Porritt School Press

Kia ora e te whānau,

It was lovely to celebrate the final act of our 50th Jubilee last Friday with our Porritt School Birthday Party!

It has been an incredibly special time as a kura. So many amazing anecdotes over the course of the fortnight or so of special events. It has been particularly cool receiving feedback for former students, staff and community members commending us all for the way we marked this significant milestone.

Now we look forward to the rest of the school year and the highlights and events to come. Some of these include;

- School swimming starting next week!

- Year 6's off on a Camp Kaitawa mission

- End of year school assessment and reporting through our Learning Summaries

- Year 5 noho marae at Waiohiki

- Year 6 Graduates Ball

- Porritt's Got Talent Grand Finale

- End of Year Celebration Assembly

- Two school board meetings!

These are cool events to round out our school year. A big mihi to our kaiako for all of the hard work that is going in to creating wonderful learning summaries for each child in the kura.

It is an interesting time in education to say the least. We are navigating change and challenge at a rate that is certainly unseen in my 20+ years of education. As a school leader, it is through challenge that we see our true colours, and the character of our community is revealed. I am extremely grateful to lead such a connected, unified and supportive kura and community.

As always with our kura, as reiterated in our board communication below, where we go, we go together.

Ngā mihi whakamiha - respectful regards,

Maaka Papuni - Tumuaki/Principal

One of the most incredible aspects of our 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations, was the Karakia Whakatō Mauri ceremony we held here at kura to introduce and bless our cultural narrative.

This cultural narrative was crafted over four years by our Kāhui Whakataki...a steering group of representatives from the ngā hapu o Ahuriri - the various hapu that whakapapa here.

Four mauri taonga were gifted to the kura to symbolise and give life to the different aspects of our narrative. These taonga were gathered and gifted by members of this kāhui.

These aspects of our narrative have been gifted to the learning teams in our kura. These ingoa, that are beginning to be adopted and used, are detailed below.

We are very fortunate to be so well supported by mana whenua. This narrative is a gift that is far more than ingoa Māori (Māori names) in our school. It gives us a framework for our curriculum that is of this place, and a connection to the whenua and to the people of this land.

We are so thankful for the commitment, aroha and whakaaro of our Kāhui Whakataki members in the creation of this taonga for all time. This is the essence of what is meant by honouring and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi - bicultural partnerships that enrich and empower us all.

Mā pango, mā whero, ka oti te mahi - with black and red, the work will be done

p.s. Look out for the next Cultural Narrative Update outlining our ingoa Māori Te Tai Whanake and the next steps for us with our tohu - our school logo update

The Porritt School Kāhui Whakataki members as pictured on the day we gave life to our narrative in the kura;

James Lyver, Kane Nepe Apatu, Tipene Cottrell, Pōhatu Paku, Maaka Papuni, Puhiwahine Nepe Apatu, Julie Ferguson, Morehu Te Tomo (and Teilah Ferguson not pictured).

Today we celebrated our Porritt School athletes following our school athletics day. These tamariki came 1st, second or third overall in their age groups. They are off to interschool athletics next week - good luck. Ka mau te wehi kids! Awesome athletes!

It has been a busy time over the past couple of months in settling our staffing plans for 2026.

Here are some updates for our community;

Staff Returning

Congratulations to Whaea Clare Peters in being appointed to a fulltime permanent teaching role in our kura. We are looking forward to you continuing to teach in our kura Clare - ka rawe!

We welcome Miss Emma Woods and Whaea Hannah O'Dowd back from maternity leave in part time roles for the 2026 school year. Emma has in fact already returned to kura in a release role in Akau - Team Toru. Whilst some of the details are yet to be confirmed, we are excited to see both Emma and Hannah back!

Miss Gail Shine will continue in the Structured Literacy Intervention Teacher role in 2026. This will be the second year for Gail in this role, taking her out of regular classroom teaching.

Staff Departing

Miss Mikayla Renor, Year 2&3 kaiako in Mātāwai - Team Rua, is returning to Wellington in 2026 with partner Adam signing with Miramar Rangers AFC.

Whaea Jasdeep Kaur, one of our Year 1 kaiako in Kāuru - Team Tahi, will move into a teaching role at Raureka School in Hastings in 2026.

Whaea Jaz Hawthorne-Gray also departs following three terms teaching our senior Moana - Team Whā tamariki.

Whaea Alana Moriarity, kaiako in our reo rua space Kōkiri, has taken up a role at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu. More detail below.

We are very appreciative of the commitment, strength and energy Mikayla, Jasdeep, Jaz and Alana have brought to the learners in their care, and to our team. We are a better school for your work. E mihi ana ki a koutou!

Ben Martin is also away on study leave for 2026. We wish Ben well on his tertiary Te Reo Māori study journey next year!

Staff Arriving

In 2026, we welcome four new kaiako into the kura in various fixed term roles ;

Hannah Clark joins us from Frankton School in the Waikato region as a new qualified fully registered teacher, having completed her two years of provisional registration.

Michelle Tuhura joins us from Frimley Park Kindergarten as an experienced educator, where she served as Kaiako Matua - Head Teacher of the kindergarten.

Nina van Rooyen, joins our team from Patoka School where she has taught since 2024, having started her teaching career in South Africa.

Leah Conrad joins us as a first year teacher in 2026. Leah has just completed her last assignment as a third year candidate teacher, looking forward to graduating from the EIT Bachelor of Teaching programme.

Staffing to Confirm

We are still in the process of confirming our classroom release teaching team for 2026.

We are also on the lookout for one final kaiako/teacher for Kōkiri, our Year 4-6 Reo Rua space. If this rings a bell, see the article below.

