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TERM 4, Week 5
Kia ora whānau,
Kia ora whānau,
Here are a few updates and reminders for the next few weeks.
Cultural Day!
On Monday 16 November, we will be holding a cultural celebration day for the whole school. Children can wear cultural dress, or dress in the colours of the country/flag that they associate with. We will have a whole-school parade at 9:30 am on this day.
All hapori | learning hubs will have a shared lunch at 1:15 pm. Can each child please bring a small plate of finger food to share (nothing that requires heating or cutlery to eat, please). Please label all ingredients.
We warmly invite you to attend our shared lunch at 1:15 pm in your child’s learning space, followed by cultural performances, and finishing with the unveiling of our collaborative art pieces. You may take your child after this time, but all children will need to be signed out with their ako | class teacher.
If you or your child have a desire to share more about your culture on this day, please contact your child’s ako teacher.
We hope to see as many of you as possible on the day.
Navigating the Journey
Year 4 and 5 classes will be beginning our Navigating the Journey sessions from Tuesday for the next two weeks. Any queries please talk to your child's AKO teacher.
Old shirts needed.
If you have any old T-shirts or tops, we could use them for painting shirts. Please send them to Matua Blair. We have old dad shirts, but they are a bit big for the Year 4-5s.
No Hat, No play
A reminder that hats are required this term. Please ensure your child brings their hat with them each day.
📅 Important Dates
📅 Important Dates
Friday 13th November - Canterbury Anniversary Day (school is closed)
Monday 16th November - Cultural Celebration Day
Thursday 3rd December - Singing Performance
Wednesday 16th December- Last day of school - 1/2 day (early finish, time - tbc).
Term 4, Week 3
Term 4, Week 3
Kia ora whānau,
Kia ora whānau,
Here are a few updates and reminders for the next few weeks.
Market Day Success!
What a great learning experience our Year 4–6 classes had at Market Day yesterday! It was wonderful to see everything come together and to watch our students work collaboratively to sell their products. While this was a student-led experience, we know it wouldn't have been possible without the support of our whānau. Thank you for supporting your child's learning and making the day such a huge success!
Reimbursements: If you have held onto receipts for reimbursement, please ensure they are handed to your child's ako teacher no later than Friday. Any receipts not received by Friday will be considered a generous donation toward our camp costs—thank you!
Grand Total: We will be busy counting and sorting the funds over the coming days to calculate our final grand total!
Head Lice Notice
We have been notified of a couple of cases of head lice in the Pūrei hub. Please be extra vigilant in checking your children for symptoms. For detailed information on what to look out for and how to treat head lice, please visit the Ministry of Health Head Lice Guidance.
Upcoming: Cultural Day (Monday, 16th November)
We are excited to host a whole-school Cultural Day on Monday, 16th November! As part of the day, we want to celebrate and learn more about the diverse cultures within our hapori (community). If you are available to come in and share a piece of your culture, heritage, or traditions with our students, please email your child's ako teacher.
Teacher Appreciation Day is Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is Teacher Appreciation Day! Please join us in saying a huge thank you to our hardworking teachers for the incredible dedication and care they bring to Ararira Springs Primary every day.
Old shirts needed.
If you have any old T-shirts or tops, we could use them for painting shirts. Please send them to Matua Blair. We have old dad shirts, but they are a bit big for the Year 4-5s.
No Hat, No play
A reminder that hats are required this term. Please ensure your child brings their hat with them each day.
📅 Important Dates
📅 Important Dates
Tuesday 10th November- International families potluck dinner
Friday 13th November - Canterbury Anniversary Day (school is closed)
Monday 16th November - Cultural Celebration Day
Wednesday 16th December- Last day of school - 1/2 day (early finish, time - tbc).
tERM 4, Week 1
tERM 4, Week 1
Kia ora whānau,
Kia ora whānau,
Here are a few updates and reminders for the start of Term 4.
Athletics Day
Hi everyone! A quick reminder that our annual Athletics Day is coming up this Friday, 23rd October. Students may wear whanau group colours if they wish. If you can spare some time to help out, please email Whaea Meeghan directly at meeghan.herbert@ararira.school.nz with your availability. Thank you for your support!
Calendar Art
A reminder that your child should have brought their Calendar Art form home.
Simply follow the instructions below to place an order:
Go to www.kidsartworks.com
Enter the school code: KZ8182
Find the correct class
Type your child's name in the box
ENTER to view their artwork and order products
Upcoming Event: Year 4–6 Market Day (Wednesday, 28th October)
Our Year 4–6 students are excited to launch our inaugural Market Day on Wednesday, 28th October (our first day back after Labour Weekend)! Students can use Tuesday at home to craft and prepare their products. Each year group will focus on a specific area: Year 4 (Carnival Games), Year 5 (Arts & Crafts), and Year 6 (Food). This hands-on project gives students a fun way to practice financial literacy skills like budgeting, expenses, and profit-making. All proceeds raised will go toward lowering the costs for Year 6 camps (and future Year 7 camps).
