COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL

Office Hours

8.30am-4pm

Hours of Instruction

8.40am - 3.00pm

Email: office@coastaltaranaki.school.nz
Website: https://sites.google.com/coastaltaranaki.school.nz/coastaltaranakischool/home
Location: 92 Carthew Street, Ōkato, New Zealand
Phone: (06)7524022 - 027 320 1267
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coastaltaranakischool

Kia Ora Tatou

Hopefully this Newsletter finds you fit and well, and enjoying the normal highs and lows of Spring. I was warned that Spring in Taranaki can be quite dramatic weatherwise, and now two months into Spring, this has proved to be the case. Growing up in Central Otago was a unique weather experience, with the stunning contrasts between the brutal cold of winter, and the suffocating heat of summer. A Central Otago electrical storm is not for the faint hearted either, but the same applies to the drama of a Taranaki storm. This region is definitely an interesting space to live.

We live in a time of rapid, and in some cases monumental, change. As an educator, parent, and now grandparent, I spend a fair amount of time reflecting on the impact of this change on the lives of our young people. Growing up in the mid-20th Century, life was very different. It was a more naive age, and we didn’t face the challenges young people now face growing up in this dynamic, technologically advanced, and media driven age.

In my day we were obviously very easily pleased, and our recreational options were virtually on our back doorstep. We played lots of sport, we made huts, we swam, we went fishing, we climbed hills, and we biked, walked, or ran everywhere. We lived by a simple code – “behave and be home in time for tea”. Life was more relaxed, and our childhood was to be savoured.

Nowadays it seems our youth are in a crazy mad rush to grow up, and experiment with the more adult/grown up aspects of life.

I write this as an Educator because of concerns, and frustrations, that arise occasionally regarding the choices students make, the risks they take, and the compromising situations they place themselves in. Children as young as 13 and 14 going to parties, drinking, smoking, involved in intimate relationships - the whole 9 yards - is a massive concern. In a sense they seem to be bypassing their childhood, and the opportunity to enjoy growing up free of the encumbrances and responsibilities of adulthood.

This is a huge challenge as they are simply not mentally, or developmentally, equipped to deal with the emotional turmoil of relationships, and the baggage that can bring.

The journey from childhood to adulthood was previously a gradual and (sometimes) painstaking process, and as part of this young people would experiment, take risks, and make mistakes - we all did. However it seems that this generation is in such a rush, they miss some of the important checks and balances that naturalise the process.

As adults we can choose to ignore this, or we can accept responsibility as parents, monitor where our kids are going, who they are associating with, and crucially what they are doing (including in the online environment). It is our duty to keep them safe at all times. By ignoring some of the things that are going on before our very eyes, we are abdicating this responsibility.

Nga mihi nui

Richard McMillan

PRINCIPAL

Save the Date – Bingo Night!

Get ready for a fun evening — Friday 14th November, starting at 6.30pm!
It’s time to book the babysitter and gather your crew for a great night out.

There’ll be multiple giveaways and raffles available on the night, so don’t miss your chance to win some awesome prizes!

More details will be shared soon on Helix and Facebook, so keep an eye out!

We’re very fortunate to have the wonderful Silver Snapper supporting our Year 7–10 Camp Fundraiser!

On Friday 31st October, for $10 students can enjoy one of two delicious lunch options, freshly prepared thanks to the generosity of the Silver Snapper team:
5 Chicken Nuggets and Chips
5 Fish Bites and Chips

All proceeds will go towards helping our students get to camp.

Orders must be in by Tuesday 28th October at 1pm. The order form link can be found on Helix, if you can not locate it please email sarah.oke@coastaltaranaki.school.nz.

A huge thank you to Silver Snapper for backing our students and our school community — your support means a lot!

Reroofing - almost finished only the hall to go

Ongoing repainting of safety lines - hindered by weather

Ongoing removal of self sown trees around boundary - hindered by weather

Garden replanting

Repairs to bike track

Playhouse in the sandpit play area

Taranaki Monopoly Board Game

This year, we’re partnering with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on a fun and easy School Fundraiser with the new Taranaki Monopoly Board Game!

For every game purchased before the end of the School Year using our School’s unique code, our School receives a $10 donation (you must use our Schools Unique Code).

It’s the perfect Christmas Gift that encourages family fun, and every purchasedirectly helps us fund our School Projects for next Year.

How to support us:

• Visit taranakimonopoly.co.nz/schools
• Add the Game to your cart.
• Use our Schools unique code at checkout: Coastal Taranaki School: CTS
• We then get a School Donation!

Justin from St Johns joined our students for emergency response training. Our tamariki learnt some basic first aid, when to call 111, how to keep themselves safe in a crisis and what counts as an emergency! Look out for some magnets to help your child learn their address and your phone number in case of an emergency. Well done kids and thank you St Johns!

