Over the past week, our tamariki have had unforgettable experiences at two fantastic camps—El Rancho and Mi Camp. These camps were brilliantly run, providing adventure, challenge, and the opportunity to strengthen friendships. At El Rancho, students embraced the outdoor lifestyle, staying in tents and enjoying a range of exciting activities, including zooming down the waterslide, swimming, gathering around the bonfire, horse riding, tubing down the Waikanae Awa, and scaling the high rock wall.

Mi Camp was a special milestone for our school, marking the first time we’ve ventured there after 30 years of attending Curious Cove. It has now become a new Kapakapanui School tradition! We were able to take our entire Rangatahi syndicate (140 students) north on three buses, where they created lifelong memories. Highlights included walking around and swimming in the stunning Lake Rotopounamu, visiting Huka Falls, soaking in the natural hot pools at Otumuheke and Waikato Awa, and tackling fun camp activities like air rifles, high ropes, paint sling, and, of course, hanging out with friends.

Ngā mihi nui to our incredible teachers for the countless hours of planning and preparation that go into running these camps. The responsibility of taking care of other people’s children is huge, and you have given our tamariki an experience they will cherish forever. A massive thank you also to our wonderful parent helpers—your support, positivity, and energy were invaluable.

You can check out the many pics from both camps by clicking here

This week, Kōwhai Pod is off to El Rancho—have an amazing time!

A warm welcome and big "kia ora" to a Jax, Olive, Rylee, Isla , Reid and Louis who all started school yesterday. It's great to have you and your whānau join Kapakapanui School!

I read the following article last week and found it an interesting read-Unorganised play is better for children than structured activities, says expert Maggie Dent

Sushi Wednesday | Order sushi for this week
Friday lunch from the Bakehouse | Order lunch

Ngā mihi nui!

Craig

Let’s Get Movin’ in March!

We have had a great start to this exciting event last week with lots of passports being stamped at our gates as part of the Walk or Wheel Passport Challenge that we are taking part in all through March.  It has also been great to see so many parents also joining in by walking or biking to school with their children.
Walking or wheeling to school is a great way to get active, know your neighborhood, kick start learning for the day AND take care of the environment.  When passports have been completed (which should be at the end of this week if they have a stamp since it started), they can be left at the desks with name and school to go in the draw to win a Micro Scooter and helmet at the end of March!  There are spare passports at the desks if needing a new one. 
 

If you live ‘too far away’ why not try a Park and Stride?  You can still get your passport stamped at the gate!  It helps reduce congestion around the school gate, gives tamariki exercise and whānau get to share precious moments on the way to or from school.  You could drop your child at Waikanae Park to walk the rest of the way or a few streets away from school. 

Throughout the month of March, we will also be holding some other events to celebrate Movin March.
Our first event was today with the Scooter competitions for Years 1-4 and tomorrow Years 5-8 at lunchtime.  There is a some great Movin' march prizes to be given out at these events. Below are a few pics from the today.
 

In the following week is our Decorate your wheels (bike, scooter, skates) day on Monday 17th March so you have a week form now to get start thinking about this and get creative with ideas. There will be a parade of decorated wheels at lunch on this day with some great prizes up for grabs.

Check out our exciting events we have planned…..

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 2nd May (End of first week of Term 2).

Registration Information:
This year, the grades and playing days will be:
Years 1 & 2 (5 a-side) – Sunday 9.00am - 9.45am
Years 3 & 4 (5 a-side) – Sunday 10.00am - 11.15am
Years 5 & 6 (6 a-side) – Wednesday 3.45pm – 6.15pm
Years 7 & 8 (7 a-side) – Tuesday 3.45pm – 6.15pm

Season: 
The 2025 season starts the week beginning Sunday 4 May.  Competitions go for approximately 16 weeks.  The season will run all of Term 2 and three-quarters of Term 3.  There will be no hockey during the school holidays or on King's Birthday weekend.  The first two weeks will be skill sessions, with the competition beginning the week beginning 20 May.

Practice: 
This year we will have all our trainings on the Kapakapanui School Turf on Thursdays beginning at 3.15pm. This includes the Year 3/4 players (3.15pm-4.00pm) Year 5/6 and 7/8 players (3.15pm-4.15pm).  Our first practice date will be circulated by email later.  There will be no training for Years 1/2, they have their session on a Sunday morning at the Kapiti Turf from 9.00-9.45am.

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.

