Term 2, Week 3

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu

Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly

Email: office@kereru.school.nz
Website: http://www.kereru.school.nz/
Location: 2306 Kereru Road, RD 1, Hastings 4171

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday - 8:30 am - 3 pm
Phone: 06 876 0923
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084298596659

Kia ora e te whānau,

We have been loving this stunning autumn weather this week! Term 2 has started with a hiss and a roar, with a real hum of learning coming from across the classrooms.

In the first week of term, our staff joined other small rural schools from across Hawke’s Bay for a Maths Curriculum Day. It was a valuable opportunity to continue building our understanding of the refreshed Maths Curriculum, along with the new assessment and reporting practices and guidelines.

Our wool inquiry has well and truly taken off. Students have been making the most of the books from the National Library, learning the basics of knitting - and it’s safe to say it’s become a hit! One of the highlights this week has been seeing so many of our tamariki sitting out on the deck at break times, knitting together. A huge thank you for the donations of wool and needles that keep coming in, we really appreciate it. We’re looking forward to getting stuck into our Peggy Square creations next.

This week, we popped over to the Spalls’ woolshed to see some ewes being shorn. Students experienced the shearing process, the equipment involved, and learned about the different parts of the fleece and how they are used. We’ve also had Caitlin from Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery working with our students on some fantastic printmaking, linking to our wool and sheep theme this term. If you’re around, pop in and have a look!

This term is a big one - an 11-weeker! Our core classroom programmes in reading, writing and maths are solid, and we have lots of exciting events and opportunities coming up for our tamariki, including Ki o Rahi, a visit to the PGG Wool Store and Wool Testing Store in Napier, Knit and Natter, hockey skills with Emily Gaddum, Ki o Rahi skills and practice with Jeremy from Sport HB and Macca from Mactivities, Rippa Rugby with Jack from HB Rugby, the 5 Aside Tournament, and our Matariki Celebration and Disco.

We are also working through some assessments at the moment to gather information about your child’s progress so far this year in relation to their year level. Reports will be shared with you via Hero at the end of the term. If you’d like to support your child’s learning at home, listening to them read, or reading to them every night, is a really good place to start. We are always happy to show you how we support your child at school, so you can do the same at home.

We have a Working Bee coming up on the 15th - information is on Hero. I hope you can join us and help tick off a few pressing jobs.

Noho ora mai,

Kelsie Allen
Principal

Roll: 28

A big Happy Birthday to:

• 22/05 - Oliver

Term 1 Dates: 02/02 > 11/04 (includes Waitangi Day & Good Friday)

Term 2 Dates: 20/04 > 03/07 (includes ANZAC Day Holiday & King's Birthday)

Term 3 Dates: 20/07 > 25/09

Term 4 Dates: 12/10 > 15/12 (includes HB Anniversary & Labour Day)

Teacher Only Days:

• Term 2 - Friday 24th April
• Term 3 - Thursday 22nd October

Wishing all of our amazing mums, grandmothers and caregivers a very Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday. We hope you have a lovely day celebrating all that you do.

In Week 5, we will be celebrating our fabulous support staff;

• Sheryn
• Celine
• Jo
• Rochelle

Our school simply wouldn’t run without these amazing ladies, and we are so grateful for everything they do - supporting our students and taking such great care of our grounds and classrooms each day.

We are loving the buzz around knitting at the moment! On the 4th of June, we are inviting all knitters (anyone is our community that you know or any amazing family members) to come in and support our students with this project: https://www.premmieknittingclub.org/peggy-squares

This link (below) takes you to our school website. Our events calendar is updated regularly with key dates for all upcoming school events.

This term, our Assemblies will be on a Friday morning at 9 am. We will have 3 Assemblies in Term 2. You are more than welcome to join us:

• Week 3, Friday 8th May
• Week 6, Friday 29th May
• Week 9, Friday 19th June

We had a fun gender reveal for Mrs Allen last week! Students came dressed in blue or pink, and the excitement built as we cut into the cake… it’s a BOY!

Last week, we welcomed Constable Chris to Kererū School, who shared some really important learning with our students around Keeping Ourselves Safe, Road and Bike Safety, and Cyber Safety. These sessions were a great reminder of how we can make safe choices both in our community and online.

We appreciate Constable Chris taking the time to work with our tamariki and reinforce these key messages in a practical and engaging way. There are some great resources on Hero for Tōtara parents that will support you in keeping your child safe online.

This week, we popped over to the Spalls’ woolshed to watch Hamish shear some ewes - a fantastic hands-on experience for our students as part of our wool inquiry.

This is all about helping them better understand the full process, from when sheep are shorn to where the wool goes next. Later in the term, we’ll be visiting the PGG Wool Store and NZWTA Wool Testing in Napier to see what happens to the wool beyond the farm, before exploring the products that are made from it.

