Newsletter

Week 2 Term 4 2026

Kia ora,  Talofa Lava,  Kia orana,  Malo ni,  Marhaba,  Fakalofa atu,  Bula,  Mingalaba, Namaste, Nyob zoo, Vanakkam,  Mga Pagbati

Principal’s Message

Kia ora

Our term has started wonderfully, Whai, one of senior classes had the opening for their art exhibition at Pataka last week, which was an awesome evening. Great to see so many whānau there to support and encourage their children’s work.

We also held the “grand final” to our Kids Can Cook competition, this has become an anuual event where students get to truly demonstrate all their cooking skills and knowledge acquired through our Garden to Table programme.

We have a teacher only day next week, Tuesday 27 October. This will make for an extended 4 day labour Weekend for whānau.

We will again begin to have some building work happening on site, there is to be a renovation of our hall kitchen, an office space beside Whai classroom and upgrading some windows and doors. It has great to know we are in a position to continue improving the quality of our facilities.

This week we have junior students heading to Windley School for a fundamental skills session for athletics, a group of senior students participating in an after school STEM programme, the Life Education Van here to present health lessons and we begin to host music lessons being tutored by Arohanui Strings, so again a very busy term.

Katrina Day

Uniforms

We will be introducing a school uniform in 2027, the plan is for the uniform to be expected for all new enrolments as they start from Term 1 2027 and to be compulsory for all students from the beginning of 2028.

We hope that this will give whānau time to organise. Uniform itself will be a school T shirt and jacket, which will be available from the school office. Pants can be anything plain black: shorts, trousers, leggings, skirt etc.

Online GP information

As we continue to see high levels of winter illness in our communities, we would like to share information about Free online GP care available for children under 14 years of age to share with whanau.  This service provides accessible medical advice and care for Tamariki when they may be unable to attend a GP clinic in person.

If your child is unwell and you are unable to see your usual doctor, or you need medical advice after hours, Online GP Care is now free for all children aged 13 years and under, regardless of whether they have a Community Services Card. 

Online GP appointments are available:

• Anywhere in New Zealand
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• By video consultation or phone call
• With the ability to prescribe medication and send prescriptions directly to your local pharmacy 

For more information, visit: Online GP Care

Gallery

Exhibition opening for Whai and their art work. Whai worked with staff from Pataka during Terms 2 & 3 to explore a variety of techniques and create a number of art works.

What’s happening?

Weekly Events

Tuesday: Assembly 2:30pm

Thursday: Garden to Table

Friday: Languages

Term 4

Week 2

Tuesday 20 Life Education Van 

Wednesday 21 Junior Athletics Skills, Kawakawa and Mokomoko

                          Arohanui Strings Music Lessons start

                          Homework Club restarts for the term

Thursday 22  Pataka Play,  Tuna & Kapowai

Week 3

Gagana Tokelau Week

Monday 26 Labour Day

Tuesday 27 Teacher Only Day

Wednesday 28 School Open again

                          Ki-o-rahi sessions with Kelly Sports

Thursday 29  Board of Trustees Hui 6pm

Week 6

Tuesday 17 School Photos

Wednesday 18 Homework Club Zoo Trip

Nau mai, Haere mai

Attendance

Attendance has a significant impact on achievement, maintaining attendance over 90% is very important. We all live busy lives but birthdays, haircuts and shopping are not justified reasons for school absence. 

Our attendance rate for Term 3 was 47%, that is only 47% of students who met the goal of attendance higher than 90%, unfortunately that is our lowest result this year.