Willow Park School Newsletter

• FOWP Fundraising Auction - PLACE YOUR BID by Mon 21st September
• Lunchtime Sausage Sizzle - Thursday 24 September - BUY ON KINDO by Monday 21st September
• Last Day of Term 3: Friday 25 September, finish at 3pm as normal
• 1st Day of Term 4: Monday 12th October
• Yummy stickers to the office by Friday 16th October

Ka pai tō mahi whanau! We've heard Te Reo Māori used across our kura this week, in the akomanga (classrooms) in the papa tākaro (playground) and with whānau before and after school. It is wonderful to see reo being uplifted and celebrated in every way possible across our community.

Each kaiako nominated one student from their class who had shown real effort with Te Reo Māori, and a willingness to try new kupu and help others. The nominees went into the draw for one of three prizes - you can see winners Juliet, Thiano and Divine sporting their new T-shirts. Ka rawe tamariki!

Attached are some highlights of te wiki o te reo Māori, and some things you can do to keep the reo going at home. Kia kaha Te Reo Māori!

It was fantastic to see so many of our whānau fill the school on Thursday 17 September for our Whānau Connect Open Evening. Between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm, our classrooms came alive as families dropped in to celebrate the incredible efforts of our learners.

The evening was designed to give children the spotlight in a relaxed, informal setting, and they certainly rose to the occasion. It was wonderful watching our students walk their parents through the spaces, flip through their books, and proudly point out their mahi displayed on the walls. Having the opportunity to verbalise their learning across the curriculum builds so much confidence and gives our tamariki genuine pride in their achievements.

Our kaiako thoroughly enjoyed supporting the children as they took the lead in sharing their hard work.

Thank you to all the families who dropped in to make the night such a warm and positive success. Your continuous support and engagement mean the world to our young learners!

This week, our school went wild for reading during our annual Scholastic Book Fair, which ran from Tuesday through Thursday.

We kicked off the festivities on Tuesday morning with a high-energy Book Parade centered around this year’s theme, On Safari. Students and staff showed off incredible creativity, dressing up as jungle explorers, wild animals, and favorite book characters. After showcasing their costumes, everyone warmed up with a few lively Jump Jam routines—performed entirely in character!

Following the parade, the library officially opened its doors for book sales, offering an unforgettable setup for our community. A huge thank you goes to our amazing librarians, Mrs. Bronwyn Capill and Mrs. Angeline Ruffell, who completely transformed the space into a full safari adventure—complete with interactive decor and even a themed jeep with sound effects! It was a magical spot for children and whānau to explore all week long.

We want to extend a massive thank you to all of the whānau who came along, shared in the excitement, and purchased books. Your support does more than just foster a love of reading at home—our school earns a percentage of all sales from the fair, which goes directly toward purchasing fresh, exciting new books for our library collection.

Thank you for making this year's Book Fair such a roaring success!

We have some inspiring news to share from the poolside! Duke (Year 5), Yumyin (Year 3), and Rose (Year 4) recently demonstrated our core school values in the best possible way when they spotted two cold ducklings trapped inside a swimming pool drain.

Showing fantastic whanaungatanga (teamwork and togetherness), the trio joined forces to safely lift the ducklings to safety. Demonstrating manawaroa (resilience and determination), the students didn't give up until they carefully tracked down the mother duck and reunited the family.

Their act of manaakitanga (kindness and care for others) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship of our local wildlife) also led to a wonderful moment of manawa reka (curiosity and delight). While helping the ducklings, they discovered two active nests nestled safely in the pool garden, housing 10 ducklings and at least 15 eggs in total!

A massive thank you to Duke, Yumyin, and Rose for living our values so proudly and caring for our school environment. Willow Park is so proud of your big hearts!

We know you're busy people, but luckily you can browse and bid from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you have an internet connection!

With Christmas just around the corner, the auction is a great opportunity to get some shopping sorted early, while supporting our school.

But don't wait too long because at 9pm* on Monday night, the hammer falls!

*If there's a last minute rush of bids, it will actually auto-extend for a maximum of 30 minutes, but no later than 9.30pm.

If you're one of the lucky winners, you'll need to pay and collect your item/s from the school office before 3.30pm Friday 25th September (last day of Term 3).

So BROWSE and BID NOW!

A big thank you to our generous donors: Hillcrest Dentist, The Amrein family, Schlage NZ, Total Tools NZ, and Mrs Murphy.

Our sausage sizzle needs some awesome parent helpers.

