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Pānui Wiki Kotahi
Kia ora 2026
Tēnā kōutou whānau
Tēnā kōutou whānau
Welcome back to school for 2026. We are looking forward to a great year of learning with all our tamariki.
This newsletter is a short one, as the Team newsletter will come out next week, then the newsletter is every two weeks after that.
Contents
'Who are they? - Introducing new staff
Health, Safety and Attendance -Essentials
Vision in Action - Marine life and summer awareness
Sport - Information on HERO
2026 dates - Put them in your calendar
“Who Are They?" – new staff
“Who Are They?" – new staff
We welcome three new staff members to Lyall Bay School.
Rachel Martino comes to us from St.Marks. Rachel is originally from California, where she completed her Master's in Educational Psychology, taught Yr 0-1 for five years, was involved in teaching theatre, and Girl Scouts. Rachel is passionate about building foundational, academic confidence and a classroom community that sets up tamariki to thrive in their learning journey. Rachel is teaching in Ahu.
Clare James comes to us from Holy Cross in Miramar. Clare is a very experienced teacher, with her experience mainly being in Yr 4-8. As well as her post grad in Education, Clare has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Earth Science, and Bachelor of Arts - majoring in Criminology and Sociology. Clare also plays the bass guitar. Clare is looking forward to meeting all our tamariki, getting to know them, their whānau, and being part of our community. Clare is teaching in Hauraki.
Shaun Redpath, many of you will already know, as his child is in Yr 2 with us. This is Shaun's first year of teaching after a career in government and advisory roles. We think he has made the right choice! He is passionate about creating positive, engaging learning environments and supporting ākonga to grow as confident, curious learners. Shaun is teaching in Hautonga.
Health, Safety and Attendance
Regular attendance at school is important to your child’s success, and there is a clear connection between going to school regularly and doing well in the classroom. Making sure students attend and engage in learning is a shared responsibility. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure your child attends school every day.
If your child is going to be absent for any reason, it is essential that you let us know as soon as possible. It is important that you [on HERO, or call 049399112, leave a message to confirm the absence and provide us with the reason)
We acknowledge that there are genuine reasons students may occasionally be absent. However, without regular attendance, your child will struggle to make progress. If your child is absent regularly or for extended periods, we will reach out to you to discuss the situation.
We are committed to supporting your child to attend school. If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school, you can ask for support by:
• speaking with your child’s teacher,
• sending us a message on HERO, or
• calling us on 04-939-9112 and ask to speak to Melanie
We can work with you to develop a support plan that addresses any barriers to regular attendance.
More information on attendance, including your rights and responsibilities as parents or caregivers, is available on the Ministry of Education’s webpage: Attendance. https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/attendance
Our Vision in Action
Our Vision in Action
At the heart of everything we do is our school vision:
Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai – Building the Best Learners.
Kaiako and Kaimahi have been back in school together this week, preparing for all our ākonga. We had meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday all kaiako got together and we did some team building, Learning Through Play Professional Development, and some thinking about the curriculum.
Thursday was for team meetings, Huetepara, Maranui, and Onepū kaiako met and worked on their 'Teaching as Inquiry', planning for this year's focus: 'Ngā Roro Nui, Whakaaro Nui— Big Brains, Big Ideas!', and all the other bits that need to be discussed so the year can have a smooth start so we can continue to live our vision. Have a look at HERO for team or hub notices, and a welcome video for kaiako.
Friday saw all staff together in the hall. We had Kathryn Berkett as a guest speaker for the day. Kathryn is a dedicated neuroscience educator. We were all enthralled with the information and guidance she shared with us. Actually, we were so interested in what she had to say that we thought you would like to hear her, too. We have booked her for our first W.A.T.P (Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai) Hui on Tuesday, 10th February. Kathryn will do two sessions, sharing the same information at both. The first session will be from 3:15 to 4:30, and the second will be from 5:15 to 6:30. We think this is important information for you as parents, so there is no charge. You are welcome to bring your tamariki (or we will have kaiako available to look after them if you prefer). Kathryn speaks about the devices, behaviour, consequences, stress, and anxiety.
Please book your place
Kathryn Berkett website: https://www.engagetraining.co.nz/ and a TedX from Kathryn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrOddAuNau8
Sport Information
All the information for sport sign ups is on HERO. The sports for this term are
Futsal: Yr 0-6
Volleyball: Yr 5-6
Netball: Yr 0-4
Floorball: Yr 0-6
Touch Rugby: Yr 0-6
Mini Polo: Yr 4-6
Don't forget to sign up for Weetbix Triatholon if you are interested.