We will communicate class groups for next year and teaching teams for 2026 as soon as possible.

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Tai Whanake Porritt School e ngā kaiako mā - welcome to our place, we are excited to welcome you all at the beginning of 2026.

Kōkiri is our awesome Reo Rua akomanga - our bilingual learning space. This year, 28 tamariki (and their whānau) have taken on the mantle of being foundational learners in this space. It has been an incredible year of growth and progress. These ākonga, students, have been well supported by kaiako Whaea Alana Moriarity, Matua Ben Martin and kaiawhina Whaea Bernie Lawrence. This awesome team have been champions for te reo Māori in our kura!

2026 Planning

Recently, we asked for expressions of interest from whānau across our kura for bilingual education in 2026. We received 40 expressions of interest for a place in this space. How cool!

We will be working through these expressions of interests in the next fortnight to confirm spaces with whānau for 2026.

2026 Staffing - We're on the hunt for an awesome kaiako!

Our Kōkiri tamariki have had kōrero with Matua Ben and Whaea Alana. In 2026, Matua Ben has been granted study leave to head away to study Te Reo Māori at EIT for the school year. Well done Matua! Whaea Alana has secured a teaching role at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu in Waipatu. Whaea Alana's daughter Te Pūaroha attends - it will be special to be together in this kura. Congratulations to you both, and all the best for the mahi to come.

This team of kaiako have very much laid the foundations for a strong and secure future for our Reo Rua moving forward.

We are now on the lookout for a new kaiako to help us lead these awesome kaupapa! If you know of a great kaiako that could help our kura embed this special learning space in our school - tell them to email Tumuaki Maaka on principal@porritt.school.nz or hit the link below to head to our advertisement.

Spread the word e te whānau! Applications close Monday 24 November!

Our Kōkiri whānau during our Karakia Whakatō Mauri Ceremony recently

Earlier this term, we welcomed Whaea Keelia to our staff as Learning Support in Mātāwai - Team Rua.

Whaea Keelia has made an instant impact working alongside the crew in this area of the kura and assisting our tamariki with her presence.

Nau mai, haere mai Whaea Keelia - thank you for your awesome mahi so far!

Whaea Keelia with some of the Mātāwai boys during our birthday party 😀

Porritt Care tamariki warming the pool up for us this afternoon! Swimming starts for all learners on Monday 17 November. Here is what our tamariki will need;

Here is our first notification to you about a new school uniform coming soon.

Our school uniform will change. While our traditional black and yellow colours will be maintained, there will be differences. A new polo shirt and fleece jersey is on the way in Term 1 2026. We will maintain the versatile black shorts, pants, leggings, and skorts below...as long as they are black.

There is a two year grace period here for transition to the new uniform. Don't worry if you have recently purchased new uniform. Your child can wear this until the end of the 2027 school year 👍

We will also be offering this original uniform at a reduced rate, so there is the chance to purchase and wear the current uniform for the next two years at discounted rates.

Our Porritt School uniforms have been supplied by The Warehouse Group since they were first introduced in 2015.

Recently, we have signed a new agreement with NZ Uniforms. This agreement will see awesome annual returns to the school for new sports uniform stock year on year. This also keeps us connected with our friends at Tamatea Intermediate and Tamatea High School in uniform suppliers.

Our current uniform will continue to be sold at The Warehouse in Napier until the end of November.

From there, it will be sold from NZ Uniforms in Hastings, or most conveniently, via the online store, where it can either be delivered directly to your house, or to our school once a week.

More information to follow soon, including information about a revised school tohu - our logo update.

We have been lucky to welcome the Life Education Trust and Harold the Giraffe back to school! Our tamariki have been learning about themes like Empathy, Friendship, Relationships, Leadership, Kindness.

Our tamariki have enjoyed visiting the mobile classroom here at our school for their learning sessions. They have loved meeting Harold!

Please see an advertisement below for Harold merchandise and ordering details!

Our Year 6 tamariki are on the doorstep of this awesome rite of passage for kiwi kids - the school bush camp! It is our first time back to Kaitawa in three years, following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Our kaiako have been busy preparing our tuakana (oldest students) for this traditional Kiwi camp.

Our tamariki will be tramping, kayaking etc in this beautiful location on the edge of Lake Waikaremoana.

Have fun big kids! Many thanks in advance to our camp parents and awesome kaiako for your commitment to this kaupapa, this golden opportunity for our tuakana.

Porritt tamariki, kaiako and whānau at Camp Kaitawa in 2019!

Friday 30 January - Last day of Porritt Care Summer Holiday Programme

Monday 2 February - Kaiako Connect Hui: 1:1 Teacher/Whānau Meetings (Porritt Care closed)

Tuesday 3 February - Term 1 begins: All tamariki return - Term 1 Pōwhiri

Friday 6th February - Waitangi Day: School Closed

Thursday 2 April - Term 1 Ends

Term 2 2026:

Monday 20 April - First day of Term 2

Friday 3 July - Term 2 ends

Term 3 2026:

Monday 20 July - First day of Term 3

Friday 25 September - Term 3 ends

Term 4 2026:

Monday 12 October - First day of Term 4

Tuesday 15 December - School year ends at 1.00pm

This is Chrissie du Plessis. Chrissie is the master daily joke teller. He delights in telling jokes. Here's his latest quip;

Chrissie: Mr Papuni, why are pirates called pirates?

Mr Papuni: Is this a club rugby joke Chrissie?

Chrissie: No it's not, why are pirates called pirates?

Mr Papuni: 🤔

Chrissie: I don't know, they just arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! 🦜🏴

Legend.