Newsletter - Week 2, Term 3 2026

Kia ora Waitetuna Whaanau, it has been a productive week and I hope you enjoyed the valuable time to connect with your child’s teacher about their learning, heard the many successes and created next steps for the remainder of the year. It was a special lunch/shared kai on Friday and I thank you all for making time to come along. It is an important time of the year for many reasons both with learning conferences, coming together for Matariki and the opportunity for me to get your feedback on behalf of the staff and the board, its direction and how to enact that. It was also great to hear your thoughts on our reporting. I have heard many positives and you all said that you found the report fairly easy to understand. I am sorry I wasn’t there on Thursday with the MOE session taking me to Hamilton.

Leavers Profile - I asked your thoughts on our Leavers Profile and shared what our Year 8s should be confident in when they leave Waitetuna School. I also asked the Senior students their thoughts on this and it was very comprehensive. I will share a collated overview soon. If you missed the chance to share your thoughts on school, reporting and the leavers profile please get in contact with me. You can share your thoughts via email or come in and see me and I will also send out a Google form for your feedback. If you thought of something else let me know. I will share your thoughts with the board as we plan for 2027 and beyond. 

Understanding the new curriculum—I didn’t have room in last week’s newsletter to share this. It is important to note that the new curriculum has increased in expectations/signposts for each year level for student learning in all areas. Teachers have had six months to delve into this new curriculum and understand these new expectations and signposts. These expectations are higher and children will continue to learn at their own pace. We continue to teach children from where they are at, while also allowing them to understand what they are capable of and stretching them in their learning. 

Inter school cross country next week– please let us know how you can help for our Inter School Cross Country which is now next Thursday 6th August. Thanks again to Liz and Seamus Macdonald for allowing us to use their farm. Baking, Nacho mince and crockpots can be dropped into the staffroom the day before or the morning of. Can we please get ingredi-ents early next week so there is time to cook. Approx race times for cross country next week are on page 2. 

Show Up and Shine is on for Term 3—Ninja Valley is continuing with this competition for schools so we continue to celebrate being at school when you are well. Some of you may remember Lisa Rapana—she has returned to the Mighty Waikato and returned to Kura Awa this week. Lisa was delighted to see that the Living Curriculum Maahanga (our local curriculum) was continuing as she was instrumental in beginning and developing this. Rest up over the weekend. Ngaa mihi nui Amanda and staff 

All the Happenings

• Inter School Cross Country—Thursday 6th August 

• Board Meeting—11th Au-gust—5.30pm 

• Reminder—Teacher Only Day—Monday 17th August 

• Scholastic Book Fair and Book Week from 18th Au-gust to 21st August 

• Book Week Dress up Day—Wed 19th August and Booknic—food for sale from 12.15pm—we have a local author coming to read to the students 

• Inter School Speeches—26th August—5.30pm—Year 5-8—Te Uku School 

• Assembly—28th August—2.15pm 

• Whole School Zoo trip—1st Sept 

• Board Meeting—22nd Sept—

PTA News

It is all go for next week in the build up to Inter School Cross Country on Thursday and on the day itself. Please drop in your donations of kai on Mon-day and drop off cooked nacho mince and crock pots. It is all hands on deck for this event. Please do not forget the baking as we have no crepes this year. 

Food tent menu below.

Waitetuna Way

Well done to Oli A & Jamie 

Respect (Whakaute) 

Celebrate your own and oth-ers 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 

Cross Country

9:45 am - Official Welcome 

10:00 am Racing begins: 

10:00am Preschool 10:10am 5 year old girls 10: 20 5 year old boys 

10: 30 6 year old girls 10: 40 6 year old boys 10.50 7 year old girls 11:00 7 year old boys 11:10 8 year old girls 11:15 8 year old boys 11:30 9 year old girls 11.45 9 year old boys 12:00 10 year old girls 12:15 10 year old boys 12:30 11 year old girls 12:45 11 year old boys 12:55 12/13 year old girls 1:05 12/13 year old boys 

1.30 pm Races completed 

1.40 pm Prize giving