Planting at Waimeha and Signing of Iwi Partnership Agreement
Our Tō Whakapapa tamariki had a special and meaningful day at Waimeha Stream with Matua Mohi from Whakarongotai Marae. Together, we planted 200 native plants and carried out water sampling of the stream, noting with concern the layer of oil floating on the water’s surface — a result of our local stormwater drains flowing into the Waimeha.
As part of our mahi, we explored the current water quality and discussed how planting native trees and other measures can help restore the health of this important waterway — our ara wai.
We ended the morning by formally signing our partnership agreement with Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ko tōku Waikanaetanga Tēnei. This agreement reflects a partnership that has been growing over the past three years, where, through the guidance and manaaki of Matua Mohi, our Year 7 & 8 tamariki have experienced a rich range of environmental and te ao Māori learning across the Waikanae awa, the estuary, Hemi Matenga, Otaraua Park, and the marae. It has been a wonderful journey of learning and connection, supported by a strong team including Enviroschools, Wellington Mountains to Sea, and KCDC. As the whakataukī reminds us, Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini — My strength is not that of an individual, but the strength of many.
Many thanks for Mr Whiteman who cooked up sausages for a great kai to end the morning! Click here for more pics on our website.
Website-Different Languages
Check out this really cool new feature on our website-scroll to the bottom of the home screen and select the language you would like to read our website in - there are many to choose from and I am hoping that you can read our website in 'your' home language!
Whooping Cough
We have been notified by Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) that there are students at Kapakapanui School who have whooping cough.
Whooping cough may start with a runny nose which then proceeds to prolonged bouts of coughing. Adults often do not have the classical whooping and vomiting after bouts of coughing. Treatment is usually a 5-day course of an antibiotic Azithromycin.
Whooping cough can be very serious, especially for children under 1 year of age, people at risk of severe disease and complications (chronic respiratory conditions, congenital heart disease or immunodeficiency) and pregnant people.
Please click the link below to read the guidance from the Health authorities.
Kāpiti Schools Winter Tournament-Year 5 & 6s
What a stunning blue-sky, warm winter’s day it was for our Year 5 & 6 tamariki to join schools from across the region for the Kāpiti Schools Winter Tournament. It was a fantastic opportunity for our kids to compete, play, and enjoy a day of sport and whanaungatanga with friends old and new. Both Kāpiti Island and Kapakapanui Maunga, with a dusting of snow, looked magnificent!
Ngā mihi to everyone who came along to support – our tamariki had an absolute blast!
Update from the Board of Trustees
Last night we met for our August meeting – as always, it was a positive and productive session. There is one more meeting this term before the new Board takes office, which will be on September 17, the day after our final meeting.
Our main discussion point was reviewing our draft AI policy, which will soon go out to staff for input. Key considerations include ensuring we follow privacy guidelines at all times. While AI is an exciting and useful tool in many ways, we want to ensure it is used with authenticity and that everyone complies with our digital technology use agreements. Given how quickly AI is evolving, we recognise this policy will need regular review.
The Board also approved $15,000 to support additional teacher funding in the junior school and we were thrilled with the signing of the formal partnership agreement with Ātaiawa Ki Whakarongotai!
Our upcoming property project – which includes work on the hall’s south face, upgrading student toilets around the school, replacing the hall roof and the roofs of Rooms 5–7, as well as fixing damaged concrete and an old water fountain – has now been approved by the Ministry of Education. We will be meeting with the contractor later this month to plan the next steps, and we’re looking forward to seeing this mahi get underway.
As always, it was a great meeting with plenty of healthy discussion and idea sharing. See you next month – and please don’t forget to vote in the upcoming election! Voting papers are being sent out this week. Ngā mihi
Kapiti Kids Sports Shoe
Kapiti Kids Sports Shoe Bank need your donations of second hand great quality sports shoes. Netball and rugby seasons are ending soon, maybe you can donate your child's shoes or boots they have grown out of? Or maybe you have some touch boots that no longer fit? Please drop them to the school office. Ngā mihi.
Early Finish – Thursday 21 August
On the afternoon of Thursday 21 August, many of our teachers, support staff, and I will be attending a Paid Union Meeting facilitated by our union, NZEI Te Riu Roa. These meetings—held up to twice a year—are an entitlement for all union members and are only called when there are important or urgent matters to discuss.
At this meeting, staff will be discussing how we can attract and retain skilled people in education, and what staffing levels and working conditions are needed to ensure education works well for all tamariki. As always, we want the very best for your children.
What does this mean for you?
We are asking whānau to collect children early at 12.50pm.
Light supervision will be available at school from 12.50pm–3.00pm for those who need it. → Please let the office know by Monday 19 August if your child requires this supervision.
The bus will run early at 12.50pm.
Funzone will be open that afternoon at Kapakapanui School. Please make bookings directly with them.
Thank you for your support and understanding. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
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.
