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.
Well, here we are — Term 4 already! It feels like only yesterday we were unpacking lunchboxes for Term 1, and suddenly we’re staring down the final stretch of the year (and wondering how on earth Christmas is sneaking up again).
Term 4 is always a big one — full of learning, sports, trips, celebrations, and those special moments that make the end of the school year so memorable. It’s a busy time, but also one of the best, as we see how far our tamariki have come and celebrate all their hard work. Please make sure that you check the School Diary and Key Dates listed below carefully to keep up with what is happening.
A huge thank you, as always, for the support you give your children and our school. Whether it’s helping in classrooms, cheering from the sidelines, or just making sure hats, drink bottles, and shoes all make it to school on the same day (no small feat!), we truly appreciate it.
Here’s to a smooth, sunny, and positive Term 4 — full of learning, laughter, and a good dose of patience for us all!
Ngā mihi nui,
Kathryn Ramel
Principal
Key End of Year Dates
- Thurs 4.12 Junior Christmas Concert 9:15am
- Fri 5.12 SBS Carols in the Courtyard (evening). Yr 3 – 6 Carols Choir, Junior & Senior Kapa Haka
- Weds 10.12 Yr 3 – 6 Picnic at Martins Bay (tide time approx 12:30pm) and Yr 0-2 Picnic at Snells Beach
- Thurs 11.12 Reports Home to parents.
- Fri 12.12 Prize Giving (whole school am) & Awards Ceremony (Year 6 Graduations Certs)
- Mon 15.12 Year 6 Graduation – evening (party, party!)
- Tues 16.12 Last day 2025! 12:30pm finish.
School Diary
Week 2: 13 Oct – 17 Oct
- Mon 13.10 Carols Choir practice 2:00 – 2:40pm (in hall)
- Tues 14.10 Dog Safety by Auckland Council Year 0/1 9.30am, Trees for Survival Seedling Planting 9.15-10 Tot 2, 10-11 Tot 1, 11.30-1 Kow 1, 1.45 – 3 Pur 2
- Thurs 16.10 Big Shakeout Nation Wide Earthquake Practice 9:30am
- Fri 17 Oct Full School Assembly 2pm (All Welcome) Rimu 1&2 – Welcome Certs & Jump Jam presentation
Week 3: 20 Oct – 24 Oct
- Mon 20.10 Carols Choir practice 2:00 – 2:40pm (in hall)
- Tues 21.10 Middle School swimming 12:30 – Puriri 1 & 2 & Group A from Kōw 2
- Thurs 23.10 Possible Teachers Union Strike (details below)
- Fri 24.10 Inter School Swimming, Senior Kapa Haka 2:00pm- 2:40pm
Week 4: 27 Oct – 31 Oct
Book Fair All Week
- Mon 27.10 Labour Day
- Tues 28.10 Middle School swimming 12:30 – Manawa 1 & 2 Group B from Kōw 2
- Thurs 30.10 Book Parade, Middle School swimming 12:30 – Puriri 1 & 2 & Group A from Kōw 2
- Fri 31.10 Mahurangi College Orientation day – Year 6 students, 11.30-1 Nikau 1 and 2 Snells Beach Library Visit, Senior Kapa Haka 2:00pm- 2:40pm
Nau Mai, Haere Mai to our new students – we hope you enjoy your time with us!
Keating A, Ava B, Sol D, Jordy S and Noah V
Our Value for the Term is Love, Aroha
The Beatles sang ‘All You Need Is Love’ and we agree, because this term our value is Love – Aroha. Love is shown through actions like helping, sharing, and spending time together. It’s about wanting to be there for someone, making them feel happy and safe, and celebrating their joys while also offering comfort during tough times. At school we’re spreading love by sharing a smile, saying kind words and supporting each other. Come in and share the love and we’ll all help to create a better world.
Possible Upcoming Strike Action
On 23 October, widespread industrial action is planned which will involve:
- Primary and Secondary Teachers
- Principals
- Support Staff
- MOE Staff
- Allied Health Workers (including technicians, in-home support workers, social workers, therapists, pharmacists, and health educators).
The media are already referring to this as a “Mega Strike,” and it is unprecedented in its scale. This is an informal notification (heads up), to give you time to prepare if necessary. Formal notification will come directly from NZEI Te Riu Roa, via our Board of Trustees, as required by legislation.
Thank you to our out going Board Members
Last term saw the Board Elections, and with them, the standing down of some long-serving Board Members as their children move through the school. Huge thanks to Sally Jack, our Staff Representative, and Dave Hassan, for their contributions over the past three years. Thank you also to Kris Dempster-Rivett and Michelle Brogan for re-standing and continuing to share your knowledge and experience.
The Board role is often poorly understood, and it can be challenging to balance the constant pull between legislation and community expectations. It can also feel thankless — in a governance capacity, much of the work happens quietly behind the scenes, often without public recognition. These days, it’s common for people to serve shorter stints on the Board, reflecting the workload involved.
We have been absolutely blessed to have had Hannah Edwards and Leteisha Morris providing a consistent backbone for our Board — Hannah for eight years, and Leteisha for six. Much of that time they served as Board Chair (Hannah) and Deputy Chair (Leteisha). Together, they led us through an almost unprecedented list of challenges: pandemics and all that came with them, a school roll that doubled during their tenure, the constant push for new classrooms, the fight for remediation of existing ones, and much, much more.
Thank you, Hannah and Leteisha. Your contribution to our school and community has been unparalleled, and you have helped keep our focus on “what’s important” as we’ve grown. We’ll thank you formally at the end of the year, but in the meantime, please know that your efforts have been deeply valued and are endlessly appreciated.
Thanks to our Amazing PTA for a brilliant Quiz Night and Check out the upcoming Golf Day
Our PTA raised $20,000 for the school at their Quiz Night, late last term. To say this is invaluable is an understatement. Huge thanks to everyone who gave so much of their time and energy to bring. that event together. Check out the upcoming Golf Tournament which promises to be a great event too:
2026 Class Considerations – a reminder
You will have received an email with an opportunity to provide your input into class considerations for next year. It is absolutely impossible to cater for all requests, but we do commit to doing our best. If you want to provide feedback (& it is definitely not required), please check your emails or contact the school office for a link. Information shared is confidential to the Leadership Team (which includes Team Leaders).
At this stage, we do not yet know exactly which teachers will be teaching in which classes next year. Most teachers, however, will remain within their current teams. We do know that our lovely Mrs Henchie will be retiring at the end of this year. We’re also delighted to announce that Mrs Nadia Francis, currently teaching at Leigh School, will be joining us — likely in a Year 5 class. Whaea Tarnz will be leaving us at the end of the year, and we look forward to welcoming Miss Rachel Waterhouse back in Term 3 to open a mid-year New Entrant class. Ms Jess Supernault will be moving into Year 3 to cater for increasing numbers in that area.
Kelly Club, before and after school care and Holiday Programme – increased subsidies
Work and Income’s Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) subsidy is a payment that helps you with the cost of before- and after-school care as well as the cost of school holiday programmes.
If you’re eligible, you can claim up to 20 hours per week for before- and after-school care and up to 50 hours per week for school holiday programmes.
Book online at www.kellyclub.co.nz/snells-
Find out more at www.kellyclub.co.nz/oscar-
Community Notices
Chess Club at the Mahurangi East Library: Join our new Kids’ Chess Club on Mondays, 3:30–4:30pm for 8 weeks! Run by kids, for kids, all skill levels welcome. Chess boards provided.
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