St Teresa's School Newsletter

Kia ora e te whānau!

A warm welcome to everyone for the start of the 2026 school year. I am pleased to be back at St Teresa's for this term and I am looking forward to working alongside all families, staff and BOT before Liz starts her principalship in term 2. We are delighted to congratulate Liz on her appointment. We will very much be working hand in hand throughout this term.

We are so excited to welcome our tamariki back to school on Monday, ready for another year of learning and growth.

Ngā mihi nui to all of our teachers who have done an incredible job getting their classrooms ready to rock in Term 1. We’re off to a fabulous start and we are looking forward to another year of learning, community, and faith.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Ian Hastie (Acting Principal)

Monday 2nd February

Term begins at 8.45am

Tuesday 3rd February

Meet the Teacher Picnic 4pm - 6pm - please join us

Thursday 5th February

Mihi Whakatau 9am - please join us

Friday 6th February

SCHOOL CLOSED

Waitangi Day

Saturday 7th February

Martinborough Fair Fundraiser - can you help?

Tuesday 10th February

Tākitimu Mass 10am - please join us

Board Meeting 6pm

Wednesday 11th February

School Swimming starts

Thursday 12th February

School Swimming

Friday 13th February

School Swimming

Remutaka Assembly 8.50am - please join us

Kia ora and welcome!

My name is Miss O, and I am looking forward to working with the new entrant students this term. I

value strong home–school partnerships and believe these are key to supporting confident,

happy learners.

Our classroom is a positive, inclusive space where children are encouraged to try their best,

show kindness, and take pride in their learning. Clear routines help create a calm and

supportive environment.

Learning will focus on literacy, mathematics, and developing social and emotional skills,

supported through a mix of whole-class teaching, group work, and independent learning.

Open communication is important to me. Please feel free to get in touch at any time, and I

will keep families informed about learning and key events.

Thank you for your support — I’m looking forward to a great term together.

Ngā mihi nui,

Miss O

natilee@teresas.school.nz

Hi Everyone.

I am Alison Sim, and I have been teaching here now for 5 plus years. I have taught in numerous schools in the South Wairarapa over my 26 years teaching history. This year I have moved to Wairarapa and will be teaching Year 1 and 2 students.

I live in Ngawi so I am interested in all things outdoors: diving, hunting and playing golf. On wet days you will find me in my sewing room quilting or hanging out with my two puppies, Brandi and Whiskey. I am passionate about teaching and providing learning that is fun, engaging and challenging. I am really excited about returning to junior school teaching this year, which has always been a passion of mine, and waiting for the arrival of a new grandchild in June.

Many thanks

Alison

alison@teresas.school.nz

Kia ora e te whānau, ko Deb Rei tōku ingoa.

I’m very excited to be teaching the year 3 & 4 students in Tauwharenīkau this year. My husband and I moved down to the Wairarapa four years ago and are really enjoying living in this beautiful region. When not at school you will find me gardening at home, cooking, baking, reading and spending time with our new puppy!

As a teacher I love helping children to become the best learners that they can be. I am looking forward to getting to know the St Teresa’s School Community.

Ngā mihi nui.

Deb

deb@teresas.school.nz

Kia ora koutou,

Ko Chrissy Webb tōku ingoa. My whānau and I moved from the Horowhenua to the Wairarapa in 2020. We have two children: Charlotte, who is in Year 13 at Solway College and loves anything horse-related, and Hadleigh, who is in Year 5 at Gladstone School and loves all things sports-related. We live on a lifestyle property in Parkvale with our horse, Inky.

I am passionate about teaching literacy and play-based learning, and this year I will be working as a CRT teacher across the school three days a week. Outside of school, I enjoy floral art, spending time with my family, and playing board games.

I am really looking forward to getting to know you all this coming school year.

Ngā mihi nui

Chrissy
chrissy@teresas.school.nz

Kia ora koutou! Ko Dana Matthews tōku ingoa.

I teach year 5 and 6 in Remutaka class. I absolutely love teaching at St Teresa's School! I am passionate about inclusive education, singing, dancing and all things PE.

During my spare time I love spending time with my husband Stuart, our two kids Owen and Stella (who also go to St Teresa's) and our dogs Tilly and Molly.

Looking forward to a wonderful 2026 school year!

Ngā mihi nui,

Dana

dana@teresas.school.nz

Kia ora koutou.

As Ian stated in his welcome, I will be moving into the principal role at the beginning of Term 2, and I am super excited! I have grown through the school over the many years I have worked here, moving from teacher aide to teacher, and now to principal. In Term 1, however, I have the great pleasure of teaching the senior students in Years 7 and 8. I am particularly passionate about this year group, and about growing strong and positive school leaders.

