Term 3 2025

Kia ora Puketapu Whānau,

Welcome to Term 3!

We are looking forward to another great term of learning at our Kura.

While visiting other schools last term I really noticed how different schools can be and how warm our Puketapu kids are. What a privilege it is to get numerous cuddles, have kids sharing their learning and lives with me every day.

Your tamariki learning and being happy and safe at school is paramount to us and we are putting everything in place we can to ensure this happens. Children arrive at school at different ages, different stages, with different values, expectations and challenges. We do our very best to support all of them, all of the time. Please bear with us as we help tamariki learn to manage themselves at our kura.

Bullying, violence and swearing at people - by anyone - is NOT tolerated at our school. We don't accept this for our tamariki or our staff and we will take action so we ALL feel safe at school.

If you at any stage have your child feeling unsafe or unhappy PLEASE let us know, if we don't know we can't help and your children come first. Your first port of call is your child's teacher, then the team leader, then the deputy Principal then me.

Really looking forward to the term ahead and being part of your child's learning journey.

Ngā mihi,

Katherine Pascoe
Principal

Creativity

The big idea:

Creativity inspires curiosity and helps us express who we are.

This will look different for our Teina and Tuakana teams and includes many different age appropriate activities. Encourage your tamariki to share what projects their class is working on around this terms theme. Keep an eye on Hero and SeeSaw as we share our learning with you.

This term will also be packed with plenty of other activities and sports:

• Parent Teacher Interviews
• Harold and the Life Education Bus visit
• Puketapu Market Day
• Cross Country - our whole school, then New Plymouth and Taranaki races
• Year 7/8 Interschool Sports - dates and venues to be confirmed
• ... and much more!

There are no Public Holidays this term - we have 50 straight days of school.

Our term finishes on Friday 19 September at 3.00pm.

Check the Hero App for dates specific to your child's class. Details of school trips, events and sport all come out via Hero.

You can also visit our Online Calendar to keep up to date with events and any changes.

At the halfway point of our school year, it is time for our Parent Teacher Conferences.

These are short meetings for every student, their caregiver(s) and their teacher, to meet, celebrate learning so far, discuss progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. It is an excellent opportunity to make sure we are all on the same page and working together to get the best for your child.

Please note that this year you will receive your child’s mid year report AT the conference so your child’s teacher can go through your child’s report WITH you. We are hoping this helps families understand the reports better and give you the opportunity to ask questions.

The expectation is that every child will attend a meeting, with at least one parent/caregiver.

Meetings take place in your child’s classroom and are for 15 minutes. At your hui, your child’s teacher will talk through your child’s report with you - you won’t get the report until AFTER your hui.

The dates for these hui are:

Monday 21 July (Week 2) - 12.30-8.00pm (school in the morning, then conferences in the afternoon)

Tuesday 22 July (Week 2) 3.30-6.00pm (after a normal school day)

Bookings will be made via Hero Bookings - watch for the Hero link coming out this week. You can choose the day and time that suits your whānau best.

Please also look out for the permission slip for what your child will do on the afternoon of Monday 21 July.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.

Wednesday 10 September is the date for our Board of Trustees election.

Our Board includes five parent representatives, elected by you, the parents and whānau of our tamariki.

The Board focuses on setting the overall direction, policies, and strategic goals of our school, while management focuses on the day-to-day execution and implementation of those plans.

A successful school board requires members with a variety of skills, including strong communication, decision-making, and community engagement, as well as a passion for education and a commitment to student success. These skills ensure the board can effectively govern, set strategic direction, and advocate for the needs of the school community.

Skills like:

Communication: crucial for interacting with the public, staff, and other board members.

Decision-Making: to analyze information, weigh options, and make sound decisions that impact students and the school community.

Community Connection: understanding the needs and concerns of the community, including parents, teachers, and students

Financial Literacy: basic understanding of school finances and budgeting to ensure responsible resource allocation.

Strategic Thinking: to think strategically about the long-term goals and direction of the school.

Teamwork: collaboration and the ability to work effectively with others are important.

Passion for Education: A genuine interest in and dedication to improving education for all students is fundamental.

Open-mindedness: being receptive to new ideas and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.

Empathy: essential for making informed decisions.

We will be calling for nominations from Friday 18 July.

If you would like to be on the board or if you know someone who would be great, please nominate them.

You CAN nominate yourself.

You CAN nominate multiple people.

Each person on the electoral roll that has a valid email address will be sent an email from election@electionpilot.nz advising that they are included in the electoral roll for the School Board election.

They will receive two attachments with the email:

- A cover letter explaining the election and nomination process

- A nomination form

Nomination forms will also be available from the school office from Week 2 of next term.

If you need any additional information, please speak with Paula in the school office or see https://www.schoolboardelections.org.nz/become-a-board-member/

Did you know our school web site has a great tool for parents?

