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.
Welcome to Term 2 — and winter, it seems! Today’s wet and chilly weather feels a world away from yesterday’s beautiful blue sky, which arrived just in time for our Mini Gala. We were very grateful to sneak that in before the change rolled through.
Our Year 4 students were due to be snorkelling at Goat Island today as part of their Mountains to Sea learning. Fingers crossed for calmer conditions on the postponement day next Tuesday.
You may have seen recent media coverage about new assessment and reporting guidelines linked to updated curriculum expectations. In some areas, the shift is significant. At present, there is limited detail available to guide teachers in making consistent and accurate judgements against these new descriptors.
Next week, schools across our area will be working together to moderate assessment. This means ensuring that the same child, producing the same work, would be assessed consistently — regardless of the classroom or school. It’s a complex process, particularly with the current level of guidance, but it is reassuring to see schools collaborating closely to get this right.
As we move towards mid-year reporting later this term, we will ensure you have clear, useful information about how your child is progressing.
Ngā mihi nui,
Kathryn Ramel
Principal
School Diary
Week 2 Mon 27 Apr – Fri 1 May:
- Mon 27/4 ANZAC Day Observed
- Tues 28/4 Year 4 Mountains to Sea program at Goat Island
- Thurs 30/4 Values Assembly 2.15pm
- Fri 1/5 Inter School Football (Year 5 & 6 only)
Week 3 Mon 4 May – Fri 8 May: NZSL Week
- Tues 5/5 Auckland Museum Visit Year 6’s
- Fri 8/5 9:10am Junior Kapa Haka 9:10am, Year 5 MOTAT lessons (here at SBS), Whole School Assembly 2:00pm Class Puriri 2
Week 4 Mon 11 May – Fri 15 May:
- Tues 12/5 Trees for Survival Planting Day – Puriri 1
- Year 3 to Walkworth Museum all day
- Yr 3 – 6 Kapa Haka 2:00pm
Welcome to our New Students – we hope you enjoy your time at our school!
Goldie B, Onyx C, Jason G, Jack M, Cameron S, Mason S, Pranav S, Ayla T, Summer W, Maddox W, Nova W
Our value this term is Peace – Rangimaarie
Peace is more than just the absence of noise; it is about building a kind and safe community where everyone feels they belong. At our school, practising peace means using “cool heads” to solve problems, listening to our friends’ ideas, and showing respect even when we disagree. By choosing kind words and helping one another, we are creating a happy environment where students focus on learning and growing to build a more harmonious future for everyone.
At SBS, we often talk about “living our values” — using them as a guide to make good choices and to put things right when we get it wrong. It really helps children when this same language is used at home, creating a consistent message between school and whānau.
The focus isn’t just on naming a value, but on the process of living it out in real situations. A simple question you might use at home is: “How could you have responded more peacefully?”
Mini Gala 2026 – What a great day!
The annual Mini Gala is a much-loved tradition at SBS — eagerly anticipated by our senior “stall holders” and the rest of the school alike. At its heart is a simple but powerful life lesson: if you want something, you can work for it. Just as importantly, it reflects how, as an SBS whānau, we come together to support our kids. Our Year 5 students contribute this year, knowing they’ll be supported in the same way when it’s their turn next year.
This year, we raised an incredible $5,933 — that’s $96 per student. In the current climate, that total is truly remarkable. Our Year 6 students will head to Tongariro to experience white water rafting, caving, snow play, hiking, climbing, and relaxing in hot pools — the kind of experiences that create lifelong memories.
Check out our school Facebook page for some fantastic photos from the Mini Gala. A huge thank you to Pak’nSave Warkworth for generously sponsoring the sausages for the event!
Guitar Lessons
Mr Sutherland started his Senior School lunchtime guitar lessons this week with 22 keen young guitarists. They learned their first tunes, and not to fret about frets. We trust the parents are all enjoying the renditions of Smoke on the Water. Rock on team!
Don’t forget those raincoats!
Today’s weather is a good reminder – pop a raincoat in the bottom of school bags. You can buy a disposable poncho (which can be re-used) for a few dollars, just make sure you grab a “kid size”. These can just be left in the bags indefinitely. We appreciate that little kids need to be collected from classes – big kids can “coat up” and walk to you.
ANZAC Day – we will remember them
Over these first few weeks of term, many of our students will be learning about ANZAC Day, in a context that is appropriate for their age and understanding. We fly our ANZAC flag the week before and after ANZAC Day to commemorate this. Check out some of the amazing poppy art from Kahikatea 2 and Ms Wallis below.
Year 6 Camp Fundraising
Get down to Diamond Jubilee Park tomorrow, 25th April to support a fundraising BBQ for our Year 6 camp to Tongariro. Thanks to Matakana Butchery for donating the sausages and to the wonderful parents who have volunteered their time.
Lunch ordering at Snells Beach School
Here at Snells Beach School we have lunch-ordering through Ezlunch available every day. Follow the link below to sign up for ezlunch and check out the menu. Sushi is available and needs to be ordered the night before whilst sandwiches/baking/other lunchbox items from New World can be ordered up to 8am of the same day. Please note, the lunch order is delivered right before our 1pm lunchtime so students still need to bring morning tea with them. Please contact the school office if you have any questions.
Chess Class at SBS
Community Events and Activities
Adult Karate Classes here at SBS
Suitable for absolute beginners, through to experienced level. Adult lessons will start straight after the kids’ session (details below), on Tuesday nights 7:30pm – 8:30pm in our school hall. For further details contact txt Sensei Paul on 021 297 2431
Toukon Ryu Karate
Keeping in touch – communication is key
Keeping in touch is important. We need to be able to contact whānau quickly and efficiently. If you have changed address or contact details, please let us know asap, either via email admin@snellsbeach.school.nz, or by calling the school office 09 425 6058.
- Following our school Facebook page or Instagram
“Snells Beach School”, which operate as a digital newsletters. This is a great way to get quick updates and reminders. We post reminders and notices on Facebook – Instagram is more quick updates and snapshots of school life
- Downloading our School App
Simply download the “Skool Loop” app from either App Store or Play Store & select “Snells Beach School” from the drop down box to receive instant notifications & reminders. This is an effective way to get immediate notices – they will pop up direct to your phone. Mahurangi College use the same app which is useful – just use the drop down box to change schools.
- Subscribing to our school email database
Please email us admin@snellsbeach.school.nz to be added to the list. If you do not receive this newsletter via email on Friday afternoon, you are NOT in our database. All new families should have been added – please check. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- School Newsletters
We do not usually print newsletters – just the first one each term while people update their contact details if needed. They are emailed out or linked to our school Facebook page. School newsletters come out once a fortnight – teachers may send home additional class or team messages at other times.
Print or Save this Post