Year 5-6 Term Three Update

Tēnā koutou, nau mai hoki mai | Greetings to you all, welcome back! 

Tēnei te mihi, e te whānau,

We hope you and your whānau had a restful and refreshing break.

Term 3 is shaping up to be another busy and exciting one, full of learning experiences. In the first few weeks, our ākonga will be focusing on speech writing and delivery, around the annual speech competition theme of whenua (land). Learners will spend the first few weeks of term planning and drafting their speeches and then presenting them in their literacy groups. Some learners will make it through to our village finals on Wednesday 13 August, with the winners of this selected to represent the school at the APPA speech competition. It is helpful to support your child with practising their speech at home in front of you, out loud. 

Like the rest of the school, our overarching curriculum focus this term is Kotahitanga: Celebrating Identity, Uniting in Diversity.

This theme will be explored through our learners' cultures and the arts, and we look forward to ending the term with a special showcase where learners will have the opportunity to share their creative work with you.

Ngā mihi nui,

To contact the Hub Teaching Teams, please use the email addresses below:

• hub12teachers@stonefields.school.nz

• hub13teachers@stonefields.school.nz

Kotahitanga Cultural Day, immerse yourself - Tuesday 5 August

Early in the term we will be building our knowledge of different cultures through a cultural immersion day. Learners will experience a range of cultural activities including food, art, music, dance, games, and sports. Learners will be encouraged to dress in cultural items for the day.  

We would love to partner with our parents also for this day. Do you have a cultural activity you would like to lead with the learners? Do you have some cultural food that you would like to share/make with our learners? Are there any other cultural talents or ideas that you would like to share with us? Please get in touch with your hub teachers.

Please keep an eye out for communication over the next couple of weeks regarding our upcoming trips to Auckland Museum. This trip is an opportunity for learners to build their knowledge and make meaning about our concept of Kotahitanga: Celebrating Identity, Uniting in Diversity. 

This is to coincide with the exhibitions focusing on the diversity of Tāmaki Makarau (Auckland) and wider Aotearoa, and how different groups of people have come together to form our community.

Dates of the trips:

• Hub 12 - Tuesday 26 August

• Hub 13 - Friday 29 August

The cost of the trip will be $20. More information will be provided shortly.

Staff Only Day - Monday 11 August

Don't forget school will be closed on Monday 11 August. Kelly Club will be open if you need childcare. 

Senior Assembly Dates

This term we have three Senior Assemblies. This is a great opportunity for parents to see everything we've been exploring and learning about in the Hubs. We hope you can join us at 2pm in the Hall on: 

• Monday 4 August

• Monday 1 September

• Monday 15 September 

FOSS and Parent Helpers - we need your help! 

FOSS (Friends of Stonefields School) do a fantastic job of helping to support our school and organise a range of fun events to bring the community together. This includes Friday Cafe and this term, the highlight for many kids, the School Discos. But to make these happen they need your help! If you'd like to get involved or to find out more, please get in touch here.

2026 Term Dates 

We apologise, last term we released some incorrect dates for 2026. The following dates are now confirmed: 

• Term 1: Wednesday 4 February - Thursday 2 April

• Term 2: Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July

• Term 3: Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September

• Term 4: Monday 12 October - Wednesday 16 December

Public holidays during Term time:

• Anzac Day (Observed) – Monday 27 April 

• King’s Birthday – Monday 1 June

• Labour Day – Monday 26 October

Break Through Challenge - Passion Led

This term learners will be focusing on showcasing their culture and the culture of learners at Stonefields School. In the first part of this term, learners will be exploring cultures that are important to them and comparing and contrasting cultures. Learners will explore: sports, clothing, food and inventions from different cultures. 

Towards the end of the term, learners will tell the story of their learning through their break through project. They will be able to chose how they show this learning in a variety of creative and artistic ways for our end-of-term Kotahitanga Cultural Celebration! 

Reminder: Chromebooks Charged, Ready for Learning!

A reminder that learners should be bringing fully charged Chromebooks to school each day. Chromebooks tend to be used at various points throughout each day, whilst balancing this with book work. 

• You may be interested to know that Keyboarding is a new element in the 2025 NZC Curriculum. 

• Please ensure that your child charges their Chromebook each night, so they are ready for learning the following day. 

• Chargers should be kept at home.