2026 Dates
Term 1 – 2nd February – 2nd April
Public holiday: 6 February – Waitangi Day
ToD: 23 March - MoE Maths Professional Development
Term 2 – 20th April – 3 July
Public Holiday: 27 April – ANZAC Day observed
Public Holiday: 1 June – King’s Birthday
ToD: 2 June
Term 3 – 20th July – 25th September
ToD: 7 Aug - MoE Maths Professional Development
Term 4 -12th October – 17th December
ToD: 23 October
Public Holiday: 26 October – Labour Day
16 December – last day of the year
Dates to Diary
Dates to Diary
Fri 6th Feb: Waitangi Day - Public Holiday (School Closed)
Mon 9th Feb: Board Meeting one. 6pm in staffroom. All welcome
Mon 9th Feb: Road Patrol training
Tues 10th Feb: Fire Drill
Tue 10 Feb: W.A.T.P Hui - Kathryn Berkett and Meet and Greet Kaiako
Tue 17 Feb: Friends of Lyall Bay School Meeting 1 - in staffroom, all welcome
Fri 27 Feb: Tennis coaching - Yr 0-5
Sun 1 March: Summer in the Bay - see poster below
Wed 4 March: EZ Cricket Yr 5-6
Fri 6 March: Parent and Principal Kōrero 8.30 am in library, all welcome
Wed 18 March: Girls Futsal Yr 3-6
Mon 23 March: Teacher Only Day - Maths Curriculum (School Closed)
Mon 23 March: Board Meeting two. 6pm in staffroom. All welcome
Thurs 2 April: Last Day of term 1
Community Notices
Lunches at School:
If you would like to order lunch to be delivered to your child at school, this year we are offering Subway Mondays, Vietnameezy Wednesdays, Sushi Fridays and Oat Cafe lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Go to the School Shop (Kindo) on our website, www.lyallbay.school.nz and set up an account. Lunches need to be ordered before 9.00am on the morning of delivery or you can order for a whole term in advance. Please make sure you use the correct name and class for your child!
Piano Lessons at School:
I run a registered music teaching company called Leit House Music, and we are going to step in to manage piano lessons at Lyall Bay School, ensuring they run smoothly, consistently, while fostering a lasting passion for learning among the students. I have five years of teaching experience and have taught at schools including EBIS, St Benedict’s, Onslow, Amesbury, Seatoun, and Newtown, as well as at two community house centres. I prioritise clear communication with both parents and schools, and carefully tailor materials to each student’s skill level, age, interests, and learning style.
Contact Jack if you are interested in music lessons. The lessons will be on a Friday during the school day. jackengland.pianoteaching@gmail.com
Snorkelling:
Kia ora friends, it’s community snorkel season once again!
🐋 Saturday 6 December
🦑 Saturday 14 February
☀️ Saturday 21 February
Community snorkel events are completely free! Please share with your friends & whānau. Read on below for more info…. we’ll sea you there!
Dive into Taputeranga Marine Reserve and take part in a free snorkelling event this summer!
Beginners welcome! We provide all the necessary gear and experienced guides to ensure your safety and enjoyment in the water. Participants just need to be at least eight years old and confident swimmers. Those under sixteen must be accompanied by an adult.
Registrations open at 9.45am. Come down to book a snorkel time for the day, as spots may fill up quickly. Bring your togs, towel, refreshments and make a day of it exploring the activities and environment at Taputeranga Marine Reserve.
Cancellations/Postponements
Events are weather dependent. Stay updated by checking the Mountains to Sea Wellington Facebook event listings for any cancellations, postponements, or location changes.
These free events are brought to you in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Entertainment Book Fundraiser:
If you've never owned an Entertainment Book before, these are a great way to save money after the initial outlay. From just $70 you receive in excess of $20,000 in genuine discount offers from the best restaurants, attractions, cinemas, sports, hotels and more with a Single City Membership.
Each membership purchased earns the school $12 commission. In previous years we have sold around 130 books annually, with absolutely NO problems ever reported. Now it's even more convenient in an app, so it's on your phone to use at every opportunity. Order now at www.entertainment.com.au
For a limited time anyone who purchases an Entertainment Membership, from December 1st to December 24th, 2025, will receive:
A FREE $30 VISA eGift Card with every Single City Membership OR a FREE $50 Visa eGift Card with every Multi City Membership.
With thousands of 2-for-1 offers and up to 50% off dining, activities, attractions, travel, and more, your membership will pay for itself in just a few uses — while helping our cause at the same time.
Don’t miss out — this exclusive, limited-time offer is your chance to save big and give back!
Buy your Membership now: https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/105h194
After School Care:
Do you want your kids to:
· Have a sense of belonging and community
· Learn through play
· Grow in confidence
· Explore alongside their peers in their neighbourhood
Then Lyall Bay School After School Care is for you!
The safe, onsite service has been a staple of Lyall Bay for more than 30 years, allowing kids to grow in a nurturing environment. This not-for-profit, parent-led service is here to serve the community — right here in Lyall Bay. We're also offering families who have their kids booked in for two days or more per week "Fridays Free" for term one! Any questions at all, please get in touch here: lbascppc@gmail.com
Enrol now at www.lbasc.net
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