Week 8, Term 4 Newsletter
In this week's newsletter:
School Life
This Week
Changes for 2026
Library Books and Readers
Police Vetting
Lost Property
School's (Nearly) Out for Summer - Save the Date
Other Opportunities
Fill the Blues Bus - LAST CHANCE
Christmas Trees
Netball Holiday Programme
Prosford Studios
Grey Lynn Kindergarten
The Wizard of Oz - Starring Westmere Students
TAPAC December Holiday Programmes
Support Auckland FC and Westmere School
Zero Waste Christmas
Toothbuds Paediatric Dental Practice - Grey Lynn
Skids Holiday Programme
School Life
This Week
The end of the year is rapidly approaching. Look out for important details in the Studio Updates relating to graduation and other end-of-year events.
The WSS have organised a picnic to finish the year. It's a really lovely way to wrap things up and celebrate the year that's been.
Changes for 2026
At the end of this year, we farewell a group of our teachers and one of our Learning Assistants.
Emma Muller, Kiri Walters and Savannah Ah Tini are off on adventures overseas - the great kiwi OE!
Emma and Kiri joined us as beginning teachers, and it has been an absolute joy to watch them grow and develop as teachers. We are immensely proud of each of them and the experts in teaching they have become.
As Kiri transitioned into a more experienced teacher, she took on more responsibility. Guiding our student leaders through our Kaitiaki rōpū, she has helped those tamariki to flourish as leaders and develop their ideas to reach out to support their fellow tamariki and our school. She was also part of our Curriculum Team, working to help our staff navigate the changes in our new Mathematics and English curricula.
Savannah was originally employed at Karma Kids and then joined us as a Learning Assistant before taking on a teaching role for Term 4. She was an absolute professional as a Learning Assistant and even more so as a teacher. Our newest children to school have been lucky to have her as their first teacher!
Melinda Downes, our DP, is also leaving at the end of this year. She will be exploring new opportunities in the coming year.
Melinda has brought her kindness and caring to all our tamariki and staff. She has worked with our Middle and Senior teams and run some of our acceleration groups in the Junior School. She has also helped support our student leaders, road patrollers and speech finalists. We have greatly appreciated all her input over the last year and a half.
Phoebe, our Learning Assistant supporting in Studio 1, is off to Christchurch to do her Masters. She just joined us this term but has been a lovely addition to the studio and around our school.
We wish all of these staff members all the very best on their new adventures. We will miss each of them!
We will be farewelling them at a special assembly next Friday at 12:30pm. All are welcome.
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 returns!
Police Vetting
Our middle school and NUONI tamariki have marae trips next year that we require all parent help to be police vetted. If your child is currently Year 2, this will be your child next year, so we ask that you come to the office to get a police vetting form. You will need to fill it in and bring 2x forms of ID (passport/licence) to the office for Anita to sight. Please note - these cannot be sent to us electronically and you must present in person. Police vets can take some time so please get these underway as soon as possible to avoid the new year rush. Ngā mihi.
Lost Property
Please visit our lost property racks in the office as it's growing again as well as a lot left over from Skids. These will be donated at the end of the year so please have a look through before the end of the Term.
School's (Nearly) Out for Summer - Save the Date
Other Opportunities
Fill the Blues Bus - LAST CHANCE
Thank you to those who have donated to our Fill the Blues Bus. This is the last week to donate towards this amazing cause. Please drop off non-perishable food items to the boxes in the office this week. We will make sure it gets to the Blues to distribute before the Christmas and summer holidays. Your kindness is appreciated.
Christmas Trees
Get Your Christmas Tree and Support Westmere School!
Hi everyone — we’re Sam (a proud ex-Westmere School student) and Harry a couple of uni students selling fresh, quality Christmas trees from our place in Westmere. We both grew up loving sports, so we thought it’d be awesome to donate some of the proceeds from tree sales to help Westmere Primary get new sports gear for the students.
Prices start from $70
Sizes range from 3.5ft to over 7ft
Optional stand rental or purchase
Fresh stock delivered daily
Find us at 28 Cumberland Avenue, Westmere
Just mention you're from Westmere Primary when you order — we’ll make sure your tree counts toward the school donation.
You can find us on Instagram or Facebook: @samandharryschristmastrees
Thanks for the support and happy holidays!
Netball Holiday Programme
Prosford Studios
The Wizard of Oz - Starring Westmere Students
ABOUT THE SHOW: Follow the Yellow Brick Road to The Wizard of Oz!
This November, the National Youth Theatre brings the beloved MGM classic to life on stage! Join Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion on a magical journey through Oz, with favourite songs like Somewhere Over the Rainbow and We’re Off to See the Wizard.
With 250+ talented young performers, dazzling costumes and spectacular choreography, this is a show the whole family will love!
28–30 November | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
Limited season — book your tickets now!
Tickets from Ticketmaster, click here.
TAPAC December Holiday Programmes
Support Auckland FC and Westmere School
Zero Waste Christmas
Toothbuds Paediatric Dental Practice - Grey Lynn
Skids Holiday Programme - Grey Lynn/Newton