Wow, can you believe we're already in Term 4? This year has flown by! Room 15 has accomplished so much, and we still have an exciting term ahead. It's heartwarming to see the confidence and smiles on our tamariki as they give their best every day. This term, we've introduced a fun game called "Inchworm" for our brain breaks, and it's been a hit! The "Inchworm" game encourages teamwork as each group works together to be the first 'inchworm' team to cross the finish line. We've been problem-solving along the way, identifying challenges and figuring out how to overcome them to help our inchworms move even faster. Check out these awesome pics of us in action! Be sure to ask your tamariki to explain how the game works and what their role is in making their team succeed.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRDhguqzI83IInVPSuS9hU3FXA_x8sW_TTqoGLVuc45lrMzLRrEZeXWx9V5NBhj5gw8nk16Na62kPX1/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=10000

We worked hard to create our guided pet day drawings and zentangle cat art to display in the hall for pet day. Just in case you have not seen it, here is a slide show for you to view it and even if you have seen it, you can admire them again.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSKSQMOJxnlJvXt8UVsVXB_XRDZ-T-DlO0Y4JLxiM_RzUPHLY6ZZkQ2zp5QyyqLhK6oGdq1CZPxycL-/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=10000

We have started the term off with a focus on really mastering addition and subtraction strategies for solving equations and number stories. Here are a couple of photos of us using number lines as a learning tool to help us.

Room 19 have been learning about Fractions in Maths this term.

We have learnt to read and write fractions as well as looking at equivalent fractions.

One activity we did was making pictures out of fraction pieces. We were very pleased with how they turned out.

Kia ora e te whānau,

As we approach the end of the year, there’s a lot happening at our kura, and I’d like to take a moment to update you on some key events and developments.

CAA Results

While there is much to celebrate from the CAA (Common Assessment Activity) exams, we also recognise that some students were disappointed not to achieve the results they hoped for.

As a school, we have already analysed the results data and begun planning how we can best support our learners to succeed in 2026 assessments.

Overview of 2025 CAA results:

• Reading: 80% pass rate
  
  

• Writing: 55% pass rate
  
  

• Numeracy: 58% pass rate
  
  

National average (May 2025):

• Reading: 61%
  
  

• Writing: 55.3%
  
  

• Numeracy: 57%
  
  

Exit Tickets

We are setting up an Exit Ticket process for students who will be signed off for study leave on Friday 7th November. These Exit Tickets will be completed with students by Tuesday 4th November.

If a student does not yet have enough credits to pass the year, we expect that when others begin study leave, they will remain at school to complete further learning and collect additional credits. Each programme will be carefully designed and supported by our staff to help every student succeed.

If your learner needs to stay at school to complete more work, you will receive an email invitation from me to meet and discuss their individual plan.

Graduation Dinner

Whānau of our Year 9-13 ākonga are warmly invited to join us on Friday 7th November for two special school events:

• Minor Prizegiving – 11:00am in the school hall

• Graduation BBQ Dinner – 5:30pm on the school grounds (Hall) - RSVP required

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This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our ākonga and share kai together. The dinner has been kindly supported by our FOCTS team, who are generously providing the food and their time to cater for everyone.

Please let us know if you’ll be attending by completing the short RSVP form shared on helix: 2025 Graduation Dinner

RSVP by Monday 27th October 2025.

Subject Selections for 2026

Our ākonga have now made their subject selections for 2026. We are working with staff to ensure successful outcomes in each learning area and to creatively develop options for those who may need something we don’t currently offer.

We encourage you to talk with your ākonga about their selections and reach out to Sarah Oke if you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss them further.

WITT

WITT continues to be an invaluable partner in expanding our curriculum and broadening our learners' experiences. Through WITT, our students have developed essential skills aligned with their future pathways and aspirations.

We’re thrilled to share that all students who participated in a WITT course in 2025 passed successfully, earning between 10 and 56 credits across 15 different areas including cookery, automotive, engineering, and sport and exercise.

Our 2026 enrolments have now been accepted, and we have students participating in every course offered through WITT. To complete their applications, students will finalise their online enrolment this week and return two signed forms by Friday 31st October. A code of conduct will follow after these enrolments are completed.

Gateway

One of the strengths of our kura is the ability to tailor programmes to meet the individual needs of our learners. This flexibility is one of the great advantages of having a small senior school.

This year, we successfully ran Health and Safety and Leadership courses that helped students build valuable employability skills. Our Barista course has also been a highlight, with fifteen learners earning 7 credits and gaining hands-on experience in serving and coffee making.

Looking ahead, we remind our ākonga that with vision, dedication, and a clear pathway, we will work alongside them to design programmes that help them reach their goals. For these conversations, please connect with Sarah Oke.

