ORATIA SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM MS LINDA

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Oratia. Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Zdravo. Ni hao. Namaste. Kamusta. Greetings Oratia whānau and families.

We had our school board meeting on Monday evening. We were able to accept our audited accounts and report from our auditors, and assure the board members that we had been able to meet the Ministry of Education's deadline for getting these accounts into them. The auditors were very complimentary about the efficiency and organisation of our finance team, and especially Michelle Muir, our financial administrator. Getting the school accounts in order, so that they can be handed over to the auditors, is a big job that she starts in January, so I am very thankful for her expertise and calm efficiency in keeping our school running smoothly.

Our professional learning session after school this week was working in small groups to monitor and address the actions required to keep our curriculum work progressing. Teachers worked in Literacy, Mathematics, Neurodiversity or Cultural professional learning groups together. Maths and Literacy groups addressed how teachers were doing with the new curriculum scope and sequences, and considered assessment tools and strategies. Our Cultural group worked hard to collate previous teacher input they had gathered as they worked towards building a framework for our values development across the year groups. We are working on developing a framework that addresses cultural, social and academic competencies and how we can build these as our students develop so that they meet our expectations for our school value of "Confident, connected learners who make a positive difference". Our Neurodiversity group is our largest group, and teachers worked together to discuss issues they face in the school day, how best to meet the needs of our diverse learners, and how to support and learn from each other. They were all very productive sessions.

Remember to take note of upcoming events such as our Matariki breakfast, Matariki disco, Parent Curriculum and Reporting Information Evening. These are all in our school calendar, which you can find on our website, and are also in the important events box in the newsletter.

Take care and stay safe.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

Axolotls - Ruma tekau mā waru

Room 18 has been exploring the fascinating world of axolotls! Here are some fantastic poems and creative artworks that highlight their learning and imagination.

MATUA MATT'S BIKE TRAIN

BIKE BONANZA

Bike Bonanza

The Bike Bonanza is happening this Saturday! Do you have a kids bike you can dust off and donate? Or have one that is too small and you want to swap to upsize?

Bike Hubs (Eco Matters) and Glen Eden Community House have come on board to help us get bikes for students who don't have them. This Sat 20th June, (10-2pm, 13 Pisces Road) there will be a 'Bike Bonanza' (market and food trucks also), collecting kids bike donations from the community. These donations will be checked out by the Bike Hub mechanic and rehomed to one of our tamariki who needs it. There may also be the chance to swap a kids bike that is now too small, for a larger option.

Contact matthewm@oratia.school.nz for any further information.

MATARIKI SCHOOL DISCO - THURSDAY 2 JULY 2026

MENS T-SHIRT SALE

We have been donated a number of quality brand new ascolour black mens t-shirts which we are now selling at the discounted price of just $25 each (recommended retail $41.95)

These will be for sale from the school office until stock runs out.

CHANGES TO ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING - INFORMATION EVENING

Alongside the refreshing of the curriculum, there are currently changes afoot regarding assessment and how we report information about student progress and achievement to parents and whānau. We invite you to an information evening where we will share what this means for understanding the student reports you will receive from the school this year.

Date: Wednesday 24th June

Time: 7pm-8pm

Venue: School Hall

For any questions or queries, please email matthewm@oratia.school.nz

POLICY TO REVIEW!

This term, the scheduled review focuses on behaviour management, staff wellbeing and safety. For more information about the review, go to the Current Review tab at the top of your SchoolDocs site. A summary is provided below.

Daily School Bus
School Swimming Pool
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)
EOTC Governance Roles and Responsibilities
EOTC Risk Assessment and Management

Follow these instructions to log on to schooldocs to review these.

1. Visit the website https://oratia.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (oratia) and password (0604).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.

9. If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Come one, come all to the 2026 Piha Matariki Festival (Friday 10- Sunday 12 July) Join us for a weekend full of free events perfect for people of all ages to celebrate our beautiful community and te Mātahi o te Tau, the beginning of the Māori new year. We'll have kites on the beach, live music, workshops and activities for kids, and so much more! For more details and a full schedule of events, visit our facebook page Piha Matariki Festival, or our website piha.org.nz/matariki. We look forward to celebrating with you!