Carlton Pānui
Friday 12th December
Friday 12th December
Principal's Message - Te Karere a Te Tumuaki
Kia ora e te whānau, Greetings, Dia daoibh, Sin sibh, Annyeong haseyo, Tēnā koutou katoa, Choum reap sor, สบายดี Sabaidee, Ni sa bula, Nǐ hǎo ma 你好
We’ve made it to the final week of term, and what a year it has been. Our tamariki have thrown themselves into their learning, enjoyed a huge range of activities, and continued to show the values that make our school such a positive place to be. Thank you for the steady support you’ve given us right throughout the year. It really does make a difference. Working alongside you to create great learning experiences for your children is mahi we love doing.
We will farewell five staff members next week. Kaye Saunders, Fiona Dwyer, Jo Cosford, Wen Xiong, and Stella Warner are all moving on in 2026. It has been a pleasure having them around school, and we wish them all the best in their next steps.
New staff for 2026 are Elly Arsnt, and Linda Attwood. Elly will be teaching in He Puna Kōtuitui and Linda in He Puna Whāwhā. We look forward to having them on board and continuing our learning journey.
On Tuesday we celebrate and farewell our Year 6 students as they prepare to move on to Year 7 and their new intermediate schools. This Leavers’ Assembly is 11.45am on the Sports Turf.
All whānau are welcome to attend.
We’d love to see everyone on Wednesday morning for a festive sausage sizzle, 8.00 - 8.30am, before school. Word has it the reindeer and sleigh are stopping by to drop off a very special guest… Bring the whānau and join us for a fun start to the day. No cost for this event, all food is supplied by Carlton.
You may have seen some news in the media about the recall of kinetic sand. This has affected some schools in New Zealand. Fortunately we only had one unopened pail of a similar product that was not part of the contaminated batches. This has been disposed of.
Carlton School is in the fortunate position of having two specialist curriculum positions next year. Mel Ross (Literacy), and Porndy Chatterton (Maths) will move into these roles in the new year. These two teachers will work with individual students, and classroom teachers to ensure that all our learners are receiving the support they need to succeed.
A reminder that school finishes at 12.45pm on Thursday. Please make arrangements for your child to be collected on time.
The school grounds are open over the break for all our community to use. Please respect the spaces and keep an eye out for any issues. If you see anything that needs addressing, just contact me on the details below.
Thank you again for a wonderful year. Enjoy the break, look after each other, and have a safe and happy Christmas/New Year. We look forward to seeing everyone back refreshed for 2026.
If you have any concerns or queries I can be contacted at 0278562962 or gjohnston@welearn.school.nz. Additionally, all our teachers can be contacted through their work emails, which are available on our school website.
Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama - Seek and discover, discover and know, know and become enlightened.
Mā te wā, See you soon.
Gary Johnston
Six senior classes have recently spent an action-packed day at Castlecliff for Beach Education. Students learned how to spot rips, what to do in an emergency, and how to stay safe in the sun from a team of life guards. They toured the surf club, checked out the rescue equipment, and finished with a supervised swim. Several parents and volunteers bravely helped out in waves well over head height. It was a fantastic day of learning and teamwork. Thanks to all the people that kindly offered their time to make this happen.
On Wednesday, the whole school got to watch Pou Herenga Tahi have their dress rehearsal of their Summer Jingle performance. We were treated to lots of amazing singing and dancing and there was even a surprise performance from the kaiako with special guest, Mr Palmer!
Recently, some of our Year 6 leavers were given the option to write a speech about their time at Carlton School. Two students will share their speeches at our leavers assembly on Tuesday. Here are some of the others that were presented.
As we reach the end of Year 6, it's amazing to look back at how much we've all grown. This year has been full of learning, laughter, challenges, and memories we'll always carry with us. We've learned new skills, made new friends, and discovered things about ourselves that we didn't know before. Every lesson, every project, and every moment-good or bad has helped shape us into who we are today. We've learned to be more confident, more responsible, and more independent. Standing here now, we should all be proud of everything we've achieved and excited for what comes next. I want to thank our teachers for guiding us, supporting us, and believing in us even on the days when we didn't believe in ourselves. Your patience and encouragement have helped us become better learners and better people. Thank you to our families for cheering us on, helping us with homework, and being there through every early morning and busy week. And thank you to my classmates, our friends for the laughs, teamwork, and all the moments that made this year unforgettable. We've shared so many experiences together, and those memories will stay with us long after we leave this classroom. As we get ready to move into Year 7, let's take everything we've learned and use it to keep growing. Let's stay brave enough to try new things, kind enough to support others, and strong enough to handle whatever challenges come our way. This isn't just the end of primary school, it's the beginning of a whole new chapter. Even though we might feel nervous, we're ready. We've worked hard, we've learned so much, and we should be proud of ourselves. Here's to new adventures, new opportunities, and an exciting future ahead. Well done, Year 6 we made it! By Isla.