Note for reimbursement: Please save and submit any receipts to your ako teacher for full reimbursement.
If you have any questions, please contact your child's ako teacher. We can’t wait to see their creativity in action!
Pack In, Pack Out
Our school is proud to be a Pack In, Pack Out environment. By practicing Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), we work together to protect and care for Te Taiao (our environment) by keeping our school grounds clean and reducing landfill waste.
Here is how you can help us care for our environment every day:
Pack In: Send snacks and lunches in reusable containers, silicone pouches, or cloth wraps. Please try to minimize single-use plastic, foil, and pre-packaged wrappers.
Pack Out: All food scraps, packaging, and waste brought to school will return home in your child’s lunchbox at the end of the day.
Sending waste home gives you a clear picture of what your child is eating during the day, while helping our whole school community minimize waste and protect our environment and awa (stream).
Sun Hats & "No Hat, No Play"
School hats are compulsory during Terms 1 and 4. Students who do not have a school hat will be required to sit in designated shaded areas during morning tea and lunchtime.
Sunscreen
Please provide your child with a NAMED bottle of sunscreen if you wish them to reapply this during the day, e.g. at lunchtime. We suggest a roll-on type. They need to be able to apply this by themselves.
📅 Important Dates
📅 Important Dates
Friday 23rd October - Athletics Day
Monday 26th October - Labour Day holiday (school is closed)
Tuesday 27th October- Teacher only day (school is closed)
Wednesday 28th October - Market day. Please bring some gold coins. No notes please. Please note that teachers will not be responsible for your child's money.
Tuesday 10th November- International families potluck dinner
Friday 13th November - Canterbury Anniversary Day (school is closed)
Monday 16th November - Cultural Celebration Day
Wednesday 16th December- Last day of school - 1/2 day (early finish, time - tbc).
Term 3
Term 3
Week 9/10
Week 9/10
Kia ora whānau,
Kia ora whānau,
We have a few updates and reminders as we head towards the end of Term 3.
🧮 Maths Practice Website – Year 3 to 8
🧮 Maths Practice Website – Year 3 to 8
Looking for some extra maths practice at home? Check out the following website for NZC Maths Practice for Years 3–8.
Access the Maths Practice Website
This is a great way for ākonga to practise and reinforce some of the maths skills they have been learning at school.
🌱 Relationships and Sexuality Education
🌱 Relationships and Sexuality Education
At Ararira Springs, we use the resource Navigating the Journey: Relationships and Sexuality Education to support aspects of our Health Education curriculum.
Created by education and health professionals, this resource aligns with current Ministry of Education guidelines. The units are tailored to the age and stage of each child’s development, with the curriculum building on the same core themes each year.
The five themes are:
Establishing a positive learning environment | Te whakarite i tētahi ao ako huapai
Who am I? | Ko wai au?
Relationships | Ngā whanaungatanga
Growing and changing | Te tipu me te huri o te tangata
Staying safe | Te noho haumaru
At the beginning of Term 4, we will be teaching Themes 4 and 5 – Growing and Changing and Staying Safe.
If you have any questions about these units or would like to find out more about what will be covered, we are holding a brief whānau information session:
Purei: Wednesday 14 October, 8:00–8:30am
Huarapa: Wednesday 14 October, 8:00–8:30am
These times have been chosen so that you can attend the session while your children wait at the front of the school until the bell rings.
Please see the attached information for further details about the resource and the themes covered.
📅 Important Dates
📅 Important Dates
21–22 September: School Photos
25 September: Last Day of Term 3
23 October: ASP Athletics Day
27 October: Teacher Only Day
28 October: Market Day
16 December: Last Day of School
I hope you all have a lovely and restful holiday. Enjoy the break, and I look forward to seeing everyone back refreshed and ready for Term 4!
Term 3
Term 3
Week 7/8
Week 7/8
Kia ora whānau,
Just a few important notices and reminders for the next few weeks.
Ararira Springs - Strategic Plan Survey 2026
We Would Love Your Feedback! Please fill out the consultation surveys:
These surveys will be closed on Friday 11th September.
Maths Practice Website Year 3 to 8
Check out the following maths link for some NZC Maths Practice.
Year 4–6 Market Day — 28 October
Year 4–6 Market Day — 28 October
We have officially locked in a date for our Year 4–6 Market Day — Tuesday 28 October! The ākonga are already very excited.
