Week 5 Term 3, 2026

Wairakei Primary School – Cross Country 2026

The cross-country has been held. Finally, we got to have the event in much better weather. The teachers have reported there was a lot of resilience shown on the day, especially with the junior students, and the team for the interschool has been chosen.

As a school, we are extremely lucky to have access to a genuine cross-country course filled with the nostalgic elements of puddles and cow pats. The course is designed to challenge.

The training that was put in earlier in the term, running around the school field, leads to the outcome on the day.

Aotearoa Cultural and Volunteer Exchange (ACVE)

Sometimes things happen for a reason. Hosting the Aotearoa Cultural and Volunteer group was a huge success and a perfect way to highlight the leadership capabilities of the Year 6 students. This group offered a visit with an art lesson attached. Who turns up their nose at a free lesson?

The leaders hosted a mihi whakatau and then did tours around the school. After morning tea, these teachers from America visited classrooms and took a range of art lessons based on the age of the students.

Their feedback was:

Engaged and positive students in the classes
The student leaders knew a lot about the school and spoke about it positively
Open, friendly responses from staff and students
Mrs Farquhar makes the best milos (That was my challenge to find out from the students if I still held the crown of best milo maker)

Pet Day Raffles

Kids Can No Uniform Day

Friday, September 25, 2026

Wear no uniform — bring an item to school

Every koha collected goes straight into the Pet Day raffles.

As part of the preparation for Pet Day, Kids Can No Uniform Day is being held to collect the items needed for Pet Day raffles. Tamariki come to school out of uniform and bring one item for their class contribution.

This year, each class has its own theme, so the finished raffles offer a variety of prizes to win. The suggested items below are based on what previous raffle winners have enjoyed most — they are ideas, not a shopping list, so anything that fits the theme is welcome.

Kiwi Family Favourites Raffle

Class themes and donation ideas

Room 1

Movie Night

Popcorn, chocolate, chips, lollies, soft drink

Room 2

Taco Tuesday

Taco kits, salsa, seasoning, corn chips, rice

Room 3

Sunday Breakie

Pancake mix, syrup, jam, honey, cereal, Milo

Room 4

Lunch Legends

Muesli bars, popcorn, crackers, fruit snacks, chips

Room 5

Baking Together

Cake mix, icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips, flour, sugar

Room 7

BBQ Time

BBQ sauce, relishes, seasonings, chips, drinks

Room 8

Coffee Catch-Up

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits

Room 9

Winter Warmers

Soup, crackers, hot chocolate, marshmallows

Room 10

Pantry Refill

Rice, pasta, canned goods, flour, sugar

Room 11

Spring Clean

Dishwashing liquid, sprays, sponges, cloths

Room 13

Pamper Night

Soap, face masks, body wash, hand cream, eye masks

Room 14

Treat Yourself

Speciality crackers, nuts, premium snacks, candles, socks

Room 15

Kiwi Picnic

Crackers, dips, chips, sparkling drinks

Room 16

Games Night

Cards, Uno, puzzles, popcorn, chocolates

Items can be handed in to the class teacher on the day. Please check the theme for your child's room before shopping so each basket stays balanced.

Ngā mihi nui for supporting Pet Day.

Ballot

The ballot numbers have been set for 2027. If you know of parents or whānau looking to enrol through the ballot, please get them to contact the office for an appointment with myself or Hannah.

Sickness

There has been a huge amount of sickness around the school. Lots of influenza and cold viruses. We understand how hard this is on families as they navigate these illnesses. It is really important that you notify the school when your child is away. This helps to cut down the amount of admin at the school end and keeps the records accurate.

Basic Facts Athon – Building Confident Mathematicians

The Basic Facts Athon, being held for the rest of term three, is to help strengthen students' mathematical knowledge while raising funds for engaging maths resources for classrooms.

From Wednesday, August 19, 2026 students will receive year-level Basic Facts Athon practice material to use at school and at home. The practice sheets are not the actual Athon tests. They are similar in design and questions, so students know exactly what they need to practice.

Whānau are encouraged to support their children with short, regular practice sessions. Remember, accuracy comes first, followed by increasing speed and fluency as confidence grows.

The Basic Facts Athon testing will take place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 (Week 10 of Term 3). If you can help with marking on the day, please contact Sara Spargue