The A-Z for Parents has a list of information you might need for school.

Check it out at:

https://puketapu.school.nz/for-parents/a-z-for-parents/

If you think of anything that is not included already, please email the office with your question and we will add the answer to the A-Z.

School Day Schedule

8:30am — Students may arrive at school (either to their classroom or Breakfast Club). Teachers are in classrooms.
8:55am — Bell rings for the start of school.
9:00am — Learning Block 1
10:00am — Snack/Fruit Break (‘Read and Feed’)
10:50am — Meal 1: Ka Ora, Ka Ako kai
11:00am — Morning Play
11:30am — Learning Block 2
12:50pm — Meal 2: Lunch (kai from home)
1:00pm — Lunch Play
1:40pm — Learning Block 3
2:50pm — Whaiwhakaaro – Reflection time in class
3:00pm — End of the school day

Important Reminders:

• Children should not arrive at school before 8:30am.

• School finishes at 3:00pm.
  Please avoid collecting your child before 3:00pm unless it’s necessary for an appointment.
  If you arrive early for pickup, please wait in one of the seating areas around the quad or wharekai, rather than directly outside classrooms.

• If your child is late to school or needs to leave early, please come to the school office to sign them in or out.
  (Older students are not allowed to sign out younger siblings without a call or text from home.)

• The school office is open from 8:30am to 3:30pm.

Good Seed Trust after school care is based at Northpoint Church. They offer before and after school care with weekday sessions from 7:00-8:30am. You can contact Cherish on 027 537 3115

Here's the link for Good Seeds New Plymouth:
https://enrolmy.com/good-seed-trust/?emyatb=4w7ygdi834

Term 3 tends to be very wintery and wet with plenty of coughs and colds doing the rounds.

Please encourage your tamariki to bring a jacket/raincoat, suitable layers of clothing and maybe a change of clothes if they like to play outside! Gumboots are GREAT on rainy days.

Please make sure clothing is named - we have way too much lost property!

If your child is unwell, for the wellbeing of everyone at school, please keep them at home until they are better. Please send a Hero message, text, email or phonecall to let us know that's where they are.

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career.

Our aim to have tamariki in school to learn every day they can be.

However... illness happens, so if your child is unwell they should be at home. Please just make sure you let us know where they are.

Please remember to report your child as absent if they are going to be away from school.

To report an absence:

• Use the Hero app, click 'report an absence'
• Text our school cell phone 027 755 0973
• Ring our landline and leave an absentee message
• Email us office@puketapu.school.nz

Winter weather often means parents come to pick up tamariki at the end of the day - which makes our school gates busy and potentially dangerous.

When colleting your child, please remember:

• Never park in the drop off bay
• If you are early, park further up the street and wait
• Encourage your child to use one of the other school exits where there is less traffic
• Never park on yellow lines
• Never do U turns
• Be patient and tolerant of others
• Watch out for all tamariki - especially if it is raining. They may not be watching out for you

Kia Manawanui - Have a Heart and let's keep everyone safe at the gate.

We have some changes for Room 7 in Term 3:

Whaea Vicki has left to join Waitara East Primary School. She has previously worked there and it holds a special place in her heart we well as being much closer to her home, which will allow her to spend more quality time with her whānau.

We know the decision to accept the new role was not easy for Whaea Vicki - she will miss us and we will miss her. We wish her all the very best at her new school.

We are delighted to announce that we already have a new teacher lined up to take Whaea Vicki’s place!

We are very happy to announce that Korbin Eggers will be joining us from Napier.

He is looking forward to the challenge of relocating to Taranaki, bringing his positive teaching influence to Taranaki’s akonga and excited to be working with Year 4&5 students in Room 7.

He also has a passion for many sports, particularly basketball and golf, and enjoys down time with friends and family, especially outdoors.

We are very excited to have him join our teaching team!

Teachers

• Room 1. Prishlena Kumar (Year 1)
• Room 2. Moana Te Waaka (Year 0-1)
• Room 3: Meg Corin (Year 0-1)
• Room 18: Kennedy Cleland (Year 2)
• Room 19. Leanne Fa'aea (Year 2)
• Room 5. Mel Keith (Year 3)
• Room 6. Louisa Sharrock (Year 3)
• Room 7. Korbin Eggers (Year 4&5)
• Room 8: Cara Knuckey (Year 4&5)
• Room 9. Kelly Harvey (Year 4&5)
• Room 10. Michelle Swan (Year 4&5)
• Room 11. Flo Harris (Year 6&7)
• Room 12. Jemma Garcia (Year 6&7)
• Room 15. Andrea Tait (Year 6&7)
• Room 16. Cassie Thomson (Year 6&7)
• Room 13. Avon Lewis & Marina Collier (Year 8)
• Room 14. Molly Remihana (Year 8)
• Design Technology: Birte Ahlaus

Senior Leadership Team:

• Alisha Kerr (Associate Principal)
• Micaela Westrupp (Deputy Principal)
• Avon Lewis (Deputy Principal)
• Katherine Pascoe (Principal)

There may be times when you have a query or concern about your child.

