It is hard to believe the end of the year is almost here. Right throughout the year, there have been so many highlights and neat moments shared by the students, staff, parents and friends of Waitohu School. Our very genuine ngā mihi to all who make our school the very special place it is.

Special thanks to our graduating Year 6 students. You have contributed greatly to our place during your years at Waitohu School. We wish you all that is good, as you make the exciting step to college. We look forward to hearing of your successes over the years ahead. Be strong, and take pride in who you are and where you come from. We will miss you.

Ngā mihi also to the parents who have their ‘youngest’ child graduating from Waitohu School. Many of you have been greatly involved and active in helping provide rich opportunities for ‘our’ children. Your support has been greatly appreciated. 

This Monday 8 December we are having a Disco Day. We want as many students who would like to join in the fun of dancing, to be able to. Our senior syndicate students (Rooms 3, 4, 5, 6 & 12) will have their Disco between 11.30am and 12.40pm. Our junior syndicate students (Rooms 1, 2, 8, 10 & 11) will be able to enjoy this fun between 1.40pm and 2.40pm. 

As always, the hall blinds will be closed, the disco ball will be up and dancing games organised. Each student will be ‘gifted’ a small bag of treats to enjoy. Coming dressed up or in bare feet, are both perfect!

In keeping with the ‘spirit’ of Christmas we will be collecting a can/packet of food (if you are able to donate) which will be given to our local Ōtaki food bank. Parents who would like a smile are most welcome to join us for the fun.

At 2.00pm our annual water fight will be held for any Year 5 & 6 students who wish to partake! Togs and a towel are required to be able to join the fun!! 

This year Vicki Cracknell, Niki Hurliman, Emma Cracknell, Ben Tennant and Sam Bell have kindly provided supervision of our Te Manuao Road pedestrian crossing between 8.35am – 9.00am. This is a really important safety role within our school. Ngā mihi nui Vicki, Niki, Emma, Ben and Sam for providing a service to our students that so directly impacts upon their safety. On behalf of all the parents whose children use the crossing each morning, a huge and very genuine thank you. Thank you also to our patrol students who have been so faithful, through all types of weather, to provide a safe crossing for their peers. You are STARS.

In the past, Year 6 students leaving Waitohu School have donated books, or money to purchase books, to the school library. Over the years we have greatly appreciated this generous contribution to our library. Students wishing to do this can drop them into the office before Monday 8 December. 

Ngā mihi nui to Heniti Buick, Maree Dunstan, Dylan Cook and their awesome team at Te Puna Oranga o Ōtaki for every day of this school year providing, wonderful, nutritious and much appreciated lunches for our tamariki. Special thanks for your flexibility and aroha throughout the year - it is seen, felt and valued.  

Tomorrow, Friday 5 December, students will receive their school reports. Included with your child's report will be your child’s teacher and room number for 2026, next year’s stationery requirements, swimming opportunities and instructions on how to book your parent teacher interviews for Tuesday 3 February 2026.

 

Class lists will be displayed on the office window tomorrow Friday 5 December (after 3.00pm). I thank you in advance for affirming with your child the marvellous year they are going to have with their next year’s teacher and classmates. Your positive attitude goes a long way toward assisting your child to look forward to, and make the best of the opportunities that await them. 

Please return all sports uniforms to the office (they don’t need to be washed).

If your child has been given a change of clothes from the school (labelled Waitohu), could you please return them to the office tomorrow, as we are running very low of spare clothing for children who need it. Thanks.

Lost property and scooters will be displayed in the hall on Tuesday 9 December. Any left over items will then be in the lost property cupboard at the back of the hall until the end of term, for you to check . All items left over will be given to charity at the end of the year.

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 next Wednesday 10 December (or earlier if all the tickets are sold) in time for Christmas wrapping and gifting!!

 

Interviews
Tuesday 3 February and Wednesday 4 February - Student-Parent-Teacher Interviews

(Instructions for online bookings will be provided with your child’s end of year report)

Classes begin Wednesday 4 February

    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

The Waitohu School office will be open on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 February 2026 for stationery sales between 9.00am-3.00pm. Eftpos will be available. 

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 DEC 2025 - FEB 2026 SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

Enrolments are open for a fun packed Funzone School Holiday Programme running from Wednesday 17 December - 3 February 2026 (closed for public holidays). They have a variety of on site and trip activities planned. Childcare subsidies and various discounts are available. Contact Funzone on 0800 543 9696, email info@funzone.co.nz for more information. Please see the attached poster for programme details.
OSCAR approved and WINZ subsidies apply.

ŌTAKI COLLEGE ENROLMENTS FOR 2026

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.

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. 

Join the Kāpiti Bike Bus in the Christmas on the Coast Parade

If you cycle or want to cycle to school please join the Kāpiti Bike Bus ‘ride-along’ at the Christmas Parade on Saturday 13th December.  It’s a great chance to be a part of the Festival, and for parents to meet up with the Bike Bus team and learn how easy it is to set up your own cycle-to-school Bike Bus. To register please click on this link. 

 There will be some special Christmas treats for all, and it will be a great way of sharing with the Kāpiti community that cycling is a great way of starting every school day. 

The Star of Christmas
This Christmas morning on Newstalk ZB – it’s The Star of Christmas singing competition on The Crazy Kiwi Christmas Kids Show! The grand prize? A Prezzy Card!  If you can sing and are under 13, email a recording of yourself singing a Christmas carol to christmas@newstalkzb.co.nz before the 16th December.
If you're selected as one of the three grand-finalists, you'll join live on Christmas morning for a Christmas carol sing-off. One singer will ultimately be crowned our Star of Christmas. 
*Please note, this year, the competition is open to individual singers only. To qualify, entrants must be under the age of 13 and be available to join us live on air (via phone) on Christmas morning. 
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact producer Sam via email (christmas@newstalkzb.co.nz) or call Sam directly on 020 4000 6246.