Whiringa-ā-rangi 2023
November Newsletter

3 November

Kia Ora koutou katoa,

Proudly, our Kapa Haka o Puke Atua ropu took the stage at the Kotuitui Kapa Haka Festival held at GEI this week. With an excited audience of 12 local schools, they performed their hearts out to a number of waita and haka. We hope this will be the first of many festivals to come and thank all of our whanau for their support on the day. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe Karen for all of your mahi and supporting our tamariki to truly blossom! Ka Mau te wehi!

We are delighted to see continual progress and positive shifts in student learning across the curriculum this term. We've also been impressed with our student Bee Inquiries as we continue to collate student designs for our Kohanga Pi (Bee Education Centre) - soon to be a reality! If you are interested in taking a glimpse of student/staff mahi please feel free to pop into the staff room between 2:45-3 pm on Monday to take a look!  

We're only halfway through the term but have already been involved in a number of exciting activities throughout the school. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved with the success of our annual Year 4 sleepover as well as our Y3 EOTC trip. A special thank you to Whanau Leader Jess Parks for her organisation! 

Our school has been part of the National Māori Achievement Collaborative for nearly 2 years with our staff engaged in professional learning to support our bi-cultural partnership through Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We work collaboratively with the Ministry of Education and 18 other local schools in the Waitakere cluster and constantly strive to integrate new learning from Te Ao Māori throughout everything we do at our school. We proudly fly a range of flags from our NZ flag, the United Nations flag to our Tino Rangatiratanga flag as a visual reminder of this partnership. Our school has been selected to host the next MAC hui day early in 2024 where we will hold a powhiri to welcome the 18 school representatives onsite for the day. 

Our PTA meets regularly to support the school to help meet its annual fundraising goals. We are grateful for their time and effort with event organisation this year and in particular would like to say a huge thank you for the recent wonderful movie night and to those who supported this fabulous event!

Over the past few weeks, our teaching staff have reflected and had moments of silence together in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our hearts go out to those directly affected by the turmoil in the region. 

These troubling events have undoubtedly prompted us to reflect on the blessings and privileges we enjoy here in New Zealand at this time.  We are reminded of the importance of showing gratitude and kindness to others as well as being thankful to live in relative peace and safety. 

Ngaa mihi, 

Nardz Stephenson 

Term 1 2024 - Starting Dates

• Tuesday, January 30, 2024
  9am - Pōwhiri
  10:30am - 12:00pm - Meet the Teacher

• Classes Begin: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The new school term will start on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 with a Pōwhiri and Meet the Teacher. From 9am there will be a pōwhiri in the hall to welcome all new students and whanau to our school. Then from 10:30-12:00pm classrooms will be open for you to meet your child's new teacher(s). Meet the Teacher event is a 'doors open' time, so no bookings are needed. Please feel free to drop in and visit your child's teacher at any time between 10:30am and 12:00pm.

Classes will begin as normal on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. Please be sure to check the school website or calendar for more detailed information about the school day and upcoming events.