Kia ora e te whānau, 

In the blink of an eye, Term 1 is almost over – the weeks have flown by! It’s been an awesome start to the year. We’ve been lucky to enjoy plenty of sunshine and have packed a huge amount into our curriculum.

There have been so many highlights across the term. Our teaching and learning programmes have been strong in every class, with lots of engaging and high-quality learning taking place. It’s been especially exciting to see science coming alive across the school.

We’ve celebrated the successful start of our New Entrant pod-Ngā Kākano Kete, enjoyed coming together for our whole-school whānau day and had a lot of fun during pakanga wai. Movin’ March has been another great success, along with plenty of time in the pool developing swimming skills.

It’s also been fantastic to see our students involved in opportunities like EPRO8, lots of sports and leadership opportunities, and to regularly come together for school and syndicate hui and assemblies—these moments really help strengthen our sense of community.

All in all, it’s been a fantastic Term 1. Thank you to our staff, students, and whānau for contributing to such a positive and successful start to the year!

Attendance continues to be a key focus from the government, highlighting the importance of students being at school regularly to support their learning, wellbeing, and connection with others. As part of our responsibilities within our 'attendance management plan', we will be sending letters out this week to families of children who have been away for five days or more this term, as we are required to make contact after this point. We do want to acknowledge that many of these absences are for genuine reasons (eg illness), and we appreciate the efforts of whānau who have kept us informed—thank you for your ongoing communication and support. Ngā mihi. 🙏

Four your information here's how our whole school attendance has tracked this term

We warmly invite all new tamariki, whānau and staff to our term 2 pōwhiri - Tuesday 21 April at 9:15am.

Please gather by our waharoa, where Matua Ngātai will meet and guide you.

To learn more about our pōwhiri process, click here or visit our website and look under the ‘Our People’ tab.

From time to time, issues arise at school where unkind words are said by tamariki to others. These might be put-downs, comments about people’s bodies, racial remarks, or other hurtful language. While these moments are often fleeting, the impact can linger, leaving children feeling upset, sad, or confused.

At school, we take these situations seriously. They provide important opportunities for learning and growth. We address them regularly within our classrooms and also at our fortnightly hui, where we talk openly about what respectful, inclusive behaviour looks like.

These conversations are grounded in our school values:

Yesterday at our hui, we shared the slides below with students to reinforce these ideas and to help them understand the impact of their words and actions, and the importance of choosing kindness—even in challenging moments.

Words should be used to build people up or explain how we feel. Using a word that attacks someone’s skin color, culture, or background is using a word as a weapon.

The Rule: If a word is meant to make someone feel "less than" because of who they are, it has no place in our mouths.

Sometimes people say something mean and then say, "I was just kidding!"

The Reality: A joke is only funny if everyone is laughing. If the "joke" is about someone’s race or where they come from, it isn’t a joke—it’s hurtful, and it’s not okay, even if you didn't "mean it" to be mean.

3. Respect the "No-Go" Words

There are some words in history that were created specifically to hurt people and make them feel like they don't belong.

The Rule: Even if you hear these words in a song, online, or from older kids, they are "No-Go" words. They carry a lot of pain from the past, and using them is like reopening an old wound.

4. Think: "Is it True? Is it Kind?"

Before saying something about someone’s background:

If you hear a friend using racist language, you have the power to stop it.
You could say…

We appreciate your ongoing support in reinforcing these messages at home.

A big thank you to the many parents and whānau who have supported our Road Patrol this term—we really appreciate your time and commitment to keeping our tamariki safe.

We are still looking for a couple of additional helpers and would love to hear from you if you’re able to lend a hand.

If you can help, please contact Emma Swanson at emma.swanson@kks.school.nz

A friendly reminder to please not park on yellow lines when dropping off or picking up students. I did tap on a couple of car windows the other day as a gentle reminder. This is something other parents notice as well, and it can be frustrating for those who are doing the right thing.

Most importantly, these markings are there to keep everyone safe—especially our tamariki. We appreciate your support in following the road rules and helping keep our school environment safe for all.

Ngā mihi to Rachel Ramsay who has been releiving in Room 16 for the last couple of weeks. Mark Wright is back at the beginning of term 2!

The MOE have provided all schools with 2 teacher only days to support the implementation of the curriculum for 2026 and 2027. These days are for teachers and leaders to engage in professional learning and planning, focus on new curriculum content and assessment approaches. Our first day this year will be on Tuesday 28 April. Please pop this into your diary.

We’re delighted to continue offering delicious lunches from Bakehouse Waikanae on Fridays and Sushimi Sushi on Wednesdays. 