At the woolshed, students learned about the different tools and machinery used, how to stay safe in that environment, and that sheep are shorn in a specific pattern. They also learned how the fleece is separated into different parts, and what those parts are used for.

A big thank you to Bea and Stu for finding some sheep for us, and to Hamish for shearing the sheep for. It was great to see our students displaying our value of curiosity, wondering and asking thoughtful questions.

We’re loving the buzz around knitting at the moment - students teaching each other, sharing tips, and giving it a go together. Our teachers have picked up the needles too!

This term, we have been learning all about shapes! To finish off this unit, we needed to problem solve to use shapes to make other shapes.

At the beginning of the term, Kākano learned all about ANZAC Day and made some ANZAC biscuits. It was a great way for students to connect with the meaning behind the day.

We’ve loved having Macca back this term, supporting our Tōtara students with their Ki o Rahi practices. Ki o Rahi is a fast-paced, traditional Māori game that combines teamwork, strategy and skill, and it’s been awesome to see our students getting into it. This is all building towards the upcoming interschool tournament, where we’ll be competing alongside Twyford, Pukehamoamoa, Sherenden, Omahu, Bridge Pa and Maraekākaho. We’re looking forward to seeing our team give it a good crack!

We've been doing some awesome sheep print making with Caitlin from the Hastings Art Gallery this week! She came to work with each class, and has helped us to create some stunning art pieces!

At the end of last term, the Tōtara class headed to Waipukurau for our annual camp at Ranui Farm. Over two chilly nights and three sunny days, we traded our classrooms for tents and the great outdoors. Our incredible hosts, Russell and Trevor Ensor, provided a range of activities that challenged us to master new skills.

The adventure was non-stop. Mountain biking was a major highlight, with students tackling big berms and gigantic jumps - some even managed to get serious air! When we weren't on the trails, we were testing our aim with archery and axe-throwing, or cooling off on Ranui’s epic, long water slide.

The farm dam provided even more excitement. We mastered kayaks and paddleboards, with some brave students even landing headstands on the water. Back on solid ground, the golf driving range proved popular, especially for those perfecting the ‘machine gun’ trick.

As the sun set, we enjoyed classic camp fun: navigating the night trail, playing Spotlight, and gathering around a blazing bonfire to toast marshmallows.

A huge thank you to our parent helpers - Ashley Harris, Harry Gaddum, Daniel Hunter, and Jared ‘Dutchie’ Van Dam. Their practical skills, humor, and kindness made this experience possible. It was a camp to remember!

At the end of last term, our Year 7 and 8 students had three morning Food Technology sessions where they put all of their planning into action. Working in teams, they prepared nachos, ginger crunch, biscuits, and self-saucing chocolate pudding - all while building their skills in following recipes, measuring accurately, and working together.

It was great to see the level of independence, teamwork and problem-solving throughout these sessions. The students took real ownership of their learning, supported each other along the way, and (mostly!) kept on top of the clean-up too. A fantastic effort from our Year 7 and 8s.

Wow!! What an amazing day we had for our event. The sun shone and the walkers & runners were all very happy!

We managed to raise a cool $14, 824.55. Considering our numbers were down by 100 participants this year due to many other events clashing, this is an amazing total we raised. It was partly thanks to our sponsors and donors. Please thank them all by using them!! Tell them we sent you!

Now a huge thank you to all of our incredible volunteers. If you helped leading up to the event,or on the day or just picking things up from town for us. THANK YOU! Without your help, this event would not be possible.

Here's to next years event! Watch this space.

It has been a wee while since we have had a good Working Bee at school, and we'd love your help on Friday, 15th May, to tick off a few pressing jobs.

Many hands make light work, so we'd really appreciate as much or as little time as you can offer.

JOBS:

• Clean heat pump filters - vacuum on a low setting
• Remove trees close to buildings
• Cut branches on the boundary fence line
• Clear and sort the mower shed - this is a major job. Gloves required!
• Clean and tidy the pool shed area
• Spread some of the stones in the junior playground, away from the edges.

Please bring:

• Any power tools, rakes, gloves, trailers to remove vegetation, etc.

The Board will provide some refreshments afterwards.

Please let us know if you can make it.

Toby Mayers has resigned from the Kereru School Board.

There are two options to fill his position:

• Hold a by-election to let the community decide who will fill the position.
• Fill the vacancy by selection, meaning your board chooses who fills the position.

The Kereru School BOT has elected to fill this position by selection. Please see the letter attached.

Kereru School Board - Casual vacancy for a parent representative

A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.

The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.

If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.

Request for a by-election should be sent to:

Kate Gaddum - kate.gaddum@kereru.school.nz

Presiding Member (chair)

Kereru School Board

By: 1st June 2026

This term, the Board and Staff will review specific policies and procedures on SchoolDocs. You can access these documents at any time. Instructions for viewing our policies and procedures are available on our website and below in this newsletter.

