School Newsletter
11 September 2025

Kia ora e te whānau | Greetings all

We're a week out now to our big end-of-term Kotahitanga Cultural Celebration on Wednesday 17 September, from 4pm. There's a real buzz around school as the learners finish off their showcase. The hubs are starting to decorate, the performances are being polished, the food trucks are locked in and the mural is nearly finished. It's all go!. We hope you read all the important details about the celebration in yesterday's email. Read it again here. 

The whole community is invited to celebrate with us.  

Ngā mihi nui,

Sarah and the team 

Orchestra Link Up Programme with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra

32 learners in years 5-8 who are senior members of our school Orchestra took part in the annual Link Up Programme with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra (APO). This is the 4th year we have participated in this programme. 

Over the past term, learners have been hard at work learning a set of six pieces all based around jazz music and have taken part in a workshop run by a member of the APO, who visited our school in week 5. 

Last week these learners all took a trip to the Due Drop Events Centre to perform these pieces live with the APO alongside other schools. We had a fantastic morning of music making and learning about jazz music and learners were inspired watching and playing with professional musicians. We also got to meet the players and Suzy Cato (who was presenting the concert) afterwards. Many thanks to our parent volunteers who accompanied us on this trip. 

If your child is interested in learning an instrument, please contact Katherine Wilcox or Nathan Imboden for further information. 

St John's Walking School Bus

We're excited to now have two Walking School Buses from the St John's area. Thanks to the parents for giving up their time to make this happen!  

If you'd like to join, please enter your details here. 

Water Safety and Swimming Skills - Term 4

Starting the second week of Term 4, all Year 2-6 learners will take part in water safety and swimming skills sessions. These lessons will vary in focus depending on the age of the child, but will cover water survival skills, swimming techniques, boat safety, swimming with life jackets and water fitness.

A small amount will be charged to your Kindo account for this.

Scooters and Bikes at School

It's great to see so many learners riding bikes and scooters to school. Please remind your children that when they get to school, these must be placed in the scooter and bike racks for the day. With 675 children on-site, plus younger siblings during drop-off and pick-up times, it is not safe for bikes and scooters to be ridden on school grounds during school hours. We welcome you to ride these on school grounds, supervised by a parent, before 8.30am and after 3.20pm. Don't forget your helmet!

Thanks for your support in keeping kids safe! 

Board Elections - voting closed

Thank you to everyone who voted in the School Board elections and a special thank to the 10 candidates for putting their name forward. Voting is now closed. The results will be released on Tuesday 16 September with the new School Board taking office on Wednesday 17 September. 

2026 Enrolments

As we plan ahead for 2026, we'd love to know how many New Entrants we'll have joining our school. If you have a child due to start in 2026, we encourage you to submit an enrolment. Thanks! 

Auckland Transport - Merton Road cycleway

Auckland Transport have advised us about upcoming road maintenance and construction on Merton Road, St Johns. The Merton Road upgrades are part of the Links to Glen Innes Cycleway project that will connect the existing cycleway in Stonefields, to Glenn Innes. 

Merton East cycleway construction

We anticipate starting road maintenance works as well as construction of the Merton east cycleway, between the Morrin Road and Apirana Avenue roundabouts, from 15 September 2025. We expect to complete this work overnight, in approximately 10 weeks.

As part of this work, we will also be delivering designated zebra crossings for cyclists and pedestrians at the Merton Road, Morrin Road, and Felton Matthew Road roundabout.

Please note that wet weather or unforeseen circumstances may delay the start or completion of the works. If there are any significant delays, we will keep you informed.

We asked AT where can our children safely cross the road during construction? 

They responded - we'll ask our contractor to install temporary orange poles where the old pedestrian crossing island used to be (near Carls Jr and the Cricket Field), to re-create an area people can wait to cross, should they choose to at that location.

We will also provide access to the existing crossings near the Merton, Morrin and Felton Matthew roundabout at the end of each shift with ramps or asphalt to make the crossings available during the day.

What’s been happening in Sport 

The past two weeks have been full of sporting highlights as we approach the end of term!

• Well done to our Year 3-4 gymnasts, who had a fantastic time competing at the TRI STAR Artistic Gymnastics Championships last week - what an exciting experience!

• Tamaki Netball was a highlight this week, with seven teams hitting the courts! The weather held off just enough for a smooth day, and our players gave it their all. Well done teams! And a big thank you to the teachers, parents, and umpires, for your mahi and support.

• As the Winter Netball season wraps up, a heartfelt thank you goes to all our players, coaches, umpires, and supporters. Years 1-6 play their final games this week, while Years 7-8 head into Auckland Netball prizegiving. We’re so proud of the effort, teamwork, and spirit on display across the season, and excited to see many of you back for Summer Netball!

• Finally, congratulations to our 13 AIMS Games athletes, who proudly represented us in Football, Badminton, and Swimming. With personal bests, team wins, and incredible sportsmanship, they’ve made us all proud. Huge thanks to the dedicated staff, parents, and coaches who made this amazing opportunity possible.

Extension Sports 

We’re excited to support our learners both in forming, and joining, Stonefields-based teams to take part in local club opportunities. If your child is interested in any of the codes below, please complete the expressions of interest form so we can help connect you with a team.

• Basketball Y3-8: 3x3 or 5x5 format, depending on sign up numbers, and coaching support.

• Water Polo / Flippaball (Y3–8): Fast-paced, fun, water-based sport

• Hockey (Y5-8): Seeking coaching support and enthusiastic players

• Lacrosse (Y7–8): With support from Auckland Lacrosse Association

Free Cricket Taster Session 🏏

Auckland University Cricket Club (AUCC) will be hosting Cricket Taster Sessions for our Years 1-6, here at Stonefields School. It's a great chance for students to try cricket, with our local club situated just up the road at Colin Maiden Park. We hope learners enjoy the experience!

• Tuesday 16th September 9am-1pm (during school hours)

Free Football Taster Session ⚽

Keen to see what the Eastern Suburbs Football Program is all about? 

Please come along for a Free Trial session next week and have some football fun!

• Thursday 18th September 1pm-1:40pm (lunchtime)

• Friday 19th September 3:15-4:15pm (last day of term) - Parental supervision required

• 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 | 4pm-7pm

• Friday Cafe performances | Friday 19 September | 3pm

• Term 3 ends | Friday 19 September 

• Term 4 begins | Monday 6 October

• Pōwhiri | Monday 6 October | 9.15am

• Out-of-Zone Enrolment Ballot closes | Wednesday 8 October  

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 17) | Friday 10 October | 3pm

• Out-of-Zone Enrolment Ballot drawn | Wednesday 15 October 

• Diwali Morning Tea | Thursday 16 October 

• EZ Volleyball | Thursday 16 October

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 16) | Friday 17 October | 3pm

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

After-School Activities and Holiday Programmes

There are many sports, art, and cultural activities available both on-site and in our community. Check out our Community Noticeboard for more details.