Issue 21: Week 2, Term 3 2025
Principal's Message - Karere a te Tumuaki
Kia ora koutou. What an awesome start we’ve had to Term 3!
Thank you all for helping make the beginning of the term feel so positive and smooth. After attending our Ag Day meeting on Monday night, I left feeling really encouraged — it’s clear everything is coming together seamlessly. To top it all off, the sun has been shining beautifully these last few days!
On Friday afternoon, all our Ag Day chickens were safely delivered (see the photo attached) and it’s been such a joy hearing the creative names our kids have chosen for their animals. The excitement is certainly building for what promises to be another great Ag Day later in the term.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday morning for our Term 3 Pōwhiri. It really is such a special way to welcome our new families and students into our Karaka School whānau. We’re also excited to officially welcome Miss Cosgrave, who has joined our amazing Junior Team as a Teacher Aide this term. A big thank you as well to the PTA for providing the delicious shared morning tea afterwards — it was very much appreciated.
Today, quite a large number of our students are proudly representing Karaka at the ECCS Cross Country out at Te Puru Creek Park in Maraetai. We know they’ll give it their all and we certainly couldn’t have asked for better weather for the occasion. Best of luck to all our runners — ka pai!
Our Junior Team have officially hit the 100 Days of School milestone this week! This is always such a fun tradition for our younger tamariki to celebrate and this year was no exception. The photos attached capture some of the excitement and creativity of the day — what a wonderful way to reflect on how much they’ve already learned and grown this year. Thank you to our Junior Team staff for making this a special day for our younger learners ☺️
Ngā mihi nui,
Anna Powrie
Celebrating Learning and Achievement
Wearable Arts
Next Thursday evening, Georgia B, Charlotte T, Harper A, Lucy M, Nicola S, Livia C, Isla C and Darcy C will be showing their designs at the Wearable Arts. This is a very exciting time for the girls as they celebrate their creations. Watch this space for the professional photos in a few weeks.
Notes from the Office
Illness and Medication
- A reminder that at this time of year there are lots of bugs about. To help stop the spread, please keep your child home if they are unwell and ensure 48 hours have passed before sending your child to school after a stomach upset.
- Please be aware that all medication administered to a child must be brought to the office in the first instance. Medication must not be taken to the classroom or put in your child's lunchbox. A signed request/medical form must be provided before medication will be administered by staff. Please call into the office to sign this form.
- Hand washing is the simplest and most effective means to prevent, control and reduce infection. This includes colds, influenza and stomach bugs. Hands need to be washed and dried properly. Wet hands transfer bacteria more readily than dry hands which have not been washed at all.
Change of Clothes
If your child has been sent home in spare clothes from the office, please can these be returned once cleaned. Thanks
BoT Election 2025 - NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN
The nomination process for our School Board elections has started and nominations are now
open. We have 5 spaces for parent representatives on the Karaka School Board. We have appointed Schooled Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for the election, they will be handling the election process and you will see communications directly from them.
Everyone who is eligible to vote in the election will receive a nomination pack (either via email or post). The info pack will contain everything you need to nominate yourself or another member of the community. (If you are going to nominate someone else, just make sure they know about it and will accept the nomination!). It will also include information who isn’t able to be a School Board member.
If you need extra forms, or want a copy of the nomination form in Te Reo Māori or another
language, just contact the Returning Officer from Election Pilot directly on 0800 VOTENZ
(0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz.
Don’t leave things to the last minute, because nominations close at noon on Wednesday 6th August 2025. You can email in your nomination, complete it online at www.boardelections.nz or fill it in and drop it off to the school office. You can also send in a candidate statement and smiling photo with your nomination as well.
A copy of the electoral roll is kept at the school office and is available to be checked during usual school hours.
Voting will end at 4pm on Wednesday 10th September.
PTA News
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
