Newsletter week 1, term 1 2026

Principal’s Update

Kia ora Waitetuna Whaanau, welcome back for 2026. It is great to have everyone back at school. What a great start they have had. They are all ready for learning. Way to go whaanau! And a very special welcome to our new families.

Attendance—we finished the year with our term 4 attendance at 59% of students at school 90% or more. We are aiming for between 65% and 70% or more so we look forward to giving you updates on this as a school. I have high hopes for everyone being

well. Please let us know, via email, phone or on the Edge app or Skool Loop app, when your child is away. It is important we are given a reason. With the new ministry requirement around Attendance Management plans we are asked to report to the ministry when students have reached 5 days, 10 days and 15 days absent each term. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in fostering a positive learning environment.

Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed. Everyday

counts! Ninja Valley have a competition running—’Show up and Shine’. This is the class with the most improved attendance compared with Term 1 of last year, so let’s work on one of our classes being the winner.

Our Term 1 focus is around our Waitetuna Way, forming positive relationships in our classrooms and building on our Living Curriculum Maahanga. As I mentioned at final assembly, as we consider and implement our next steps with the new curriculum we cannot

forget the local environment and the important role that plays to give life and meaning to the curriculum we deliver.

Physical Education is a key part of this term with swimming, softball and tryathlon skills making a strong appearance, along with our hour a day of Reading, Writing and Maths. This is a mix of explicit teaching and integration into the other curriculum areas which are

a focus over the year. Please note that swimming is a compulsory part of the day so if your child is unable to swim please let your child’s teacher know.

Fire alarm callout in the holidays—thanks for your understanding with the fire alarm and apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The fire brigade have to attend any notification of a potential fire as our system contacts them directly. Thank you to Travis who came to school at midnight to meet them and waited for the technician to turn up to check for a fault.

Assessment—you may have seen the reporting announcement from the Ministry of Education. We will work through the details of the new assessment and reporting guidelines alongside implementing new English and Mathematics. I want to emphasis our assessment practises will continue to be informed by multiple assessment approaches to inform you of where your child is at. If you have any questions about your child’s learning please contact your child’s teacher.

All The Happenings

Term 1

• Get-Set-Go day—Thursday 19th Feb—Year 3 and 4

• Life Education 20th Feb to 24th Feb

• PTA Meeting—23rd Feb

• Board Meeting 3rd March—5.30pm

• Raft Race for Maui Dolphin Day—Sat 7th March

• School Swimming Sports—Fri 13th

• March—starting at 1.15pm—Junior Room display first

• School photos—16th March

• Senior Room Camp—Sun 22nd March—24th March

• Inter school Swimming—24th March

• Junior Room Day Camp—27th March

• Tryathlon—31st March

• Board Meeting—31st March

Waitetuna Way

Well done to Hayley & Jack

For

RESPECT (Whakaute)

Celebrate your own and others success

Show respect for myself and others (courtesy)

Respect for our school equipment

Show respect by actively listening to others

Show Respect for our environment

We are looking forward to welcoming back Life Education. Abby and Harold will be coming

along to share their Important messages. The year 7 and 8 programme this year is about

‘Substances’. Please read over the email from Travis about this.

PTA News

PTA Meeting—Monday

23rd Feb—online or in

the staffroom—7.30pm

Together we are growing the seeds of success

Na too manaaki, na tooku manaaki, ka puawai mai nga kaakano