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

Kidzplay Netball Awards

What a fantastic end to the Kidzplay netball season and we could not be prouder of how our players represented the school! From game one to the final whistle, our teams brought continuous effort, energy, and sportsmanship to the court every single week.

A special shoutout to the following teams for their fantastic season achievements:

Willow Park Stars

Yr 4 team who came 1st place in their grade. ( Anaysha Sharma, Aariel Mcgrath, Katie Tyson, Lottie Bowker, Eva Halliday, Niki Nosrati, Miller Crawley, Paige Ward and Charley Butler)

Willow Park Pulse

Yr 3 team who came 1st place in their grade ( Scarlett Chang, Melissa Chang, Layla Kyle, Arohi Parikh, Alice Gao, Evie Muir, Zoey McCabe, Lina Choi and Zion Birakaza)

Willow Park Lightning

Yr 1 and 2 who came 3rd place in their grade. (Lulu Draper, Izzy McMcpherson, Anya Hackett, Sloane Freeman, Lily Armstrong, Paige Ball and Natasha Vargese.)

Year 0-3 Fun run/walk obstacle course and cross country race was postponed to Monday 21st September due to weather. Reminder of the timetable below:

Block 1: 9am-10.30am - Year 0/1

• 09.15am - Rooms 1 and 2
• 09.30am - Rooms 3 and 4
• 09.45am - Rooms 30 and 31
• 10.00am - Rooms 24 and 25

Block 2- 11am-12.30pm - Year 2

• Competitive Race Start: 11.15am: Order of Races:
• Year 2 competitive girls (2 laps of the course)
• Year 2 competitive boys (2 laps of the course)
• Fun Obstacle Run/Walk
• Rooms 9 and 10 - 11.30am
• Rooms 12 and 13 - 11.55am

Block 3- 1.30pm- 3pm - Year 3

• Competitive Race Start: 1.40pm: Order of Races:
• Year 3 competitive girls (3 laps of the course)
• Year 3 competitive boys (3 laps of the course)
• Fun Obstacle Run/Walk
• Rooms 14 and 16 ( half of room 17) - 2pm
• Rooms 18 and 19 ( half of room 17) - 2.25pm

Sports Registrations now open on KINDO:

🤸🏻‍♂️ Gymnastics - Artistic & Trampoline Primary School Competition

• Date: Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th November 2026 - Artistic & Trampoline
• Venue: Eventfinda Stadium, NHG Gymnastics
• Wednesday 4th November
• Session 1 - Year 1 & 2 Boys & Girls, All competitive 9am - 11.30am
• Session 2 - Year 3 & 4 Boys & Girls 11:45am - 2.15pm
• Thursday 5th November
• Session 1- Year 5 & 6 Boys & Girls 9am - 11am
• Uniform: PE gear or leotards
• Cost: $26 entry fee
• The children must have a high level of skill and have attended gymnastic classes and preferably competed at a club level.
• All children who compete in the NHG Squad or NHG performance club programme, who train 2 hours plus a week must enter the competitive division.
• Parents are to take their own child to the event.
• Copies of the routines will be sent through once you have registered.

⚽ Futsal Term 4 Year 1-6 (Sunday afternoons via North Harbour Futsal website)

• Please see the HERO posts for all the details on how to register for Term 4 Futsal.
• Register and pay directly with North Harbour Futsal on the website:
• https://harbourfutsal.org/registration-harbour-schools-futsal-league-metro-league/
• Team registrations as follows:
• Select: Willow Park Mini Rockets for EXISTING AND NEW Year 1 and 2 players.
• Select : Willow Park Dynamos for those in the EXISTING Dynamos Year 3 and 4 team.
• Select : Willow Park ROCKETS for those in the EXISTING Rockets Year 2 and 3 team.
• Select : VIPERS BOTH EXISTING VIPERS AND NEW Year 3 and 4 players.
• Select: THUNDER for NEW YEAR Year 5 and 6 players.
• Teams will be capped at 7 players and allocated on a first come, first served basis. North Harbour Futsal reserves the right to move players/create extra teams to meet the demands of registrations.

