A very special welcome to our new student Naytik Sharma in Room 4. Welcome to Waitohu School.
MATARIKI HĀNGĪ - THURSDAY 19 JUNE
To celebrate Matariki we will be having a special Matariki Hāngī on Thursday 19 June.
If possible we ask that all students contribute either a potato, kūmara or a piece of pumpkin to go into our hāngī. The vegetables will be prepared on Wednesday 18 June by students. Can you please ask your child(ren) to give their vegetables to their classroom teacher on or before Tuesday 17 June. School will be providing the meat portion.
On Thursday morning our hāngī pit (on the school field) will be lit at 6.30am. All are welcome to come and be part of this experience. All students will be able to see the kai going into the ground at 9.15am. Around 12.00pm students will watch the kai coming out of the hāngī pit. At around 12.30pm all students will get to enjoy feasting on our hāngī.
The aim is for students to contribute to and learn through experience, about the process of preparing for a hāngī, watching how the kai is cooked and then savouring the hāngī kai.
LUCKY BOOKS The Scholastic Lucky Book Club Offer 4 2025, was handed last week. Orders are due by Monday 9 June. The online ordering system now available is explained in the brochure or bring in your order and correct cash to the office.
LOST PROPERTY
We have an abundance of lost property including jackets, sweatshirts and shoes. I encourage you to pop in and check the lost property boxes in the cupboard, in the hall to ensure you get all the items that belong to your whānau. All unclaimed items that remain at the end of the term will be given to charity. Ngā mihi.
WINTER WELLNESS As we enter influenza (flu) season it is time to get prepared as flu can spread quickly in schools and colleges. Here are some snippets of information that have been provided to schools from the Public Health Nurse.
A SPARE CHANGE OF CLOTHES As we are now heading into the winter months, there are times where students may need a change of clothes. Getting caught in the rain or coming down the wet slide may necessitate a change of clothes. Could you please ensure your child has a full change of clothes in their bag (especially our junior students).
Artist at work
EVENTS - UPCOMING
EVENTS – UPCOMING
Assembly - Friday 13 June (2.15pm)
Matariki Hāngī Disco Day - Thursday 19 June
Matariki Public Holiday - Friday 20 June (School will be closed this day)
Inter School Soccer Tournament - Tuesday 24 June (p/p Wednesday 25 June)
Assembly - Friday 27 June (12.10pm)
Final Day, Term 2 – Friday 27 June (2.00pm finish)
Day 1, Term 3 – Monday 14 July
Pōwhiri - Friday 18 July (10.20am)
Board of Trustees Hui – Monday 21 July at 7.15pm
Assembly - Friday 25 July (2.15pm)
Home and School Association Meeting - Tuesday 5 August at 7.15pm
Ōtaki Schools Netball Season begins - Thursday 7 August
Assembly - Friday 8 August (2.15pm)
Teacher Only Day - Friday 15 August (School will be closed this day)
Board of Trustees Hui – Monday 8 September at 7.15pm
Assembly - Friday 19 September (12.15pm)
Final Day, Term 3 – Friday 19 September (2.00pm)
Day 1, Term 4 – Monday 6 October
Pōwhiri - Friday 10 October (10.20am)
TERM DATES FOR 2025
Term 2 Monday 28 April to Friday 27 June
Term 3 Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September
Term 4 Monday 6 October to Friday 12 December
RELATED INFORMATION
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.
COMMUNITY NEWS
FUNZONE JUNE/JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Enrolments for Funzone June/July Holiday Programme are available now - visit www.funzone.co.nz to book. The Junior and Senior programmes run from Monday 30 June through to Friday 11 July 2025 and are based at Waitohu School Hall. There are exciting in-venue games and activities and some adventurous excursions sorted to bust holiday boredom. See the itinerary attached. Call 0800 543 9696 for more information.
NGĀ MANU NATURE RESERVE WINTER SPEAKER SERIES 2025 Koha entry – all welcome! Upcoming Talks in the Series: 18 June – Dr Carlos Lehnebach (Te Papa) Describing New Zealand Orchids and the Research Supporting Their Conservation Carlos is a Botany Curator at Te Papa who specialises in native orchids. He will explore the rich diversity of these plants and the vital research underway to protect them. 2 July – Dr Heidi Meudt (Te Papa) Why New Zealand’s Forget-Me-Nots Are So Special 16 July – Giselle Clarkson Drawing the Natural World Giselle is the beloved illustrator behind NZ Geographic’s nature columns and Critter of the Week. 23 July – Paul Ward & Jeff Hall (Capital Kiwi Project) Bringing Kiwi Home: Community, Conservation, and the Return of Aotearoa’s Icon to Wellington’s BackyardThis series is for anyone passionate about New Zealand’s wild places and wildlife.
Come along, be inspired, and connect with others who care about the natural world.