Hello everyone my name is Manula and thank you for being here. Today is one of the saddest days of my life because I have to leave my favorite school. It has been such a pleasure to be a student at Carlton School. After these six years we have learnt so many things all from you wonderful teachers. On behalf of my friends in sixth grade I say we all did the right thing. I say a great thanks for all our dearest teachers. Every lesson and advice you gave I will always remember. I also say our deepest apologies for all our mistakes and our mischief during our studies at this school. Remember us as the students you have ever taught some day. Not to forget, our great thanks to our beloved parents who are attending this occasion. Our parents always give their love and motivation to us as we celebrate but at Carlton School we always have different cultures that separate us because we are all unique and we all experience different things, that’s what makes us different. Also we did so many adventures even from the start of school. To every one always be honest to others and respectful and always listen when someone is talking and help someone when they get hurt. Always be happy and include people. This school has so much to offer, so just use all the opportunities that you earn. Always be kind. By Manula
Tena koutou katoa ko Arataki ahau and standing here and talking means this is the end of my journey at Carlton School. My first year at Carlton I was showed Te Kotahitanga from the Nga Tuakana. The older girls used to style my hair as they loved my curls. I enjoyed the one day inter school sports because i got an opportunity to try different sports before committing to a full season. Miss T played a big role in my growth at Carlton. We would try to hug each other every day, at least I did and sometimes that's all we need in today’s world is a constant reminder that someone cares. To all the year 5's out there being a year six is a big thing especially if you want to become a nga tuakana. It’s not all about a badge it is about making Carlton School a safe and comfortable and welcoming place. To Whaea Holly, Mr Edgecombe, Miss Swanston, Miss Thompson, Mrs Palmer and the rest of the teachers who aren't here now: Thank you for helping me grow and learn throughout my years at Carlton. Because of your knowledge and guidance I’m now able to move onto intermediate confidently. And lastly Mr Johnston, thank you for leading us all from the top not with an iron fist but with a caring, genuine heart. No reira tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katou. By Arataki
Sportsmanship Cup
Niranjana Rajesh - for showing she is able demonstrate fair play and sportsmanship during games and activities, always playing by the rules, encouraging others, and helping create a positive team spirit.
Perseverance Cup
Te Ariki Rask for persisting in reading, especially when he comes to some tricky words.
Academic Cup
Everleigh Hawkins for her outstanding progress and effort in reading. She is developing great confidence and a love for books.
Academic Cup Nominations
Week 9 & 10
Otis Beijeman - for making great progress in his writing this term. Your confidence has improved so much. Ka pai, Otis!
Dusty Boobyer - for using his phonemic sound knowledge to help him write and read some tricky words independently.
Kyla Campbell-Hunia - for her outstanding fluency and comprehension during her reading, which has aided her new found love of books.
Liam Thompson - has made fantastic progress in Handwriting and Writing this year. His letter formation is more precise and story writing is progressing nicely. Liam is becoming a more confident student in his own abilities with a positive attitude.
Niranjana Rajesh - for her reading, both in the classroom and at home and her growing confidence as a reader.
Kura Montague - for growing confidence in her writing, independently completing her mahi and getting all of her ideas down about the Platypus.
One Etuale - for making great progress in all areas of your learning this year. You have stayed focused, tried your best, and shown that hard work leads to success.
Heidi Ciora-Clark - for your hard work and positive attitude toward learning, and always giving your best. Ka rawe, Heidi!
Hailee Hopper - attention to detail in literacy, making extra effort to understand and communicate that understanding.
Mohamed Aymane Belalioui - for working really hard in math and literacy, and not letting anything distract you from your learning. You have shown wonderful improvement in your English language skills, and your work ethic in the class is a great example for others. Well done!
Sportsmanship Cup Nominations
Week 9 & 10
Stormi Te-Patu - for always learning and following the rules in our fitness games, and also showing fair play during literacy games.
Te Rangimarie Nepson-Rerekura - for always playing fairly, taking turns and showing respect to others during every class game.
Bailee Blackmore - for giving everything a go with a smile on her face and a can do attitude, all while using kind words to encourage those around her.
Georjah Gaw - Georjah stands out during PE whether it is physical lessons on the field or simming lessons in the pool. Georjah will take the time to support others when she sees them struggling and always offers her help, this shows our school values consistently especially Tū te mana tū te mauri - Belonging.
Ryker Amuimuia - Ryker has had a great year in the pool, at athletics and during Health and PE. He plays fairly, encourages others, and always shows respect on and off the field. His positive attitude and team spirit make him a wonderful role model for others.
Hunter Stephens - for being showing sportsmanship, encouraging others and always trying his best, making games fun.
Marley Fitness - Marley joins in fitness with enthusiasm, encourages others, and always has fun while staying active.
Tyreign Lama - for your courage to step outside your comfort zone in swimming and showing resilience learning new skills.
Sharleah Phillips-Muir - beach Day at Castlecliff saw Sharleah show such a terrific attitude to the conditions and the waves.
Perseverance Cup Nominations
Week 9 & 10
Peityn Edwards - or persisting to decode words when reading, even when they feel tricky.
Louie Hodgkinson-Worsley - for trying to perfect his flying techniques at each activity while at Gonville Domain.
Evelyn Spittal - for persevering with her numbers, practicing counting and writing them until she gets it just right!
Milah Gillam - for her determination to make positive choices each day. She works hard, shows real resilience, and keeps trying even when things feel challenging.
Ford Tangaroa - for gaining independence, starting his mahi on his own and having a can do attitude to join in with others when doing work with a buddy or a group.
Layson Matthews - for showing persistence in maths by continuing to try your best, even when the learning is tricky. Your hard work and determination are helping you grow your maths skills every day
Erina Kiriona - for showing great determination and never giving up, even when things get tough. Ka mau te wehi!
Emmarose Dalby - working thoughtfully and deliberately to overcome challenging situations with peers.