Topics:

• Daily School Bus
• School Swimming Pool/ Swimming offsite
• Education outside the classroom (EOTC)
• EOTC Governance Roles & EOTC
• EOTC Risk Assessment & Management

The role of the Board:

The board is the group of people that make the big decisions and set the overall direction of the school. Every state, state-integrated school or kura has a board.

The school board is responsible for:

• policies and procedures
• planning for the future
• employing all school staff
• complying with the law
• managing budgets.

The board doesn't get involved in operational issues. The principal is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.

Board meetings:

Board meeting dates can be found on our shared Google Calendar and on our school website.

Meetings are held in public, but are not public meetings. Members of the public have the right to attend and request speaking rights - however the board does not have to grant them.

A big thank you to all of the community members and businesses who contribute to our school through Fern Fuels points. We are grateful for your support.

Thank you to;

• Allen Farming Company Limited
• Beeline Limited
• Corson Farming Limited
• Forest Road Farm - NZ Red Deer Ltd
• Freethlands Limited
• Hilltop Spraying Ltd
• HWS Agri Limited
• MD & KA Hinton Partnership
• Ohara Farming Company Limited
• Olrig Limited
• R Haselsteiner T/A Matangi Station
• Rangimoe Farming Limited
• SH Harper
• Simmons Contracting Ltd
• Stephen J Averill
• Summerhill Partnership
• Te Whana Farm Family Trust
• Topaki Limited
• Tuapae Farm Limited
• Tuturo Farm Limited
• Universal Livestock Limited
• Wakarara Farms
• Whenuapapa Limited

The school works on a subscription basis with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies that have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and the school supplies specific information such as our charter, and procedures for behaviour management, reporting to parents, etc.

SchoolDocs updates, modifies, or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our board of trustees has the opportunity to view changes/additions and comment on them before they are implemented.

Policies are up for review each term. You can access, view & review our policies and procedures anytime.

http://kereru.schooldocs.co.nz

Username is “kereru”

Password is “kereru1912”

If you ever find the need to raise a concern or file a complaint with a member of our staff, we value open communication and encourage you to follow our concerns and complaints process.

We recognise that we can't always please everyone. We appreciate your understanding that we are committed to doing our best. We value diverse perspectives and acknowledge that opinions may differ.

We encourage you to reach out to your child's classroom teacher, who is your first point of contact for any concerns. They play a crucial role in addressing issues promptly and effectively.

These links will give you some ideas on how to help your child's learning at home:

• MOE Parent Portal: https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregivers/schools-year-0-13/parent-portal
• Maths at home: https://nzmaths.co.nz/maths-our-house
  
• Writing prompts and ideas: https://app.pobble.com/auth/
  
• Mindfulness: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
• Early letter formation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=609NcinTkGI

If your child is unwell, please keep them at home to prevent the spread of the illness.

Gastro

• "People with gastro should not go to work, school and early childhood centres until they have been well (symptom free) for 48 hours. There will be viruses in your poos for several weeks after you become well. You should continue to wash and dry your hands thoroughly after you have been to the toilet."
• Here is the link for a brochure: https://www.rph.org.nz/public-health-topics/early-childhood-centres/current-illnesses/gastroenteritis/gastro-brochure.pdf

Covid-19

• If you or someone in your whānau tests positive for Covid-19, please let Kelsie know ASAP and then follow the MOH guidelines: https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-isolation/if-you-have-covid-19/

School is open for students to arrive from 8:15 am - 3:15 pm.

Our staff sometimes arrive late or need to leave straight after school. Please ensure you can pick your children up no later than 3:15 pm, otherwise you will need to make alternative arrangements.

Hero gives you (parents) the opportunity to send through your child's absence with a click of a button. This is a quick, efficient way and gives our staff a notification and message of the reason your child is away.

This is the way we would like you to let us know if your child won't be here. If there is additional information that the school needs to know, please contact Sheryn directly.

You can find out more information about our Student Attendance & Attendance Procedure policies by heading to School Docs and searching the above headings. Link to School Docs - https://kereru.schooldocs.co.nz/

Just a friendly reminder to help us with the end of the day organisation, please ensure you let us know if your child/ren will not be on the bus in the afternoons.

Unless we have heard otherwise, or you put on your sheet at the beginning of the term, we will assume that your child is on.

You need to contact Sheryn before 2 pm with any changes.

We would love to have a better understanding of who will potentially come to Kererū School in the (near or distant) future. This is to ensure that you, as parents, receive information such as transition visits and school information before your child's start date.

We would love to hear from you if your child is between 1 and 4 years old. To make sure we have you on our 'potential enrolments' list.

Please email office@kereru.school.nz or follow the link to our enrolment section on our website to find out more information.