COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL

Office Hours

8:30 am-4:00 pm

Hours of Instruction

8:40 am - 3:00 pm

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

Tēnā koutou katoa

I te tuatahi, tēnei rā te mihi aroha atu ki ngā whānau o ngā mate kua taka mai nei ki runga i ā koutou. Kei te hotuhotu te manawa i tō wehenga atu. Haere atu rā, okioki atu rā e ngā mate.

Ka huri au ki a tātou te hunga ora. Tēnā tātou katoa.

As we come to the end of Term 1, it has been a vibrant and rewarding start to the year at Coastal Taranaki School. Throughout this newsletter, you will see how our ākonga (learners / students) are bringing our uaratanga (values) to life—from the strong tuakana–teina relationships celebrated in our PB4L event, to rich learning experiences both in and beyond the classroom.

At Coastal Taranaki School, everything we do is grounded in our uara | values — Ako, Manaakitanga, and Whanaungatanga. We see Ako in the way students engage in meaningful learning, challenge themselves, and take increasing ownership of their progress. Manaakitanga is reflected in the care, respect, and inclusiveness that underpin our kura, ensuring everyone feels valued. Whanaungatanga is evident in the strong relationships and sense of belonging we continue to nurture across our school community.

This term has also highlighted the breadth of opportunities available to our students. A great example of this is our senior Technology – Woodwork programme, where students have been building playhouses for our kura and wider community. Through this authentic, hands-on project, students not only contribute meaningfully to our school environment, but also gain valuable skills and credits towards BCATS qualifications, supporting future pathways into the building and construction industry.

Guided by our tirohanga | vision, “Mā te whānau te tamaiti e puāwai” — through collaboration our learners will thrive, we are proud to foster resilient, curious, and engaged learners within a holistic and supportive environment.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment our students have shown this term, and we look forward to building on this strong foundation in Term 2.

Please join us at our 9:30 am pōwhiri in the gymnasium on our first day back next term: Monday, 20 April.

Ngā manaakitanga, nā

Sonia Mau

Tumuaki | Principal

Te Kura o Coastal Taranaki | Coastal Taranaki School

Coastal Taranaki School Board – Message from Deputy Presiding Member

Mā te whānau te tamaiti e puāwai

Through collaboration our learners will thrive

As a new Board, we acknowledge and appreciate the presence and support of staff, whānau, the community, Ngā Mahanga hapū and Taranaki iwi, through participation in the pōwhiri at the start of this term to welcome our new Coastal Taranaki School Tumuaki | Principal, Sonia Mau. This was a proud and exciting moment for our kura, demonstrating our respect and investment in the success of our learners.

Thank you to everyone contributing to kura community events – it’s great to see our school culture on display. The Whānau Fiesta was another moment of coming together and celebrating our people and place. And we’re looking forward to a year of mahitahi or collaboration ahead.

Senior leaders have demonstrated commitment, collaboration and effective planning to ensure a strong start to Term 1 and a continued focus on learners and the wellbeing of our people. While change can be challenging, we’re excited about the Board’s 2026-2028 strategic direction. Board strategies and actions have been directly shaped by feedback shared through the Term 3, 2025 Board community survey, conversations with whānau and staff consultation. From 1 April 2026, we can expect to access our Coastal Taranaki School Strategic Plan 2026-2028 on our website, outlining our three year journey of continuous schoolwide improvement.

As a Board, we recognise that achieving our three strategic goals depends fundamentally on the quality of our people. An integral part of this is our commitment to recruiting the best teachers and professionals who not only demonstrate excellence in their practice, but who also align with our values and long-term vision. We take a strategic approach to recruitment, deliberately seeking individuals whose skills, experience, and mindset will strengthen our kura and accelerate progress toward our goals. By investing in high-quality appointments and building capable, future-focused staff, we position ourselves to deliver meaningful and sustained outcomes for our learners and community.

To this end, we are excited to confirm our appointment for the position of Leader: Innovative Curriculum & Design Project overseeing Years 0-6.

The above fixed term project role provides the Board with an opportunity to ensure that we offer effective, Years 0-6 teaching, learning and assessment within an innovative education environment. We need to confirm this prior to nationally recruiting for a permanent DP Primary School in October 2026, commencing January 2027.

