Issue 35: Week 5, Term 4 2024
Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki
Kia ora e te whānau.
Well I'd be lying if I didn't say the weeks just seem to get busier and busier (although I feel like I say this every day during Term 4). I did manage to find a few hours of down time this weekend when I took my daughter Emily to the Civic Theatre to watch the 'Lord of the Rings' stage show. It really was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves the theatre and/or Lord of the Rings. I know Mrs Withers and Mrs Fell are off to see it - and Mr Dyer is thinking about it too! This also might explain the photo I've included this week....
Yesterday our Year 7&8 Boys Touch team competed at the Counties tournament and took out 1st place! They were also awarded the overall Sportsmanship Award and I'm equally, if not more so, proud of that. What a tremendous achievement, particularly when we are up against much larger intermediate schools at Counties level. Thank you to Mr Vermeulen and the parents who went along to support the boys - Debbie Coppock & their awesome Coach Gary Parker. They're off to Auckland Champs next week which will be another exciting (and no doubt gruelling) experience on the touch field.
To top off the achievements of yesterday, we had three teams compete at the Papakura Mathex Competition at Papakura Normal School last night. It was a really exciting event, and all our teams did us proud. Two of them ended up in tiebreakers to vie for (and win) 2nd place which is always really stressful (a bit too stressful for mine and Mrs Sutton's liking if you ask us!). Congratulations to all our Mathex competitors: Year 6 - Jack A, Alina P, Adalia W & Melody C (2nd place); Year 7 - Cooper R, Carter C, Lucy E & Reid H; Year 8 - Tom P, Grace M, Daniel P & Olivia P (2nd place).
This morning our two Kapa Haka rōpū are performing at the Hunua Cultural Festival at Drury School. I am really proud of how hard our Kapa Haka groups have worked this year under their tutors (also new to Karaka this year), and I'm sure that I'll have lots of beautiful photos and videos to share after the event. Thanks to all the teachers who have given their time and support to our Kapa Haka groups and helped with the organisation of today's performance. I'd like to thank Mrs Redshaw, Mrs Collie and Miss Cheyne in particular.
Our Middle team have an even more exciting week to come with the Year 4 sleepover at Kelly Tarlton's this Thursday night, the Year 3 Tabloids morning on Friday, followed by a joint team Pizza lunch and movie afternoon. I have a funny feeling (call it Principal's intuition if you will) that there may be some tired teachers in the Middle Team by 3pm on Friday..... I better have the coffee on tap! Thank you also to the PTA for supporting this experience so it could go ahead.
We're excited to finish off this week with our PTA Sports themed disco. Of course our favourite DJ Rob will be in charge of the music on the night and I have no doubt it will be just as much fun as the last one. I look forward to seeing those of you that are able to make it and finishing off the week with a bang!
Nga mihi nui
Anna Powrie
Mathex
Celebrating Learning and Achievement
Assembly Certificates from 8th November
E.C.C.S Athletics Day
Congratulations to the 31 students that represented Karaka School at the E.C.C.S. Athletics Day held at Massey Park last week. Everyone showed a lot of determination, pride and the Karaka School values. 35 placings is an outstanding effort for the 31 students representing Karaka School at this event. Everyone who competed should be extremely proud of their efforts.
It was a great day and the students competed in athletics events throughout the day, showing grit and determination. Both Mr Dyer and I couldn’t be more proud of our students and the way they represented Karaka School.
A big thanks to Tyrone Riley who helped out at the discus event all day. Your help and support is always really appreciated.
All the best to Daniel P, Ella H, Cooper R, Tua S and Indie P, who will be attending the Counties Athletics Day to represent E.C.C.S. on Tuesday, November 19th.
ECCS Athletics
Notes from the Office
Library Books and School Readers
As we are nearing the end of year it is time to return any Library books and school readers that you may have hiding at home - please check under beds, behind the couch, in bookcases for any Karaka School books and return them to your classroom teachers.
The Library will be closing on Friday 22nd November to get ready for this year's stock take.
Thanks very much.
PTA News
Fill up your Christmas stockings, grab your Secret Santa gifts or keep in your pantry for a rainy day! Now is your chance to grab some baking mixes while raising some funds for our Karaka School PTA!
How to Order:
- Visit www.flouranddough.co.nz
- Click on "Karaka School Fundraiser" (top left for laptop/PC or under the three stripes in the top right on a phone).
- Enter the password: fundraisekaraka (all lower case, one word).
- Select the products you would like to order and proceed to checkout.
- Choose "Pick up Karaka Fundraiser only."
- Under Personal Message – add the child’s name and classroom you wish the order to be placed under as reference.
Orders will be delivered to Karaka School early December (date tbc) for collection. Orders close on 15th November.
Products Available:
- Chewy Chocolate Brownie Mix - $10
- Fudgy White Chocolate Blondie Mix - $10
- Oregano, Garlic & Sage Beer Bread - $10
- Chilli & Garlic Beer Bread - $10
- Funfetti Sugar Cookie Mix - $10
- Cake in a Mug (5 servings) - $6
- Pumpkin & Cashew Bread Mix (Keto & Gluten Free) - $11
Thank you for supporting our PTA. Each product purchased raises up to $3.20 for our school - amazing!
Happy Baking!
The PTA are excited to share that we are running a Cookie Time Christmas Cookie fundraiser! Perfect gifts for friends & families. Order forms have been sent home and are due back by Tuesday 19th November. A portion of the sales goes back to the PTA.
Updates from the Wider Community
PUNI SCHOOL PTA FUNDRAISER - please see poster below. The school that sells the most tickets will win a fantastic sports prize pack. Sunday 24th November.