We will be spending two afternoons each week planning and creating items to sell at Market Day. All funds raised will go towards Year 6 Camp each year.
Each year level will have a different focus:
Year 4: Arcade/fair games
Year 5: Arts and crafts
Year 6: Baking and food
These areas will be locked in so that each year, ākonga will have the opportunity to create and sell something different. We are looking forward to seeing our curious and capable ākonga shine as they bring their ideas to life!
A little reminder to please make sure your ākonga has all of the stationery they need each day. This includes our exercise books. A lot of ākonga have run out of space, especially in their literacy books.
Important Dates
Important Dates
4 September: ASP Quiz Night — tickets on sale via Kindo
11 September: Ararira's Got Talent
15 September: Whanau Hui, 6pm
21–22 September: School Photos
25 September: Last Day of Term
Term 3
Term 3
Week 5/6
Week 5/6
Kia ora whānau,
Just a few important notices and reminders for the next few weeks.
Well done to all of the brave ākonga (students) who auditioned for Ararira’s Got Talent! It was so awesome to see so many ākonga putting themselves out there, showing courage and giving something new a go. We are so proud of you!
A little reminder to please make sure your ākonga has all of the stationery they need each day. This includes our exercise books. A lot of ākonga have run out of space, especially in their literacy books.
Year 4–6 Market Day — 28 October
Year 4–6 Market Day — 28 October
We have officially locked in a date for our Year 4–6 Market Day — Tuesday 28 October! The ākonga are already very excited.
From next week, we will be spending two afternoons each week planning and creating items to sell at Market Day. All funds raised will go towards Year 6 Camp each year.
Each year level will have a different focus:
Year 4: Arcade/fair games
Year 5: Arts and crafts
Year 6: Baking and food
These areas will be locked in so that each year, ākonga will have the opportunity to create and sell something different. We are still in the very early stages of planning, and we are looking forward to seeing our curious and capable ākonga shine as they bring their ideas to life!
Important Dates
Important Dates
25 August: Zones Rugby/Netball Tournament
28 August: Daffodil Day — wear yellow/green and bring a gold coin donation
2 September: Strum, Strike, Blow Day rehearsal + night performance
4 September: ASP Quiz Night — tickets on sale via Kindo
21–22 September: School Photos
(Term 4) 28 October: Year 4–6 Market Day
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support!
Ngā mihi,
Huarapa & Purei Teachers
Term 3
Term 3
Week 3/4
Week 3/4
Kia ora whānau,
A warm welcome to Lauren Pratley, who is teaching in Pūrei 1.
Just a few important notices and reminders for the next few weeks.
10 August (Monday) Teacher Only Day. There will be no school for children on this day.
'ASP's Got Talent '
This will start in the hapori initially. If your child would like to take part, we will run the preliminaries in our space first, and then the winners (voted by students) will represent Huarapa and Pūrei in a whole-school final later in the term. Dates and times are still to be finalised, but start practising!
Stationery Reminders
Please make sure your child has all of the stationery they need for the rest of the term. We are noticing that lots of students are running out of items, especially white board markers. Please check in with your child to see if there is anything they are missing.
A reminder that students need to be wearing the correct school uniform each day.
Students have started PULSE, a mental wellbeing survey. Each Tuesday, students will log in and complete a short survey. This gives us a regular check-in with students and helps us to best support their wellbeing at school.
Movie Night
Our Movie Night is 7th of August! Doors will open at 4:45pm for the junior movie, and the movie screening is from 5-6:30. Doors will open at 6:45pm for the senior movie, with the movie screening from 7:00pm–8:30pm.
Students are welcome to:
Wear their PJs
Bring a pillow and/or blanket
Bring a water bottle
Bring a gold coin donation for popcorn
Thank you for your continued support.
Ngā mihi,
Huarapa & Pūrei Teachers
Term 3 Week 1/2
Term 3 Week 1/2
Kia ora whānau,
Just a few important notices and reminders for the next few weeks.
Book Week – starting Monday 27 July
We are looking forward to celebrating Book Week next week! Our Book Character Dress-Up Day will be on Friday 31 July. Students can come dressed as a character from their favourite book.
Please also make sure your child has all of the stationery they need for the rest of the term. We are noticing that lots of students are running out of things, so please check in with them and replace anything they need.
A reminder that students need to be wearing the correct school uniform each day.
Movie Night
Our Movie Night is coming up on the 7th of August! Doors will open at 6:45pm, with the movie screening from 7:00pm–8:30pm.