Open communication is a priority - we encourage family to please, come talk with us.

As a first step, we ask that you begin by speaking with your child's teacher.

The correct pathway is important to follow as by starting with the teacher you are speaking to the person who has the most information and knowledge about your child and others in your child's environments. If your child's teacher is not able to assist you, they will know who to direct you to.

We will do our best to work together for manageable solutions.

Check the Parents A-Z on our website for details

Classroom teachers are busy and working hard to give all children quality learning time.

Should you need to discuss an issue, please make a time to meet, either before 8.30am or after 3pm, so the teacher can give you the attention you need and deserve.

Don't forget that all school updates, trip permissions, school reports and sports notices come out via Hero.

The easiest way to make sure you never miss anything is download the free Hero app to your phone's home page and keep an eye out for the notification icons meaning you have something to read which relates to your child.

The Hero app is linked to the email address you have registered with your child at school.

If you have any problems at any time with it, please see Kerie or Paula in the office.

All important communication comes out via Hero but we have other channels of communication:

• To showcase our school to the wider community we also have a website and a public Facebook page.
• Our private Facebook group is so families can share their photos of events.

Reminder you have access to the Schooldocs website with the Procedures and Policies for Puketapu School.

https://puketapu.schooldocs.co.nz

Username: puketapu

Password: whakamanatia

For example, check out the Cellphones and Other Personal Digital Devices policy

Our wonderful Puketapu Home and School is a group of parents and family members who help fundraise for the school, organise fun events and help look out for people in our community who need a little extra support. Some fundraisers/events to look out for are our annual Golf Day (postponed from last term) which is now on Friday 23 May.

Home and School meet twice a term, at school and all are welcome to come bring their ideas and offer help when they can.

This term the meetings are:

• Thursday 24 July, 6:30pm
• Thursday 4 September, 6.30pm

We would love to see you there!

Kia Māia - Be Courageous

Kia Manawanui - Have a Heart

Kia Kaha - Do Your Best

Kia Ora - Be Well

At our assemblies we will recognise students who have been the stand outs, living our School Values in class and around our school. We also tally up Student of the Day cards to find the winning Whānau Group and hand out prizes!

Please talk to your child about the Values, what they mean and how they can show them at home too.

We love being part of Ka Ora, Ka Ako, the Healthy School Lunches programme, providing FREE school lunches for ALL students at our kura throughout 2025!

Our lunches are made fresh, on site, every day, by our talented team of chefs in the wharekai - and their most special ingredient in every meal: Aroha!

Free lunches are provided every day for all students, including those with special dietary needs.

As always, all lunches meet Ministry of Education guidelines and are packed with plenty of hidden veggies to keep meals healthy and delicious!

Most meals are served with a snack (such as trail mix, a slice, muffin, carrot sticks with hummus, bliss balls, or sweetcorn) and a piece of seasonal fruit — subject to availability.

The only food students need to bring from home is:

• A healthy snack for the morning Brain Break

• A snack for Break 2

• A water bottle

We are a WATER ONLY School.

Water is brain juice, so we like students to make sure they bring and drink lots of water.

Please don’t bring fizzy drinks or sugary drinks to school.

Lollies are also not usually allowed, unless you are bringing them to share with the whole class for a special treat or celebration, but you must ask the teacher first.

Our Kick Start Breakfast Club serves free breakfast in the Design Technology room every morning, from 8.30am-8.55am.

All welcome!

LUCKY BOOK CLUB

There are two Lucky Book Club issues per term. Keep an eye out on Hero for when they are out and a brochure can be collected from the school office. Issue #5 is out now! Order online through the Loop or bring your order to the office.

DUFFY BOOKS

We are lucky to be part of the Duffy Books in Schools Programme. Our tamariki receive two free books each per term. We also have 'Caught Being Good' Duffy Awards that are handed out and tamariki get to come over to the school office to choose their book.

We’re excited to let you know that Game Changer Puketapu merchandise is now available for purchase!

Place your order before *** THIS SUNDAY - 20 JULY *** at: https://www.gamechanger.org.nz/puketapuschool

Orders will be delivered in bulk to school once they are ready. They will be given to your child to bring home.
If you would prefer to collect your order from the office, please let us know.

Important:
When you place your order, please make sure to select "Collect/Pick Up" from the shop — this means they will deliver to school (and it saves you the delivery fee!).

Get your orders in and show your Puketapu pride!

Email: office@puketapu.school.nz
Website: www.puketapu.school.nz
Location: Dillon Drive, Bell Block, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: 06 755 0973