🏓 Term 4 Table Tennis - Year 4,5,6

• Teams of three/four ( 1 reserve to cover sickness)
• Played at the Harbour Table Tennis Stadium Akoranga Drive Northcote - behind the YMCA. This is a Primary and Intermediate league so teams play both types of schools and are graded accordingly.. No experience is necessary but previous racquet skills are helpful. Training will be at school on Tuesday lunchtime.
• Wednesday 14th October- Wednesday 9th December 2026
• Games - singles and doubles played between 5pm - 7pm. This is a 2 hour commitment. Parents are expected to stay and supervise. Students are expected to play and self umpire.
• $40 per player
• Play in the Willow Park sports uniform and sports shoes
• (Please note that basketball and netball (Yr5/6) are also on Wednesdays, so please commit to one sport only to avoid game time clashes)
• Registrations and payment due by Sunday 4th October 2026

🏐 Spring Netball League Year 4, 5 and 6

• Venue: NNH courts Northcote Rd
• Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026 - Thursday 26th November 2026
• Time: Between 4pm and 6:00pm.
• Years: 4, 5 and 6
• Uniform: School sports polo shirt, sports skirt or skort for girls, sports shorts for boys. White socks and sports shoes.
• Cost: $30- this includes team registration and umpiring fee
• Trainings will be optional and up to the coaches. Year 4 play with the 2.6m goals and year 5 and 6 play with the 3.05m goals. Games are two 15 minute halves and no rotation of positions. No experience is necessary.
• For games, hair is to be tied back, no jewellery can be worn and nails cut.
• Registration and payment due: Sunday 27th September

🏑 Summer Hockey

• Open to boys and girls in Year 1-6 - We really need more Year 1 and 2 players and Year 5 and 6 players please.
• Fun Sticks Hockey- Year 1 and 2 - 4 aside - 13 mins skills session ( led by coach) first followed by 13min game
• Summer Mini Sticks Hockey - Year 3 and 4 - 6 aside
• Summer Kiwi Sticks Hockey - Year 5 and 6 - 6 aside
• Venue: North Harbour Hockey Stadium Bush Road Albany
• Commences: Monday 12th October- Monday 7th Dec 2026 ( No play Labour Day)
• Times: 4pm - 6pm
• Fees: $35 ( team fees and umpire fee)
• Uniform: WP sports polo shirt, WP sports skirt or skort for girls, WP sports shorts for boys, Hockey socks, shin pads, mouthguard and sports shoes.
• Equipment needed: Correct size hockey stick. ( we have limited sticks available to borrow)
• We will need coaches for the teams, so please volunteer if you can help.
• Registration and payment due: Sunday 27th September

⚽Summer Football 7 aside - Year: 3 - 6 boys and girls

• Games: Played on Wednesdays , Shepherds Park Beach Haven
• Time: Anytime between 4:30pm - 6pm. (Yr 3 - 4:30pm, Yr 4 - 5pm, Yr 5 - 5:30pm, Yr 6 - 6pm)
• 7 aside (including goalie and rolling subs) maximum 10 players per team. Teams can be mixed boys and girls and mixed grades Yr5/6 etc. 12 mins per half, quick turn around.
• Uniform: WP sports uniform - Willow Park Sports polo shirt and sports shorts or skort for girls. Football boots/ sports shoes and shinpads are compulsory.
• Games Commence: Wednesday 28th October - until Wednesday 9th December 2026 (7 weeks). Cost: $15
• Trainings; To be confirmed by the coaches once teams are finalised
• Registration and payment due by: Sunday 6th October 2026

PLEASE NOTE- Year 5 / 6 boys miniball and Touch rugby all run on Wednesdays in Term 4. It is highly recommended to enrol your child in ONE of these sports to avoid game time clashes.

Sports Opportunities outside of WPS

• SportsCamps4Kids Holiday Programs

SportsCamps4Kids sports programs are back these school holidays! Coached by experienced local teachers, your kids will stay active, build new skills, and burn off holiday energy in a fun, safe environment.

As always, please email me if you have any questions or queries

Thanks,

Becky

becky.r@willowpark.school.nz

A massive congratulations to Jane (Room 14) and Yumyin (Room 17) for an outstanding season in the Kidz Play Netball competition!

Representing the West Warriors in the Year 3 Grade A division, the girls put on a fantastic display of skill and determination to secure first place in their grade. Even more remarkably, the team's total points catapulted them to first place overall out of approximately 50 teams across all divisions (Grades A through F). Taking the top spot in such a massive league is an extraordinary accomplishment for our young athletes.

We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication, and stellar team spirit. Congratulations to our netball stars!

We are thrilled to celebrate an outstanding achievement by one of our own! Cayden recently represented Willow Park School at the Schools Alpine Competition 26 during the Winter Festival in Queenstown, bringing home the Gold Medal in the Boys’ Year 4 / Age 9 Snowboard Giant Slalom (GS) category.