• Please also be aware that the school only monitors activity on Chromebooks during school hours. Outside of school hours, monitoring of the safety and security of your child while online, is the responsibility of parents and guardians.

Winter Uniform

At Stonefields School we wear our uniform with pride. We have plenty of winter uniform items to keep you warm during the colder months. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is wearing the correct school uniform:

• Blue polo shirt (short sleeve or long sleeve) 

• Charcoal trousers, skort, or shorts   

• Black shoes, including black laces (white soles are acceptable). 

• Black or white socks

• Beanie

• Fleece Jacket

• Black or dark blue plain hair ties/bands (no other colours please) 

• No jewellery or necklaces should be worn, as this is a health and safety concern during playtimes and PE sessions. Exceptions to this include jewellery of cultural significance, small stud earrings, and watches however no smart-watches. 

• Black tights/leggings and a black or blue thermal can be worn under the uniform for extra warmth if required 

New uniform items can be purchased online and delivered to your home. Pre-Loved uniform items can be requested here and collected from the office. 

Lost Property 

Don't forget to keep an eye on the lost property outside Te Pataka Ako! The rack is bulging with named jackets and the pile of unnamed jackets is even higher. 

School Board Elections

You will have received an email yesterday from us regarding the School Board Elections. Nominations open this Friday, 18 July. 

Stonefields School have appointed Schooled Election Pilot as the Returning Officer for our election and for the election to be provided online.

On Friday 18 July, you will receive an email from Schooled Election Pilot (election@electionpilot.nz) with a link to our election portal. All nominations must be submitted via this portal.  

• You can nominate yourself or someone else in the community. 

• Nominees will be asked to submit a photo and a short candidate statement 

• Nominations will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 6 August 

If you have any questions regarding the elections, feel free to drop into the office or email us at office@stonefields.school.nz 

Dates for the Diary

• Friday Cafe | Friday 18 July | 3pm

• School Board nominations open | Friday 18 July 

• AIMs Fundraising Bake Sale  | Friday 25 July | 3pm

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 25 July | 3pm

• Stonefields School Board Meeting | Tuesday 29 July | 5.30pm, Te Pātaka Ako

• Friday Cafe | Friday 1 August | 3pm 

• Cook Island Language Week  | Monday 4 - Friday 8 August

• Senior Assembly (Year 5-8) | Monday 4 August | 2pm, Hall 

• Kotahitanga Cultural Day | Tuesday 5 August 

• School Board nominations close | Wednesday 6 August | 12noon

• Tamaki Basketball (Year 5-8) | Wednesday 6 August | sign up here

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 8 August | 3pm

• Staff Only Day | Monday 11 August | school closed

• Year 5-6 Speech finals | Wednesday 13 August

• School Board Election voting begins | Wednesday 13 August

• Friday Cafe | Friday 15 August | 3pm 

• Senior School Disco | Friday 15 August | 7.15pm

• Tongan Language Week  | Monday 18 - Friday 22 August

• Tamaki Rippa Rugby (Year 5-8) | Wednesday 20 August | sign up here 

• Whānau Hui | Wednesday 20 August | 6pm

• Pasifika Talanoa | Wednesday 20 August | 6pm

• Visitor Tour | Thursday 21 August | register here  

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 22 August | 3pm 

• Auckland Museum Trip - Hub 12 | Tuesday 26 August

• Photolife Teams & Groups | Wednesday 27 August

• Auckland Museum Trip - Hub 13 | Friday 29 August

• Friday Cafe | Friday 29 August | 3pm 

• Senior Assembly (Year 5-8) | Monday 1 September | 2pm, Hall 

• Stonefields School Board Meeting | Tuesday 2 September | 5.30pm, Te Pātaka Ako

• Tamaki Netball (Year 3-8) | Wednesday 3 September | sign up here 

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 5 September | 3pm 

• School Board Election closes | Wednesday 10 September

• Friday Cafe | Friday 12 September | 3pm 

• Māori Language Week  | Monday 15 - Friday 19 September

• Senior Assembly (Year 5-8) | Monday 15 September | 2pm, Hall 

• Kotahitanga Cultural Celebration | Wednesday 17 September

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 19 September | 3pm

• Term 3 ends | Friday 19 September 

View our School Calendar to keep up to date with all events