Kia ora whānau

What an exciting start to Term 3 we have had. Our long awaited sandpit play area is completed. The vision was to create a space where our tamariki could engage in different types of play as well as another additional space to work during class time. Check out the News and Events section for pics of our tamariki enjoying the new space. We are really happy with the result!

A huge thank you to Leon Macefield who designed the sandpit and the crew from Landscape Developments who brought the design to life. We wouldn't have been able to add the additional seating and planter boxes without the amazing fundraising efforts from Arataki Friends of the School and Room 18. A team of many working together for our kura - love it!

And of course we have started our classroom refurbishments, Stage 1 has begun. This is Rooms 5, 6, 7 and 8 this also includes Shelley Craig's and the Sports Coordinators offices. If you are looking for where everyone is now located you will find Rooms 6, 7 and 8 in the hall. Room 5 in Room 17 and if you are after Shelley Craig or Kendall pop into the office and we'll point you in the right direction. We have been waiting for this work to start since 2020 and of course with all the disruptions things have been put on hold. Unfortunately due to increasing costs over this time we will not be able to complete the full scope of what we had planned BUT we are grateful this work has started and happy with what we can achieve. I'd like to thank all our amazing staff and tamariki impacted by the move. Last week was a very busy and disrupted week and they were so flexible, kind and positive - we have a great school!

I would like to personally thank everyone who contributed to Your Dreams for Arataki, there is a more in depth response below, but I just want to acknowledge those of you who gave us feedback and suggestions, this is essential for our continued growth. Knowing what is important to you is a koha!

Stay safe and well whanau.

Ngā Mihi

Shelley Blakey

Your Dreams for Arataki

Ngā mihi nui to those who shared their whakaaro/ideas and moemoea/dreams with us. The Board enjoyed reading through these ideas from whanau and students. There are great ideas to action, goals to work toward, puzzles to solve and things that are already in the works.

The Board and school will use all of these to create a strategic plan to build a school that we all can be proud of. For this to happen we will ask for your input at certain times, however if you have ideas to share please email office@arataki.school.nz

Already in the works are:

Coding opportunities
Garden and tree planting
Development of our entry way
Teaching financial literacy
Library has re-opened and is building it's stocks
Celebrating and sharing the mahi of our tamariki
Playground development
Open plan collaborative learning spaces

As we continue to work through yours, the staffs, students and communities ideas to create our plans for the next 3-5 years we will continue to give you updates.

Attendance

The wellbeing of our tamariki at Arataki School is at our heart. Attendance is strongly linked to the sense of wellbeing and belonging of all tamariki. It is also important for their learning and achievement.

Next week emails will be sent home to the whanau of tamaiti that are attending below the expectations set by the Ministry of Education. These are so whanau are aware and can make informed decisions about attendance going forward.

Information regarding attendance policy and procedure at Arataki School has been added to our website. Please click this link to check it out.

Attendance Information