Newsletter 1 August 2025

Tēnā Koutou, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Namaste, Ni sa bula, Noaia’e mauri, Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Orana, Ni Hao, An Nyung Ha Sai Yo, Nay Ho, Hej, Hallo, Sawat Dee, Cześć, Goeie Dag, សួស្តី, Здравствуйте, Hola, Ola, 안녕하세요, Ayubowan, Vanakkam. Greetings to our school families.

As I write this, a very excited group of Senior School students are heading off to the Inter-School Hockey Zone Day — good luck to all involved! This term is a little quieter on the sports front, with Hockey and Cross Country being the main Inter-School events. We also have Speeches coming up later in the term.

Next week, we are hosting our “Tough Stuff” parent evening on Wednesday at 7pm here at school. We strongly encourage all parents to attend, as it’s a valuable opportunity for support and learning. If child care is a barrier, please contact the office — we’re happy to arrange supervision in the Library if needed. Please note that this presentation is not suitable for children to attend.

You may notice some property works beginning soon in the staff carpark. We’re remediating the lighting, which has been out of action due to an underground fault. Once resolved, this will make a big difference — especially for staff working late in winter, the Mahu City Express buses parking in the dark, and families attending evening events.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and the chance to enjoy this beautiful winter sunshine.

Ngā mihi nui,

Kathryn Ramel

Principal

School Diary

Week 4: 4 Aug – 8 Aug

• Tues 5.8 SL PD Trees for Survival Planting Day – Kow 1 Monarch Downs, Year 4 to Warkworth Museum
• Weds 6.8 Totara + Kowhai 1 walking/biking to Mahurangi Library, Kylie Ryan “The Tough Stuff” parent evening 7pm. 

Week 5: 11 Aug – 15 Aug

• Thurs 14.8 Full School Assembly 2pm class: Kow 2
• Fri 15.8 SBS Cross Country (details below)

Week 6: 18 Aug – 22 Aug

• Tues 19.8 Totara Year 6’s Te Whau planting day
• Fri 22.8 Life Ed caravan arrives 

Nau Mai, Haere Mai to our new students – we hope you enjoy your time with us!

Una H and Cooper W

The Great SBS Cross Country 2025!

All students have been training for our annual Cross Country. It’s a time for our competitive runners to battle it out from the front and for everyone else to set goals, support one another and feel the pride of finishing. Cross Country is a winter event – running through the mud is part of the challenge and the fun! Students will get dirty, and races will go ahead unless the weather is really bad. Parents, whanau and supporters are welcome! This year’s event will be a mud bath – but that’s the challenge and difference of Cross Country as opposed to road and track events, simply keeping on your feet is part of the challenge.  Here’s a run down of things that you need to know for the day:

When: Friday 15 August

Wear: regular school uniform to & from school (this is so everyone has something clean and dry to wear afterwards).

Shoes: Year 5 & 6 students must run in shoes as they have a road circuit as well. For Year 0 – 4 students, shoes are optional, but be prepared for them to get very muddy! We actually recommend bare feet – shoes come off in the mud, and kids stop to find them and dig them out! If you must wear shoes, we suggest that you put some tape (such as insulation tape) around them, like rugby players commonly do, to keep the laces done up and the shoes on.

Bring: Mufti to run in (if you can, a top in their house colours – Scows: red, Schooners: green, Dories: blue, Cutters: yellow), a drink bottle, big lunch, an old towel (to wipe off after), their school fleece, and we suggest a warm jacket also.

Supporters: are welcome! Please note that the students run along the path by the retaining wall by the field, so if you are sitting on the retaining wall, please stay well back and keep an eye on pre-schoolers.

Parent Help: We would love a few parents to act as marshalls on the road circuit for the Year 5 & 6 students! Please email Mr Morley tmorley@snellsbeach.school.nz if you can help

Start times (please note, these are approximate, starts depends on the previous race)

• 11.00 – Y.0/1 Girls x1 laps
• 11.10 – Y.0/1 Boys x1 lap
• 11.20- Y.2 Girls    x1 lap
• 11.30-Y2 Boys      x1 lap
• 11.40 Y.3 Girls     x 2 laps
• 11.50. Y.3 Boys    x2 laps

Lunch will officially be 12.30-1pm to allow more time for seniors due to increase in course length.

Senior School Cross Country– (Road Course)

Approx Start times

• 1.10pm Y.4 girls (2 laps of school course)
• 1.20pm Y.4 boys (2 laps of school course)
• 1.30pm Y.5 girls (school course & road circuit)
• 1.45pm Y.5 boys (school course & road circuit)
• 2.00pm Y.6 girls (school course & road circuit)
• 2.15pm Y.6 boys (school course & road circuit)

2.30ish Finish

Year 3 Trip to the Warkworth Museum

We are so lucky to have a community resource such as the Warkworth Museum in our local area. Not only is it interactive and interesting, but without fail, the hosts that work with our children are wonderful. The wider Warkworth and Mahurangi area has an fascinating and diverse history, and we are lucky that detailed records and stories have been collected over time. Our Year 3’s really enjoyed their trip this week – huge thanks to the whānau that came along as supporters. Our Year 4’s were forced to cancel due to the terrible weather earlier in the week, but will head off next Tuesday instead.

Health Curriculum Survey Reminder

All parents and caregivers should have received a link to complete a survey on how we deliver the Heath Curriculum here at SBS. If you did not, please contact the office to update your email in our system. Please have your say on what we do here.

Board Nominations are due soon!

Another reminder that we are looking for nominations for our Board of Trustees – come and have a chat if you want to find out more!

The “Tough Stuff” Parents Evening – Weds 6 August 7pm. Strictly adults only. 

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