Student Leadership Interviews

Next week, we will hold interviews for selected students who have applied for Head Student leadership roles in 2026. We are incredibly proud of the courage and dedication shown by those who have put themselves forward to serve our kura in this way.

They will be well supported with interview questions to help them prepare, and we look forward to seeing their leadership aspirations in action!

Athletics Day

Our Year 7-13 school Athletics event will take place on Thursday 6th November, and we’re excited to see our ākonga participate with enthusiasm and energy. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to come together, showcase their talents, and celebrate teamwork and perseverance.

Casey Stevens is leading this event and will share more information soon.

I also want to acknowledge our amazing senior students, who have been coaching and supporting our Year 0–6 learners through our tuakana-teina model. Over the term, they have run four weeks of skills and training sessions and will lead their final event on Wednesday 5th November.

We are so proud of their contribution and the way they continue to live and breathe our school values.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these busy and exciting final weeks of the year.

Ngā mihi nui,
Sarah Oke
Deputy Principal Year 9-13

In Senior English, we’ve had a tremendous year navigating the changing educational landscape of the English curriculum. Our students have stepped up to the challenges of completing their NCEA Levels 1 to 3 courses and CAA literacy tests.

As we prepare ourselves for the final exams in Term 4, it goes without saying how proud I am of our senior students in this subject area. Their mahi hasn’t gone unnoticed. Their mahi is paying off in the results they are achieving. As a kura, we are extremely lucky to have such a group of mature and hardworking young adults.

Years 9 and 10 are also seeing the results of their hard work in the academic progress they are making in the English space. This term, we will be transitioning Years 9 and 10 into their new respective academic level learning, it is humbling to see the journey this class has made this year.

It has been an absolute privilege to be the Years 9-13 English teacher this year.

Thank you for trusting me with your precious tamariki.

For those who are curriculum enthusiasts, MOE’s Sunday release of the new Years 9 and 10 English curriculum is certainly an exciting move. Please be assured that we are well prepared for these changes to commence in 2026. Although there will be some teething issues in the coming months, we are in the same boat as any other school in the country. Our priority is to ensure this group of Years 9 to 10 students are prepared for the new Foundational Award that will replace NCEA Level 1 in 2028. We will continue to work with the materials released by MOE and actively engage with the consultation process from the perspective of an area school.

If you’re interested in the resources and learning we’ve covered this year, please visit Mrs Fung’s 2025 class site: https://sites.google.com/coastaltaranaki.school.nz/fung2025/home

Important Dates:

Wednesday 5th November

• Level 3 English exam (3.1 Written Text - Macbeth)

Tuesday 11th November

• Level 1 English exam (1.3 Written Text - The Hunger Games)

• Level 1 English exam (1.4 Unfamiliar Texts)

CAA results

We’re delighted to announce our 2025 Literacy and Numeracy results. You will see our overall pass rate for the entries for 2025 in the May and September windows. Students from Years 9 to 13 were entered. Well done to all our students!

Reading 80%

Writing 55%

Numeracy 58%

We are waiting for the national average to be released for September 2025. But here is how it looked nationally in May 2025:

We’re excited to share that we have begun running Specialist Breakout Learning Groups in our Year 0–6 space. This initiative allows us to make the most of our Specialist Secondary staff, providing our younger learners with opportunities to explore new areas of learning and work with different teachers across the school.

At the moment, we have two groups up and running — Math and Design. These sessions began last week and are an exciting way to build connections between our primary and secondary specialist areas.

Once our senior students head off on study leave, we plan to expand this further, introducing additional specialist areas such as Science, Foods, Technology, and the Arts.

Due to health and safety requirements, numbers in some of these group are currently limited. We have 25 students involved across Year 0–6, working in two smaller groups of 15 and 10. This is a trial phase to help us refine the timing, structure, and flow of the activities. Once we have a clear picture of how the sessions run, we hope to offer this opportunity to more students.

A reminder: Students participating in the these groups are required to wear covered shoes and have their hair tied back for health and safety reasons.

As an Area School, this is one of the things that makes us unique — the ability to share knowledge and learning across year levels. We’re looking forward to growing this programme and creating even more exciting learning opportunities for our tamariki.

Ngā mihi nui,

Sarah Oke

Deputy Principal - Year 9-13

Looking for something exciting and meaningful for your child these school holidays?

Hillary Holiday Camps are running across December and January at Hillary Outdoors’ Coromandel and Tongariro Outdoor Education Centres for students in Years 7 - 13. These multi-day residential camps are designed to challenge, inspire and empower young people through outdoor adventure, team connection and personal growth.

Each camp is packed with fun, exploration, and new friendships, all supported by qualified instructors who prioritise safety and wellbeing. It’s the perfect way for young people to get off the couch, into nature and return home with unforgettable memories and greater confidence.

