FROM RYVES...A TERM OF LEARNING, GROWTH AND CONNECTION

As we reach the end of Term 3, it is worth reflecting on just how much has been happening across Vogeltown. Alongside the many events, there has been plenty of work behind the scenes strengthening teaching and learning across our school.

Developing teaching practice:

This term we have continued to embed Oxford Maths, with a focus on developing greater consistency in how mathematics is taught across classrooms.

We have also sharpened our focus on targeted learners, with teachers working together to identify the needs of children requiring support or acceleration. Alongside this, work has continued around handwriting, and assessment.

Broadening learning experiences:

Learning at Vogeltown extends beyond reading, writing and mathematics. Cross Country gave every child an opportunity to challenge themselves with our message that “the only person you’re racing is yourself.”

Our Paetoki students have also taken part in Build a Business, which is a great example of authentic learning, with plenty of creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and financial thinking involved.

The Arts has also been a significant part of the term. Our production work is providing opportunities for children to take express themselves, take risks, build confidence, and perform - culminating in three fantastic performances by our Taranaki team.

Strengthening whānau engagement:

It has also been great to have so many opportunities to connect with our parents and whānau.

We began the term with our Learning Conferences, attended by approximately 74% of our families. Since then, Cross Country and our productions have brought large numbers of parents and whānau together to support and celebrate our children.

Our Four Year Old Fridays have continued to provide another important connection with whānau. These visits give our newest Vogeltowners and their families the chance to become familiar with our school, meet people and begin building relationships before their first official day.

These connections matter. Whether it is attending a conference, cheering from the sideline, watching a performance, joining us before a child starts school, volunteering or simply having a conversation with a teacher, your involvement helps reinforce to our children that school and learning matters.

There has been plenty packed into Term 3. Thank you to our staff, children, parents and whānau for everything you have contributed to another busy and rewarding term at Vogeltown. We look forward to welcoming our learners back to school on Monday 12th October.

KUWI’S HUHU HUNT - WHAT A SHOW!

A huge congratulations and thank you to our Taranaki Team for the wonderful production of Kuwi's Huhu Hunt this week.

Productions are always one of those events where the audience gets to enjoy the finished product, but behind the scenes there are many hours of preparation. Learning lines, practising dances, organising costumes and props, rehearsing movements, managing nerves and bringing everything together takes an enormous amount of work.

Our children did an amazing job. It was fantastic to see them up on stage performing with confidence, enthusiasm and plenty of personality. For some children, getting up in front of a large audience is a huge step outside their comfort zone, and we were incredibly proud of the way everyone played their part.

A special thank you to our Taranaki teachers, and support staff and parents who helped. The time and effort to get the ready for a performance is significant, and the end result was a real credit to everyone.

Thank you also to our parents and whānau who came along to support the children. Things wouldn’t be the same without you there to cheer them on!

Ka rawe, Taranaki Team! Another wonderful celebration of our children and The Arts in action at Vogeltown.

OUR NEXT PRODUCTIONS

Next up, it will be the turn of our Huatoki and Paetoki teams to take to the stage!

Huatoki (Year 3/4) Production: Wednesday 28th October (Week 3 of Term 4).

Matinee: 1:30pm. Evening Show: 5:30pm

Paetoki (Year 5/6) Production: Thursday 5th November (Week 4 of Term 4)

Matinee: 1:30pm. Evening Show: 5:30pm

One thing we will continue with is our booking system. This allows us to carefully manage the number of people in our hall and ensure we meet safety requirements.

Tickets will be ordered through Kindo, so if you are not already set up, please take a moment to get this organised before tickets are released. Here is the link to set up a Kindo account:

https://shop.kindo.co.nz/app/login

For our Taranaki production, we initially limited bookings to four tickets per family. This gave everyone an opportunity to choose a performance that worked for them before we opened any remaining seats for additional bookings. We anticipate using a similar approach for these upcoming productions too.

More information has been sent home by class teachers this week - we’re looking forward to seeing what Huatoki and Paetoki have in store!