The Solomon Islands
Gud fella day lo evri pikinini. Hi my name is Freya and I am originally from the UK and Solomon Islands. Today I will talk about the culture of my Dad’s home island in the Solomon Islands. Bellona the traditional name is Mungiki and the other island is called Mungava. The two islands combined and made Avaiki. You can find the Solomon Islands in the south west pacific ocean. Bellona is a tiny raised coral atoll in the south western part of the pacific ocean. Nearly 25 kilometres south east of Bellona is the island of Renal/Mungava. Some Solomon Islanders live a very traditional lifestyle. The people of Bllona greet each other with a Songi which is the same as the māori greeting Hongi. The Bllona and the Maori have very similar stories including the stories about Maui.
Thank you.
Watch this space for our next culture to celebrate!
Board of Trustees Pānui
Board of Trustees Triennial Elections
Thank you to the seven parents who have put their names forward for the role of Parent Representative on our Board of Trustees. There are three positions available. Voting papers have been sent out and the deadline for returning these is 4:00pm, Wednesday 10 September.
Congratulations to Neil Milmine, who has been appointed as our new Staff Trustee—an election was not required. We’re looking forward to having Neil join the Board. A huge thank you to Lucy Tristram, who has been an outstanding staff trustee—ngā mihi nui, Lucy!
Neil, along with the new parent representatives, will officially take up their positions later this term.
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.
Fire Drill
We held a fire drill recently and can report that we evacuated the school in less than 4 minutes and lined everyone up on the turf (our meeting area) behind our pod signs. It's good to be prepared!
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.
Child Internet Safety-IMPORTANT READING
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 Parent webinars:
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.
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!
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 big thank you to our wonderful coaches, managers, and coordinators who have been running our winter sports teams. As the season draws to a close, we are so grateful for your time, energy, and encouragement – we couldn’t have had such a positive season without you! A friendly reminder, as we head into the final part of the season, that we still expect all players to receive equal game time. Enjoy the last few weeks!
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.
2025 Wellington & Kapi Mana Primary and Intermediate Schools Tennis Tournament
2025 Wellington & Kapi Mana Primary and Intermediate Schools Tennis Tournament
A great opportunity for club tennis players to take part in an Interschool event at Renouf Tennis Centre, Brooklyn Road, Wellington.
Students can be entered as either “Year 6 and under" or “Open” (Intermediate)
When :
Primary (Year 6 and under Boys and Girls) - Tuesday 16th September 8.30am Postponement day - Friday 19th September
Intermediate (Year 7-8 Boys and Girls) - Wednesday 17th September and Thursday 18th (if needed - Note: If time permits, the Intermediates’ tournament will be completed on Wednesday 17th. Most players will
only be required for the first day) 8.30am (Please note Wednesday 17th is also the same day as the Frank Van Kampen Shield day)
Players will be guaranteed at least two singles matches, weather permitting.
Players entered must have played tennis before and have knowledge of the rules of tennis and how
to serve and score. Players must also bring their own tennis racquet for the event and wear
appropriate sporting attire.
The Primary School Tournament will be run on Tournament Planner (TP) and the results will be recorded on
Match Hub (the Tennis NZ National Grading System and WTN) for those players having Match Hub and/or
WTN rankings.
The tournament draws will be posted at the venue on the morning of the event.
The Regional Finals will be held on Wednesday 19th November 2025 (TBC) at the Manawatu Lawn Tennis
Club, 224 Fitzherbert Avenue, Palmerston North. (TBC)
The Central Region Finals will consist of players from the following associations: Taranaki, Wanganui,
Manawatu, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley and Wellington/Kapi Mana.
Finalists & Semi Finalists of the Wellington/Kapi Mana Open Grade and finalists & Semi Finalists of the
Wellington/Kapi Mana Year 6&U event will qualify for the Tennis Central Regional Finals.
Parents are responsible for transport and supervision for their own children for this event for the day.
Cost: $20 to be paid via KINDO or at the school office - to be paid by Friday 29th August. Players CANNOT enter themselves individually and all online entries MUST be submitted by the schools to Tennis Capital Coast.
Any questions please email rochelle.mckenzie@kks.school.nz
Yr 5 & 6 - Winter Tournament Shirts
Sports Shirts
Please ensure these are all washed and returned to the school office before Wednesday 20th August.
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.
A lot of clothing was handed out today following the football games last week - please ensure these items are washed and returned to the school office.
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 last week of term 3
School closes at 12.50pm
All Day
Paid Union Meeting for Teachers, Support Staff & Principal
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 $20.
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 15 August 2025. Delivery approximately last week 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.....
The Black Caps-poor Zimbabwe-rolled, bowled and rissoled!!
Awesome victory for our NZ Warriors Womens team!
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
GUINEA PIGS
Two Male guinea pigs for sale. $20 each. Grew up together, friendly and two years old. Have a hutch if needed.
One is Black and White called Oreo, the other is brown and called Shadow.
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