Our LSM, Roz Mexted, led the recruitment process, which included a recruitment panel of myself, Kat Moffitt (Presiding Member), Sarah Oke (DP) and Roz. Our principal, Sonia Mau, absented herself early in the recruitment process, due to the familial conflict.

I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Wes Mau to this fixed term project role. Wes has three terms leave from her role as a National Leader of Learning at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, New Zealand’s Te Kura Correspondence School. Her professional experience combines primary teaching with extensive curriculum leadership and programme implementation at a systems level.

As a senior curriculum leader, Wes has a depth of experience in curriculum development, progress and achievement, and system-level thinking. She has a proven ability to support kaiako in strengthening practice and aligning programmes to meet the needs of diverse learners. Wes brings a thoughtful, strategic approach and is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence and equity for all ākonga.

Wes offers the expertise that we require to review Y0-6 teaching practice, systems and processes. She is available from 20 April 2026 and will begin by connecting with staff and ākonga. Wes will consider teaching and learning practice alongside coherence, progression and alignment with national initiatives and our local curriculum.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Wes will work closely with our Tumuaki | Principal, Sonia Mau, our Secondary School Deputy Principal, Sarah Oke, and team leaders and staff, collaboratively leading through influence to support and guide meaningful initiatives in Years 0-6 teaching and learning.

We look forward to being joined by Wes on our first day back in Term 2. And we would love to see you at our pōwhiri on Monday, 20 April at 9:30 am in the school gymnasium to welcome Wes, as our new Curriculum Lead Y0-6, and our new students. Nau mai haere mai e te whānau.

Jane Bowden Dobson
Deputy Presiding Member
Coastal Taranaki School Board

Uaratanga (PB4L) celebration to finish the term celebrating showing our values and all our mahi in class.

What a beautiful display of our uaratanga. The tuakana–teina relationships were clearly evident.

Some incredible standouts included our Year 10 and 11 young men, who not only knew the names of our New Entrants, but also their favourite colours and birthdays — a true reflection of genuine connection and care.

Over the past 12 years, Tyler has been a valued member of our kura. Starting as a shy and reserved learner, someone who was quite happy to sit in the background, he has grown into a young man who enthusiastically, in his own quiet way, has taken hold of every opportunity presented to him.

Tyler’s work ethic is something to be truly admired. Last year, he successfully completed both Level 2 and Level 3, with a clear goal in mind: to transition into full-time employment in 2026. He has worked with purpose, building a strong CV through a range of courses and developing valuable agricultural skills and qualifications to set himself apart as he entered the workforce.

I am delighted to share that the kete Tyler has woven for himself has led to an exciting opportunity, he has secured full-time employment in farming, beginning this April.

Tyler, we are incredibly proud of you. It has been a privilege to be part of your journey. Thank you for everything you have given to our school community, your willingness to help, your support of others, your involvement in events like hāngī, and your contribution to all things sporting. You are always the first to step up.

You are an outstanding young man, and we are proud to call you a CTS graduate. Please keep in touch—we can’t wait to see what comes next for you.

Sheets went home for you to collect yummy stickers from your fruit. If you need more sheets or missed getting one they are available at the office.

The more stickers we collect the more free sports gear we get for our kura.

Here are some photos of what your awesome collection of stickers got us at the end of last year. We got some tennis balls, 2 bags of orange dodgeballs, some smaller balls and some soft yellow rugby and netballs :)

Thanks for all your munching

What a fantastic start to the year we have had in our classroom! Term 1 has been filled with rich learning experiences, opportunities to connect with our community, and a strong focus on building a positive and supportive classroom environment.

One of the highlights of our term was our Planting Day for Te Katonganui. We feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of this special experience. The day itself was absolutely beautiful, and our students showed outstanding teamwork and care throughout. They were extremely helpful, demonstrating respect for the environment and enthusiasm for the task at hand. It’s something we will be able to look back on with pride, knowing that our mahi will continue to grow and be admired for years to come.

Another exciting event was Americana, which is always a much-anticipated highlight for our school. The students thoroughly enjoyed seeing the incredible cars and watching the convoy pass by. There were plenty of waves, big smiles, and a real sense of excitement as we joined in this vibrant community tradition.

In the classroom, we have been exploring the work of artist Sandra Silberzweig. Students have loved learning about her unique style and have applied her techniques to create their own expressive portraits. The results have been colourful, bold, and full of personality—something we are very proud to share.

