Issue 14: Week 4, Term 2 2024
Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki
Kia ora and welcome to the Week 4 edition of the Newsletter.
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who came along to support our 'Pink Breakfast' on Friday. It really was an amazing way to connect with our school community over a yummy breakfast and support a worthy casue in the process. The early start for our amazing staff (who were here at school at 6:15am to get all the delicious food prepared!) was well worth it when we looked around the Hall and felt such pride in our school community. Thank you to the local businesses who donated food - Drury Meats, Frenz Eggs and Baker's Delight Pukekohe.
This week you may have noticed that access to your child's progress graphs has been turned off. This is because teachers are starting to adjust these to reflect your child's progress and achievement over the first half of the year. We have had some really valuable parent feedback in that there is some work to be done around how to interpret the graphs alongside the Mid-Year Report comments. This is something the Leadership Team is currently working on and we hope that we will be able to provide some clarity around this information on HERO when it is shared in Week 10 of this term.
We have had a lot of queries recently around enrolments for 2025, our status on out of zone applications in particular. For those who have an interest in this, please keep an eye on our website as that information will be updated by the end of this week. For those of you with siblings turning 5 next year, please get onto our website ASAP and complete the enrolment forms for us - this information helps us with our July roll return and gives the Ministry an indication of our staffing needs for the following year. For those parents of students currently in Year 6 or Year 7, please take the time to complete this Google Form to indicate whether your child will remain with us for Intermediate next year. Again, this information is key for our 2025 staffing.
And finally, we are excited that we have been able to add some extra tables for our upcoming Quiz Night which is being run by our awesome PTA on Saturday the 8th of June. The tables have sold really quickly so if you haven't organsied your team yet, you'll need to get in fast. I should warn you that our staff are reasonably competitive and have already purchased their table....!
Celebrating Learning and Achievement
Adrenalin Forest
On Friday our Intermediate students completed their 3rd Outdoor Activity for their William Pike Challenge. They visited Adrenalin Forest in Bombay, where they all managed to challenge themselves and push themselves outside their comfort zones.
It was a very successful day, where they all supported and encouraged each other to complete each level. They should all be very proud of their efforts.
Many students enjoyed their day so much that they want to return and try to complete the next couple of levels up.
A big thank you to Kris, Renee and Chris who came along as our parent helpers on the day.
PTA News
There are only a few tables left available for the Quiz night so get in quick before they sell out.
- The PTA's next meeting will be the Wednesday 26th June, 7pm in the staff room. This is a great way to get involved with our wonderful kura. You can be as much or as little involved as you like!
- Don't forget to order your Sushi for Friday!
If you have any questions/fundraising ideas or if you require uniform items urgently, you can email us on karaka.pta@gmail.com
Notices From the Office
Ag Day - Saturday 14th September
- Sponsorship—do you have a contact within a business? Each year Ag Day is generously supported by businesses and the school community. We would love to hear from anyone with contacts who may be able to support us in some way.
- Information Booklet - coming home very soon!
- Animals - children are given the opportunity over preceding months to rear, train and prepare calves, lambs, goats or chickens. Lambs and goats do not have any set dates to be born, however, they must be this seasons. Calves must be born between 1st June and 31st August. Chickens are to be ordered through the school. More information will be in the information booklet. For further information on animals contact Sarah Sutherland 021 446 963.
- Projects - all children who are not able to rear an animal are required to complete a Growing or Construction/Art project. Information about these will be in the booklet.
- Information Evening - in the hall on Thursday 6th June at 7pm. This is an infomation evening NOT a meeting. The aim is to provide information and clarity around how the day is run/animals/projects and answer any questions. There will be a video explaining the animal course etc.
- Next Meeting - 17th June 7.00pm.
- Trophies - if you received a trophy last year, please can you polish it up and return to the office. You get to keep the miniature you were awarded last year.
School Fees and Donations
Please remember to pay your bus fees, technology fees, class consumables, mathletics fees, Education Perfect fees —these have to be paid to outside providers. Term 2 bus fees were due by 10th May - these are now OVERDUE if you have not paid them, these need to be paid immediately please.
Yummy Apple Stickers
Keep on crunchin' and a munchin' your way to free sports equipment! Shop at your local New World, Pak’n Save and participating Four Square stores. Purchase Yummy apples, either bags with cut-out labels or individual apples with Yummy stickers. Each class has a Sticker Collection Sheet to add to. Give any cut out labels to Mr Dyer in the office. We'll be collecting until the end of September.
Updates from the Wider Community
