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

It is quite unbelievable that we are now into Week 9, and rapidly approaching the end of Term, and the end of another School Year. This represents a significant milestone for everyone - for our learners the end of a wonderful year full of excitement, new opportunities, and the chance to continue on their learning pathway towards adulthood, and independence.

Coastal Taranaki School has been my 6th Principal Placement. It has been an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to spent time in each of the Schools, and to enjoy the opportunity of working with an amazing range of great Teachers and young people. Country Schools have a unique, special character, and fulfill a crucial role in rural New Zealand. As is the case here in Ōkato, these Schools are the hub of the Community, and enrich the lives of everyone living in that Community.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at CTS, and my first long term experience of living in Taranaki. Without doubt the Taranaki is a spectacular region, with stunning scenery - the sea, beaches and rugged coastline, the native bush and rivers, the volcanic rocks, and of course the crowning glory, Mount Taranaki. As beautiful as anywhere in the Country.

Not forgetting of course the weather, which matches the scenery - rugged and changeable, violent and relentless, and very dramatic. A Taranaki Storm is something to behold, but at the same time you would expect nothing less in this region.

This School sits easily in this stunning location - it has space, lovely grounds, trees, and gardens. It must be a healthy experience for children growing up in this natural environment.

I have really enjoyed working with the CTS Team. Without exception they go above and beyond for the Students, working tirelessly to ensure they are provided with every opportunity to learn in a vibrant, supportive, and safe environment. The results this year have improved dramatically, and reflect the effort, skills, and passion of the entire Staff - Teachers, Teacher Aides, Support Staff, and Board.

A special thanks to Sarah, Gemma, and David - I have loved working with you and totally get your commitment and dedication to the School and Community, and the pride you take in fitting the pieces of the jigsaw together in what has been a very significant rebuilding phase. The School is in very safe hands with you leading the way.

There have been many highlights during my short time here, including Matariki, Cross Country, Athletics, Pets Day, Production, and just last week the awesome Market Day, to name a few. I am proud of my association with the School, and will cherish my CTS experience - exceptional things are happening in this School already, and the good news is 2026 will be even better.

Very best wishes to incoming Principal Sonia Mau - it must feel incredibly special heading back to lead a School where you were previously a Student.

To our School Leavers, in the immortal words of Dr Suess, “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself, in any direction you choose.” In other words you determine your own destiny.

Thank you to everyone for being so welcoming, and supportive. I wish you all ongoing health and happiness, and the children every success as they continue on their life journey. Kia Kaha!!

Nga mihi nui

Richard McMillan

Staff Changes 2026

As is the case in most Schools there will be Staff changes for the start of 2026. From the Secondary end we farewell PE Teacher Casey Stevens, and Mathematics Teacher Andrea Dingle. Casey is heading overseas, and Andrea will be Teaching Music at Opunake Primary School. We thank both ladies for their contribution to the School, and wish them all the best for the future.

In the Primary School Rebecca Connolly and Heather Jull are leaving. They have been very important members of the Junior Team, and we thank them for their positive contribution. Part timers finishing include Jason Brewer, Margaret Normanton.

As well a number of Support Staff won’t be with us next year. A special thank you to Nicki Phillips, Kaycee Cresswell, Jess Harfield, Ian Robinson, Marcus Wade, and Ida Staunstrup-Moore for excellent work you have done for the children in this School.

“Ngā mihi nui ki a koe” - huge gratitude to you all.

Students in Years 1-8 were busy in their classes and at home making products for our first Market Day! Students were able to purchase items using "CTS Bucks" that they earnt through demonstrating our school values.

In the last few weeks some of our junior classes have been to Pukeiti to attend The Rainforest School, developed by the Taranaki Regional Council school groups are provided with educational lessons. Our students had different special rotations - Insect Id Quiz, Hikoi to waterwheel, Grassy Knoll & wetland, Bug hunt, and the Fitness trail.

How lucky are we to be so close to such an amazing place and experience!

The kids from Coastal Taranaki School have been working hard washing cars to help raise money for our breakfast club. They’re showing all our school value and truly demonstrating how much they value and support our school community.

Thank you : Rylee, Bodhi, Sophie, Jordy, Betty, Evie and Aniika.

Who says poetry learning is boring? Years 9/10 found key contextual information about their poem this week through a scavenger hunt around the school.

And yes, the girls beat the boys. Happy Week 8!

