Tēnā koutou e te whānau

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you to all of our whānau for your support of our teaching and support staff  team on Thursday 23rd October, while they went on strike. Currently, education in Aotearoa New Zealand is going through immense reforms and change. These reforms are being introduced at a rapid pace with minimal consultation with the sector. This includes introducing a new curriculum for English and Mathematics at the beginning of 2025, which has now been changed and refreshed again. The refresh of the 2025 curriculum was released to schools on Monday 20th October, with the mandate that this will be taught at the beginning of 2026.

Teachers are learning and implementing new assessment tools and requirements for reporting to parents. With all this change comes an immense increase in workload. I want to recognise our staff and thank them for the awesome job that they do everyday teaching your tamariki (children). I look around the school at the amazing learning opportunities our teachers provide, the excitement and engagement of our children while they are learning at school. I thank our support staff for the work that you do supporting our teachers and children. I commend our teachers and support staff with their professionalism. They continue to focus on our learners despite the immense change in education and the additional professional development they are doing on top of their classroom teaching programme.

 

REMINDERS:

  • Hats are compulsory for all children when they are outside in Term 1 & 4. If a child does not have an Arataki School hat, they are required to play under the sunshade during break times. Please check that your child has their hat.
  • Lunch boxes - please remember that sugary treat food - chocolate, lollies, lolly pops are not allowed at school. We are also a water only school. 


UPCOMING EVENTS

We have a lot of exciting events happening at kura (school) this term. Our tamariki are busy. Over the next 2 weeks we have the following events:

  • Tuakana (year 4-6) Athletics day on Wednesday 29th October. 
  • Rā Whakangahau - Kapa Haka festival at Mount Maunganui College - Friday 31st October.
  • Pasifika in the Bay - Pasifika performing group - Otumoetai College - Saturday 1st November.
  • Tuakana Camp at Tui Ridge (all students who are in Year 5 & 6)


FEET FIRST WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE

This week’s Wednesday Challenge celebrated our ongoing commitment to getting to school with our “feet first” — by walking, scootering, or biking whenever we can! 100's of stickers and spot prizes were handed out! It’s been fantastic to see so many tamariki embracing active travel and encouraging each other along the way. Thanks to everyone’s effort and enthusiasm, we’ve nearly halved the number of school gate drop-offs this year, with more students choosing to Park & Stride from a short distance away instead. Your support helps make our school environment safer, healthier, and more connected — ka pai to everyone for being part of the journey!

 

Please remember to cross your child at the manned crossings in the morning and afternoons when dropping off and collecting your child from school.

 

Have a fantastic long weekend with your whānau. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kia pai to rā!

Ngā mihi nunui,

Vicki Hiini

Tumuaki / Principal

 

 

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Dates for the Diary

Click here for 2025 - 2026 Term Dates

 

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In this issue:

  • News and Events
  • ATK here Everyday
  • Arataki Friends of the School
  • Community Notices
  • After School Care/Programmes
  • Extra Curriculars at Arataki
  • Sponsors Wall

 

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NEWS AND EVENTS

 

 

 

2026 Enrolment Reminders

Rumaki - Full Immersion Māori

Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau!

He karanga tēnei ki ngā whānau e hiahia pūmau nei, ki ngā whānau e whakaaro tonu ana hoki ki tō mātou Rumaki (Rumaki Katoa) mō te tau 2026 tua atu. 

I te tau 2025 i tūwhera anō te Kura o Arataki he akomanga rumaki reo mō ngā tau 0 ki te 3. E hiahia ana mātou ki te whakawhānui te kaupapa, ki te tautoko ka tika i ngā tamariki e tipu nei. 

He akomanga tēnei mō ngā whānau me ngā tāmariki e matatau ana ki te reo Māori, e ū ana ki te kaupapa o Te Whānau o Kopukairoa, ā, kia tae mai ki ngā hui ā-whānau o ia wāhanga.  

Whakapā mai ki te whakauru, ki te whakawhiti kōrero rānei ki:

  • To mātou tari - office@arataki.school.nz
  • Whaea Becks (tumuaki tuarua), rshepard@arataki.school.nz
  • Whaea Tania, tsolomona@arataki.school.nz

Nā te whānau o Kopukairoa

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We are calling for enrolments and expressions of interest for our Rumaki (Full immersion) class for 2026 and beyond. 

 In 2025 our class has tamariki ranging from Year 0 to Year 3.  We are looking to expand and grow, so we can support all ages and year levels. 

Our rumaki class is set up for whānau and tāmariki who have some proficiency in te Reo Māori and whose whānau is committed to the kaupapa, including attending termly whānau hui.  

If you are interested and would like to enrol or would like more information please contact:

 

New Enrolments

Please remember to enrol your preschoolers as early as you can. Especially those staring in Term 1 next year. This helps us to get prepared for their arrival.

To enrol you can click this link to the online application form or come into the office for an application pack.

For more information on enrolment check out our website www.arataki.school.nz

 

 

Rā Whakangahau and Pasifika

 

Many of our talented tamariki (children) will be hitting the stage with our Kapa Haka and Pasifika groups.

Our Kapa Haka will performing on Friday, 31 October at 12.15pm at Mount College.

Our Pasifika on Saturday, 1 November at 10.45am at Otumoetai College.

If you can, get along and support the hard mahi (work) of these tamariki and kaiako (teachers).  Cheehooo… Hi!

 

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ATK here Everyday

 

ATK. All Day, Every Day! - Attendance Booklet

 

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

 

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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

 

Come to Arataki Park after school today for a Free Trial of the fun active Fun First Football Programme. Limited spaces available left for Term 4! Go to https://funfirstfootball.co.nz/ for more info or to Book in! 

 

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Play Time @ Arataki

 

 

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EXTRA CURRICULARS 

@ ARATAKI

 

Ukulele & Singing Lessons with WHERIKO 

Inspiring creativity, building confidence, and sparking a lifelong love of music in students. 

Based in Tauranga, I offer fun, engaging ukulele and singing lessons that help tamariki grow in confidence, develop musical skills, and express themselves in a positive, creative way. My lessons are tailored to suit all levels. I create a focused and fun environment where each child feels supported and excited to learn.  

Whether your tamaiti has dreams of the stage or just want to try something new, these lessons will:

• Build musical foundations in rhythm, pitch, and performance

• Encourage teamwork and listening skills

• Boost self-esteem and resilience through performance

• Give students opportunities to showcase their talents at school events

You may even spot me gigging around Tauranga.

I'm excited to add another creative outlet for kids at Arataki School. 

Wheriko

 

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SPONSORS WALL

 

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PRE LOVED UNIFORMS

 

Have your tamariki grown out of their uniforms? 

Please consider donating them back to the kura.  These uniform donations are:

  • sold to our whanau for donations of $5. The money raised is used for resources for our classrooms. 
  • used for our tamariki who may need them.

These donations are gratefully received at the school office.

We are especially in need of Polo Shirts please if you have any spare.

 

 

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Please remember to enrol your preschoolers as early as you can. This helps us to get prepared for their arrival.

To enrol you can click this link to the online application form or come into the office for an application pack.

For more information on enrolment check out our website www.arataki.school.nz