Week 9 Term 3, 2025

This is the second-to-last newsletter before the school has Pet Day. Organisation is well underway with the Pet Day Booklet going home, signage already in place and posters in classroom windows. It is important that families register their pets so the final part of the organisation can occur. The link to the registration form can be found on the website, or use the QR Code on the posters.

Brilliant Bean Growing

Bean Update

Room 2 is thrilled to have welcomed triplet beans into the class family. Students are trying many strategies to promote growth, including singing to the beans, talking to them, playing them music and carrying them around. The beans join us as we do maths. They stay inside for fitness.

Taiopenga

All students participating in Taiopenga this year are ready to go. The uniforms are fitted, and the final practices are occurring this week. Approximately 180 students are performing on stage on Wednesday and Thursday.

2025 Taiopenga Live Stream here

Ballot information

There are student places available across the school for next year.  If you know of families interested in attending Wairakei Primary School from the start of 2026, please encourage them to call the office and make an appointment to come and talk to me. This also applies to new entrant students starting school in 2026. It helps with school organisation to have them on a list.

Book Fair

From Tuesday, September 16, 2025, until Friday, September 19, 2025, the Scholastic Book Fair will take place in the Wairakei Primary School Hall. Books will be available to buy from 8:15-9 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and 3-3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Offers of help from parents or whānau members who may like to sell books and run the EFTPOS machine at these times would be greatly appreciated. If there is anyone who would like to assist with the set-up or pack-down of the book fair during the day on Tuesday or Friday, please let me know.

Please contact Olivia Graham if you would like to help or have any questions.

Student conduct

Name Calling and Slander

The teachers and I are hearing about, and seeing the effects of, an increase in name-calling, slander and the use of swearing at other students. These are high-end swear words being used. Body shaming is also occurring between the older students. Very disappointing to hear these slurs being used in the playground.

Steaming Into School – Term 4, 2025

Steaming Into School will be running in Term 4, 2025, for students preparing to start at Wairakei Primary in 2026. Dates for Steaming will be:

Monday, October 13, 2025

Monday, October 20, 2025

Monday, November 3, 2025

Monday, November 10, 2025

Times for the session are 1.45-2.45 p.m.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Rachael Barr.   

End of year assembly

There will be one major assembly for the whole school on Monday, December 15, starting at 10 a.m. in the Taupo Nui a Tia school hall.  Students will come to school as normal and be bused to the venue. All parents are invited to attend. At the end of the assembly, students will be bused back to school or go home with their families. 

Each class will receive their POWER awards at this assembly, as well as the sports awards, ending with the Year 6 trophies. There is enough seating for everyone.

I would like the junior classes to see the Year 6 students receive the trophies and to be a part of the whole school celebration of 2025.

General and Events

Teacher only day

There is a teacher-only day planned for the school on Friday, October 24, 2025. School is closed for instruction on that day.

Lost property

Jeni, the school caretaker, has been sorting out the lost property cupboard. She is truly amazed at the number of jerseys and hoodies that are hiding in there. Please come and check the cupboard and take the clothing home. There is such a lot of money sitting there in this cupboard.

Extra School Performances of Kapa haka

School performances of all three Taiopenga groups will take place on Wednesday, September 17 at 12:15p.m. in the school hall, starting with Teina and finishing with Tuakana. Each group is likely to perform for 20 minutes.

Disco

Many thanks to the PTA for running the school disco last week. It was a great night with the two sessions operating. DJ Mrs Bone led the night from the stage, and the staff and PTA sorted out the sausages and glow stick sales. Thank you to all the parents from the PTA and the others who helped out on the night. I also thank the staff who gave up their night to join in. 

Cross Country Interschool results

I am not sure if you have heard yet or seen it on the school blog. Wairakei Primary School took home the interschool cross-country trophy for the third year in a row. Fantastic effort by the team and their support crew on the day.

Austin has been representing himself and the school on the mountains this year for skiing. He got 3rd for the local schools competing in his age group.

Reminder

Hats to be worn starting Monday, October 6, 2025. Everyone needs to be wearing a navy blue hat with a brim.

Ngā mihi,

Paula

Term Dates for 2026

Term One: February 2 – April 2

Term Two: April 20 – July 3

Term Three: July 20 – September 25

Term Four: October 12 – December 15