ORATIA SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MESSAGE FROM MS LINDA

Tēnā koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te whānau o te Oratia. Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Zdravo. Ni hao. Namaste. Kamusta. Greetings Oratia whānau and families.

Last Friday we had over 110 children absent, Monday we had 100 and Tuesday 80 or so. Influenza A, croup, coughs and colds are sweeping through the classrooms, and our teachers have been affected with illness too. I imagine that some of the 110 absentees last Friday may have been recovering from our big production week, as well as the illnesses we are experiencing. The principal of Pt Chev Primary was giving similar statistics for his school, so it seems that Auckland is a germy place at the moment. If your child or your household has been ill I wish you all the best for a speedy recovery.

We are still basking in the glory of our 'Bottled Up' production. Thank you to all the parents and whānau who have taken the time to speak to me and the staff about how you enjoyed it. We are so proud of all our students for their amazing efforts. Now our teachers are turning their attention to the curriculum and insisting on focus and engagement in class learning, so that we can catch up on the lost moments from the start of the term.

Our senior students had a wonderful day around Auckland for their zone Winter Sports competitions. Congratulations to the rugby team for coming second overall, and the A Netball team for coming in first place. All our students conducted themselves respectfully, supporting their team mates, and being good sportspersons to the other teams. Our teachers were very happy with their conduct.

My last day of term is this Friday, starting my sabbatical for the rest of Term, 3. I will be back for the start of Term 4. Kath Goldsmith will be acting principal while I am gone, ably supported by Matt Moncur and Cheryl Hartnell. I feel very confident that everything will run smoothly in my absence. My sabbatical starts with us celebrating our daughter's wedding in the UK, and continues with time back in Turkey and then a quick stop over on the way home in KL, Malaysia to visit my mother's family. I am so thankful to our board for their willingness to grant me this leave, and am really looking forward to it.

Kia kaha, kia atawhai.

Ngā mihi nui, Ms Linda

SCHOOL CLOSED - MONDAY 24th AUGUST

A reminder to families that school will be closed next Monday for a Staff Only Day.

All staff will be participating in professional learning throughout the day. At Oratia School, we believe our staff are learners too, and ongoing professional learning is an important part of ensuring we continue to provide the best possible learning experiences and support for our students.

We appreciate your support as our staff take this valuable time to learn, reflect and grow together.

School will be closed to students on Monday 24 August and will reopen as usual on Tuesday.

Orders close on Sunday 13th September 2026
Orders will be available to collect from the school hall from 3pm - 4pm on Friday 16th October 2026.

WHĀNAU HUI - TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER AT 6PM

"Kōrero mai, e te whānau - have your say!

We'd like to invite all our whānau to come along to our Whānau Hui. It's an opportunity for you to see our kapa haka perform, enjoy some kai, and let us know your thoughts on how we can continue to deliver excellent opportunities for our ākonga Māori. We'd love to hear what we're doing well, what we could be doing better, and any new ideas you'd like to see us try. This year's Whānau Hui will be held in the school hall at 6pm, Tuesday 22nd September. Save the date!"

Growing Our Student Leaders – Ngā Rākau Kaha

We are very proud to share the wonderful work our Deputy Principal, Katherine Goldsmith, is doing with our senior students through our Ngā Rākau Kaha student leadership programme.

This month, our very own Ngā Rākau Kaha student leadership programme has been featured in the Education Gazette, the national publication for New Zealand’s education sector. The article shines a light on the fantastic leadership opportunities our senior students are given and the impact the programme is having within our school and wider community.

This is a wonderful achievement and something we are very proud to celebrate. Congratulations to Katherine and, most importantly, to our senior students who continue to embrace the opportunities to lead, serve and make a positive difference.

Read all about Ngā Rākau Kaha and the great work happening at Oratia School on our facebook page:

Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga – Celebrating Tonga Language Week

ZONAL WINTER SPORTS DAY

Our senior students enjoyed a fantastic day at the Zonal Winter Sports Day. It was great to see our students representing Oratia School in Hockey, Rugby, Netball and Kiwi Sports and Football. A special congratulations to our Football team and Netball A team, who both finished first in their groups — a fantastic achievement! Everyone showed plenty of enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. A great day was had by all!

OUR FRIENDSHIP SEAT IS BACK!

Our Friendship Seat is back in action! After showing signs of wear and a little too much rot, our caretaker Steven and gardener Moira have given it some much-needed attention and repairs.

The seat has now been moved outside the Pōtiki Playhouse where it can catch the afternoon sun. If children are feeling lonely or would like some company, they can sit on the Friendship Seat. It’s a simple way to let others know they would like a friend to come and sit with them or invite them to play.

It’s great to see our Friendship Seat back where it belongs – helping to build friendships and make sure everyone feels included.

Scabies In Children | KidsHealth New Zealand's Trusted Voice On Children's Health

SCABIES - AN IMPORTANT HEALTH MESSAGE

We have been made aware of an increase in reported cases of scabies across Auckland and we wanted to share some helpful information to help families recognise the signs and know what to do if someon edevelops scabies.

Scabies – What You Need to Know

Scabies is caused by tiny mites that burrow under the skin, causing an itchy rash, small blisters and redness.
Anyone can get scabies, and it spreads easily through close skin-to-skin contact and by sharing bedding, clothing or towels.
If you suspect your child has scabies, see a health professional. Scabies will not go away without treatment.
Everyone in the household needs to be treated at the same time, even if they have no symptoms. Treatment is usually repeated 7 days later.
Follow the treatment instructions carefully, including applying the cream or lotion all over the body as directed and leaving it on overnight.
Wash or treat bedding, clothing, towels and other items used in the previous four days to help prevent reinfection.
Itching can continue for a few weeks after treatment, even when the scabies mites have been successfully treated.

For more information about recognising, treating and preventing scabies, please see the link above.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A DAILY ROUTINE

A daily routine helps children feel secure, confident and ready to learn. When children know what to expect each day, they are more settled and can develop good habits and independence.

Simple routines such as waking up at a consistent time, getting dressed, eating breakfast, completing homework, having some play time and getting ready for bed help children understand what comes next and reduce the need for constant reminders.

It can be hard to establish a routine at first, and children may push back against changes. However, with patience, consistency and perseverance, routines become familiar and easier to follow – and they are well worth the effort. A consistent routine supports sleep, organisation, emotional wellbeing and learning, while helping children gradually take responsibility for managing their own day.

School Productions are about so much more than the final performance. They build confidence, teamwork, resilience, creativity and a sense of belonging, while giving children the chance to challenge themselves and create something wonderful together.

POLICY TO REVIEW!

This term, the scheduled review focuses on behaviour management, staff wellbeing and safety. For more information about the review, go to the Current Review tab at the top of your SchoolDocs site. A summary is provided below.