We received lots of very positive feedback regarding our new newsletter format-ngā mihi to everyone who flicked me an email or spoke to me in the playground!

New Students
A big welcome to Meleka, Ethan & Alexandra  who started in Room 5 yesterday for the second cohort entry point of the term. It is awesome to have you and your whānau join our school!

Poetry Anthology
Paint me”, the 2025 New Zealand Poetry Society anthology was launched at Books and Co in Ōtaki on Sunday afternoon.  Local poets read their work from the anthology including Brom Arnold, Lucy Harley and Connor Shackleton also attended.  All three along with Emma Barber, Elise Pearson and Charlotte Liddle have their haiku published in the book. It is great to see these young authors become published writers.

Thank you to our awesome writing enrichment teacher Keryn Mells!

Classes for 2025
FYI-we will begin the year with 7 classes in Ngā Kākano (Years 1 and 2) and there will be 5 in each of the other 3 syndicates.  As you know we aim to keep tamariki with the same teacher(s) for 2 years however in some situations there will be a change, particularly with some staff moving around the school. We announce the 2025 classes on Friday 13 December.

Our aim is to ensure that children will be in a class with some friends and that there is an even balance of gender, year groups, abilities, social and emotional intelligences.

Waikanae Predator Free-Official launch this Sunday
Please refer to the flier in the community notices section regarding the launch of Predator Free Waikanae. The Waikanae Lions Club are leading this great cause and holding an open day on Saturday in our school hall-A great initiative!

Our Year 8 students had an incredible day at the Waikanae Awa and Estuary yesterday, joined by Matua Mohi and Liz Gibson from Mountain to the Sea Wellington (MTSW). This event was a special celebration for our older tamariki who have spent the past two years working alongside Mohi. They have been learning about the awa, planting native trees, testing water quality, and experiencing the beauty and tranquility of nature in Waikanae.

The day was filled with excitement and learning as students donned wetsuits and practiced snorkeling. The afternoon was spent swimming, playing in the sand, and enjoying a delicious BBQ prepared by Mr Whiteman. To top it all off, a friendly seal even made a surprise appearance, swimming up to our group, playfully rolling in the water, and basking on the shore – an unforgettable moment!

A huge thank you to Liz and the MTSW team, as well as Mohi, his whānau, and friends who helped ensure our adult-to-child ratios were safe. Thank you to the many parents who assisted with transport and supported students in the water. It truly was a tū meke day!

St John's 1st Aid
It has been awesome to have St John's in school teaching our tamariki 1st aid skills, including how to administer CPR!

Inter School Athletics
 Well done to the following students who have qualified for the Regional Athletics competition at Newtown Park, Wellington on Tuesday 26 November.

Year 8 Girls: Brēlle Howland - 100m, 200m, 1500m and 4x100m Relay

Year 8 Boys: NJ Caibigan - Vortex; Otto Fifield - 1500m

Year 7 Boys: Audison Van der Westhuizen - High Jump

Finn Soppet - 100m and 4x100m Relay