Students are welcome to:
Wear their PJs
Bring a pillow and/or blanket
Bring a water bottle
Bring a gold coin donation for popcorn
We are also starting our PULSE mental wellbeing survey from next week. Each Tuesday, students will log in and complete a short survey. This gives us a regular check-in with students and helps us to best support their wellbeing at school.
Thank you for your continued support.
Ngā mihi,
Huarapa & Purei Teachers
Term 2 Week 10
Term 2 Week 10
Term 2 Week 6
Term 2 Week 6
Term 2 Week 3
Term 2 Week 3
Term 2 Week 1
Term 2 Week 1
Welcome back to term 2 everyone, I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for our 11 week term. Don't worry, we are already 1 week down. It has been great to see all the kids again and hear about their adventures over the holidays.
Learner conversations
Hopefully you have all booked in a time to see your childs ako teacher next week for 'Learner conversations' this is happening on Wednesday and Thursday. School will be closed on Thursday from 1:30, for the sond half of these 'Learner conversations'
Whats coming up
Week 2
Public holiday - Monday
Hoodies for Autism - Wednesday
Learner conversations - Wednesday & Thursday
Week 3
THT Disco yrs 1-4 5.30-6.30pm, yrs 5-8, 6.45-8.00pm - Friday
ASP Cross Country - Friday
Tuning in to Kids Programme - Please check out the flyer below
Enjoy your weekend
Blair, Abi, Megan, Jamie, Lilly, Leonie, Dan and Michael
Term 1 Week 6
Term 1 Week 6
What a wonderful two weeks in the Phase 2 learning area of the school (Years 4 - 6). A lot of students participated in the Wheels and Walk to School Week, even though some of the weather wasn't the best. The Year 6's headed off to Living Springs on Wednesday, and they had a fantastic time.
Emergency Food: As part of our planning procedures, we need to keep a supply of snacks in each classroom in case of an emergency. Please bring in 2-3 individually wrapped snacks. (e.g. chips, crackers, muesli bar). If your child has special dietary needs, please provide snacks in a clearly named bag. These can be handed to your child's ako teacher.
Cardboard boxes and newspaper needed in Pūrei. Next Thursday (26/3) Whaea Megan is needing lots of cardboard boxes and newspaper for her STEAM activity. If you have some, please send them along to Pūrei 1. Thanks so much!!
Poster Competition - Music Festival Representative Groups 2026 - AUDITIONS! Please click the link
Dates for your diary
Week 7
Tuesday 17th: Road Patrol training for those selected
Friday 20th: Year 6's will be presenting at Hui
Week 8:
Wednesday 25th - Friday 27th: iBike safety for Year 5 and 6, there will be a seperate HERO post for Year 5 and 6 regarding iBike sessions.
Last day of school
Week 9 Thursday 2nd April
Enjoy your weekend
Blair, Abi, Megan, Jamie, Lilly, Leonie, Dan and Michael
Term 1 - Week 4
Term 1 - Week 4
Kia Ora Whanau
In phase 2, we have had another great two weeks with the students. A big thank you to those who braved the weather to come in for an indoor picnic and to meet the teachers.
The Year 4 - 5 classes are now starting to explore our overall theme of the year which is Exploration, the students are excited about where this learning could take them. A couple of classes are exploring space, another one exploring farms and how they operate and another one exploring treasures around the world.
In the Year 6 classes, the only thing the students are talking about is camp, which is only another week and a half away. Please click on the Year 6 Camp tab to find more information about it.
Things to look forward to:
Week 5
Selwyn Walk to school week -
Week 6
Year 6 Camp
Kind regards
Phase 2 Team (Blair, Abi, Megan, Jamie, Lilly, Dan, Leonie, Michael)
Term 1 - Week 2
Term 1 - Week 2
Kia Ora, welcome to our fortnightly newsletter.
All teachers and students are really enjoying being back at school. Over the last couple of weeks, the students have been getting to know the new routines and expectations in their new space. They have played a variety of numeracy games and written some amazing recounts about their holidays and Waitangi Day weekend. We have enjoyed meeting the families that could attend the drop-off day and then more at the Mihi Whakatau. We look forward to meeting more of you at our Community Picnic on Tuesday, 17th Feb, starting at 5.30 pm.
These notices will be sent out in weeks 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The school newsletter will be sent out in the other weeks.
A few things to note:
Check the events page for any upcoming events
Look through the photos of the hubs
We are encouraging everyone in years 4 - 6 to have a physical book in their tote trays
Year 6: Information regarding camp will be posted on the blog
Hats to be worn while outside in Term 1
Kind regards
Phase 2 Team
Blair, Abi, Megan, Jamie, Lilly, Leonie, Dan and Michael
Nau mai, haere mai
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