TARANAKI CROSS COUNTRY

A huge well done to all of our Vogeltown runners who represented us at the Taranaki Cross Country event in Hāwera.

The weather certainly made things more challenging, with cold and wet conditions dominating the day. Regardless of where they finished, simply getting out there, competing and giving it a good go in those conditions was an achievement to be proud of.

Once again, thank you to Ms Kissick for looking after these children during the day.

Ka rawe, team - you represented Vogeltown brilliantly!

OTAGO UNIVERSITY MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING CHALLENGE

Our Paetoki teachers nominated our top Year 6 mathematicians to participate in the OUMPS and represent Vogeltown School.

This is a challenge that has 5 x 30 minute high level tests throughout Terms 2 and 3.

You need to be able to use a range of strategies, such as estimating, checking answers, using diagrams, making lists and classifying. Our students enjoyed putting their brains to work and answering the very difficult questions.

The following students received merit certificates:

Dylan Bisset, Charlie O'Connor and Vega Collins

The following students received participation certificates:

Carter Cross, Carter Gibbins, Keiran Dalleg, Zachary Amer, Lucas Gordon-Byrne, Tini Anthony, Isla Fox, Beah Schoeman and Alba O'Donovan.

Ka rawe!

PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS

Congratulations to the following tamariki who received a principal's award at today's full school assembly:

Breanna Te Riini, Leo Gordon-Byrne, Blake Nutsford, Ravneet Singh, Keanu Cantlon, Zaria Wiseman, Luca Donaldson, Mia Rawlins-Sebro, Layla Cuckow, Cora Selby-Dunford, Ollie Gnoth, Lily Flay, Jireh Sione, Marcus Laudic, Tayla Morrow, Miles Cowley, Charlie Rippey, Fatima Jakariya, Maggie Stone, Khaniya Yestemessova, Riley Siau, Milania Milo, Ava-Marie Dixon, Joshua Robins, Henry Southgate, Michael Brown, Lincoln Brears, Carter Christiansen, Recco Te Maire, Angus Johnson, Hudson Holtom.

Ka mau te wehi!

OUT-OF-ZONE ENROLMENT INFORMATION FOR 2027

Enrolment at Vogeltown School is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office. Next year there will be four out-of-zone enrolment opportunities for the 2027.

The Vogeltown School Board of Trustees has determined there will likely be spaces for up to:

Two Year 5 students
Four Year 3 students
Five Year 2 students
Three Year 1 students
Eight Year 0 students (children starting school between 27th April 2027 and 15th December 2027)

The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.

Details relating to the first enrolment period of 2027 are as follows:
Length of enrolment period: Term 1-4, which runs from 1st February – 15th December 2027.
Deadline for receipt of applications: Monday 12th October 2026.
Date of ballot: Tuesday 13th October 2026.

Details relating to the second enrolment period are as follows:
Length of enrolment period: Term 2-4, 2027. (27th April – 15th December)
Deadline for receipt of applications: Thursday 18th February 2027.
Date of ballot: Friday 19th February 2027.

Details relating to the third enrolment period are as follows:
Length of enrolment period: Term 3-4, 2027 (19th July – 15th December)
Deadline for receipt of applications: Thursday 13th May 2027.
Date of ballot: Friday 14th May 2027.

Details relating to the fourth enrolment period are as follows:
Length of enrolment period: Term 4, 2027 (11th October – 15th December).
Deadline for receipt of applications: Thursday 5th August 2027.
Date of ballot: Friday 6th August 2027.

If the number of out-of-zone applications exceeds the number of places available students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out of zone places is required, it will be held on the dates shown above. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three days of the ballot being held.

Parents of students who live within our school zone planning to enrol in 2027 are encouraged to advise the school as soon as possible to assist us with planning for next year.

PAETOKI CAMP 2027

We are already busy planning our Paetoki Camp for 2027. If your child is in Year 4 or 5 this year, they will be going to camp in February 2027.

