Issue 12: Week 2, Term 2 2025
Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki
Kia ora e te whānau,
I hope you are all settling well back into the busy rhythm of Term 2. As you can see from my photo this week, I have made the most of the incidental moments that make me smile and remind me why I love working in a country school. Annabel and Tulip - I think your puppies are pretty cute!
You may have seen my HERO post this week about the Ministry of Education’s new Parent Portal. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I encourage you to take a look. It’s designed to help you access important information about your child’s learning journey and progress – a great tool to strengthen home-school connections.
On the sporting front, ka pai to Emily P who represented ECCS at the Counties Girls Football Tournament yesterday. The team was made up mostly of students from Maraetai and Hunua Schools (and our one Karaka representative!), and despite never having played together before, the coach shared how well they all worked as a team and how awesome their attitudes were. These messages always make me proud to be part of a cluster of schools with similar values and mindsets - ka pai Emily.
Next week, we will be hosting the Education Review Office (ERO) at our school. We will formally welcome them at our Term 2 Pōwhiri on Monday morning. It would be wonderful to have as many of our whānau as possible join us to show your support and help welcome the ERO team alongside our new families.
This Friday is our Book Character Dress-Up Day. We’re looking forward to seeing both tamariki and staff dressed up as their favourite book characters. The parade is always a highlight, and there will be class certificates and Book Fair prizes up for grabs. This event helps build excitement ahead of our Book Fair in Week 3. If you are available to help with Book Fair sales before or after school next week, please contact Mrs Collie (tarrync@karaka.school.nz) as we’d love your support.
On the Ag Day front, our first Ag Day Committee meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday the 19th of May - time is definitely creeping up and Term 3 will be upon us before we can blink. Everyone is welcome at this meeting, including new parents who might just want to learn a little bit more about what Ag Day is about (it is the pinnacle of our school calendar after all!). Just to ensure everyone has the date locked in, our 2025 Ag Day will be held on Saturday September the 13th this year.
And that's all from me - hope to have lots of people in attendance at the PTA meeting tonight ☺️
Ngā mihi nui,
Anna Powrie
Principal
Welcome to the Karaka School Whanau
- Kayley F
- Emily D-S
Celebrating Learning and Achievement
Counties Girls Football Tournament
"The girls played with a lot of spirit and mana today and were a credit to their respective schools. The team came 6th overall, and seemed to have a lot of fun.
It was a privilege to manage and support the girls throughout the day".
Message from Phil Green - Health, PE and Sport Leader of Hunua School
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.
Absentees
Please remember that there are a number of ways to report an absence:
- On our absentee phone line
- Via Hero or the absentee link on our website
- Emailing the office - admin@karaka.school.nz
- Emailing the teacher
- Calling into the office or getting a sibling to report the absence
This is a Health and Safety requirement.
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! 
PTA Meeting Tonight in the Staffroom 7pm
All welcome!
Oxford Pies Fundraiser
Orders due back on Friday 16th May - please return paper copy forms to your child's teacher or the office, even if you are completing your payment on Kindo. Delivery for pies is Tuesday 27th May - collection from 2:30pm in the hall.
Uniform Shop
Size 4 trackpants are now available at the uniform shop. Please place an order in Kindo.
Any questions/fundraising ideas or if you require uniform items urgently, you can email the PTA on karaka.pta@gmail.com
The Karaka School PTA account is 12 3031 0851231 00
Updates from the Wider Community