Alongside these experiences, we have been working hard to establish a thriving classroom culture. We are focusing on creating a space where everyone feels supported, valued, and confident to take on new challenges. It has been wonderful to see students encouraging one another, showing kindness, and building positive relationships.

We are incredibly proud of the way our class has started the year and look forward to all the learning and experiences that Term 2 will bring.

What's been happening in Woodwork?

Our level 3 building project for the last few years has been building Playhouses.

One of which sits out by the sandpit in the junior play area of the school.

This was always intended to be built for the school.

The second one is receiving its final touches at the moment and was intended to be sold and the money put back into the “student leadership"programme.

Both of these have been built by the students using materials selected for their suitability for outside use.

In the process of building this the students were able to gain 23 Level 3 BCATS credits.

BCATS is the organisation that trains NZ’s building apprentices.

Year 12s Level 2 English students have been studying Shakespeare's Macbeth this term.

We decided it would be much more fun to re-enacted the final battle between Macbeth and Macduff on the top field this morning (Tue 17th).

This term we have been back in full swing in our arts spaces, with students showing fantastic creativity and enthusiasm across all year levels.

Our Year 7–10 students have been focusing on printmaking. They have all successfully completed their shell-themed soft-cut lino prints, inspired by kina and sand dollars. Students began by drawing their designs, then carefully translated them onto soft lino before beginning the cutting process. This was completed in three stages, layering background, mid-colour, and border, and finally adding fine detail as the third layer. They worked hard to remember to cut away from themselves—and we’re pleased to report that there were fewer and fewer “casualties” as the process went on!

Year 7 and 8 students have also been studying Andy Warhol, exploring his use of repetition and bold colour. They created some truly eye-catching works featuring subjects such as shoes, cartoon characters, shopping trolleys, and even old brick phones. Students used watercolour pencils to achieve vibrant, bold colour combinations, with some really striking results.

Our senior art students have been working diligently and creatively in both painting and printmaking. They are experimenting with a range of techniques including Tetrapak printing, lino cuts, Gelli plate printing, and etching. As they study their chosen artists, they are beginning to develop their own personal styles and themes for the year, which is exciting to see.

Our school mural is coming along well and hopes to be finished by the end of term.

In the music space, we have introduced BandLab across multiple year levels. It has been fantastic to hear the beats students are creating using the drum machine, and we are now learning how to add virtual instruments to their tracks.

Our Year 5–8 students have been enjoying ukulele sessions, with everyone learning their first three chords—C, Am, and F. Some have even taken on the challenge of the trickier G chord!

Senior music students are also in full swing, with two NCEA assessments nearly completed. Their piano, singing, and guitar performances are progressing well as they continue to work hard in the practice spaces.

Mondays are a particularly busy time in the music rooms, with band experience sessions, as well as drum, guitar, and piano lessons running throughout the day.

Well done to all our talented “arty” people—we are so proud of your hard work and creativity!

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The EPro8 Challenge is the inter-school science and engineering competition. Every year over 35,000 students from throughout New Zealand take part.

Students participate in a series of events: firstly within their school and then inter-school.

These events are designed to promote science, engineering and problem solving.

Rooms 15, 22, and 21 had a blast in The Fire Safety House and the Escape Challenge. The Fire Safety House had smoke in it so we could see how it rises. This showed us the reason we need to get low when there is a fire. We all got low and crawled out. The Escape Challenge showed us that it can be dark when we need to escape and we need to feel our way out while staying low. We crawled through the dark maze to the exit.

"I liked that the Escape Challenge was really dark. It was like a maze." George

'I like the maze because it was a good challenge."

"I like that we had to crawl out of the house and we had to go to the mailbox because it was the meeting place." Malo

"I like the house because of the smoke." Finn

"They were both lots of fun." Fleur

"I learnt that you get out of the house when there is a fire." Aubrey

"We learnt that when there is a fire up the hallway we have to jump out our window but if your window is too high we stay in there till the firefighters come." Jack

"I learnt that you have to leave your toys and go outside to the mailbox." Fern

iconic Māori activist, artist, and performer Tāme Iti shares his extraordinary life, defined by resistance, resilience, and rangatiratanga.

DESCRIPTION

Mana. It's a big word. But what is it? Are you born with it, can you earn it, can it be taken away?

