NEW PUPILS

A very special welcome to our new students Odin Inglis in Room 1 and Luka Valu in Room 2. Welcome to Waitohu School.

Our Home and School Association are organising a gathering for all of our whānau to have a fun and relaxing evening. Come and get your kai (hamburgers, sausages ……) or bring your own, enjoy the activities on offer for our tamariki (jumpy castle, inflatable slide, sumo wrestling, Year 6 led activities) and the ambience of live music with Andrew & Kirstin London.  The only cost is food - the aim is us coming together as Waitohu whānau.

WHĀNAU HELPERS - we still need helpers on the night. Please open the Helpers Needed attachment below to  see where we still need help.

BAKING CAKES & SWEETS - a paper plate will be sent home on Thursday 13 March for return to school loaded with goodies on Friday 21st March (by 11.00am).

The cake box decorating competition will be running again – we are looking forward to the awesome ‘Native to Aotearoa’’ designs! Cake boxes will be given out to students who would like one next week. Decorated cake boxes (with cakes in them!) need to be at school on Friday 21st March by 11.00am for judging. Please make sure name and age are clearly visible on the top of the cake box,  thanks.

WAITOHU CAFE
It would be much appreciated if your whānau could provide some items from the list below to help reduce the costs for our Waitohu Café at our whānaungatanga evening.  Can items please be delivered to the school office by Monday 17th March, ngā mihi. Please open the Ingredients Needed attachment below to  see what we still need.

 

WAIKANAE POOL PICNIC
The sun came out for an stunning day at our annual whānau picnic at the Waikanae Pool yesterday. Ngā mihi nui to whānau members who were able to make time to join us. A magic day.

 

PADDER TENNIS TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to Scarlett Beauchamp, Hunter Lethbridge Picken, Darcy Lethbridge Picken, Sidney Growcott and Jacob Easton who represented us at the Ōtaki-Kāpiti Padder Tennis Tournament on Monday and won! Ka mau te wehi!  Ngā mihi nui to Mike Lethbridge and Ashleigh McBeth for looking after the team for the day.
 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON JUNIOR TOUCH RUGBY COMPETITION
A Junior Touch Module on Thursday afternoons at Ōtaki Domain will start on Thursday 13 March and finish on Thursday 10 April (5 weeks). Interested students received a separate notice this week.  We would love to enter teams - if you are going to be at Ōtaki Domain watching please seriously consider taking a team. We only require parents to commit to 30 mins each week from 3.30pm - 4.00pm for 5 weeks. Please contact Sheralee in the office if you would like further information. You do not need to coach or be an expert - simply an adult prepared to give it a go.

DUATHLONS - SENIOR & JUNIOR - FRIDAY 14 MARCH
9.30am ish
10 year olds (Girls and boys will race separately)
- Run 5 laps
- Swim 6 laps of pool (children must swim – walking not permitted)

10.05am ish
8 & 9 year olds  (Run as separate boys & girls races in each age group) 
- Run 3 laps
- Swim 3 laps of pool (children must swim – walking not permitted)

10.45am Kai Time

11.30am ish
5 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 1 lap of the field                                          
- Walk 1 lap of the pool

6 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 1 lap of the field                                          
-     Walk 2 laps of the the pool 

7 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 2 laps of the field                                          
- Walk 3 laps of the pool 

 

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 021 711 531.  
We are OSCAR approved and WINZ subsidies apply.

AFTER SCHOOL MUSIC LESSONS 
The Ōtaki Music Centre are taking registrations for after school music lessons. This is an opportunity for childrem to learn an instrument, Keyboard, Guitar and Drum lessons are available.  Classes are on Tuesdays from 3.30pm-5.30pm at Ōtaki College in the Performing Arts Department. Lessons start on Tuesday 25 February. The cost is $60.00 per class per student for the year. This is available for any primary school students from age 7 up to and including Year 8s (limited spaces available and older children have priority). Please contact Anje Glindemann on 021 212 5440 or email gregandanje@xtra.co.nz for further information or to enrol your child.

NEW PROGRAMME AT ŌTAKI POOL - KAUORA
He kaupapa hou e haere ake nei!

He kaupapa wai a Kauora, he kaupapa haumaru mō te whānau. Ka whakaako ēnei kaupapa ki roto i ngā kura Māori, Kōhanga reo, me te hāpori Ōtaki ki te puna kaukau o Ōtaki me Ōtaki awa. Mā ngā kaimahi tēnei kaupapa e ārahi kei raro i te āhuru mōwai o ngā tikanga me ngā kauhautū o Kauora.

The Ōtaki Pool team is excited to introduce a new programme- Kauora.

Kauora is a connection to our tupuna through swimming and engaging in the taiao. It is based on the three key pou of kaukau (swimming as play), kauhoe (swimming as providing) and kautiaki (swimming as protection) and contributes to flourishing whānau hauora. Kauora is delivered in te reo Māori, guided by our mātāpono and iwi.

Classes for school aged kids will be run after school on weekdays. Expressions of interest for this exciting new kaupapa are currently being sought.

Please email otaki.pool@kapiticoast.govt.nz with your child's name and age, and what days of the week work best for you.