Issue 11: Week 1, Term 2 2025

Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki

Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau,

Nau mai hoki mai ki te wahanga tuarua o te tau!
Welcome back to Term 2 – I hope you all had a wonderful break and enjoyed some special family time over Easter and ANZAC Day. It is always a precious opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge. I spent the last evening of the holidays at 'Go Media' Stadium in the rain watching Auckland FC win the final home match of the league. I'm glad I went (despite being tempted by the warmth and dry comfort of home) and enjoyed the atmosphere of 24,000 people cheering for Auckland. Bring on the semi-finals!

Being a shorter term of just 9 weeks, it will no doubt fly by! We are jumping straight into things this week with Class Photos happening this Friday. Please try your best to have your tamariki here on the day – we love to see every child proudly represented in their class photo. Later that afternoon, we will also hold our special ANZAC Assembly to honour and remember those who served for New Zealand.

Looking ahead to Week 3, the Education Review Office (ERO) will be onsite from Monday-Wednesday. Our last review was back in 2019 – quite some time ago thanks to Covid! We are looking forward to partnering with ERO to celebrate the things we are doing well and to identify the next steps in our journey of continuous improvement.
Because of ERO's visit, we have decided to postpone our Term 2 Pōwhiri by a week. This means we can warmly welcome both our new families (who have joined us since our Term 1 Pōwhiri) and the ERO team at the same time. If you are already an established part of our school whānau, we would really appreciate your support at this event to help us offer a warm welcome.

A few other important reminders:

• Friday 30th May (the Friday before King's Birthday Weekend) is our next Teacher Only Day. This is the second, Ministry-mandated Professional Learning Day focused on the new Maths curriculum rolling out in 2025.
  Please note that school will be closed for students on this day.

• Save the Date! Our fabulous PTA Mid-Winter Quiz Night is back – happening on Saturday 7th June. If last year is anything to go by, it will be an unforgettable night of laughter, friendly competition, and great community spirit. More details will follow shortly – but pop it in your calendar now!

Ngā mihi nui for your ongoing support. We are looking forward to a busy, positive, and exciting Term 2 together.

Anna Powrie.

Celebrating Learning and Achievement

Congratulations Max

Well done Max N for coming 1st in the North Island Secondary Schools Orienteering Championships in the long course, which was held during the holidays at Muirs Farm in Whiriwhiri.  This is an awesome achievement Max, well done on representing Karaka School.

Assembly Certificate Recipients from 11th April -

Notes from the Office

Scholastic Book Fair and Book Character Dress-Up Day

Our annual Book Character Dress-up Day is just around the corner and we can't wait to see just how creative our students get this year! I know the Karaka teachers are looking forward to sharing in the fun too. We would like to invite all our whanau to share in the fun and join us for our class parades in the hall at 9am on Friday 9 May.

The Scholastic Book Fair is also back again and we can't wait to set you up with more nail biting adventures and magical fairytales. Please join us in the Library from Monday 12 May to Thursday 16 May before school @ 8:15 to 8:45 am or after school @ 2:45 to 3:15 pm.  If anyone could help with the Book Fair, please contact Tarryn Collie - tarrync@karaka.school.nz

We will have a special opening after our Book Character Dress-up Day Parade for whanau wishing to take their children to the Book Fair.

Ag Day - Saturday 13th September

First Ag Day Meeting - Dad's and Mum's, are you looking for a way to get involved in your school? Come along to our first Ag Day meeting Monday 19th May 7.00pm in the staffroom. All new families welcome, along with all your wonderful ideas and skills. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! You can contact the office if you have any queries.

PTA News

PTA Quiz Night - 7th June

 It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like... Quizmas! 

That’s right, our Mid-Winter Quiz Night is back and jollier than ever!
 Saturday, 7th June
 Karaka School Hall
 Kicking off at 7pm sharp

Gather your merry mates, don your best Christmas jumper (optional but encouraged!), and sleigh your way through a night of festive fun, tricky trivia, and a whole lot of laughs. 

 Light nibbles and supper provided – because even brainy elves need snacks!
 Tables of up to 10 – so round up your reindeer crew and book your spot now on Kindo.

 CALLING ALL CHRISTMAS HELPERS!
We’re on the lookout for R18 bottle donations for our popular Mystery Bags, which will be available to purchase on the night. If you’re able to contribute, please drop donations into the school office — by an adult, not a student, please (Santa’s rules!).

 Got something special to give?
We’re also gratefully accepting items or services to auction off during the evening – a fantastic way to support the school and show off your business or talents!

Spots are limited, so don’t be left out in the cold – we’ll see you under the twinkly lights! 

Updates from the Wider Community