• Building work is also underway in Rata and Kowhai.

• This means our library and hall is out of action this term, which unfortunately means no assemblies.

• Sadly, this means Grandparents Day cannot go ahead this year. We know this is a much-loved annual event and look forward to bringing it back in 2026.

• If grandparents have already made travel plans, we warmly welcome them to spend time in classrooms or to enjoy Pet Day, which will still take place.

• Please do not park along Perth Street between the staff car park and the end of the road (by the court). Our builders need this area. 

• On the bright side, while we have a little disruption now, we will have two amazing refurbished classrooms ready to go for next year. 

Skiffles Workshop this week:

As part of the ARTS Festival, we’re excited to join a Skiffle performance at the HUB this Tuesday. 

• Leaving school: by bus at 10am Tuesday. 
• Performance: 10:30–11:30am.
• Return: by bus after the show.
• 8 senior students will also be selected to be part of a workshop from 9-10 

Further information about the performance is available here

Week 3

Just an early heads up for Week 3 as it will be a mucky week and we thank you in advance for your patience:

• Wednesday 22nd: All staff are involved in First Aid training. School will finish at 1pm. We will have some supervision available at school for those who need it. A survey will come home next week on HERO. If you require supervision for your child, please ensure you reply to the survey and let us know. 

• Thursday 23rd: All members of NZEI are on strike. School will be closed.  

We know this creates a disruptive week for whānau but we really appreciate your support.

Little Entrepreneurs – Term 4 Learning

This term our tamariki are diving into an exciting unit called “Little Entrepreneurs.” The focus is on understanding how money, trade, and business work at different levels, with learning tailored to each year group.

• Our juniors will explore the basics of money – recognising coins and notes, the difference between needs and wants, and what it means to be a customer or shopkeeper.

• Our middle school learners will build on this by looking at goods and services, markets, and how producers and consumers interact. They’ll learn about supply, demand, and the choices people make when buying or selling.

• Our senior learners will take things further, exploring budgeting, profit and loss, competition, innovation, and even the bigger picture of global trade, fair trade, and sustainability.

To bring this learning to life, our unit will culminate in a Market Day on Tuesday 25th November. This is a chance for students to put their ideas into action, creating and selling products or services while practising teamwork, creativity, and money management. So set this date aside to come along, support the children’s stalls, and see their entrepreneurial skills in action.

Like many schools, we felt the impact of winter bugs in Term 3, and our overall attendance dropped. 64% of students were regularly at school (90%+ attendance) – down from 67% in Term 3 last year.

The main reasons for absence were:

• Illness/medical (55%)

• Explained and approved absences (20%) e.g. tangi/funerals, significant family or cultural events, urgent family matters, or specialist appointments that cannot be scheduled outside school hours

• Holidays during term time (9%)

• Smaller proportions due to unexplained reasons and/or unjustified absences

We also noted that while Tuesdays had the strongest attendance (93%), Fridays were our weakest (85%)

We are working towards our school goal of 70% regular attendance for the year, and reaching it will take all of us pulling together. Every day at school makes a difference – for learning, friendships, and building positive routines. Thank you for your continued support in helping us get our tamariki to school, on time and ready to learn. Fingers crossed that Term 4 brings fewer bugs and a smoother run for everyone!