Cayden’s success is a true reflection of his dedication, manawaroa, and determination on the slopes. Carving his way through tough competition, he was immensely proud to represent Willow Park School on the big stage. Seeing his effort and passion for snowboarding rewarded with a spot at the top of the podium is a special moment for our whole community.

A huge congratulations to Cayden on this fantastic result! Keep carving up the snow, Cayden!

2026 - School Term dates

Term 3 - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September

Term 4 - Monday 12 October - Monday 14 December

For events check the Calendar on your HERO app.

Phone: 09 480 9236

Email: office@willowpark.school.nz
Location: 13 Compton Street, Hillcrest

Website | Facebook

Shannon Vincent & Co – Our Real Estate Sponsor

We’re delighted to have Shannon Vincent partnering with our school in an ongoing sponsorship role. As our exclusive real estate agent sponsor, Shannon provides generous support to our community through the following contributions:

• $1,000 donation each term - $4,000 per school year!

• 10% discount on Ray White commission rates* for school staff and families who list their property with Shannon.

• $500 donation to the school on every successful sale of a staff or family property.**

We would love to invite the students, staff, and families of Willow Park School to join us for the NIS Annual Community Colour Run!

It’s going to be a fantastic, high-energy afternoon filled with colour, delicious food, and fun for all ages.

• When: Thursday, 29th October 2026, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

• Where: Northcote Intermediate School

What’s happening on the day:

• Free Entry: Free for all Willow Park students, friends, and families.

• Fun Activities: A warm-up session hosted by AbleKids, a local Fire Truck visit, and Face Painting.

• Food Truck Line-up: Kiwi Cream, Cream, Manila Eats, Amaranto, Pang Malaysian, 2 Hungry Wolves, and The Coffee Guy.

• Donation Buckets: Donation buckets will also be available on the day if you wish to support our fundraising efforts!

How to join in: Entry is 100% free, but we ask that everyone register online in advance to pick their preferred running wave. You can also grab an official NIS Colour Run T-shirt for $15 during registration if you’d like!

Sign up here: https://shop.kindo.co.nz/app/community-shop/Northcote%20Intermediate%20School

Need something to do these school holidays? Create your very own LEGO creation inspired by our theme ‘DANGER!’ and enter the competition to win a LEGO prize pack for your classroom and a $100 Toyworld gift voucher for you!

But that’s not all, finalists will win a family pass and have the opportunity to feature their creations at the Auckland Brick Show 2026, October 3-4, Auckland Netball Centre, St Johns. Tickets available now at www.eventbrite.co.nz

There are four age categories Years 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8. Entries close Sunday 27 September. Head to www.aucklug.co.nz for further competition details and to submit your entry.

You may already be aware that Biosecurity New Zealand has work underway in your area to get rid of yellow-legged hornets.

These invasive pests kill honeybees and also have a nasty sting.

As the weather warms up, our eradication response is entering a new phase, and we need your community’s help.

Since November last year, 77 queen hornets and 133 nests have been located and destroyed, and there have been no confirmed sightings since April.

If any managed to survive our operation, they’ll have been hibernating over winter and may begin emerging in the coming weeks to build new nests and establish new colonies.

Our staff are monitoring an extended trap network in the area and working with beekeepers. However, reports from the public are one of the most effective ways to help us find and remove hornets.

What to look for

Please keep an eye out for yellow-legged hornets and their nests.

You can find photos, identification information and updates at: www.mpi.govt.nz/yellow-legged-hornet-2025

How to report a sighting

If you see a hornet or hornet nest, please report it:

• Call the Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66
• Email info@mpi.govt.nz
• Report online at report.mpi.govt.nz (select ‘suspected yellow-legged hornet’ from the dropdown menu.

When making a report, please include the location, and, if safe to do so, take a photo.

Interested in helping?

If you’d like to set up a hornet trap in your garden and register it with us, instructions are here.

Important – do not approach or try to remove hornets or nests

Public support is vital to this response, but please do not touch, disturb, or try to remove any suspected hornet or nest. Take a photo if possible and report it, along with the location, via the hotline or online.

Thank you for helping protect our communities and honeybees.

The yellow-legged hornet response team, Biosecurity New Zealand

Neil Rowarth | Vespa Velutina 2025 | Operations
Ministry for Primary Industries

021 280 2119