Newsletter - Week 1, Term 4 2025

Amanda
Oct 12
3 min read

Principal’s Update

Kia ora Waitetuna Whaanau, welcome back to all of our whaanau and supporters and to a busy term 4. I hope you had a chance to slow down and are ready for a fun-filled term of events and opportunities for your tamariki.

The stage is set for Kapa Haka!

We truly hit the ground running in week 1 with kapa haka preparations. While it feels like we just returned, the past five days have been a blur of energy and focus as we prepare for the Kapa Haka Festival! Our students have shown outstanding commitment, dedicating their time to putting the finishing touches on their waiata (songs), haka and calls. We successfully held several extra practices, culminating in a full dress rehearsal that showed the children they were ready. We are immensely proud of their hard work and dedication to Te Ao Māori.

Important Kapahaka Performance Details for Tuesday 14th —We need all students at school by 8.30am. We need to leave school by 8.45am so we arrive at Horotiu in plenty of time for the Poowhiri starting at 9.30am. Our Performance Time: 12:00 pm (Noon) This is a wonderful opportunity for our entire school community to support our tamariki (children). We look forward to seeing you there if you are able to attend!

Ag Day and Group Day—these events both start at 10am. Our School Ag Day will be finished around midday and the Group Day will be finished around 1pm. Caged Pets need to be collected at morning tea time please.

Strike Notice—as I mentioned last term our school will be closed on the 23rd November for our strike day. Thank you for your support of this as we work for better learning for your tamariki.

Congratulations to Isla, Charlie and Asia-Rose for their efforts in the Warhammer competition. They entered the Armies on Parade painting competition at Warhammer Mount Albert, in the Youngbloods Category, and they got 1st [Isla] 2nd [Asia-Rose] and 3rd [Charlie], plus Charlie got 1st for the Armies on Terrain section. Amazing self control and commitment!

Ngaa mihi nui, Amanda and staff

All the Happenings

Kapahaka festival—Tuesday 14th October—Horotiu School
Shake Out—9.30—16th Oct
American hotdogs—17th Oct
Diwali—20th Oct
PTA Meeting—20th Oct
Ag Day—Wed 22nd Oct
STRIKE ACTION—SCHOOL CLOSED—23rd Oct
Group Day—Friday 24th Oct
Labour Day—Mon 27th Oct
Tabloid Sports-Year 1/2 and Waikato Show –31st Oct
Board Meeting—4th Nov—5.30pm
Assembly –8th Nov
School Athletics– 12th Nov
Western Cluster Athletics-21st Nov
Quiz Night—21st Nov
Disco—27th Nov– 5.30-7.00pm
Assembly—28th Nov
Inter School Bowls—Year 7 and 8
Board Meeting—9th Dec
Junior Mountain day—12th Dec
Final Assembly—17th Dec—6pm start
Final day of term 4—half day till 12pm

BAKING PLEASE— We need baking for Wednesday 22nd and Friday 24th October to sell for Ag Day and Group Day and to feed the judges.

Measles information— As you might have heard on the news measles is in Northland and Queenstown. Measles is very contagious and can make people of any age very sick.

Watch for measles symptoms – fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes and a blotchy rash. If anyone in your whānau has measles symptoms keep them home and contact a doctor or Healthline urgently on 0800 611 116. Vaccination is the best protection from measles. Check all whānau are immunised. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – Health New Zealand Anyone closely exposed to measles who has not received two MMR vaccinations cannot attend their school | kura for at least eight days.

PTA News

Dates for your diary:

PTA MEETING—Monday 20th October– 7.30pm
Week 3 will be a big week for us with two fundraising events. We will need baking please for the Ag Day and Group Day judges and for selling on both of these days—Wed 22nd Oct and Fri 24th Oct We also need help with selling and cooking sausages on these days please. If you can spare an hour or two in the morning from 10am.
Quiz Night—Book in the babysitter—Friday 21st November—work is happening in the background for this. Venue—Orca
Tickets coming—buy tickets for you and your family. Get your friends to buy tickets for a fun-filled evening