For more than five decades, Tāme Iti has stood at the heart of Aotearoa's struggle for indigenous rights. From land marches to performance art, police raids to prison cells, his voice has challenged New Zealand to reckon with its colonial legacy. Once branded as a dangerous and extreme activist, now hailed as a national treasure, Tāme has lived the contradictions and realities of standing with mana motuhake in a modern world.

After being silenced from speaking te reo Māori as a child, Tāme went on to champion its revitalisation. He discovered the power of protest and what it means to live with mana in a world that often tries to strip it away.

This is his kōrero of the road he walked and the people who joined him. The comrades, the supporters, and the ones who tried to take him out.

Mana is the story of a man who has never stopped challenging the status quo. It cements Tāme's place as one of Aotearoa's most iconic figures

Mana

READY TO LOAN NOW

Delwyn Pearce

CTS Library Manager

Coastal Taranaki School

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Here are the results for our CTS swimming sports (years 4-13). Overall, rankings were based on a point system depending on placings in each event. If you want to see individual race times, please follow this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wrNMe2IuQRLmQANG1N_ujRodpEoB32iioqsWHqfyLFU/edit?usp=sharing

Our top swimmers will receive awards at our end of year award ceremony."

Rhys George reciently competed at Crankworxs in Rotorua.
He completed the Hucks and Hooves track, finished at 3.14s, came 23rd out of 62 participants.

Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 netball teams have played the Opunake term 1 games. With only one game left they have all shown great enthusiasm and determination enjoying the wins and overcoming the challenges. We appreciate the dedicated parents who have supported and coached these teams, we couldn't do it without you.

We wish the teams a happy and fun final game next week in their dress ups!

At Kaitake FC numerous volunteers have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for the coming season.

We are finalising the list for this year's junior grades. Some grades are already full!

We are having our final call for these age groups:

Players who are 10 years old or turning 11 this year.

Players who are 12 years old and turn 13 this year.

Oakura Pony Club are holding a fundraiser event on Easter Monday 6th April 10am to 1pm at our beautiful Pony Club in the heart of our village.

The Eggstravaganza is set to be an amazing fun occasion and your little ones are all invited !!!

Featuring Sweetwater Ponies - We are offering pony rides , gorgeous photos with special friends and a guest appearance from a friendly donkey. Our wonderful Sponsor Bees R Us will be bringing the talented

Face Painting by Hannah !!!

How Egggsciting ??

We want everyone to Play FUN games in the sunshine and fresh air … create a masterpiece at the colouring table , and enjoy the yummy baking , sausage sizzle and drinks to refuel .. there will be prizes, treats and of course Easter Eggs

We want to share all of this with children who adore ponies and good fun.

Come on down, dress up , bring your smiles and your close toed shoes , we can’t wait to see you.

Gymnastica holiday programme provides a fun, active environment for children during the school holidays, with gymnastics-based activities, games, and challenges suitable for a range of ages and abilities. No previous gymnastics experience is required.

COASTAL TARANAKI SCHOOL

Sonia Mau Principal

Gemma Chambers Junior School Deputy Principal

Sarah Oke Senior School Deputy Principal, Careers/Pathways, Tech on 45

David Cripps SENCO

Viola Fung English

Ros James Maths Term 1

Steve Leppard Hard Materials Technology, Tech on 45

Kelly Waugh Visual/ Performing Arts

Natalie Bound Science

Sarah Warren Release Teacher, P.E Teacher

Keegan Bruckner Social Sciences, Geography, P.E Teacher

Hayley Gilmour Release Teacher

Liana Roberts Pouakai Team Leader, Year 7/8 Teacher

Dee Heath Year 7/8 Teacher

Renee Leathley Kaitake Team Leader, Year 5/6 Teacher

Emily Finey Year 5/6 Teacher

Johannah Poutini Year 4/5Teacher

Annie Harris NE Transition Teacher

Jemma Moorby Year 2/3 Teacher

Philippa Hofmans Pukeiti Team Leader, Year 1/2 Teacher

Tara Ross Year 3/4 Teachers

Jacky Kopu Office Manager

Alana Campbell Office Receptionist

Delwyn Pearce School Librarian

Kirsty Koboski Publicity Officer

Ole Bucka Grounds & Maintenance

Learning Assistants

Darryl Levett

Kirsty Koboski

Paula Fleming

Ruth Barron

Nicole Whittle

Fon Julian

Lisa Schrader