FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA - NGĀ MIHI NUI
What a fantastic night we had last Friday! 

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped to support our Fireworks Extravaganza. It really is an event that brings this great community of Ōtaki together. A huge ngā mihi to our Home and School Association, who once again provided the leadership and organisation for this special evening.

 

Ngā mihi also to all the helpers who prior to, on the day and night of our Fireworks Extravaganza lent an important helping hand. By and large these are current and ex Waitohu School families and teachers who work really hard to make the evening a success. What a huge team effort – ngā mihi nui koutou.

Finally I'd like to thank the many Ōtaki businesses and individuals that contributed to making this event possible. 

These businesses and people are named below. I really encourage members of our Waitohu School community to support and use the businesses who support us.

On Tuesday we celebrated our whānau connection to Poland by raising the Polish flag.

Scholastic Lucky Book Club Offer 8 2025 orders are due by Monday 17 November. The online ordering system now available is explained in the brochure, or bring in your order and the correct cash to the office.

On Thursday 27 November we will be holding our annual stock take of the library and reading resources. Please, please, please take 2 minutes to gather up and return any library books, school readers or journals that may be in children’s bedrooms, on bookshelves … please don’t be embarrassed – we’d love all books returned so other students may get to enjoy them. 

Caleb Delaney, current Hurricanes loose forward and lock has very generously gifted Waitohu School with a signed 2024 Hurricanes jersey. We would love this gift to go to a person who loves the Hurricanes, while at the same time being able to support our tamariki at Waitohu. We think a '50 Ticket Raffle' is a win-win way to do this. Tickets are $10 each to support our tamariki and also provide a great chance of winning. Christmas is coming, the time for giving gifts ......... are you someone or do you know someone who would really value having this awesome jersey? Please, through your social media contacts, let others know of this opportunity.
Buy a ticket - it is as simple as emailing office@waitohu.school.nz to let us know you've deposited $$ into our school account for the ticket(s) and we will email you back with your number(s). School Bank Account: 03-1532-0014731-00, Account Name: Waitohu School Board of Trustees Particulars: Your name Code: Raffle. You can of course also just come into the school office, we have eftpos available. This '50 Ticket Raffle' closes on Friday 12 December (or earlier if all the tickets are sold) in time for Christmas wrapping and gifting!!

 

    Term 1      Wednesday 4 February - Thursday 2 April
    Term 2      Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July
    Term 3      Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September
    Term 4      Monday 12 October - Friday 11 December

ABSENCES
Before 9.00am, please phone 364 8272, text 027 545 0530 or email absences@waitohu.school.nz to inform us that us that your child is away and the reason for their absence.

FUNZONE ONSITE BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE (UNTIL 7.00PM)

Our fun, safe and friendly ‘on-site’ Before and After School Care Programme has casual and permanent spots available for Waitohu School students for 2025 and beyond!  Enrol, book and manage your bookings ONLINE! And ….. our breakfast club is free of charge! Come and visit our team after school at the Waitohu School Hall from 3.00pm for more information or find us online at  www.funzone.co.nz, email info@funzone.co.nz or contact us on 0800 FUNZONE (0800 386 9663) or 04 298 4287.
We are OSCAR approved and WINZ subsidies apply.

For those wishing to enrol children at Ōtaki College in 2026, there is an online enrolment form available on the College website, or you can go directly to https://otakicollege.school.kiwi/ to start the enrolment process. If you prefer to fill in a hard copy form, this is not a problem. Forms can be downloaded in pdf form from the College website, or collected from Waitohu School or Ōtaki College offices.

TENNIS COACHING FOR BEGINNER CHILDREN IN TERM 4
Fun, active and very supportive lessons.
$55 for a 7 week course at Ōtaki Sports Club. For ages 6-12.
All equipment provided. Tennis NZ accredited coach.
Mondays 3.30pm for ages 6-7 and Tuesdays 3.15pm for 8 years upwards.
Places are limited. To book in, contact Adam on 027 286 9820 or tennis@otakisportsclub.co.nz or
https://www.facebook.com/otakisports/posts/1249387563656214

Ōtaki Kids Christmas Market – Sunday 7 December, 10am–2pm
The next generation of local entrepreneurs will take centre stage at the Ōtaki Kids Christmas Market. Shoppers can discover a range of handmade gifts, delicious treats, and creative crafts, all made and sold by talented young stallholders. Adding to the fun, families can join in the Elf on the Shelf Competition!

Ōtaki Christmas Market – Sunday 21 December, 10am–2pm

Just in time for those last-minute gifts, the Ōtaki Market will be brimming with festive stalls, local art, food, and crafts. Shoppers can enjoy a cheerful community atmosphere, and, best of all, a free photo with Santa, including Santa's Sleigh.