A notice has gone out to all Year 4 and 5 tamariki today - please read this carefully as it has important information around parent helpers.

A copy of the notice is attached below

TERM 4 SPORTS UPDATE

Registrations for Term 4 sports remain open on our Kindo Shop. Please sign into your Kindo account to check the details on each sport.

** We are needing some more players to fill up our touch rugby teams. If you have a Year 1/2 child or a Year 5/6 child that is keen to play please sign them up! Our Year 3/4 team is now full.

Other options available are:

Summer Soccer - $23 - Games are played Tuesday nights from 5.30pm

Kiwi/Softaball Cricket - $15/$20 - Games are played Friday nights from 5.15pm

Summer Hockey - $43/$53 - Games are played Saturday mornings

Netball (Yr0-2) - Free - Games are played on a Wednesday from 3.45pm

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me on michelle.sleep@vogeltown.school.nz

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Please note the date for our school photos has changed - these will now be held on Wednesday 21st October.

For sibling photos, you will now receive an email from Photolife to register. You can then register online and give your permission for the sibling photos to take place. This is ONLY for sibling photos - every student will automatically have an individual photo taken and be in their class photo.

WEET-BIX KIDS TRYATHLON

The Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon is being held in New Plymouth on Tuesday 23rd March 2027. If you would like to enter your child, you can click the link below which will add them to the Vogeltown School group. As part of the group you can choose for your child's entry pack to be delivered to your home or to school. More details will be available closer to the time.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__raceroster.com_registration_cd47b9a1-2Df6e4-2D43b1-2D94a4-2D58fff300a914_entry-3Fteam-3D1052174&d=DwQFaQ&c=_Zm2Kb9yJrso4r0-N78Ezl-a6DfgMbIISn5tZXXqWk4&r=zXnw6m0wNCL2eSmp7WJj6TkKKARmg3zpFcVvnXeBNENGQ_9nGttkIR3_tiobu1LI&m=52UCg6rCBDozqpcM76frGnE7L6PMnhm1Fliu_yytbwaS_FDueoP6A5viuR0H1Dsl&s=KqO6Edv0HfnsPafr9x2dgYPZGN0YmVjVe3kKgugFm4k&e=

https://raceroster.com/registration/cd47b9a1-f6e4-43b1-94a4-58fff300a914/entry?team=1052174

IMPORTANT DATES

TERM CALENDAR

Put all these dates in your diary or your phone! Remember we will put all updates on Facebook and Skool Loop.

TERM 3 2026

25 September: Last day of Term 3

TERM 4 2026

12 October: First day of Term 4

12 October: Cohort Entry #1 New Entrants start school

15 October: Powhiri for new learners, 10:30am

21 October: School Photo Day - please note this is the new date

26 October: Labour Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

28 October: Huatoki (Year 3/4) Production - Matinee at 1:30pm, Evening Show at 5:30pm

29 October: Puanga Festival, Waitara - Vogeltown School performance @ 12:45pm

4 November: Highlands Orientation - 11:30am at Highlands

5 November: Paetoki (Year 5/6) Production - Matinee at 1:30pm, Evening Show at 5:30pm

KA KITE ANO WHĀNAU

Thank you for the ongoing support of Vogeltown School, we really appreciate the efforts everyone makes to ensure our kura is such a great place to learn and work!

On behalf of the Vogeltown team, ka kite ano! Have a great weekend!

The VS team

VOGELTOWN SCHOOL CONTACTS

Email: office@vogeltown.school.nz
Website: www.vogeltown.school.nz
Location: Vogeltown School Huatoki Street, Vogeltown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: (06) 753 6843

SCHOOLDOCS - VOGELTOWN POLICIES

Our school policies, like many schools, are now in an online system through a portal called 'Schooldocs'. Any time you want to bring up a school policy, just log in to schooldocs and you can access the policies.

The login is: vogeltown

The password: huatoki

Website link to Schooldocs.

VOGELTOWN SCHOOL TE KURA O HUATOKI

WEEK 10, TERM 3, 2026