Newsletter 3 Term 4
Onerahi School Friday 12 December
Te Karere o te Tumuaki/Principal's Message
Seasons Greetings,
Welcome to the final newsletter for 2025. It's been a massive year of learning, wonderful experiences and a lot of change. It has been an interesting year in the education sector. You’ve probably read about the many changes that have taken place from curriculum and assessment to attendance management plans. As a school we have worked hard to work with these changes while continuing to hold the line and to adhere to the strategic plan and direction that we all developed together for 2024 and 2025. Recently the Board committed to the school extending the current strategic plan for the 2026 year. This means that the school will continue to honour and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. All of our tamariki deserve an equitable and excellent educational experience and to have every opportunity to be successful.
Thank you for your attendance at whānau hui this week and the end of year celebration assembly. It's always a joy to see so many children recognised for their commitment to their learning at school and to the way they participate and contribute towards Onerahi School.
Next week the year 6 students are looking forward to their graduation to mark the end of their time at Onerahi School. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have supported your tamariki, our staff and the school in general to have another successful year. It's shaping up to be a long hot summer, so take care, enjoy whānau time, and we look forward to welcoming most of you back in 2026.
Meri Kirihimete
AnnMaree MacGregor
Principal
Middle school and Reorua camps
On Wed the 26th and Thurs 27th as the sun shone down, our middle school headed off on two fun-filled days of adventure for their camp. All students had the opportunity to try some surf lessons out on the Tutukaka coast, as well as explore the forest along the Hatea River and spend time at the wonderful playgrounds at the town basin.
Thank you to Luna, Bowen, Teiva and Leah for sharing their highlights below:
Favourite parts:
"Walking! It was so long, and I enjoyed that. It was nice to hear the birds" - Teiva
"The beach! The waves were taller than we were at the back. It was sandy, and the wetsuits were very tight" - Luna
"Surfing! I could stand up and was proud of myself for that" - Bowen
"Surfing, with Izzy. It was nice to do that with my friend, even though she kept on falling off. It was good to see her keep on getting up and trying again" - Leah
Memorable Experiences:
"We got to experience the way that sand can suck you in. I shared a wave with Cobin and we managed not to run into each other" - Teiva
"The walk was tiring, and we had so much time at the playground. It was sooo hot" - Luna
"We loved singing on the bus. It was fun."- Bowen
"My legs are STILL sore from the walk, it was very hot" - Leah
"It was cool having free play and getting the whole school to ourselves. The bikes were available, the pool and all the sports shed gear. So much fun" - Teiva
"It was good sleeping at the school though lots of people stayed up late talking. There was a cool nightlight though in the girls room" - Leah
"We had hamburgers for dinner, and a yummy dessert of icecream and cake. There were even sprinkles for the icecream" - all.
On the 3rd of December our Reorua class held the first overnight noho in Te Whare Hikingia ngā Reorua. Although the timetable changed from the original planning, due to circumstances beyond our control, a good time was had by all.
Te Whanga Festival 2025
Parua Bay School hosted the Te Whanga Festival this year on Tuesday the 9th of December. Delayed due to weather, the event was nonetheless a wonderful experience and opportunity to show just how far our groups have come in their performance skills.
Many thanks to all the staff, students and whānau who were involved.
2026 Road Patrollers
A brand new cohort of keen Road Patrollers has been trained up ready for helping your students arrive safely at our kura in 2026. A big thanks to all these tamariki, and to their parents who have offered to support them. Just a reminder to our community that if you are arriving at school via our Church St entrance, we do appreciate you taking the time to cross safely at our pedestrian crossing. This is manned both mornings from 8:30-8:55am and afternoons from 3:00-3:10pm. We also have dedicated wardens stationed at our back gate entrance on Raumati Cres from 3:00-3:30pm also.
Honey/Honi
Honey is available for purchase at the school office. The honey has been kindly donated by our partner beekeepers,Tahi honey, and we have further been gifted larger sized jars of Honeyeater honey - also from local Pataua hives. The honey is priced amazingly from $5 per jar (250gm) to $20 (the big 1kg jars) so why not pop in and pick some up. It's delicious!
2nd hand Uniform and Spare Lower Halves.
Uniforms come and uniforms go! Stock levels are constantly dropping on our school shirts in many of the sizes. Especially the bigger ones! (Size 10, 12, 14, etc.) If your child has outgrown their uniform and you have no further need of it, please feel free to drop it in to the school office. The sales of these help the school purchase additional items that our former PTA used to supply, such as sunscreen, etc. Stock of the jackets and jumpersa are depleting again and there are few or none to be found now in most sizes. At $10 they are a great bargain!
Additionally we are on the lookout for donations of spare pants, skirts, leggings, shorts etc in black or navy that can be lent out to those in need of a spare change through the day. If you have any sitting around that no longer fit your little (or not so little) one, feel free to drop them in.
IMPORTANT NOTICES/TINO PANUI NUI
Medication: If your child requires medication to be brought or kept at school, please be aware that due to health and safety concerns, this must be kept secure in the school sick bay. It is not to be kept in children’s schoolbags during the day. This is to protect the safety of not only the child requiring the medication but also all other students. All medication requires an accompanying permission/approval form signed by their parent or caregiver. This includes epi-pens for allergy management, inhalers for asthma or any other medication your child requires on a short-term or as needed basis.
Contact Us
Email: office@onerahi.school.nz
Website: https://www.onerahi.school.nz/
Location: Onerahi Primary School Church Street, Onerahi, Whangārei 0110, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 436 0521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onerahischool
Music Lessons
SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Music plus is an exciting opportunity for your child starting in term 1, 2026.
Why? Playing music actively involves our brains more than any other activity. Music has wider proven benefits for learning which can help your child towards success both in and outside the classroom.
Who? Primary aged children
What ? Group music lesson using voice and percussion instruments (tuned and untuned) Max group size 16 students.
When? Tuesday 3.10 to 4pm and (4.10 to 5pm if sufficient demand)
Where? Onerahi Community hall
Cost? $60 per term
The children will build musical skills, and a repertoire of games and songs sequentially. They
will learn to read and play rhythms to accompany the games and songs alongside creating
their own patterns and melodies. Weekly attendance is both recommended and beneficial.
For more details behind the rationale and the presenter see the Music Plus page
www.musicplus.co.nz
What do I need to do to register my interest?
1. Send an email by December 31, 2025 to Maria Croucher bassbuddy6@gmail.com
including the following information or go to the webpage www.musicplus.co.nz
Child’s name____________________Surname__________________
Age_____________ School ______________________
Any prior musical training yes/no
Your name _______________________ Best contact email ______________________
Phone _________________________________
2. Look out for confirmation email that the class will take place and the start date
in 2026. Note - The class will only take place subject to sufficient expression of
interest being received before the end of 2025.
