It’s such a privilege to be part of Kapakapanui School—what a fantastic place to work and learn! As we move through the early weeks of term 3, there’s a really positive energy flowing through the school. Our classrooms are settled, and there’s a strong sense of purpose in the learning taking place. Whether it's students collaborating in the classroom, exploring/playing or sharing stories on the playground, there’s learning happening everywhere you look.
What really stands out is the feeling of connection. Our tamariki are happy, engaged, and supported by caring teachers and friends. There’s a genuine sense of whanaungatanga across the school—people looking out for one another, sharing laughs, and building strong relationships. The vibe is calm, welcoming, and full of heart—Kapakapanui at its best!
Ngā Kākano -Waikanae Museum Trip
This week our juniors have been exploring the Waikanae Museum-this was the old Post Office when I was young, and learnig about Aotearoa/NZ History. The museum is filled with wonderful treasures from yesteryear. Ngā mihi to the many parents and whānau who helped out with transport!
Congratulations to Emma O'Reilly who is the Acting Team leader for Ngā Kākano through to the end of the year. Emma has taken over in place of Katy Harris who has headed back to the UK with her family.
A Reminder About Morning Arrivals
Please make an effort to ensure your child arrives at school well before 9:00am, particularly in the Junior School. Being here from 8:45am gives tamariki time to settle into the day, connect with friends and teachers, and emotionally regulate before learning begins. We sometimes find that children who arrive right as the bell goes can be unsettled, which isn’t an ideal way to start the day. Arriving earlier also gives parents a chance for those valuable informal catch-ups with teachers—something that’s much harder to do once the bell has gone. Thanks for your support!
ASB Getwise
As part of our whole school Technology/Financial Literacy focus this term we have been very lucky to have ASB GetWise at our school over the past week to work with our Year 3-8 students. ASB Getwise is a super fun financial literacy programme for primary students. It is designed by experts in education, cognitive development, and financial literacy, GetWise has been a hit in Kiwi schools since 2010 and we are always lucky to host these sessions as they are always fully booked every year by schools throughout New Zealand.
The sessions that our Year 3-8 students have covered are..... Coach Cash (Year 3-4) -The start of their money journey.
The difference between physical and invisible money (EFTPOS).
How we earn money.
Making a shopping list and comparing prices.
SaveWise (Year 5-6) - Every great goal starts with a plan.
Setting up a savings goal
Using a 'CASH' goal to get what they want
Earn Wise (Year 5-6) - Let's learn to earn.
Different ways to earn
Starting a small business
Spend Wise (Year 7-8) - Why do we buy what we buy?
Understanding spending influences
Making a spending plan
Comparing options before buying
Scam Wise (Year 7-8) - Stay safe, stay smart.
Identifying scams and red flags
Steps to take when you encounter a scam
Protecting online accounts and personal info
Holiday (Year 7-8) - Plan it, spend it, make it last.
Planning expenses
Spend now vs spend later
Understanding hidden costs like currency exchange and insurance
We're after another parent helper to help run one of our road patrol slots on Monday afternoons. If you can spare 20 minutes at pick up please contact our coordinator Emma Swanson emma.swanson@kks.school.nz
Board of Trustees Triennial Elections – We Need YOU!
Kapakapanui School is a vibrant, diverse community—and we want our Board to reflect that! This is your chance to make a real difference for our tamariki and help shape the future of our kura. If you’re passionate about education, community, and making things happen, we’d love you to consider standing in the upcoming Board of Trustees elections. Your voice matters—get involved and be part of something important!
The Triennial School Trustee Elections will take place in September. This month, nomination papers will be sent out for three (3) upcoming vacancies on the Board. If you're interested in getting involved or want to learn more about what’s involved, visit: Community member guide to the role of the school boards The guide also answers one of the big questions people may have about being on a BoT-What do boards do? What do boards do? Boards work in partnership with their school, community, and the government to ensure the best for all ākonga (students). They are responsible for the overall performance and strategic direction of the school. The Education and Training Act 2020 sets out the objectives for all school boards. These focus on ensuring all ākonga can reach their highest possible level of educational achievement in a safe and inclusive place that gives effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Boards are responsible for: • Setting the school’s strategic direction in consultation with the community, parents, whānau, staff, students and the wider school community • Developing policies, procedures, and bylaws to ensure the school meets its legal obligations • Monitoring and evaluating student learning outcomes • Overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance, and health and safety • Being a good employer of all staff in the school • Reporting on the school’s progress to the community and the Ministry.
Boards do not get involved in the day-to-day running of the school. That is the principal’s job.
More information next week!
Healthy Lunches
Great messaging and ideas for school lunches from the Heart Foundation
With the rising cost of living and increasingly busy lifestyles, it's understandable that pre-packaged snacks on supermarket shelves can seem like a convenient option for lunchboxes. However, these convenient choices often come at a cost—both financially and nutritionally. Individually packaged biscuits, chips, and other lunchbox fillers are typically more expensive and often lack the essential nutrients children need.
