Tēnā koutou e te whānau

We have had a fantastic end of year, with lots of trips, class and team events. 

We held Te Rā tuku Taonga last Friday, where we celebrated the achievements of our tamariki.  It’s a beautiful way to end our year! Please scroll to the bottom of this pānui for our winners of 2023.

2024 Class Placements

I have had a number of queries this term around children being in mixed year level classes (composite classes).  Arataki School has always had composite classes and our staff are well trained to cater for children in two age bands. The key to understanding composites is realising that growth is determined in stages and not magically by ages. New Zealand teachers are trained to teach according to ability. There is no difference in the range of abilities present in a straight year level class compared to a composite. While straight classes may operate from time to time the discussion is often based on a numbers game caused by uneven patterns of enrollment. Please be assured that our staff spend considerable time discussing individually each child and their classroom placement for the following year. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Ngā Mihi Freeport

A special thankyou to Freeport who have been collecting xmas presents over the last few weeks. This will be much appreciated and loved in their new homes.

Haere rā

It is with sadness we are farewelling a number of staff who are moving onto other positions or their contracts have completed. A big farewell to Janet Fletcher, Janet has been with us for a couple of years as Team Leader of Hopukiore and Rm 21 Teacher. Haere rā ki a Whaea Rāhera.  Rāhera has been a wonderful addition to  Akomanga 13 and Kopukairoa, we wish her well in her travels ahead. We also farewell a number of our Teacher aids Jamie Smith, Leah McIlwraith, Sasha Solomona, Holly A’Court and Bradley Boase. 

School Maintenance

Over the school holidays you will see people in and around our school. The last 3 of our classrooms are having their interiors painted. Fingers crossed our new turf will be laid on our courts and Playtime (After school care) will be setting up Rm 15 for the start of the 2024 school year. 

2024 Teams and Staff 

Principal:Vicki Hiini

DP:Shelley Craig

DP: Sue Taylor (Team Leader Mangatawa)

Hikurangi

Rm 1 Kirsty MacDonald (Team Leader)

Rm 2 Emma Frost

Rm 3 Laura Snow

Rm 4 Tanya Cranswick

Mangatawa

Rm 5 Lee Steer

Rm 6 Sarah Cunningham

Rm 7 Caitlin Mason

Rm 8 Michelle Davies

Kopukairoa

Rm 9 Raelene Kuka

Rm10 Cheryl Toma

Rm 11 Gina Nuku (Team Leader)

Rm 12 Julie Crawshaw

Rm 13 Davidia Porter

Hopukiore

Rm 14 Nadine Mackie

Rm 20 Sheree McNaught (Team Leader)

Rm 21 Katy Hawkes

Mauao

Rm 22 Fran Mortell

Rm 23 Mike Carswell

Rm 24 Sheree Clarke (Team Leader)

Rm 25 Sean Crotty

Montessorri

Rm 17&18 Janine O’Connor and Grace Daniels

A couple of reminders…

Our last day tomorrow finishes at the earlier time of 12:30pm. If it's fine we will be out under the sunshade.

Remember to book your Learning Partnership Hui time. An email will be coming out on the 8th of January.  Learning Partnership Day is Monday, 5 February.

Our first day back at school for instruction is Wednesday 7 February. 

Our Office will be open Wednesday 31 January and Thursday 1 February from 9am to 1pm and again on Monday, 5 February from 8.30am to 3pm.

Our Uniform Shop will be open Thursday 1 February from 9am to 12pm and again on Monday, 5 February from 9am to 12pm.

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Noho ora mai,

Shelley Craig (Acting Principal)
 

P.S. Six slides of photos should follow. If you don't see all four and you see three small dots at the bottom of the email, click on the dots to see all of the slides.

After School Care at Arataki