Term 4 has concluded on a high note in the Secondary School, marked by the completion of significant academic milestones.

We celebrate the success of our students in their external Visual Art submissions and the demanding external examination period, which began in early November.

The dedication shown by our students was outstanding, with a fantastic 94% attendance rate maintained throughout all examinations! This level of commitment is truly commendable and speaks to their focus over the past year.

These final assessments represent the culmination of an incredible year of hard work, growth, and study. We are all looking forward to celebrating their achievements when results are released in January 2026.

Look out for an upcoming email closer to the release date with all the necessary information on accessing results.

In Year 9 and 10 Science this term, we focused on the Physical World strand, diving into Forces and Newton's Three Laws of Motion.

We shifted our assessment approach from rote learning to practical engineering. The students’ final task was to build water bottle rockets that could travel the greatest distance, demanding that they apply their understanding of physics laws directly to their design.

Their commitment was outstanding! Despite the miserable weather on launch day, every student was keen to get outside, and we are proud to confirm that every team successfully launched their rocket! This hands-on success speaks volumes about their hard work.

I look forward to seeing how we can continue to develop and innovate practical, real-world science here at CTS.

Term 4 has been a vibrant and rewarding season across the Arts at Coastal School. Our senior art students have now completed their stunning folios, showcasing hours of dedication, creativity, and skill. Our dance students have received their performance credits, and our musicians have wrapped up their final performances and arrangements as they head into music exam season. It has been wonderful to see our secondary students finish the year on such a strong artistic note.

As these achievements in the secondary space have wound down, our primary students have ramped up the energy with the planning and painting of our new school mural. The mural is taking shape beautifully, with impressive ideas and artistic skill shining through. We are all excited to share the final piece with you soon—especially the interactive “Look and Find” element that will keep everyone engaged as they explore the artwork. You can follow the mural’s progress on the Arts page of our school website under ‘Mural’.

Our school choir is also busy polishing their performance for Prizegiving, filling the school with festive sound. Meanwhile, the art room has been a hive of activity as students create bright and beachy crafts for our “Christmas at the Beach”–themed float for the upcoming Ōkato Village Christmas Parade.

What a busy, creative, and joy-filled year it has been. The creative Coastal buzz is alive and well—and an absolute pleasure to be part of.

Our individual and small-group music lessons have now completed their first successful term. It has been fantastic to see students growing in confidence, skill, and enjoyment as they explore their instruments. These lessons will continue in 2026, taking place each Monday.

We are pleased to offer a wide range of instrument options, including ukulele, guitar, drums, piano, flute, trumpet, and trombone. We now also have an opportunity for students to learn the flute, with two school flutes available to lend to families who may need an instrument to get started.

All lessons take place during school time and cost $10 per lesson throughout the term.

As students grow in confidence, there is also the exciting option to join our School Band, which meets every Monday morning from 8:30am–9:10am. The band welcomes all abilities and all instruments, and we look forward to seeing this ensemble develop and thrive in the year ahead.

What a fantastic term it has been for sports at CTS! Our students, staff, whānau, and wider community have all contributed to a vibrant, active, and connected term. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

TSSSA Beach Day – Year 9/10
Our Year 9 and 10 students had an awesome time at the TSSSA Beach Day, enjoying kayaking, beach soccer, beach hockey, and connecting with students from other high schools across the region. It was a successful day full of teamwork, sunshine, and new friendships.

Tennis on the New Courts
It’s been exciting to see our students making use of the brand-new tennis courts. We are hoping to get tennis up and running more formally next year—if any parents are able to help coach or support, please get in touch. Your involvement would be hugely appreciated!

Staff Swimming Course
A huge thank you to Swimming Taranaki for supporting our staff swimming course. All our primary and secondary swimming teachers completed the training, helping ensure safe and high-quality swimming instruction across the school.

Primary Touch Rugby
Our primary touch teams have been giving it their all in Opunake each week. They continue to represent our kura with pride, positivity, and great sportsmanship. We hear only good things about you all—keep it up, tamariki!

Secondary Touch
Our secondary touch team is well underway this season. Whānau—come on down any Thursday evening from 5.45pm for a burger and a drink. All proceeds go directly to the Coastline Sports Club, so your support goes a long way.

Ngā Mihi to Matua Lukey
A massive thank you to Matua Lukey for all his hard mahi throughout the year—both with our school waiata time and our performance group. Ngā mihi nui e hoa! Our tamariki love your presence, guidance, and holistic way of teaching. We appreciate you.

