Week 9 Term 1, 2026

Celebration of Learning

It is all go here at school as we head toward the Celebration of Learning being held on Wednesday. There has been plenty of planning by the teachers and the students in readiness for the event. Be prepared to be challenged and to try a new way of playing an old game. Minute to Win is the theme. It's all about setting a goal, practicing and mastering a skill.

This event leads on nicely from the Whanau Teacher discussions being held today.  There is a change of start time for the discussion, and everything else remains the same. If you are able to pick up your child, then that is most helpful to the staff monitoring the afternoon.  However, there is support provided for all children who are not picked up. The school buses will be operating as normal.

Staff Changes

Emily Penhearow (Room 2 Classroom Teacher) and Tracey Venter (Deputy Principal) are leaving at the end of the term for personal reasons. Teri Molesworth will be taking over Room 2 as the classroom teacher.

Abbey Mansfield is heading off to another local school as a teacher aide.

We wish all the staff the very best in their new roles.

Vacancy - Teacher Aide Position

With Abbey leaving, the school is on the hunt for a teacher aide to work for 14 hours per week. To apply for this role, please contact the office to obtain an application form and a police vetting form. No Teacher Aide can start working at the school until the police vet has been completed and cleared. If you are thinking that teacher aiding might be something for you to consider, it is best to get onto the police vet straight away.

Lego Club

Angel Chauval is running a Lego club during morning tea and lunch breaks. The popularity of this club means more Lego is required. If you have Lego that is not being used or know of anyone with a collection they may wish to donate to the school, we would gladly receive it. Please contact Angel to discuss any donations of Lego. 

Winter sports - We Need Your Registrations to Play for the School

Bank details:

Wairakei School BOT

03 0418 0145370 00

Reference: Surname (sport) eg: Smith Hockey

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Hockey    

Hockey fees must be paid by Thursday, April 2, 2026 (please no time extensions) for your child to play. Students enrolled between Year 2 - 6 are eligible to register for a Hockey team. Register your child for hockey by completing the registration at this link:

Hockey Registration Form

Cost:
Mini Hockey (Years 2, 3, 4): $75
Maxi Hockey (Years 5 & 6): $95

Netball    

Students enrolled between Years 3 - 6 are eligible to register for a netball team. Netball fees must be paid by Thursday, April 30, 2026, for your child to play. Register your child for netball by completing the registration at 

Netball Registration Form

Make sure you complete the ‘Wairakei Primary School Information Required’ section by clicking on the arrow to enter details.

Cost: 

Year 5 & 6 - $75.00

Year 3 & 4 - $70.00

Basketball
To register your child to play for a Wairakei team in the Lake Taupō Basketball Year 3-6 competition, register at:

Basketball Registration Form

Registrations close Thursday, April 2, 2026

2026 Fixed Calendar

As promised, here is the fixed-term calendar for 2026. The date for the event is provided, and the follow-up details will be added to the school website calendar. These are the fixed events. This does not include any variable events.

Domnload PDF

Ngā mihi nui

Paula

Taupo Returned Services Association

As part of the Poppy Appeal this April, we are hosting a primary school colouring-in competition, and we would love for you to be part of it!

Details: 

There are different colouring-in pictures to choose from and each child may enter as many times as they wish. In addition to providing the colouring-in images, we will also provide you with one Poppy for each child. The colouring in pictures are available from the school office from March 31, 2026. A good holiday project.

The entry fee for each colouring in picture is by way of a gold coin donation with all money raised going to the Taupo RSA poppy fund. 

There are two age categories (5 – 7 years and 8 – 10 years) with the top three from each category receiving a prize. There is also a $500.00 sports voucher that we will present to the school who submits the most competition entries (relative to their school role size). 

Entries close at 3.00pm on Wednesday the 22nd of April with the winner being announced on Friday the 24th of April, right before Anzac Day. We ask that all entries be handed into the school office no later than 3p.m. on Wednesday 22nd April, 2026.