I endeavour to foster a warm, inviting, and inclusive environment where students feel a strong sense of belonging. I love this kura and our community, and I am looking forward to working closely alongside you all.

When I am not working, I enjoy going out for a scrumptious meal, reading a good book, going for a long walk, or just hanging out with my husband and my cat, Jemima. My two children are now 22 and 23 and living away, but when they do manage to get back home, we have so much fun together.

I am looking forward to working alongside you all throughout 2026 and beyond!

Hei konā mai,

Liz

liz@teresas.school.nz

Friends of St Teresa's are a group of parents, caregivers and family members who support the school by contributing their time and enthusiasm to the following focuses:

• To provide activities for families to socialise and know one another.
• To raise funds to support the school in learning and teaching.
• To raise funds to provide pleasant surroundings.

There is a variety of activities that the group are involved with and we like to involve as many people as possible from our school community. We look forward to having new members join the group. Meetings are notified through the school newsletter, and are based around funding activities.

For more information contact us on fosta@teresas.school.nz

As we do every year, we have the opportunity to run a fundraiser at the February and March Martinborough Fairs, by parking cars in the paddock behind the St Anthony Church. This is a fantastic fundraiser for our school and raises around $1000 at each fair.

The dates for the Martinborough Fairs are Saturday 7th February and Saturday 7th March.

To run this fundraiser successfully, we need your help. We generally run three shifts per fair, and need 3 or 4 people each shift. The shifts are just under two hours, however if you can only spare one hour, that would also be greatly appreciated.

Times are as follows:

• 7:45-9:30

• 9:30-11:15

• 11:15-1:00

If you are able to help, please email or text Liz, or complete the survey on Hero.

liz@teresas.school.nz 0274446627

Stationery packs for 2026 are $35 each and will be delivered directly to your child's class, ready for their return to school. We continue to bulk buy stationery items to keep costs as affordable as possible for our school whānau.

Payments can be made to our school bank account 12-3290-0001450-00 and can be spread over the 2026 school year.

Please contact Zoë in the office if you have any questions.

Our amazing teachers and support staff work tirelessly to nurture and support our tamariki every day. But even superheroes need their rest!

To keep them at their best, we kindly ask whānau to remember that our staff aren’t available 24/7. Emails and messages will be responded to during school hours (Monday–Friday), but our team won’t be expected to reply in the evenings or on weekends. Just like you, they need time to unwind, enjoy their whānau, and finish a hot cup of coffee for once!

As a small and friendly community, we love seeing you out and about, and we’re always happy to say hello. But if you catch a teacher mid-cornflakes at the supermarket, please save school-related discussions for email or the classroom. They'll gently steer you back to official channels while trying to remember if they need milk...

If your enquiry is urgent, please contact the school office or principal—we’re always happy to help. Thanks for supporting our staff and helping us create a positive, balanced school environment!

Also, here is a reminder about bell times:

• 8am Breakfast Club starts
• 8:30am Classrooms are open to the students
• 8:45am School instruction starts
• 2:55pm School finishes

Ngā mihi!

In 2026, we are continuing to focus on a vital part of your child’s success—regular school attendance. It is a topic we are passionate about and something we will be talking about with you, your children, and our team throughout the year.

Did you know that missing just one day of school every two weeks adds up to more than a full year of missed learning by the time your child turns 16? That is why we are here to support you in building strong attendance habits—it is a partnership between home and school.

Why Attendance Matters

Every child is legally required to attend school every day from the time they start. Together, we share the responsibility to ensure they are present, engaged, and making the most of their learning opportunities.

If your child is going to be absent—for example, for a tangi or a medical appointment—please let us know as soon as possible. However, absences for family holidays or extracurricular activities not organised by the school, are not considered valid reasons.

Facing Challenges? We Are Here to Help

If you’re finding it difficult to get your child to school, please reach out. We understand that life can get busy, and challenges can arise. Our team is here to work alongside you to support your child in attending and thriving at school.

How We Are Supporting Attendance

At St Teresa’s, we are committed to creating a school environment where students feel excited and safe to attend every day. Here’s what we’re doing:

• Building strong, meaningful relationships with students and families.
• Celebrating and valuing who your child is, where they come from, and what you as a family hold dear.
• Taking every practical step to ensure your child is at school and progressing in their learning.
• Providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone.

Let’s Work Together

Attendance is a team effort, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions, concerns, or need support with attendance, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Together, we can help your child make the most of their school experience.

St Teresa's School

Email: office@teresas.school.nz
Website: https://www.teresas.school.nz/
Location: St Teresa's School Bell Street, Featherston, New Zealand
Phone: 06 308 9064
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/St-Teresas-Featherston/100057033717170/