Surfing for Life – Year 9/10
Our Year 9/10 students have loved their Surfing for Life sessions with Coach Charlie at Fitzroy Beach. An awesome learning experience in the moana, building skills, confidence, and connection with the environment.

Tennis Coaching – 2026
We are hoping to start up regular tennis for 2026. Any parents interested in helping coach or support—please get in touch this term. We’d love to build this opportunity for our students.

Education outside the classroom

Beach days/bush walks/pool time/tennis courts/skate parks/school farm/planting and gardening on the whenua - HOW LUCKY ARE WE?! Hands on learning off our front gate! Awesome mahi teachers, parents and community working together through Kotahitanga and providing our young people with such rich opportunities.

A Personal Message from Miss Stevens

As this term wraps up, I also want to share that this is my last term as a full time P.E teacher at CTS. Coastal Taranaki School was my very first teaching home in Aotearoa, and I will be forever grateful for the experiences I’ve had here. Thank you to all the incredible families and students I have met along the way—they have shaped me as a teacher and I have learned so much as a person.

Please continue to hold onto the attitude of believing in yourself and kia Maia - always striving to be your best.

Although I am heading on to an overseas adventure, I certainly won’t be a stranger in future. CTS will always have a place in my heart.

Ngā mihi nui, whānau. ♥️

As we head into the holidays, we wish all our whānau a safe, happy, and restful break.

Final Challenge: Set two new goals for your 2026 year—stick to them and keep each other accountable. Kia māia, whānau, and aroha nui to you all. ♥️

Casey

TSSSA Beach Day at Ngamotu – Last week's TSSSA Beach Day at Ngamotu was all about getting out in the sun, having fun, and giving new things a go. Students jumped into activities like kayaking, beach flags, beach soccer and poi games—plenty of laughs, sandy feet, and good times all round.

Our year 9/10 students showed their Whanaungatanga in the way everyone mixed, made connections, and looked out for their peers. Their manaakitanga showed in the encouragement and respect across the beach.

Students got to meet other schools, have fun and get moving together. Thanks to TSSSA for hosting a fun and activity filled day!

Kia Ora,

What an absolute pleasure it has been to be a part of the ChanceFit Training CTS Girls Squad, funded by Sport Taranaki. An initiative that Whaea Gemma carefully designed for the year 7 & 8 girls of Coastal to help build confidence, positive relationships within themselves and a stronger mind and body connection through exercise. Throughout the year the girls have worked so hard and learnt the importance of safety around training in a gym environment, practising good form and technique and given everything I have offered a good go. They even had the opportunity to write their own training programs and lead their peers through their workout.

I feel so privileged to be approached to run this program. It was all a new learning experience for me and the girls have taught me so much. I am grateful I was able to guide them through positivity in training and hope I have made an impact on their future selves! I look forward to seeing what other awesome initiatives are implemented in 2026!

Thank you Gemma, Coastal Taranaki School, Chancefit Girls and their parents for trusting me with this program!

Chance.

.

Kia ora,

We are excited to share with you the details for our Beta Climbing Gym summer holiday programme 2025/2026.

Starting from 22nd December, each programme session runs from 9am - 1pm, here at Beta on Burton Street, Waiwhakahio, New Plymouth.

$25 per day for Members
$50 per day for Non-Members
*pricing excludes shoe/chalk hire

Come in and see us, email, enquire on the website www.betaclimbing.co.nz or book through the links:

Betalings (5-9yrs) https://betaclimbing.gymmasteronline.com/portal/book/class/580832
Betakids (10-13yrs) https://betaclimbing.gymmasteronline.com/portal/book/class/580833

Many thanks, nga mihi nui,

The Beta team

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

Going overseas for the school holidays? Everyone travelling into New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, including returning New Zealand passport holders.

Its FREE and you can do it on the online form or on the NZTD app.

If you’re travelling as a family or group and completing multiple declarations, the NZTD app allows you to copy your travel details into another declaration, making it easier to complete multiple declarations for the same journey. The submitted declarations are then all easy to see within the app.

The New Zealand Traveller Declaration collects travel, customs, immigration and biosecurity information and aims to improve the safety and security of New Zealand. It replaces the paper card you used to fill out on the plane.

To make your arrival easier, do your digital declaration before your flight back to New Zealand.

Head to travellerdeclaration.govt.nz today!

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

Lisa Schrader

Lisa Schrader