Te Karere o te Tumuaki/Principal's Message
Kia ora e te whānau,
And just like that, Term 1 is already over. The saying time flies when you are having fun, certainly has rung true this term. It's great to see the new building progressing along so well, it should be closed in very soon.
We were extremely pleased with the fantastic turnout for whānau hui, it is such a valuable thing to get together in the same room and have discussions about our tamariki. I'd like to reinforce however, that you can have a whānau hui at any time, just make contact with your child's teacher and arrange it with them. Open communication is the key to making sure that our tamariki have the best experience possible.
Health and safety is always an important focus, we have been working with Road Safety Promotion and the Whangarei District Council and you may recall the Safe Travel Plan that came out late last year. Please read the road safety section further into this newsletter for information about new developments in this area.
These holidays enjoy restful time with your whānau, and hopefully we continue experiencing some of the beautiful fine weather so we can enjoy our environment. Keep safe, and we will see you next term. As usual there is a pōwhiri on the first day back, that you are all welcome to attend and help us welcome our new whānau members.
Ngā manaakitanga
AnnMaree MacGregor
Principal
Reorua's Marine Experiences
Our Reorua class have been focussing this term on learning about our local marine environment. Supported by the wonderful kaimahi at EMR (Experiencing Marine Reserves), our tamariki have learned snorkelling skills, and put these into use both at Taurikura, for a practice run and then at the marine reserve at Reotahi, where they were able to see and identify species they had been learning about.
James (Yr 5) and Israel (Yr 6) share their thoughts on the snorkelling experience below:
For two days Reorua went on snorkelling day trips. The non-marine reserve day, we went to Taurikura and we saw a little bit of fish. When we got there all of us were cold and we had all forgotten our jerseys. The wetsuits were hard to put on, it took forever. We made up a fun noise with the wetsuits under our armpits. We were laughing so hard. Then a few days later we went to the Marine reserve at Reotahi. We saw some weird fish like snapper, floor sponge, spotties and tingrays. The water was so cold but as we got used to it, it felt more warm. The water was a different colour as we got deeper and deeper. We were so amazed, we didn't expect that.
By James T and Israel.
Senior Camps/Puni
Both Reorua and Rms 3, 4 and 6 have enjoyed a fabulous camp this term. Reorua had a 3 day escape to the Bay of Islands. Rms 3, 4 and 6 stayed at school for their overnight camp but also ventured out for surf lessons at Sandy Bay.
Thomas Potter (Yr 6) shares his words on the ReoRua camp:
"On Wednesday the 26th of March 2025, Reorua went to Waitangi Marae for camp. We stayed there for three days and two nights. Some of the different activities we did were: go to Ruapekapeka, Russell were we did a scavenger hunt and went up Flagstaff hill, Waitangi treaty grounds, the beach and Kawiti glow worm caves.
My favourite part of camp was going to Ruapekapeka which was a Pa. There were big holes up to 3M deep. The holes were there so the Maori could hide during a battle that happened in 1845. Liam and I were ducking behind the little mounds. We also played with the cannon that was there. The Pakeha had made a fortified wall around the Commanders tent to protect him.
To get to and from Russell, we went by Ferry. Inside the ferry, the waves splashed against the glass, luckily we were protected. It was a sunny day with little cloud. The water was glistening in Russell. We split into 4 groups in the Scavenger hunt. During the hunt we took photos of the museum from the outside, this was to prove that we were there. We walked up Flagstaff Hill, it was hot and tiring but some kids ran up. At the top Whaea Pera talked to us about the history and we sang some waiata.
Overall camp was awesome but tiring which made me very hungry, luckily there was lots of food"
Kokonga o Kirsty/Kirsty's Corner
Kia ora e te whanau,
I have a few things to let you know about:
- The Hell Pizza reading challenge is back for 2025. If your child brings home a pizza wheel and reads to you please sign on the card for each book, or send them to the school library and I will sign off for any books they have read. Once the wheel is completed I will stamp it for verification and you your can take your child to Hell Pizza to claim a free kids pizza. The reading challenge runs all year long. Pizza wheels are available in the school library.
- Missing Library books. Can you please check under beds, behind the sofa for any school library books (or National Library books). Some little people do not quite understand how issuing works and accidently/inadvertently take home books that have not been issued.
