Newsletter Week 6 Term 1
Wednesday 18 March 2026
Web address: www.sfds.school.nz Email: office@sfds.school.nz
Embedded Files
Principal's Message
Principal's Message
Community Spirit
Seventeen years ago, our school grounds looked very different. I remember teaching on the top courts, feet pounding the concrete, while children grazed their legs on the rough surfaces of the top field, running around with little to do.
Fast forward to today, and what a transformation! We now have beautiful Astroturf grounds, a slide and climbing wall for our juniors to challenge themselves, and so much more—all made possible thanks to the incredible support of our school community.
I’m constantly amazed by the generosity of our families. Our wonderful PSL (Parent Support Link) has organised an Easter raffle, and the response has been incredible! We have 13 Easter baskets ready to be won, and we are now looking for extra hands to help sell the tickets.
All of these efforts go directly towards supporting our tamariki’s learning and ensuring a safe, enjoyable environment for them. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our PSL for their ongoing dedication to fundraising and supporting our school. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you all as we keep making our school a vibrant, safe, and happy place for our tamariki.
Ngā mihi nui,
Nikolai Solia
Principal
Hui Winners!
Huge congratulations to...
... Aubert and Barbier who came in first equal in the house cup awards!
...Tenysin for winning the Principal's cup award for the most House points!
...Georgie, Abia, Zeb, Willow, Joanne, Frank, Emma, Remus and Ezekiel for winning Value Certificates
...Aleena, Layla Rose, Lixie and Aaryan for winning the Golden tickets!
Garden to table
Garden to table
Picking fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, and fragrant herbs straight from the garden was such a highlight for our students! They loved being hands-on in the process, gathering ingredients and learning where their food comes from. Back in the kitchen, we turned our harvest into delicious herby tomato crackers—yum! The students even got creative by dipping fresh carrots into the tomato mix, which was a big hit.
It was wonderful to see everyone giving things a go, with many students trying new flavours and foods for the first time. A fun, busy, and tasty session all round!
Sports
Sports
Miniball (Years 3-6) and Basketball (Years 7 & 8)
Miniball and Basketball are now open on kindo. This is a 9 week Season - Registration and payment is due by Friday 24 April!
All details are on Kindo. Any questions please email Sarah on sarah.fountain@sfds.school.nz
School Notices and Events
School Notices and Events
SCHOOL DONATIONS AND CHARGES 2026
Thank you to all the families who have already paid, or are making payments towards, their school donations. These have been added to your Kindo account and can be paid in full or by part payments at a pace that suits you.
School donations are voluntary and tax deductible. If payment is made before 1 April 2026, you can claim your 2026 donations rebate through IRD. Receipts are automatically generated and emailed to you via your Kindo account when payment is made, and copies can also be accessed there if needed.
While we acknowledge that donations are voluntary, they play an important role in helping us provide quality resources and opportunities for our children.
If you have any questions, or if making payment at this time is difficult, please feel free to contact Fran in the office to discuss options.
School Donations & Payments 2026.pdfSports Hoodie Order
We are excited to offer our optional sports hoodie, designed exclusively for sports and PE days. This navy-blue hoodie with white writing can be personalized with your child’s name on the back. We suggest/recommend using last names - avoid using your child's first name or personal nick names - this can be a safety risk when your child/ren are walking to and from school.
How to Order:
Hoodies are available to purchase on Kindo under the "Sports Hoodie" tab.
Important:
Orders must be paid for by Wednesday 25 March. Unfortunately, we cannot place your order if payment is not received by this deadline.
Pricing:
Kids' Sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL): $60 each
Adult Sizes (S, M, L, XL): $65 each
Sizing Information:
If you are unsure about sizing, fittings are available at the uniform shop every Friday morning from 8:45 to 9:15 am. We will email you the sizing information, allowing you to place your order on Kindo confidently.
Please Note:
Sizing is unique, so if you're uncertain, we highly recommend a fitting.
Once ordered, refunds will not be available.
If you already own a hoodie, you may be able to gauge the next size needed and place your order directly on Kindo.
Hoodies will be ready for collection in Term 2.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the office (officeoffice@sfds.school.nz).
PSL
PSL
SFdS Easter Egg Raffle!!
Our SFdS Easter Egg Raffle is back, and we need your help! Yesterday the oldest children in your family were sent home with a book of 10 raffle tickets to sell at $2 each.
This year, all funds raised will support our Garden to Table programme, which the whole school takes part in. Through this programme, students learn how to grow, harvest, prepare, and share fresh food, building valuable life skills while working together in the school garden and kitchen.
Please help by selling as many tickets as you can to friends, family, neighbours, and work colleagues.
Return the sold ticket stubs and money in the envelope provided to the school office by Wednesday 1 April – Tickets will be drawn by 12pm
Student Prizes: There will be 3 prizes awarded – one for the student in each syndicate who sells the most tickets.
Raffle Prizes: There are 13 fantastic prizes up for grabs!
The raffle will be drawn just in time for Easter, and winners will be notified by phone.
If you are unable to sell your tickets, please return them to the school office so they can be redistributed.
If you would like more tickets to sell or need further information, please see the school office.
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Our SFDS Events Calendar is the best way to stay up to date with everything happening at school — including PE days, special events, and other important dates. You can find the calendar by clicking on the link above or either on our school website or through Hero.
Friday 13 March
PSL Non Uniform (Mufti) day! - Please send in an item that we can raffle off as part of our upcoming Easter raffle!
Wednesday 18 March
Athletics Day - Full School
Friday 20 March
Fun Sports Morning! - Shorland Park
Monday 23 March
Year 7 Vision Screening
Wednesday 25 March
Sports hoodie orders close
Wednesday 1 April
Easter Raffle to be drawn
Thursday 2 April
Last day of Term 1
Friday 3 April
Good Friday
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