Have a great Easter break 🐣🐇

Ngā mihi nui!

Craig

The University of Canterbury is once again offering students the opportunity to participate in the KIWI English, Mathematics and Science competitions. These competitions take place annually and are designed by New Zealand teachers for New Zealand students based on the New Zealand Curriculum. The competitions are open to all Year 5-8 students in English, Mathematics and Science. Students can enter in one or more subjects. Each competition will provide parents/caregivers with an individual student report of their child’s overall performance. The supervised online tests will take place in the last 3 weeks of Term 2 and the first few weeks of Term 3. All participating students will receive a certificate and a prize will be awarded to the top student nationally in each competition. For more information see https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/cam/kiwi-competitions/ 
To register your child please pay online at  https://www.kindo.co.nz/ and select the tests you wish your child to participate in from the shop. The cost to do each test is $9.90 per student. Entry and Payment to be made by Friday 24th April (End of first week of Term 2).

These are available to purchase from the school office or via myKINDO for $20.  
If you are unsure of which whānau your child is in please check with the office.

Te Whenua - Green

Te Awa - Navy

Te Waka - Red

Ngā Manu - Yellow

Te Moana - Light Blue

We’re delighted to share a collection of delicious, good old-fashioned recipes kindly provided by the Kāpiti Food Poverty Project. These are simple, family-friendly meals that don’t cost a lot to make but taste great. A link has been added to our school website – perfect if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration for dinners at home

Check them out

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.

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.

Please let the office know asap if your contact details have changed. You can do this online-click here

Thank you to all the Whānau who use the crossings safely. This includes waiting for the signal to cross now and walking across the crossing with small children. 

Please remember that children are always watching our behaviour as adults, so use the crossing, even if it is just you crossing.  Also, to continue respecting the children who are working hard on the patrols to keep all our tamariki safe, such as waiting patiently, not pushing past etc.  

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.

Click here to read our school sport code of conduct

Registrations and fees are now open on KINDO.
This year, the grades and playing days will be:

Equipment: Some sticks are available on loan from the school. They are well-used and well-loved sticks. Mouth guards and shin pads are compulsory for all children to play. Uniforms are compulsory for Yr 3-8 teams and a Kapakapanui sports shirt will be provided by school, or you can purchase your own. We play in black or navy blue shorts and black or navy blue socks. The Year 1&2 players do not have shirts as their sessions on a Sunday morning at the turf are skills and mixed games where uniforms are not required. 

2026 Stationery Packs
These are now live and ready to purchase and can be sent to your home, these will remain live throughout the year.  Qizzle School Packs

Stationery Items on your Kindo account
If your childs teacher has sent them to the office last year or this year for additional items (eg, book, pen, ruler etc) these have been added to your account.  This billing/invoice will show as '2025 Stationery or 2026 Stationery', where possible we will itemise what the item/s is.

Weekly trips are made to the library with your childs class where they can browse or loan books. 

Poppy Portrait pages are for children and adults to place a photo or photocopy of the photograph of their uniformed relative or friend who has served, or is serving. There is also space for the name of the soldier along with the name of the person or family providing the completed Poppy Portrait.

Some children may choose to draw or paint their family's soldier relative or friend.

The Otaki and Waikanae RSA Poppy Trust is organising the Poppy Portrait project in Waikanae and Otaki in the lead-up to the 2026 annual Poppy Appeal (17-18 April) and ANZAC Day (25 April). The project aims to create awareness and an opportunity for families to talk about their soldiers and friends who have served.

Poppy Portrait pages have been distributed to primary schools and early childhood centres in Waikanae. Retirement homes have Poppy Portrait pages for display within their premises. The Waikanae Library also has Poppy Portrait
pages available.

The completed Poppy Portraits can then be taken to the Waikanae Library, where they will be part of a window display in the lead-up to Anzac Day, when they will form part of the Anzac Day service at the Waikanae Memorial Hall.

The sepia and black and white studio photographs of young men off to serve overseas were once familiar sights in family homes. As we declutter and downsize, hopefully these photographs will be given to the 'family historian' or
safely stored.

These framed portraits can be photographed on a phone/camera and smaller 6 x 4 prints can be obtained from stores such as Warehouse Stationery or Harvey Norman in Paraparaumu.

In 13 years we will be commemorating the centenary of the start of WWII (1939-1945). Many will remember the large public and community interest in the lead-up to and commemoration of WWI.

For further information contact: Joanne Ruscoe, 021 925 755
(on behalf of the Otaki and Waikanae RSA Poppy Trust)