Zealand–designed children’s swimwear brand created for babies and little ones aged 6 months–8 years. 

Suki Swim is a project I began during maternity leave, inspired by the warm, nostalgic summers I grew up with. Our pieces are crafted in buttery-soft, comfortable fabrics with sweet, hand-painted patterns and gentle seams designed for play, water confidence and everyday comfort.

With summer underway - I thought Suki Swim might be a lovely, relevant brand to share with your parent community. If it’s helpful, I’m more than happy to provide a simple visual tile for your next newsletter, a short blurb about the brand, or anything else you see fit.

Absolutely no expectation - just a local mum-led brand hoping to offer something beautiful, practical and relevant for your school community this season.

Thank you so much for your time,
Amelia
Founder, Suki Swim
www.sukiswimclub.com
@SukiSwim.Club

NZ Childrens Choral Academy