Issue 37: Week 7, Term 4 2024

Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki

Kia ora and welcome to the third to last newsletter edition for the year! We're definitely entering that phase where there's a feeling of excitement for the upcoming end of year events, mixed with the usual feelings of uncertainty and nervousness. This is particularly so for our Year 8 students about to graduate and prepare for the next phase of their educational journey at high school. But we're not finished the school year just yet, so there are things I can update you on for the coming weeks:

• Next Tuesday 3rd of December we have Karaka's Got Talent at 9am in the Hall - all are welcome to come and enjoy the amazing acts that will be on show!
• On Tuesday the 10th of December we are having 0ur Year 8 Graduation Dinner which we are also really looking forward to
• Wednesday 11th of December - Helper's Morning Tea at 11am, Reports and OTJS published on Hero by midday, Meet the Teacher sessions after lunch for students to spend a little bit of time in their 2025 classes (lots going on!)
• Thursday 12th December - End of Year Prizegiving at 5:30pm in the Hall (all are encouraged to attend (in school uniform please) and we will have a performance from our Senior Kapa Haka Group to start the proceedings
  
• Friday December 13th - school finishes at midday
• Saturday 14th December - everyone enjoys a sleep in!

It is also a good chance to inform you that there will be very little change to classes and year levels for 2025 (which is a really calm feeling for the end of Term 4 I have to say!). In fact, the only change affects Pateke as Miss Agate heads off on maternity leave and we welcome Miss Waters into the Year 5&6 team. Compared to last year where we had furniture shifting and other logistics to navigate with multiple changes, everyone else remains exactly where they are. For those moving to a new team or area of the school, here is the breakdown:

Junior Team: Kotare Year 0/1- Miss Van der Gulik; Tui Year 1/2 - Ms Sylva; Ruru Year 1/2 - Miss Ballard (Junior Team Leader)

Middle Team: Mokomoko Year 3/4 - Mrs Jordan; Kōkako Year 3/4 - Miss Cheyne; Kōkako Year 3/4 - Mrs Collie (Acting Middle Team Leader for Mrs Fielder who returns in Term 3)

Senior Team: Pukeko Year 5/6 - Mrs Christensen; Pateke Year 5/6 - Miss Waters; Pepeketua Year 5/6 - Mrs Redshaw (Year 5/6 Team Leader)

Intermediates: Mangopare Year 7/8 - Mr Vermeulen and Mrs Sutton (Senior Team Leader)

Last Tuesday, some of our Intermediates represented ECCS at Counties Athletics. Three students have gone on to qualify for Auckland Champs which is tomorrow. Congratulations and good luck to Daniel P, Ella H and Cooper R - what a stellar achievement! Yesterday we had two Year 5/6 teams participate in the Northern Districts/Counties Girls Festival of Cricket. They had a blast as you can see from the photo at the top. A special mention to Lynley Alderson who accompanied and helped Mrs Christensen for the day despite not having any children of her own in the team - we sure are lucky with our parent support here at Karaka.

And that's all from me - enjoy the rest of the week.

Ngā mihi,

Anna Powrie

Celebrating Learning and Achievement

Assembly Awards 22nd November - Congratulations to the following students:

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.  All books to be returned by Friday 29th November.

The Library is now closed.

Thanks very much.

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