Fees: 
The fees this year are for those who are “Early Bird” payers (before Friday 28 March 2025):
Year       1st Child                      2nd Child                    3rd Child
1 & 2         $55                              $45                               $45
3 & 4         $65                              $55                               $55
5 & 6         $80                              $70                               $70
7 & 8         $80                              $70                               $70

If you have more than one child playing, the fee for the second or third child will be reduced.
Registration details and payment are to be made through your school Kindo Account. 
To get the “Early Bird” fee please register before Friday 28 March 2025.

Late Registrations:
For those who register after Friday 28 March 2025 the fees will be $25 more. As we finalise teams with Kapiti
Junior Hockey in early April, it is important to have registrations in as soon as possible.
Registrations received after 28 March 2025 will be included in a Kapakapanui team but can lead to larger
teams and children having less time on the field. To encourage early registration, any registrations after 28
March 2024 will cost $25 extra (for example, a Year 5 child registered 29 March will cost $105).

Registration fees after 28 March 2025:
Year         1st Child                      2nd Child                    3rd Child
1 & 2           $80                                $70                            $70
3 & 4           $90                                $80                            $80
5 & 6         $105                                $95                            $95
7 & 8         $105                                $95                            $95

Managers: 
We are on the lookout for Managers for the 5&6 and 7&8 teams.  If you are interested in managing a team on the night of games, please contact Matt Wynne (email below). Trainings will be run at school by Kapakapanui staff. As Manager, there is no requirement to attend these, just the games on game night.
Any queries, please contact Matt Wynne - matt.wynne@kks.school.nz

The netball season is just around the corner.  Please find all the details below about the different age groups. 

The most important thing is: we need coaches!  From past experience it is a rewarding role when you focus on the children having fun rather than the results.  There are courses to help you and resources provided.  

This year there will be NO netball played on the following dates:

- 31st May Kings Birthday weekend

- 21st  June Matariki Weekend

- 5th July Middle week of the school holidays

The year 3 and 4 teams will play on Mondays. 
The years 5-8 will play on Saturday mornings

All teams require coaches. Coaches MUST be able to make training which can be before school, during lunch time, after school or the weekends. Experience is not necessary, there are many different resources that can be used. It is really important that coaches can attend the coaching courses that are provided by the Kapiti Netball Centre .  We will require all coaches to attend a sports meeting to discuss the school's sports philosophy, expectations of players, coaches and spectators, practices and the end of year awards. This will be towards the end of Term 1.

Year 3: $70

Year 4: $70

Registration details and payment are to be made through your school Kindo Account or if you do not have an account please contact the office. 

For those who register after Friday 28th March the fees will be $25 more.  We have to finalise teams with Netball Kapiti at the end of March and need this information before then. 

Registrations received after the date will be included in a team but this can lead to larger teams and having less game time.  

Any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards 

Kerri Davey

kerri.davey@kks.school.nz

We have a stock of these at the school office (size 6, 8, 10 & 12). They are available to purchase for $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.

Getting the best value from the Child Concession
Kia Ora parents and caregivers, To support your child’s travel on Metlink services, please note the following important point. High school students are required to present their secondary school photo ID when requested by onboard staff if not in uniform. For eligibility information please check the concessions section here.
Below is a summary of the conditions of carriage. The full version can be found here :
Children from age 5 and intermediate school students are entitled to the Child Concession while in or out of school uniform. 
Secondary school students must either be wearing their school uniform, or present a valid physical or digital secondary school photo ID.   
A Snapper enabled Student Photo ID can be used as a Snapper card to access the Child Concession. Children 16 or older who have left school do not qualify for a Child Concession.
Tag on and off for each part of the journey. If you do not tag off, a default fare applies, see more information here. Contact us on info@metlink.org.nz or call us on 0800 801 700 for more information. 
Ngā mihi,Metlink 

Hopefully you all have purchased your stationery items by now.  If you have not managed to put it together please see the ladies in the office as they have a small supply of stationery items they can provide and add to your account or alternatively you can still purchase online and have delivered to your home, please visit - Qizzle online ordering

 Kapakapanui School receives every other issue of the Scholastic Bookclub. The latest one will be going home with your child this week if they are in Year 0-6.  This is a great way to support our school as 20% of each order comes back to us to purchase books and resources for the library. 
Please place ONLINE orders only by midday Friday 21 March to ensure your order is delivered to school.  It is hoped they will arrive before the end of term but please be aware this is not a guarantee.