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VOGELTOWN SCHOOL TE KURA O HUATOKI

WEEK 8, TERM 2, 2025.

VOGELTOWN SCHOOLTE KURA O HUATOKI WEEK 8, TERM 2, 2025.

FROM RYVES... FROM RYVES...

Did you know your location in the country can determine which star marks the Māori new year? Since Matariki is the name of the public holiday, you may not be aware that another new year star exists.


Puanga (Rigel) is one of the brightest stars in our sky. Located "above" the constellation known as Tautoru, or Orion’s Belt, Puanga marks the new year for many Māori. Iwi and hapū from the west coast of Northland, Taranaki, Whanganui and Rangitīkei, parts of Wellington, and the South Island use Puanga to mark the new year.


Location has a lot to do with it because Matariki rises in the pre-dawn above the eastern horizon, which means it’s hidden from view for those on the west with mountainous land in between.


Puanga/Matariki brings the past year to a close and marks the beginning of the new year and historically, was closely tied to planting, harvesting and hunting. However this is also a time for:


  • Remembrance – Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki
  • Celebrating the present – Gathering together to give thanks for what we have
  • Looking to the future – Looking forward to the promise of a new year


Over this long weekend, I hope that you get to capture a little of the essence of this special time through whatever you have planned.


Kia pai tō rā whakatā. Have a great weekend!

MATARIKI ACTIVITIES MATARIKI ACTIVITIES

Today our students participated in a variety of experiences: buddy class time, shared kai, kapa haka performance, and some time with parents to celebrate learning. Have a look at what we got up to…

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Room 4 and Room 13 celebrated Matariki by learning ti rākau to the song E Papa Waiari followed by a delicious treat of oven-baked s'mores.

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As part of our Matariki celebrations, Room 6 came together to share kai and spend time with one another. Each of us helped to cut up our own vegetables, which we boiled in vegetable stock to make a delicious soup. After all our hard work, we enjoyed sharing this lunch together. Throughout the week, we’ve spent time reflecting on the meaning of Matariki, Puanga, and the New Year. Coming together to make and share soup was a special way to end our week.

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ARBOR DAY ARBOR DAY

Today, Room 13 and the tour guides visited Sheppard’s Bush to celebrate Arbor Day – a special occasion dedicated to planting, caring for, and appreciating trees. This tied in beautifully with Matariki, where planting symbolises new beginnings and looking ahead to the future.


Despite the rain, we planted 100 trees! A big thank you to Bill, the Huatoki Conservation Group, and the two NPDC staff members who led the planting operation.

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INTERSCHOOL SPORTS INTERSCHOOL SPORTS

We were fortunate to have a beautiful day on Wednesday to host Welbourn School for our interschool sports exchange.


The games were played in great spirits and it was fantastic to see so many of our tamariki that weren't participating being so supportive of their peers by cheering them from the sidelines.


The results were as follows:


Football: Welbourn 2-1

Rugby: Vogeltown 81-0

Netball A: Vogeltown 8-1

Netball B: Vogeltown 13 -5


Our final fixture is happening next Wednesday 25th June vs Central School, at Central.

WELCOME TO SHAUNICE! WELCOME TO SHAUNICE!

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Very soon we'll be saying goodbye to Mrs. Celeste Broderick who will be going on maternity leave at the end of Term 2. We are delighted to announce that Mrs. Shaunice van Dyk will be taking over as the teacher in Room 8 starting from Term 3.


“Kia ora koutou, my name is Shaunice van Dyk, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Vogeltown School whānau in Term 3. I bring with me seven years of teaching experience in the primary sector in South Africa, as well as a recent year working in early childhood education here in New Zealand. I’m also a mum of two, so I understand the importance of strong home-school partnerships and creating a classroom environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn. I’m passionate about building meaningful relationships with tamariki and their whānau, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all and becoming part of this wonderful community. Ngā mihi nui!”


We're looking forward to having Shaunice join us and continuing on the great work already happening in Room 8.

OUR SCHOOL REPORT TIMELINE OUR SCHOOL REPORT TIMELINE

You may have noticed some changes to the way we are reporting to parents. This year we concluded Term 1 with learning conferences, where teachers met with parents and whānau.


This term the changes continue, with teachers busy writing reports using a different format that aligns with the new curriculum and updated teaching expectations. To support them with this change, we are providing additional time for the preparation of these. As a result, all written reports will be sent home in the first week of Term 3.


This extension allows more time for drafting, moderating and ensuring consistency across the school. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to strengthen our reporting processes.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

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It is important that we know if you have a child starting school sometime in the remainder of this year. This will allow us to put organisation in place for new students - especially those starting school, and to understand our predicted roll throughout the year.


You can do this by contacting the office to confirm that we have your child on our records, or by completing an enrolment form (which can be collected from the school or downloaded off our website).


If you know of anyone else living in zone that may be looking to enrol then please share this message with them.

HIGHLANDS INTERMEDIATE ENROLMENTS 2026 HIGHLANDS INTERMEDIATE ENROLMENTS 2026

For our Year 6 whānau - please note that enrolments for 2026 open on Tuesday 1st July 2025. We will receive enrolment packs to distribute in the last week of Term 2. All information and dates can be found on the Highlands website - https://highlands.school.nz/zone-info-enrolment/enrolment/

VOGELTOWN SCHOOL CALENDAR 2025 VOGELTOWN SCHOOL CALENDAR 2025

TERM CALENDAR

Put all these dates in your diary or your phone! Remember we will put all updates on Facebook, Skool Loop and Seesaw.


TERM 2 2025

19 June - Matariki celebration (whanau gumboot throw postponed)

20 June - Matariki - school closed for instruction

25 June - Interschool vs Central (at Central)

26 June - Vogeltowner Assembly

27 June - Whole School Assembly

27 June - 4 Year Old Friday, last day of Term 2


TERM 3 2025

14 July - First Day of Term 3

KA KITE ANO WHĀNAU KA KITE ANO WHĀNAU

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Thank you for the ongoing support of Vogeltown School, we really appreciate the efforts everyone makes to ensure our kura is such a great place to learn and work!


On behalf of the Vogeltown team, ka kite ano! Enjoy your weekend.


The VS team

CONTACT US CONTACT US

Email: office@vogeltown.school.nz
Website: www.vogeltown.school.nz
Location: Vogeltown School Huatoki Street, Vogeltown, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: (06) 753 6843

OUR VALUE FOR TERM 2 OUR VALUE FOR TERM 2

SCHOOLDOCS - VOGELTOWN POLICIES SCHOOLDOCS - VOGELTOWN POLICIES

Our school policies, like many schools, are now in an online system through a portal called 'Schooldocs'. Any time you want to bring up a school policy, just log in to schooldocs and you can access the policies.


The login is: vogeltown

The password: huatoki


The website link to Schooldocs is below.

SchoolDocs - Policies and Procedures Made Easy

SchoolDocs - Policies and Procedures Made Easy

SchoolDocs helps schools avoid re-inventing the wheel with documentation. We've developed a comprehensive core set of online policies and procedures applicable to all New Zealand primary, intermediate, area schools and secondary schools, that we tailor for each school.

launch schooldocs.co.nz
Vogeltown School / Te Kura o Huatoki
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