Porritt School Press

Kia ora e te whānau,

Here's hoping your whānau had a wonderful Easter break together and everyone came through the recent wet and windy weather without too much challenge. I enjoyed a lovely break with my whānau after a cool first term. We celebrated a 16 year old in our whare, visited whānau in the Manawatū and I even managed to get out on the boat! Hopefully you too, got to spend time with your darlings.

It has been a great start to 2026! Many thanks to our dedicated staff for continuing to work hard for our community.

Our school roll begins Term 2 on 324 tamariki. Our enrolment enquiries are well up. If you know of anyone intending to send their tamariki to Te Tai Whanake - Porritt School, tell them to enrol soon! Early notice is good notice to keep us prepared.

This is a special Term 1 Holiday 'Special Edition', with a few stories about cool things that happened in Term 1, as well as some key notices heading into a busy Term 2 next week.

Please take note of the Attendance 2026 article. This is a major focus area for 2026 for our kura. We'd like to see a significant increase in our regular attendance figures.

There is also an article about the Rich Record of Learning recently shared, and those on the way this term. It would pay to sort out your HERO app and make sure you have access as we share these celebrations of progress this term. Term 2 is an important reporting term.

We look forward to a very successful Term 2 where we can really dive into our learning and growth with your child.

Ngā mihi whakamiha - respectful regards,

Maaka Papuni - Tumuaki/Principal

As above, our school roll is growing FAST! We have 324 tamariki as of the beginning of next term.

We'd like to be well planned for our new learners, particularly those turning five this year.

If you know of anyone that is looking to enrol their tamariki, particularly a new entrant, please get them to enrol as soon as possible, or reach out to Tori Anderson in the school office to book a school tour.

If you have already enquired to enrol, but you haven't heard back, we are currently working through our list and will be in touch soon.

We are excited to welcome you for a kōrero and to set your child up well to begin school!

Mrs Heaven returns to kura this term following some time away recovering from a fall in summer. Leanne is one of our Kāuru kaiako in the New Entrant learning space and visited with our five year olds toward the end of last term to ease back in and reconnect with these beautiful tamariki and our staff.

We look forward to welcoming Leanne back! Leanne is also our New Entrant Transition Coordinator. She organises school visits for our new entrants and their whānau and caregivers. This is a really important role in ensuring our newest shining whetu feel safe, happy and ready to begin...both the tamariki and the whānau that love them!

We would like to mihi to Whaea Lizzy Tyman, and Mrs Anna Pera, for doing a wonderful job teaching in Kāuru in Term 1 - a sincere and humble thank you!

Mrs Heaven receiving a lovely treat on one of her visits to Kāuru to hang out with our new entrant tamariki late last term. Welcome back Leanne!

In Term 3 of 2021, the Lyver whānau blessed our kura with two beautiful kahu, cloak. These were gifted to our kura when the third of the Lyver boys, Te Kāhu, started school as a five year old. These kahu have been a taonga ever since. They were handcrafted by kairaranga, and Tāne, Tai and Te Kāhu's nanny, Meriana Lyver.

The kahu are called Whatu and Tāniko. Whatu is worn by boys, and Tāniko by girls.The feathers woven through include pheasant and turkey feathers gathered and plucked by the Lyver whānau.

The kāhu are physical embodiment of the very real weaving of people for the betterment of our tamariki through their time with us.

Recently, Meriana spent countless hours extending the width of these kahu, after spending hundreds of hours previously weaving them. They now feature braids that allow us to narrow and widen these kahu depending on the needs of the wearer.

We are incredibly grateful for these beautifully ornate taonga Nanny Meriana - thank you to yourself and your whānau for your dedication and ongoing support of our kura.

"Nāu i whatu te kākahu" - You did most of the work, I provided the fine skill.

"Māku e whatu, māu e tāniko" - I will weave, you will fashion

Te Kāhu Lyver having a kōrero with his class about the mahi his Nanny Meriana completed.

This term, we had the tough task of selecting student leaders through an application process. We received well over 70 applications - a huge sign of how engaged our Year 5&6 tamariki are in the opportunity to lead. Incredible effort! Well done to those that put their best foot forward and applied. applied

Each year we say it, but the standard of applications was outstanding and we were really proud to name the following student leadership groups for 2026.

We are awaiting the arrival of our new badges, featuring a fresh design. We also name the Pride Leaders in the second assembly of Term 2 on Friday.

These groups are already busy 'doing the mahi' in their various roles. Keep up the great work!

We're looking forward to a great year ahead with these student leaders.

p.s. We'll take some updated photos when badges arrive with all members.