At the Heart Foundation, we're here to support you with nutritious, cost-effective lunchbox ideas. Our recipes and tips are designed to help you create balanced meals that keep children nourished, focused, energised, and satisfied throughout the school day.
Our lunchbox guide poster provides a simple framework for building a healthy school lunch, including recommended food groups and nutritious snack options. Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing easy-to-make recipes that offer a healthier homemade alternative to common lunchbox treats.
Health & Safety Updates – Please read our regular Health & Safety updates as well as tips for staying safe online. This is a key section to keep you informed and prepared. Please take a moment to read it each time—your awareness helps keep our school community safe.
Memo from KCDC-Picking up or dropping off kids at school
Please refer to the flier below, particularly the rules, and fines, for illegally parking around schools. Please note that this is all about keeping kids safe!
Don't be a Parking Karen
We have been forwarded this light hearted and informative video from the Kāpiti Police team. Please note that 'Karen's' are everyone- female, male, old and young! The message is all about child safety and doing the right thing! Enjoy
Our tamariki are becoming increasingly connected to the internet through gaming, phones, and personal devices. While there are many upsides to the internet, it is also a place where parents need to keep a close eye on what their children are accessing to keep them safe.
Netsafe is a very useful website and offers many tips, tools, articles and webinars (see below). Check out the "Parent" section, especially the "Online Safety Parent Toolkit" – which is available in seven different languages. The earlier parents are managing their children's internet access, the more able they will be to support and keep their kids safe as they navigate the internet, phones, gaming, and other devices.
In this special webinar we'll be joined by Jonathan Jansen, CEO of NZ Esports. Jonathan will share key insights and advice for parents of tweens and teens on how to manage your child's screen time when it comes to gaming, and how to raise a gamer and keep them safe in the digital world.
Join us to learn more about Esports, Netsafe, and how to support your child online.
Raising Informed Kids: Navigating Misinformation, Harmful Content and Extremism Online
Join us for this parent-focussed webinar to better understand how false information, identity-based harm and extremist content show up in the spaces young people use.
We'll introduce you to our Headspace Invaders platform and how it builds digital skills and confidence for 12–16 year olds. We'll also explore practical ways to support critical thinking, safety and belonging in your whānau’s online life.
Join us for this free, informative session which will include time for Q&A.
Bike Safety
As we head into the darker, wetter winter months, please remind your children to take extra care when riding their bikes to and from school, as roads and footpaths can be slippery and visibility is reduced. Talk with them about being alert, riding safely, and watching out for cars and others—#BeSafe.
Keeping Our Gates Closed
Please help us keep our tamariki—especially our younger children—safe by making sure our school gates are closed. From time to time, gates can be left open when classes head out on trips. If you happen to notice a gate open during the school day as you pass through, we’d really appreciate you closing it. Ngā mihi.
Contact Details-are these current?
Please let the office know asap if your contact details have changed. You can do this online-click here
Signing In/Out
Please remember to sign in and out at the office if you are collecting your child or they arrive late.
A week of celebrating our library and enjoying some amazing creative displays from the Year 0-2s. There will also be our awesome Book Character Dress Up Competition, a Story Walk, visiting author Steve Mushin and lots more activities to look forward to.
Our Book Character Dress up day will be next Thursday 31st July. Students can come along dressed up as their favourite book character. We will be having a parade for this at 9.10am on the court behind the Library.
KIWI SPELLING BEE
Following on from the Kiwi Maths, English and Science tests that some students completed (results for these are available later next term), the University of Canterbury is offering your child the opportunity to participate in the KIWI Spelling Bee competition. This competition takes place annually and is designed by New Zealand teachers for New Zealand students. The competition is administered by the Centre for Assessment and Monitoring (CAM) at the University of Canterbury.
The competition is open to all Year 5-8 students and assesses aspects of English grammar, spelling and vocabulary relevant to the student’s year level.
The online Spelling Bee will take place on Monday 15th September. Certificates will be sent to all participants and prizes will be awarded to overall top students.
Students will need to have their own headphones/earbuds to listen to audios throughout the competition. This is an online test administered by the school.
Entries need to be completed and paid for by Friday 25th July, via KINDO - $10.
Kapakapanui Sports
Football Success
Congratulations to the U11 Waikanae FC Regional Football Team who competed in their first tournament together in Ruahine U11 regional tournament in Palmerston North.
They had 4 wins in a row and just came up short in the semi finals 0 - 1 in the last 30 seconds.
In the squad of 13, 10 are from Kapakapanui:
Mason Lambregts
Parker Ebbrell
Filip Reichel
Leo Slevin
Jacob White
Max Parr
Connor Shackelton
Quinn Framhein
Coen Gardner
Zara Tristram
Coach Mike was "very proud of the team!"
