Week 8 term 1 2025
Kia ora e te whaanau,
Our school camps are now complete, and what a fantastic experience they have been! Each camp has provided our students with the opportunity to enjoy a true outdoor adventure alongside their classmates – from sleeping in tents and bush walks to kayaking, cooking, and sharing meals together. These rich experiences help build resilience, teamwork, and lasting memories.
A huge thank you to the wonderful parents who gave up their time to support our camps. Without your willingness to step in, help out, and be part of the adventure, these camps simply wouldn’t have been possible.
I’d also like to acknowledge our dedicated teaching staff, who not only planned and delivered an amazing camp experience but also made personal sacrifices to be away from home and their own families. Many of our teachers have young children, and we’re incredibly grateful for the extra effort they put in to ensure our students could enjoy such a meaningful and memorable experience.
We now head into the final two weeks of the term, with Term 1 finishing on Friday 11 April. School will resume for Term 2 on Monday 28 April.
On another note, from time to time, we have students who don’t behave appropriately at school. I want to reassure you that we take all matters we are made aware of seriously. We work hard to understand the full picture by speaking with students, teachers, and others involved to ensure a fair and balanced understanding of what has happened.
Depending on the situation, consequences may include time out during break times for playground issues, after-school detention, or, for more serious incidents, a standdown or suspension. If it is a stand-down, when the student returns, we will meet with the parent/caregivers. If it is a suspension, the student will need to go before our school board of trustees, and the decision will be made as to whether they stay or are excluded from our school. We believe our systems are fair and provide clear expectations and boundaries that support our emerging adolescents in growing and learning.
I believe firmly that our students thrive with clear expectations and boundaries – it helps them feel safe and reduces stress in their day-to-day lives. Please remind your child that if anything is bothering them, they should let a teacher or staff member know. We’re here to help and support them to sort things out.
Looking ahead, the Zespri AIMS Games will be held from August 30 – September 5, 2025. This is an elite sporting event for intermediate and middle school students across New Zealand. A full list of the sports on offer and the philosophy behind the games can be found on the official website: www.nzaimsgames.co.nz.
If your child participates in an individual sport and you believe they are competing at a high enough level to represent our school, please get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you. The school pays the entry fee for students/teams competing at AIMS, but all other costs including accommodation, travel, and food are the responsibility of parents/caregivers.
Ngaa mihi nui,
Susan Wood - Principal
Rimu Camp 2025
Bicycle Safety
🚴♂️ Bike & Scooter Safety Reminder 🚴♀️
We’ve noticed some concerning behaviour from a number of students riding bikes and scooters to and from school. It's vital that all students are riding safely and responsibly on our roads.
Key reminders for all riders:
Helmets must be worn at all times – this is a legal requirement in New Zealand.
Ride on the correct side of the road – students must not ride into oncoming traffic.
Even in bicycle lanes, students need to ensure they are on the correct side and following the flow of traffic.
Riders need to remember they are not the only ones on the road – awareness of vehicles, pedestrians, and other cyclists is crucial.
We ask all parents to please speak with your child about safe riding habits and check that they are consistently wearing their helmets.
Together, we can help keep all our students safe on their journey to and from school.
Thank you for your support.
Congratulations to our Koru Badge Recipients
Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Star |
Taimana | Jayden F | Simon W | Monique O-B | Sidney A |
Harris S | James S | Levi C | Oliver F | Kenzie A |
Rayford R | Jo Jo T | Darcy C | Skyla S | Layne G |
Tommy S | Kingston H | Bella McM | Ella W | |
Nikita G | Sophie B | |||
Lily H | Indie H |
Attendance at school
Make sure your child attends school every day
Going to school every day is really important for children to achieve and succeed. As parents and carers, it's up to you to make sure your child attends school every day from the time they start school until they are 16.
Does my child have to go to school every day?
Yes, your child must go to school every day. Under the Education Act 1989, parents and carers of school children up to 16 years old can be prosecuted if their child is away from school without a good reason.
Why do they need to go every day?
Going to school every day is the key to getting the best out of school because:
- It sets up good habits for going to school right from day one
- learning to read, write and do maths takes a lot of practice and is easier to master if your child goes to school regularly
- each day is a chance to learn something new
- school offers your child regular, dedicated help to master the many skills they need
- It teaches your child life skills like commitment, reliability, a good work ethic, and sticking with things when they get hard.
Children who attend school every day are more likely to have friends, achieve success, develop good social behaviours and learning skills, and be ready for secondary school.
Ma te rongo ka mōhio, ma te mōhio ka marama, ma te marama ka matau, ma te matau ka ora.
Through listening comes awareness, through awareness comes understanding, through understanding comes knowledge, and through knowledge comes life and well-being.
Our Students Continue to Shine!
It’s been a big week at school—with a few surprises thrown in—and our students have been outstanding.
Earlier in the week, we had an unexpected visitor—a cow on the loose along Churchill Avenue! Our team moved quickly to keep everyone safe, herding students into fenced areas of the school. They responded calmly and cooperatively, showing great awareness and trust in the process.
Later that same day, builders on site triggered a fire alarm. Once again, our students followed our evacuation procedures smoothly and calmly, assembling on the front turf exactly as they should.
In addition to all that, we also had the Public Health Nurses on site for student immunisations. The lead nurse made a point of telling us how incredibly well-mannered and well-behaved our students were, saying we were the best school she had been to.
We are so proud of our students and the way they consistently reflect the positive culture we value at our school. A huge thank you to our staff for their leadership and support, and to you as whaanau—your children are a credit to you.
Term dates for 2025
End of term 1 - Friday 11 April 3 pm
Term 2 - 28 April - 27 June 3 pm
Term 3 - 14 July - 19 September 3pm
Term 4 - 6 October - 17 December 12 noon
Change of details
Often, we have to contact you via phone. Your child may be unwell or injured, or their behaviour may need a discussion. We need your up-to-date contact details to ensure we reach you if needed. It is pretty stressful when we can not get hold of anyone to come and pick up a child when they are unwell.
It would greatly assist us if you could please advise the office if you have any changes in address, phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contact details. In the event of an emergency, sickness or injury, we need to be able to contact someone who can collect your child. Please email the office at office@maeroa.school.nz