Mahuru 2025
September Newsletter

Principal’s Message

Kia ora koutou,

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, it is a pleasure to reflect on all that has been achieved across our school.

We began the term with a strong focus on environmental sustainability, highlighted by our trips to the local Waste Centre (AKA ‘the dump’! as the kids like to call it)! These visits provided students with high-interest, hands-on learning experiences about how we can all contribute to caring for our environment. Building on this, we are now shifting our focus to technology, where students will bring their creativity to life in our exciting “Trash to Flash” projects—turning everyday discarded items into imaginative new creations. We will showcase these items in Term 4, so watch this space!

Our school speeches have also been a highlight, with students showing courage and skill as they presented in front of their class, whanau and whole school. This was our first year including a te reo Māori section, a wonderful step forward in celebrating our use of te reo.  Congratulations to everyone who took part, and good luck to those who will represent us at the interschool competition! We will invite these students to present their speeches again in Term 4 at a school assembly. 

Representing Woodlands Park School at the Interschool Speech Competition 2025

• Pōhutukawa: Scarlet St John

• Harakeke: Zoe Shoesmith

• Te Reo Māori: Ramona Nancarrow and Emme Foley

This term, our senior classes demonstrated kaitiakitanga in action by planting over 300 trees at Tangiwai Reserve, contributing to the restoration and care of our local environment. The day isn’t just about planting trees, but about students discovering that their actions, big or small, matter in caring for our environment and in leaving a legacy for future generations.

Our sports teams have also been busy competing in interschool basketball, netball and gymnastics. Thank you to all parents who have given their time to transport, coach, and supervise students for these and other EOTC experiences. These events simply wouldn’t be possible without your generosity and support.

Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori next week. Learning a second language is not only a valuable life skill but also excellent for brain development. Bilingual learners enhance their memory, problem-solving skills, and creativity, while also developing greater cultural awareness and empathy. Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins our integration of te reo as we work in genuine partnership to ensure te reo Māori is visible, valued, and heard across our kura by students and staff. 

The newly refurbished classrooms are currently being used as specialist spaces. Room 11 houses music lessons, choir, and orchestra. Students are welcome to use this space during their lunchtimes to practice pieces they are learning in orchestra. We will showcase some of our musical items at a special assembly next Monday at 2:15 pm.

The art room has been buzzing with creativity at lunch times, giving students the chance to freely explore and experiment with multiple tools, techniques, and materials, and to be imaginative in creating pieces of art or craft. They do this alongside their peers, gaining confidence in taking risks, trying something different, and reflecting on what worked and what they might change next time. It has been a pleasure to spend lunchtimes with our students in this space, allowing them to do their own thing. A huge thank you to our art monitors who come with loads of enthusiasm, ideas, and support for our younger tamariki. This is a self-managing space open to students at lunchtime every day. 

I look forward to opening a third creative space during lunchtimes, where students can enjoy chess, LEGO, and a range of board games.

At the end of this term, we will farewell our much-loved librarian, Kate, who is retiring after many years of dedicated service. Kate has been instrumental in fostering a love of reading and learning for countless children. She has given so much to our school community, and while she will be sorely missed, we wish her the very best as she takes time to focus on her health and family. We will be holding a special farewell assembly next Thursday at 10 am. 

As you are aware, we continue to await the appointment of NZ school boards before the Ministry of Education can initiate the consultation process for extending our school to include years 7&8. I would like to thank you for your interest, support, and encouragement as we look to the future of our school.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge our Board for their unwavering support over the past three years. Our Presiding Member, Michelle Hutton, and board members Peter Lehmann, David Merurant, Belynda Groot, and Nick Gill. Our senior leadership team and staff have valued their governance and commitment to always keeping students at the centre of all decision-making.  It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team, and we sincerely appreciate and thank them for their ongoing support. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Nardz Stephenson 

2026 Dates

School starts on Monday 2nd February 2026

Term 1
Monday 2nd February - Thursday 2 April
Public holiday: Waitangi Day – Friday 6 February.

Term 2
Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July 2026
Public holidays: Anzac Day observed on Monday 27 April and King’s Birthday – Monday 1 June.

Term 3
Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 2026 

Term 4
Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December
Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 26 October.

NB- Ministry appointed Teacher Only Days are still to be confirmed for 2026

Gymnastics Inter School Competition

A huge congratulations to our Year 3-6 students who participated in the recent inter-school gymnastics competition. It was a fantastic day filled with incredible displays of skill, hard work, and sportsmanship. Our students performed exceptionally well, and their hard work in training certainly paid off. A special mention to Hannah, Hazel and Tania for all the training.

Placings:

• Devon - 3rd Place Year 4 Girls

• Emil - 2nd Place Year 4 Boys

• Brooke - 3rd Place Year 5 Girls

• Luna - 7th Place Year 5 Girls

• Brooke, Luna, Clover, Ayla - 3rd Place Year 5 Girls (Team)

• Tallulah - 8th Place Year 6 Girls

• Sam K - 1st Place Year 6 Boys

• Gus - 5th Place Year 6 Boys

• Luke - 6th Place Year 6 Boys

• Harrison, Luke, Gus, Sam - 1st place Year 6 Boys (Team)

New faces at WPS

Welcome to Nicola Calvin who joined us at the start of Term 3 as New Entrant teacher in the newly opened, Room 3. Nicola has had a fantastic start with a lovely bunch of kids in Room 3!

We'd alos like to extend a warm welcome to the new teacher aides who have joined our school this term: Grace, Nathania, Jake, Maisy, and Josie.

They're already a wonderful addition to our team and a great support for our students and teachers. We're excited to have them as part of our school community.

Our amazing new art space is now open at lunchtimes!