On the Ball Football Games versus Waikanae School
Date: Wednesday 30 July
Venue: Kapakapanui Field
Start times:
Year 5/6 Girls - 10.00am start
Year 5/6 Boys - 11.00am start
Year 7/8 Girls - 12.00 noon start
Year 7/8 Boys - 1.00pm start
Games are 2x20min halves
Come out and support our teams
Balance is Better
Here's a good article to read from Sport NZ under their banner 'Balance is Better'. It's titled How can coaches brings the Balance is Better approach to Life?-Good reminders for parents on the sideline as well-click here
Kapakapanui School Sport Code of Conduct
We really value and appreciate the support we get from parents and whānau as coaches and supporters and Kapakapanui School has an excellent reputation for playing hard while being great sports-on and off the field/turf/court.
Every couple of weeks our Cultural Leaders group help someone from our school share their culture with us. This is done at hui or over the P.A. system into the classes. The Cultural Leaders started with their own cultures.
Watch this space for our next culture to celebrate!
WET CLOTHING
With the winter months upon us - can you please ensure there is a spare set of clothing in your childs bag. If your child has come home in borrowed clothes can they please be washed and returned to the office.
Thank you for the donations of clothes - we now have enough.
YUMMY Stickers
It's that time again. Lets get collecting!
Whenever you see a YUMMY sticker, please collect it and send it to school. Last year, we raised just shy of 6,000 stickers. Such an amazing result! This meant that the winning class, which brought in the most stickers over the term, was able to purchase a whole box of wonderful sports equipment.
Please send any stickers to your school. All classes will have a sheet for the tamariki to place the sticker on. Please note it can only have the YUMMY brand name on it. Either the individual sticker or the 10 count square on the bag. The stickers will be counted every Friday this term - so lets get collecting. Whānau points to be given to the class with the most stickers collected each week.
2025 School Stationery
All stationery packs are still available to purchase via Qizzle online ordering and delivered to your home. If your child needs individual items throughout the year, their teacher will send them to the school office to get and will then be added to your account. This billing/invoice will show as '2025 Stationery', where possible we will itemise what the item/s is.
School Library
Librarian: Natasha Milmine
Your childs class will visit the library every week and get to explore all the awesome books our librarian has provided.
THE HELL PIZZA READING CHALLENGE The HELL Pizza Reading Challenge is being run this year for Year 3-8 students. This is a fun programme where kids read seven books at their level and then collect a free pizza from HELL Pizza. This will run from now until the last day of school in Term 4. There are no limits on the amount of pizza wheels students can complete, so it would be great if you could ask your kids how they're going with the challenge and encourage your kids to complete at least one wheel this year. Many thanks, Natasha Milmine
Important Dates
Hoodie Order close
All Day
Estimated delivery week 6 of term 3
Spelling Bee - entries close
All Day
Register via KINDO or at the school office - $10
Book Week
All Day
More information in the newsletter
Board of Trustees
Nominations close at 12pm
Hoodie Order close
All Day
Estimated delivery last week of term 3
School Photos
All Day
Board of Trustees
Election Day - Poll closes at 4pm
Hoodie Order close
All Day
Estimated delivery is Week 2 of term 4
Spelling Bee
All Day
Board of Trustees
All Day
Votes are counted
Board of Trustees
All Day
New Board takes office
Regular Features
Regular information
School Lunches -Sushi and Wednesdays and The Bakehouse on Fridays
To Purchase: We have a stock of these at the school office (size 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14) to purchase. $35 via myKINDO or at the school office. Parents have commented that it is great to have their own shirt which they can keep track of, clean and pass onto other family members.
To Loan: To help ensure our uniforms are well cared for and returned, we have introduced a $15 bond for the loan of a school sports top. This bond will be charged to your school account each time a top is borrowed and refunded when the shirt is returned in good condition.
We appreciate your support in looking after our school uniforms so they can continue to be available for all students.
Hat/Pōtae
In term 4 & term 1 we require children to bring their hat/pōtae to school every day. We appreciate that the weather is up and down at the moment, however the sun is getting stronger, even on cloudy days. New whanāu hats are available in the office or via myKINDO for $18.
Te Whenua - Green
Te Awa - Navy
Te Waka - Red
Nga Manu - Yellow
Te Moana - Light Blue
Hoodies
Great for those cooler evenings - next orders will close Friday 25th July. Delivery approximately week 6 of term 3.
Colour: Navy Blue
Logo printed on front and back.
Your child's name can also be printed on the back. We have sample sizes to try on at the office.
Order via myKINDO or at the office. $50
Parenting Books to Borrow
We have a few excellent books in our office which parents are welcome to borrow. Please just sign them out at the office. We have a new book, a current 'best seller' titled "The Anxious Generation"
Enjoy!
Last thoughts.....
That try by Leka Halasima-it doesn't get any better than that!!!
The Saints are the Champs again-the legacy continues!
Up the 'young' Nix vs Wrexham-a great victory!
RIP Ozzy....
Community Notices
Hi Parents and Students, have you ever wanted to give Karate a go? Now is your chance. I will be holding a free trial class during our normal booked class held at Kapakapanui School on a Sunday morning. Please message any interest to 027 2736950
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