Week 5 Update

Kia ora e te whānau,

We’re halfway through Term 3 already — how did that happen? The days might still have a winter chill, but the classrooms at TAPS are buzzing with energy, laughter, and plenty of learning. From cross country races to creative class projects, our tamariki are giving it their all. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy this week’s round-up of all the good things happening in our kura.

📢 TAPS Panui – Week 5, Term 3
11 – 15 August 2025

🧮 Maths Week + 📚 Book Fair Week – Plenty happening to keep minds buzzing and books flying off the shelves!

Attendance Pulse – Last 14 Days
Our regular attendance rate is sitting at 66% – a small lift from earlier in the term. Let’s keep climbing! Every day at school matters for learning, friendships, and opportunities.

🏆 Attendance Leaderboard (Top 3 classes)
🥇 Room 7 – 78% regularly attending
🥈 Room 6 – 77% regularly attending
🥉 Room 9 – 75% regularly attending

A big mihi to these classes – let’s see who can take the top spots next fortnight!

This Week’s Highlights

• Mon: TAC Year 8 visit (Rm 10, 11am), Kapa Haka 1.40pm, Welcome back Mrs Gamble to Room 8 full-time, Yr 6–8 speeches begin

• Wed: District Schools Cross Country, bowls training

• Thu: Yr 7/8 Tech, Ready Set Go 1.40pm, BOT meeting 6.00pm

• Fri: Nearest & Dearest Day 9–10:10am, Book Character Dress-Up

“He waka eke noa – We’re all in this together.”

🌟 Attendance Shout-Out
A huge mihi to the 72 tamariki who have shown 100% attendance over the past fortnight — what an awesome example of commitment to learning! These students have turned up every day, rain or shine, and their dedication makes a real difference to their learning progress. Ka mau te wehi!

Across the school, our regular attendance rate for the last 14 days sits at 66%, with the majority of students attending well. We’ll keep working together to lift those numbers even further, and celebrate the small wins along the way.

🌱 Week 4 Pulse Check – Where We’re At

Kia ora e te whānau,

Our latest Linewize Pulse check-in gives us another clear snapshot of how our tamariki are feeling right now. It’s a reminder that while learning is our purpose, wellbeing is the foundation that makes learning possible.

💚 Overall Vibe

Our total wellbeing score this week is 7.8—up from 7.6 last week, showing a small but positive lift in how our learners are feeling. Here’s the breakdown:

• 54 students said they feel great

• 23 said they feel positive

• 21 are “in the middle”

• 8 said they feel negative

• 2 students reached out for help, and both were supported immediately.

Those two hands raised tell us that our culture of care is alive—students know they will be heard and supported when they speak up.

📊 What the Data Tells Us

Across the wellbeing domains, our tamariki reported:

• Valued & Safe – 8.5: They feel seen, safe, and respected.

• Positive Identity & Culture – 7.8: A slight rise, suggesting our focus on belonging and cultural pride is making an impact.

• Learning – 8.2: Strong relationships with teachers are driving engagement.

• Participating – 8.6: Students feel empowered to contribute and have their say.

• Material Basics – 9.1: Learners continue to feel well supported at home and school.

The biggest gains this week were in Positive Identity & Culture and Participation—a great reflection of the inclusive events and opportunities happening around school.

🙏 Heart Data

This week, gratitude and kindness shone through:

• Whānau (36 mentions)

• Friends (29)

• School events and activities (17)

• Teachers and staff (12)

• Health and sport (10)

Our tamariki are noticing and valuing the people and experiences that give them joy and connection.

🧭 Final Word

The pulse is telling us:

• Our learners are in a positive space and on an upward trend.

• They feel safe, connected, and able to take part.

• The culture of belonging we’re building is showing up in the data.

We’ll keep showing up for our kids—with consistency, care, and the belief that every child deserves to say, “I belong here.”

30 Years of Dedication, Heart and Impact

This week we celebrated a truly remarkable milestone—our incredible Deputy Principal and Room 10 teacher, Holly Brittenden, reached 30 years of service at TAPS!

Over the past three decades, Holly has not only shaped the lives of thousands of students but has also inspired generations of teachers. Her legacy is written in every student who leaves her class feeling seen, valued, and capable.

The outpouring of love across social media says it all—former students, parents, colleagues and friends describing Holly as compassionate, inspiring, funny, fierce, and forever youthful! From being remembered as the best teacher they ever had, to being called an irreplaceable role model and the heart of our school, it’s clear that Holly has left a lasting impact on the TAPS whānau.

Despite 30 years in the game, Holly continues to be at the forefront of learning and relationships, constantly lifting others up and leading with passion and innovation.

Congratulations, Mrs B! We are so lucky to have you—and Te Aroha is better for it

Last week was ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani - Cook Islands Māori Language Week.

Look how amazing these girls look wearing ei katu, which represent connection and belonging, and are a part of traditional Cook Islands culture. Manea (beautiful)

Fantastic News- Hot off the press...

Our wonderful past pupil, Jayden Paetai, has just been selected for the Waikato Junior Team to play down in Wellington in the next holidays. We have always followed Jayden's golfing with great interest and look forward to Te Aroha having its very own Tiger Woods in the future!!

Well Done Jayden -we are with you