Week 3 Term 1, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 school year to the new and returning families and the staff.

Let's start the year with a talk about attendance 

It is the hot topic for 2026. This will be the first of many conversations we will be having across the year.

So, let's start the year strong: Attendance & Punctuality

In basic terms, be on time every day. This sets up your child for a great day at school. The staff and I can help with those start-of-day jitters. I have to tell you it is more for effect than anything else. By the time you have gotten to your car, they are settled and engaged. The school day starts at 9 a.m. on the dot. All classrooms are open from 8.15 a.m. when the first bus arrives. There is no supervision for students who arrive before that time.

Every day at School Matters. The school has a goal for every student to maintain "Regular Attendance" (attending 90% or more of the school year). When students miss school, they miss more than just a lesson - they miss the social connections and the sequential steps of their learning. So, there must be prioritisation on coming to school during the term and saving holidays for the breaks.

If you are planning a family vacation, a letter needs to be written to the class teacher or sent to the office. You can sign a form that states you will be undertaking learning at home and pick up the learning pack from the office. It is still in development, so please don't ask for it on Monday morning. Maybe give us a bit of time to finalise it.  

If I had an opportunity to change anything, it would be that the airlines make flights cheaper during the term break - this would help everyone out.

@school Etap app

Communication about school events is being sent out on the @school Etap app. This app links all parents to the notices that are not contained within the newsletter and are sent to all families who are signed up to the app.

This app replaces the Wairakei Tile from last year.  The Tile will not be used for notices in 2026.

I put out a message to ensure all parents are connected to the @school app on the school Facebook page.  Etap has been contacted about the notifications that are not showing on phones. I do suggest that regular checking of the app is a good way to keep connected until Etap can fix the notifications at their end.

Assembly

Room 11 hosted a great assembly on Friday. All seven parents enjoyed it and got up and danced. There is a desire to have more parents come to assembly every time we host one. How will you learn the ‘Cha Cha Shuffle’ if you don't attend?

Road Crossing - Again

Road patrol is underway. Already, the new trainees have identified that parents do not use the crossing after school. They gave me quite a lecture on what I could do to help, as they didn't think it was a good thing to be happening. They think parents could just help us out by walking down to the crossing. It's a few extra steps. Come on people!

Library update

In Term Two we will be opening the library again for books to go home. Christine has been sorting and mending books and getting everything ready for this to happen. It was a big job to get the library ready and up to date. All the new books have been processed and are on the shelves. Books will need to go home in a book bag and be returned on a regular basis. 

Community Consultation

There is a special community consultation on Wednesday, February 18, 2p.m. with the Education Review Officer in the staffroom. It is a national wide consultation about how schools will report to parents. It is a great time to add your opinion to this so that the powers-that-be will get it right. First time I have seen a consultation this big across the country that is face to face not on a survey monkey.

Camp Week

All classes will be involved in camp experiences starting on Wednesday. There will be rotations for Years 1 to 5 students happening each day. This allows the Year 6 students to head off and enjoy their three day camp. Year 5 students are having a sleep over on Thursday at the school. The weather forecast may mean they are sleeping in classrooms rather than tents. That's okay. It's the experience that counts.

Winter Sports

There will be an online form coming out soon about the school hockey, netball and basketball teams. It will be sent out on the @school app and advertised on Facebook. Managers will be needed to run the teams.

PTA

It is a shame that the corn was unable to be picked. Further updates will come out as we know more about this. I can feel us getting closer to the new playgrounds as we do each fundraiser. The PTA has a tentative date for the installation of the junior playground of June 1, 2026. Exciting!

Ngā mihi nui

Paula

Guitar lessons for Year 4-6 students

The tutor for 2026 will be Jo Paull from Taupo School of Music.

Lessons take place on a Monday morning 9.a.m - 11a.m. Students work in small groups for a half hour lesson.

The cost is $10 per lesson. Parents will be invoiced at the end of each school term. Students will be charged for the lesson even if they are absent.

Students will need their own guitar

If you would like your child to take guitar lessons, ring the school office or email info@wairakeitaupo.school.nz to book a place. The school and Jo need confirmation of all students attending guitar lessons for 2026. 

Lessons will start Monday, February 23, 2026.