Tech Leaders - Nathan Jamieson, Stella Giddens, Alex McKenzie (Finn Walsh - Absent)

Arts Leaders - Calico McKinlay, Maia McIlwaine, Eunice Regalado, Georgia Fuiava

Sports Leaders - Ava Turner, Korbyn Stok, Huddy Latter (Leo Martin-Moimoi - Absent)

Māori Cultural Leaders - Kaye-Maria Pahi, Jackie White, Mason Gardiner, Missy Lou Taunoa, Loyalty-Blue Pohatu

School Student Council - Back Row: George Hill, Reighn Stark, Max McLean, Lucas Craig, Sahara Randall, Della Dean, Mia Rana, Front Row: Ngawai Ropotini, Isla Whyte, Rivah Bedford-Rolleston, Corban Johanson, Jasper Fridell, Connor Brede (Ellie Cox and Leo Edmonds - Absent)

Physical Activity Leaders - Back Row: Ollie Manson, Nikau Matangi-Huhu, Mila Te Atua-Russ, Maruke Nepe Apatu, Luca Scott-Walters, Jake Motley, Kaleb Marshall, Darsh Vijay Front Row: Marlie Tonga, Thea McCullough, Indie Te Atua-Russ, Legion Conrad, Carter Stevens, Kayne Pohe-Waa, Dakyrus Harmer (Coby Lange-Wereta and Blakelyn Fowler - Absent)

Hauora Leaders - Rico Ene, Lilly Koen, Ella Fuiava (Brodie Jones - Absent)

It has been one busy summer sports season with multiple school teams across our summer codes. Our tamariki have enjoyed the experience and the benefits of playing team sport. We are very grateful to those coaches and managers, both staff and whānau members, that give up their time to support our tamariki - kia ora mō tō mahi!

These legends were but some of the tamariki involved in sports and representative action outside of kura over the past term.

Well done to Leo Martin-Moimoi, Coby Lange-Wereta and Maruke Nepe Apatu in the NZ Invitational Under 10 Tag Football team that went undefeated at the Junior Oceania Cup. Leo Edmonds also competed for a NZ Invitational team.

Congratulations to one of our Learning Mentors, Matua Bayley Latter on the success he and his cricket team, the Napier Technical Old Boys premiers had in winning all three of the premier mens Cricket competitions this summer. Matua Bayley joined us last year and supports our tamariki in Ākau and in the playground during break times.

Bayley, an all-rounder, helped 'The Texans' take out the 50 Over, T20 and overall championship trophies.

Well done Matua Bayley! We won't see Matua Bayley after the Term 1 break for a while. He is off to The Netherlands to play cricket. We wish you well and will catch you when you return.

Well done and congrats to another of our Learning Mentors, Matua Bryson, on his start to the season for the Hastings Rugby and Sports Premier team, alongside Whaea Kayla's partner Blake.

The team has been playing well and claimed a great win on the weekend over Napier Tech featuring a couple of our awesome school dads, Ted and Slayde, out there in the red jerseys with the phoenix logo.

Awesome the have lots of connections to the grassroots game here at our kura.

In Week 9, we found out who our lucky Easter Raffle hamper winners were!

Many thanks to all whānau, caregivers, and friends of the kura that purchased tickets. Our Home and School Group raised an awesome $3766.20 thanks to your generous support.

These were our winners;

Hamper #1 - Samantha Jones

Hamper #2 - Dion Walker Paki

Hamper #3 - Estelle Salter

Hamper #4 - Pam Lawson

Hamper #5 - Caleb Cains

Hamper #6 - Uri Barbarich

Hamper #7 - Dion O'Brien

Hamper #8 - Nathan Jamieson

Hamper #9 - Karina Jensen

Hamper #10 - Paremoehau Heemi

Hamper #11 - Lucky Luke!

Ten of our tamariki that sold one ticket or more were also drawn from all ticket sellers. These lucky tamariki won a chocolate bunny.

Thanks to our wonderful Home & School Team for their mahi and Whaea Tori in the office for coordinating this fundraiser.

Regular attendance at school is one of our major school strategic priorities in 2026. We have set some targets for improving attendance.

We are focused on improving attendance so that every child has the opportunity to experience success. Regular attendance is important for our tamariki to fully participate in their learning and to build strong relationships with their peers and kaiako. We want tamariki in our school to feel they belong in our kura each day.

The Ministry of Education defines regular attendance as 90% or higher, meaning students attend school for at least 9 out of every 10 school days.

Any tamariki attending below 90% will be identified in one of the following three groups;

- Irregular (Worrying) Attendance: Absent more than 10% of the time (Between 5-9 days a term)

- Concerning Attendance: Absent more than 20% of the time (Between 10 - 14 days a term)

- Very Concerning Attendance: Absent more than 30% of the time (15+ days a term)

If your child is in one of these categories after Term 1, we will be making contact to inform you, and in the case of most Concerning and Very Concerning attendance, request a face to face hui with you to find some solutions.