- Book Club. Thank you to everyone who purchased books from Scholastic Book Club this term. The school library receives a credit for every purchase made to go towards beautiful new books. Scholastic runs two book clubs per term, one of these we send home brochures for and one which is sent digitally to whānau who purchase book club books online.
Ngā mihi
Kirsty Oliver
Chinese Dance Performances at the Dunhuang Culture Festival
Our Chinese culture and language teachers Hannah He and Liying Wang, supported by Deb Sayer, and some whānau members, took a group of our star chinese dance performers to the opening of the Dunhuang Culture festival at Northtec on the 31st of March.
Our dancers gracefully performed both the Fan Dance and the Peacock Dance in front of an audience including Consul-General Mr Chen Shijie, Director of China Cultural Centre In Auckland, Mr Wang Jianwen, executives from NorthTec, and our Mayor, Vince Cocurullo. We are so proud of the way they represented our kura.
Model Club 2025
It's back! Once again, thanks to the efforts of Mark Peacock, model club will be running in 2025. Here are some words from him about the sessions so far and plans for what's next.
"Years 4 , 5 and 6 are back in action with Wednesday’s model club sessions. This term they are building aircraft hangars and buildings from scratch using scrap card and balsa wood, creating their own plans and designs. Some interesting structures are taking shape including some heavily defended ones. Term 2 may see some creative colour schemes. We look forward to it."
Safe Arrivals at School - New signage
If you have been coming to school through our front gate you may have noticed new signage in the drop-off bay. This is thanks to our friend Caley who works as a project manager for Road Safety Promotion at the council. Caley also coordinated the development of our travel plan brochure that came home last year and is now part of our enrolment packs.
This sign is a reminder that no car is to be left unattended in the drop-off bay. That space is for pulling in, having your tamariki jump out of the car and walk themselves into school. If you need to be with them there is parking around the school (both front and back gate) as well as in the community hall.
Next term our student road patrollers will be putting out more new signs from the council. These are reminders that parking on the yellow lines by the pedestrian crossing endangers our tamariki and road patrollers. Your support in making pick-up and drop-off times at our school safe is crucial. Thank you.
Honey
Once again, in 2025 we have honey available for purchase at the school office. Honey has been kindly donated by our partner beekeepers - Tahi honey, and we have further been gifted larger sized jars of Honeyeater honey - also from local Pataua hives. The honey is priced amazingly from $5 per jar to $20 (the big 1 kg jars) so why not pop in and pick some up. When the weather turns and the winter bugs start rolling through, it's great to have on hand.
2nd hand Uniform
Uniforms come and uniforms go! Stock levels are constantly dropping on our school shirts in many of the sizes. If your child has outgrown their uniform and you have no further need of it, please feel free to drop it in to the school office. The sales of these help the school purchase additional items that our former PTA used to supply, such as sunscreen, etc. If you ARE on the hunt for new uniform, we have a large stock in all sizes at present of school jumpers and jackets, for the bargain sale price of just $5 each until the end of week 1 of Term 2.
IMPORTANT NOTICES/TINO PANUI NUI
Medication: If your child requires medication to be brought or kept at school, please be aware that due to health and safety concerns, this must be kept secure in the school sick bay. It is not to be kept in children’s schoolbags during the day. This is to protect the safety of not only the child requiring the medication but also all other students. All medication requires an accompanying permission/approval form signed by their parent or caregiver. This includes epi-pens for allergy management, inhalers for asthma or any other medication your child requires on a short-term or as needed basis.
Contact Us
Email: office@onerahi.school.nz
Website: https://www.onerahi.school.nz/
Location: Onerahi Primary School Church Street, Onerahi, Whangārei 0110, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 436 0521
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onerahischool
Re-Sport Charitable Trust
Got a sports team in need of some gear for the season ahead? Or perhaps you have good quality sports gear at home, that you would love to find a new purpose for. Check out the Re-Sport charitable trust on: https://www.resport.co.nz
Our Why
ReSport exists to remove barriers to participation for individuals, whānau and community groups to engage in quality sporting experiences, by reducing financial barriers and providing support through community engagement, whilst caring for our environment at the same time.
What we do
Collect new and gently used sports gear and equipment to share these resources to people in need throughout Northland, reducing the environmental impact of textile and sport gear waste
