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Kōrero from Craig - Principal's Message
We've been enjoying some amazing warm weather lately (apart from today!) and it’s certainly bringing a buzz of happiness around the school—everyone just seems to feel better under blue skies! A big ngā mihi to all the parents and whānau who are helping out in classrooms, supporting trips, and providing transport for our sports teams—we really appreciate you!
On another note...Winter illness is sweeping through the school at the moment—on Monday we had 118 children away! There seems to be a lot of sore throats, coughs, headaches and covid going around, so please keep unwell tamariki at home to rest and recover.
On another note...Winter illness is sweeping through the school at the moment—on Monday we had 118 children away! There seems to be a lot of sore throats, coughs, headaches and covid going around, so please keep unwell tamariki at home to rest and recover.
Kapa Haka at Waikanae Lodge
Last Friday, our Year 7s performed kapa haka at the Waikanae Lodge. It was a lively and uplifting performance, and everyone—young and old—left feeling energised and buzzing!
We’re fortunate to have so many rest homes in Waikanae, and it’s really special for our tamariki to connect with the older generation. Kapa haka provides a wonderful opportunity to build these intergenerational relationships.
A big thank you to Lorebelle for organising this event, and to the whānau who came along to support!
Book Week
Book Week is all about celebrating reading, books, and authors—and we have a fantastic line-up of activities for our tamariki!
- Story Walk – Children can follow a map around the school to read Roo and Vladimir, page by page.
- Author Visit – Yesterday we were thrilled to host Steve Mushin, an industrial designer, illustrator, science communicator, and workshop facilitator. His session was inspiring and full of creativity!
- Book Character Parade – Don’t forget, this is happening on Thursday. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone dressed as their favourite book characters!
As always, our amazing librarian, Mrs Milmine, has “flashed up” the library—creating a magical, welcoming space for our tamariki to enjoy the joy of reading and has organised our school events for the week.
Unfortunately, poor Tash has been hit hard by the flu and hasn’t been able to come in to enjoy all the excitement. We wish Tash a speedy recovery!
On the Ball-Football
Despite the weather today we hosted Waikanae School for our annual football fixture—On the Ball: The Battle of the Railway Line!
Four epic matches were being played, with our Year 5 & 6 and Year 7 & 8 girls' and boys' teams going head-to-head on the field. It’s always a fun and competitive event that brings out great sportsmanship and school spirit.
A huge thank you to Brett Waite for organising this much-loved fixture each year—win or lose, football is always the winner!
Interesting Research on Social Media
A New Zealand public health expert is calling for the minimum age for social media use to be raised from 13 to 16, due to growing evidence of harm to young people's mental health, sleep, and wellbeing. Many of us are aware of the potential dangers of children accessing social media too young—it’s a real challenge for parents and whānau, especially with how persistent our tamariki can be! The longer access can be delayed, the better. Good luck—you’ve got this!
Click here to read the article
Click here to read the article
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!
Lunches
Ngā mihi nui!
Craig
Craig
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