We are here to help remove the barriers to attendance for all tamariki in our kura and have formed an Attendance Team as one of our supports. Key staff here include;

- Our Whānau and Student Support Mihiana Cottrell

- Our Deputy Principal, and our Inclusive Learning Lead Marsha Keesom

- Our Office Manager Tori Anderson, with the task of attendance and absence recording

- Our Tumuaki Maaka Papuni

We are here to support our tamariki to attend regularly. We understand that sometimes there are genuine challenges that make regular attendance difficult for whānau and caregivers. This is a partnership with responsibilities and a role to play for both whānau and our school in improving here.

Our hope is that by working together and communicating, we can ensure our attendance rates improve and we see those gains in learning and holistic development improve with them.

Let's aim up together and work hard e te whānau - our tamariki deserve that.

We will hold the first of our two Teacher Only Days in 2026 on Tuesday 2nd June.

This is the Tuesday straight after the Kings Birthday Weekend public holiday.

We will be meeting with Ministry of Education Curriculum Adviser Nicky Anderson and focusing on our professional learning around the Writing element of the new curriculum.

Circle the date now - Tuesday 2nd June.

p.s. PorrittCare will be open for a special day on this date. Bookings will be available closer to the time.

By now you will have received the second of our Rich Records of Learning for 2026. This Rich Record of Learning has been shared via HERO.

We have used the revised and updated NZ Curriculum Capabilities. These were formerly called the Key Competencies.

The NZ Curriculum capabilities are;

• Communication

• Relating to others

• Self-management and self-regulation

• Problem solving

• Creativity

The post shared with you at the end of the term is based on your child, the term of learning they have done, and what has been noticed about your child and their progress in the capabilities above.

Many thanks to our kaiako, our teachers, for taking the time to compile these awesome records of the progress your child has made. This provides balance across the curriculum when we pair these with the Maths, Reading and Writing reporting that will come your way next term.

Please take the time to log into HERO and share this post with your child.

If you need to reconnect with HERO to view this post, follow the guidance below;

This term, our kaiako look forward to sharing three Rich Records of Learning with you via HERO.

These Rich Records will focus on your child's growth, next steps and their own thoughts i the three main Core Curriculum areas of Reading, Writing and Mathematics.

We will share these HERO posts on the following dates;

• Friday 22 May - Reading Rich Record of Learning
• Friday 12 June - Mathematics Rich Record of Learning

• Friday 3 July - Writing Rich Record of Learning

  
  

As a heads up, in early Term 3, we'll share a HERO post that includes curriculum level information for your child and how they are placed for their learning in these areas against five new progress descriptors. More information about this will follow later in the term.

Here are some events coming up in Term 2 at kura;

• Monday 20 April - First Day of Term 2.

• Monday 20 April - Mihi Whakatau at 9.05am to welcome new learners and whānau.

• Monday 27 April - School Closed: Anzac Day Observed

• Thursday 30 April - Spirit of Anzac Speech Competition (Year 5&6 selected participants)

• Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May - Team Moana to Puketitiri and Mohaka River

• Friday 22 May - Reading Rich Record of Learning shared via HERO

• Monday 1 June - School Closed: Kings Birthday Holiday

• Tuesday 2 June - School Closed: Teacher-Only Day

• Friday 12 June - Mathematics Rich Record of Learning

• Friday 3 July - Writing Rich Record of Learning

• Friday 3 July - Term 2 Ends

Please note: We're yet to set two Ministry of Education required teacher-only days for 2026. We will share these dates ASAP.

Term 1 2026:

Tuesday 3 February - Term 1 begins: All tamariki return - Term 1 Pōwhiri

Friday 6th February - Waitangi Day: School Closed

Thursday 2 April - Term 1 Ends

Term 2 2026:

Monday 20 April - First day of Term 2

Monday 27 April - Anzac Day Observed: School Closed

Monday 1 June - Kings Birthday: School Closed

Friday 3 July - Term 2 ends

Term 3 2026:

Monday 20 July - First day of Term 3

Friday 25 September - Term 3 ends

Term 4 2026:

Monday 12 October - First day of Term 4

Friday 23rd October - Hawkes Bay Anniversary: School Closed

Monday 26th October - Labour Day: School Closed

Tuesday 15 December - School year ends at 1.00pm

At our last assembly of Term 1, and after all the sharing about whakapapa and whānau during Term 1, I reminded the kura about the black sheep of our family, my rather eccentric brother Johnny.

Here's the latest update;

My phone rang in the middle of the night recently, and my brother Johnny was keeping in touch with me on one of his faraway adventures. I hadn’t heard from him in a long time!

The phone line was a little crackly and broken. I asked Johnny where he was?

He said "I'm in Cairo, Egypt brother - the land of the Pharaohs!"

I asked Johnny about what he'd seen and done. He said he ran into a man while sight seeing that had a fantastic offer for him.

"He told me I could buy any famous monument for a bargain price of $200 each".

I replied "That sounds too good to be true Johnny!".

He answered "Yeah, it was a pyramid scheme".

To finish assembly, I reminded our tamariki, as always, that this was a true story.