School Newsletter
Term 2 - 23 April 2026

Kia ora e te whānau | Greetings all

Welcome to Term 2! We hope you all had a wonderful rest over the break and have come back full of energy for learning! We've got an exciting term ahead, full of a wide range of learning opportunities from our Foundation Knowledge and Capabilities, to Cross Country, Book Week and Matariki. More about these below.  

Capabilities

Last term we started a five-part series diving deeper into our BIG 5 Balanced Curriculum model and what that means for your child. We have explored Foundation Knowledge and Concept, this week we explain Capabilities.  

Our third BIG 5 focus is on Capabilities – the "how" of learning. While knowledge gives our children the "what", capabilities equip them with the essential attitudes, dispositions and skills to use that knowledge effectively, navigate challenges, and drive their own progress. We have refined these into five core capabilities: Determined, Self-Aware, Collaborative, Thinker, and Take Action. These capabilities are woven throughout every aspect of our curriculum.

These capabilities help our learners embrace the "Learning Pit," fostering resilience when faced with difficulties. They learn to set goals, understand their own learning styles, work effectively with others, think critically to solve problems, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. By nurturing these capabilities, we ensure our students not only gain knowledge but also develop the essential life skills to adapt, innovate, and lead their own successful learning journeys. 

Below are some examples of how these are implemented in different villages. Tomorrow you will receive the Term 2 Village Comms for your child's year level which will outline the capabilities focus for term 2, along with details on the other BIG-5 for the Village. 

Year 0-2 - Self Aware

Teaching our youngest learners about the ‘Self-Aware’ capability is about first understanding ‘me’. At this developmental stage, the learners are transitioning from intuitive play to more intentional social interactions. Our goal is to help them recognise their own strengths, manage their emotions, and understand their place within the Hub. When this happens, we can then start to understand how to contribute within the group and our responsibilities to the Hub group in which we belong. This term we have explored the ‘Self-Aware’ capability through using our MITEY resources and tools. To be ‘Self-Aware’ we need to be able to understand and identify feelings. We have also learnt about the learning pit, and are proud of the way that we are learning to be comfortable being stuck - it’s ok to need help or to not know yet. As self-aware learners we feel ready to move from ‘me’ to ‘we’ next term as we focus on the ‘Collaborative’ capability.

Year 5-6 - Thinker and Self-Aware

Last term our Year 5 and 6 learners dove into the Capabilities of 'Thinker' and 'Self-Aware' within an immersive science context. As Thinkers, learners moved beyond surface-level facts to foster a "Big Understanding" of complex topics such as the invisible forces of magnets, the delicate balance of ecosystems, and the properties of light. They actively made connections across the curriculum, using their reading and writing sessions to research and document findings, which they then applied critically during hands-on experiments. Alongside this academic growth, they have practiced being Self-Aware by identifying the environments and habits that help them learn best. This maturity has been evident in their collaborative respect, as learners practiced taking turns and showed great stewardship toward the scientific equipment used to bring their inquiries to life. By weaving these capabilities into our investigation of the natural world, our students are developing the essential dispositions to navigate challenges and lead their own successful learning journeys. Looking ahead to next term, we are excited to shift our capability focus toward becoming more Collaborative and learning how to Take Action within our community and environment.

Attendance Term 1 - 83%

For Term 1, our School achieved 82%. That means 83% of our students achieved an attendance rate of 90% or higher. Ka Pai!! You can check your child's attendance via the Edge App. Simply click on 'Attendance' under your child's name and view Year-to-date (YTD) or by Term.  

The government's target is that 80% of all students achieve an attendance rate of 90% or over. Here is our Attendance Management Plan which outlines our policies and procedures for achieving this target.   

Whakamana Rocks Reading Challenge

Let’s see which of our Whakamana Rocks can read the most books in one term!

Will it be Māhoe who seek challenges and will encourage each other to read every day?

Or will it be Tūhua who are self aware and know what they like to read and find new great books they will love?

Maybe it will be Reti, the creative thinkers who enjoy finding new ideas and perspectives in books?

Or perhaps it could be Punga Punga who are determined to read heaps of awesome books?

During Term 2, all our learners will be challenged to keep a record of all the books that they read themselves, or that someone reads to them, and every book counts towards the Whakamana Rocks Reading Challenge.  Please help your kids fill in the reading log during the holidays.

The winners will be announced in Week 8, at the end of Book Week.  Who will it be? 

Walking School Buses

We're continuing to monitor the government's plan should there be a shortage of fuel. Now would be a great time to start organising a walking school bus, or simply a group of neighbours to walk, bike or scooter to school together. 

We'd love to hear from anyone who might have the capacity to lead a Walking School Bus from the St Johns or Mt Wellington area, even if it's only one day a week. Please get in touch with the office. 

Staff Only Days

We have some Staff Only Days coming up later this year, school will be closed for learners on these days. Kelly Club will be open if you require childcare. 

• Friday 29 May (Friday before King's Birthday weekend)

• Friday 31 July 

New Term 3 After-School Activities

Check out our Community Noticeboard for details on all our on-site after school clubs and activities. Please contact the providers directly for details. 

Kia ora and welcome back to Term 2 sports! We’re excited for another action-packed term as we head into the winter season. This term, we’re looking forward to our football, hockey, and Ki-o-Rahi events, which promise plenty of energy, teamwork, and school spirit. It’s also the time of year when our winter sports really begin to take off, with teams settling into their seasons. Whether you’re playing, supporting, or trying something new, Term 2 is a great opportunity to get involved, stay active, and represent our school with pride. We can’t wait to see what this term brings!

For more information about all sports opportunities, please visit: stonefields.school.nz/sport 

• ANZAC Day observed | Monday 27 April | School closed

• Family Movie Night | Friday 1 May | 6pm

• Junior (Year 0-4) Assembly | Monday 4 May | 2pm, Hall

• Stonefields School Board Meeting | Tuesday 5 May 

• Tamaki Football (Y3-8)| Wednesday 6 May

• Puberty Information Session for Parents (Y6-8)| Thursday 7 May

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

Community Activities

There are plenty of sports, art, and cultural activities available in our community including school holiday programmes. Check out our Community Noticeboard for more details.