Learn more: https://www.hillaryoutdoors.co.nz/hillary-holiday-camp/

Kia Ora whānau!

Well done for getting through a wet holiday and keeping your tamariki occupied! It has been nice to have some sunshine lately and more smiling faces with it. We hope you are all taking care of your wellbeing, making the most of te ra (the sun) and getting in a walk, jog, skate, surf or team sport!

Movement happening lately :

To kick off the term we have had primary touch teams in Opunake beginning thanks to Zoe Kenzington from Coastline Sports, Coaches, Managers and parents getting things running. Our secondary touch team are also swinging into action down at the Ōkato domain each thursday night - Come along or enjoy a burger + drink afterwards!

Athletics practice each Wednesday at school

So good so far! Ka pai to our year 0-6 tamariki for showing their positive sporting attitude of kia maia - being your best and ngahau - having fun.

Thank you to our P.E students for coaching our young people too!

Primary Athletics Day -5th November

Secondary Athletics Day - 6th November

Cricket “Smashplay” primary schools skills programme - Week 2 this term our year 0-6s had the opportunity to attend the cricket skills sessions provided by cricket Taranaki - What a time! And again the sun was out for us. Great to see throwing, catching and cricket skills developing.

Upcoming term events, opportunities and coaching :

Primary touch - Ōpunake

Secondary touch - Ōkato Domain

TSSSA Touch all secondary ages 5th November

TSSSA Volleyball Y9/10s 10th November

TSSSA Beach day Y9/10s 27th November

Primary Athletics - Date - November 5th

Secondary Athletics Day - November 6th

Interschools events - Year 5,6,7,8s Upcoming

Swimming pool opening up November 15th

School surf team registrations/signups

School sports photos - Date TBC

Tennis and Cricket - Please let our kura know if you are interested in Coaching our tamariki Tennis or cricket this coming summer on a set day or night. We would love to have you! For more information - taranakitennis@gmail.com jordan@taranakicricket.co.nz . It looks like cricket draws have potentially started, Tennis registrations still open.

Health and Physical Education - Term 4 - Challenge, growth + community.

I hope you are all challenging yourselves in wellbeing and movement lately! Two things to try do between now and our next newsletter:

1) Go and say something good to another person (Mental Health)

2) Try something new physically - there are gymnasts who still complete at 90 - it's good for us, our brains and is fun with others to try new things no matter where you start from! (Physical Health)

Kia ora katoa - be well all 🙂

Ngā mihi nui,

Casey Stevens

Health and Physical Education

Deborah Challinor is a historical fiction writer from NZ. She has written many very successful series ‘Convict Girls’ & ‘Children of War’ . I have met her and she researches her novels meticulously, so you learn a lot while enjoying the stories & characters.

There is lead in to the next book in the series - Bk 3

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Early Registrations are now open for the New Plymouth 2026 Weetbix TRYathalon

Wednesday 25th March 2026, 8:00 am

https://tryathlon.co.nz/locations/new-plymouth/

We are not entering a school team for next years event, but you can enter your child as an individual and we will have some Weetbix TRYathlon spot prizes to give out at school to those who are registered.

COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL

Richard McMillan Interim Principal

Gemma Chambers Junior School Deputy Principal

Sarah Oke Acting Deputy Principal, Food Technology, Careers/Pathways, Tech on 45

David Cripps SENCO

Viola Fung English

Andrea Dingle Maths

Steve Leppard Hard Materials Technology, Tech on 45

Kelly Waugh Visual/ Performing Arts

Natalie Bound Science

Casey Stevens P.E & Health

Keegan Bruckner Social Sciences

Liana Roberts Pouakai Team Leader, Year 7/8 Teacher

Dee Heath Year 7/8 Relief Teacher Term 4

Rebecca Connolly Year 6/7 Teacher

Emily Finey Year 5/6 Teacher

Renee Leathley Kaitake Team Leader, Year 4/5 Teacher

Heather Jull Year 4/5 Teacher

Annie Harris NE Transition Teacher

Jemma Moorby Year 1/2 Teacher

Philippa Hofmans Pukeiti Team Leader, Year 1/2 Teacher

Johannah Poutini Year 2/3 Teacher

Sarah Warren/Tara Ross Year 2/3 Teachers

Justine Francis Release Teacher

Margaret Normanton Release Teacher

Jacky Kopu Office Manager

Delwyn Pearce School Librarian

Kirsty Koboski Publicity Officer

Ole Bucka Grounds & Maintenance

Learning Assistants

Darryl Levett

Kirsty Koboski

Paula Fleming

Dee Heath

Jess Harfield

Ruth Barron

Ian Robinson

Nicole Whittle

Kaycee Cresswell

Fon Julian

Marcus Wade

Student Support

Ida Staunstrup-Moore

Lisa Schrader