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Tēnā koutou e te whānau |
Currently our teachers are writing end of year reports and completing end of year assessments. I have been analysing our student achievement data. Many of our students have made excellent progress this year with their learning. At Arataki School we used Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT’s) to assess children in Year 3-6 in Mathematics and Year 4-6 in Reading Comprehension. PAT’s are a nationally recognised standardised assessment. PAT’s are researched by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research and are regularly refreshed to ensure that they stay up to date with the curriculum. Our end of year reports will be shared with whānau on Friday 12th December on HERO. Your report will tell you your tamariki’s achievement in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. It will show you what your child has been taught this year and what they have achieved in these three areas. Your report will also have a general comment and your tamariki’s attendance data. School Dates for 2026 We have confirmed our school start dates for 2026. Please mark these on your calendar:
We will have 3 Teacher Only Days next year for teachers to complete professional development on the revised curriculum and new assessment tools that will be implemented in 2026. Our Teacher Only Day dates have not yet been set. I will let you know as soon as these are finalised. Staffing Changes At the end of 2025 we will farewell Tanya Cranswick (Room 4) as she has won a teaching position at a school in Melbourne. We will also be farewelling Sarah Cunningham who is having a baby. We wish both Tanya and Sarah all the best. In 2026 we are welcoming William Paki, Georgia Kimpton & Liz Logan. William will be teaching in Kopukairoa and is moving to Arataki School from Mount Maunganui Intermediate. Georgia will be teaching in Room 6 - Mangatawa and is moving to our school from Christchurch. Liz Logan has been appointed as our Special Education Needs Coordinator and is moving to Arataki School from Fairhaven School. Thank you to our whanau for your support as we have navigated the unexpected scenario this week of the coloured sand products. I recognise the inconvenience of having children not in their regular classroom, but I want to ensure that all relevant testing is completed before these spaces reopen. Congratulations to our children who represented Arataki School at the Mount Cluster Atheltic Sports last week, you made us proud. We have 8 students who have made it through to the Western Bay of Plenty Athletics competition next Wednesday 26th November. A lot of information in today's newsletter. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the office. Vicki Hiini Tumuaki / Principal |
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Click here for 2025 - 2026 Term Dates |
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In this issue:
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NEWS AND EVENTS
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Tui Ridge Camp 2025 |
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Hikurangi Syndicate: An Adventure at Marshall's Animal Park!
Our junior syndicate, Hikurangi, had an amazing day out at Marshall's Animal Park recently! The trip was a fantastic opportunity to deepen our learning about animals and, more importantly, to build strong relationships through shared experiences and fun. While we were there the tamariki were on a mission with a scavenger hunt, finding all sorts of animals and getting up close and personal with the park residents. We loved the sensory experiences: holding the soft guinea pigs, feeling the gentle deer velvet, and even spotting the big, slimy eels! For pure joy, nothing bet racing down the flying fox on repeat. There were some sleepy children on the bus ride home that's for sure! A huge mihi to all the parents and whānau who volunteered their time to help with supervision. Your support was invaluable in making the day safe, educational, and an absolute success! |
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Strep/Sore Throats Advice |
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Are your tamariki or rangatahi complaining of sore throats? Get them checked! It could be strep throat. Untreated strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever, a preventable disease that can cause serious illness in children and young people. Visit your Doctor, Nurse or Hauora provider who can do a swab to check for strep throat. Free sore throat checks are also available at participating pharmacies in the Bay of Plenty for people aged 3-19 years old who meet the criteria. To see if you are eligible and for pharmacies where you can get a free test, visit:
You can also call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free health advice. For more on rheumatic fever, visit: |
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THE SPORTS DESK |
Arataki at Athletics Clusters
We had an awesome day out and are thrilled to say we’ll be sending a few speedsters, jumping and throwing superstars to WBOP clusters in a fortnight! Results: Keira Andrew – 60m sprints: 2nd (blink and you missed her) Ben Max – High jump: 3rd, Shot put: 2nd, Discus: 1st (Ben basically did everything) Luka Stosic – High jump: 2nd, Discus: 3rd Ariana Ngatai – Cricket Ball Throw: 3rd Nikau Lloyd – Cricket Ball Throw: 3rd Johnson Murray – Shot put: 2nd Zippy Keam – Long jump: 2nd Angus Buchanan – Long jump: 3rd, Discus: 3rd Zia Theron – Shot put: 4th/sub Year 5 Relay Team – Zippora Keam, Mackenzie Taite, Julian Graham, Phoenix Taite: 3rd Flying Squad (aka the “best of the best”) – Keira Andrew, Bivon Rathnayaka, Berkley Cavanagh, Luka Stosic: 4th |
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Friends of the School
We are so looking forward to celebrating with everyone at our Christmas on the Field event! This year promises to be a festive feast, packed with really fun activities, fantastic craft stalls, a giant bouncy obstacle course, special performances, face painting, raffles, Santa letter writing, and, of course, a visit from Santa himself! Hamper Raffle Donations A massive thank you to our incredible community members who have already donated towards our Christmas Hampers that are to be raffled on the night. Your generosity is truly appreciated. We have collected some wonderful goodies and we are still seeking more Christmas-themed treats, crafts, and fun seasonal items. If you would like to contribute, please note that we are collecting all hamper items until Friday, November 28th. There is still time to drop off your donations at the school office! Bake Sale Reminder A quick reminder for our festive Bake Sale! If you are donating baking, please bring your beautifully homemade treats to the School Hall on the morning of Thursday, December 4th. The office has a stash of plates if needed. Your baking talents help us raise essential funds for our school playspace upgrades. If you are able to help with the set up from 1pm on the Thursday or able to help with serving for a period during the evening please reach out to Janelle or Jo. Looking forward to celebrating the season with our school community! |
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ATK here Everyday It has been so good celebrating the attendance of our tamariki so far this term. So far 425 tamariki have enjoyed their ice blocks in these lovely warm days.
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In case you missed it, the outline of the ATK here Everyday Weekly Rewards Card is below. |
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COMMUNITY NOTICES |
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Get Summer-Ready with Fulton Swim School! Secure you child's spot for the summer season by booking lessons now. We are open for 2025 until Sunday, 21st December, and will reopen in 2026 from Monday, 5th January, with warm indoor pools and our expert instructors ready to help your child build confidence and skills in the water. Plus, don’t miss our one-week Holiday Intensives from 19th–23rd January — a perfect way for your child to make fast progress before schools and routines start again in the new year. Book by 30th November to enjoy $10 off the fee! Spaces are limited, so head to www.fultonswimschool.co.nz or visit us in person to secure your child’s place today. |
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You can choose a one-off Veggie Box for a burst of green inspiration, or a three-month subscription to give them an ongoing gardening adventure. The first box will arrive at their door in February 2026, ready for a new year full of fresh harvests! Even better — every box purchased helps grow the PiPS Garden Programme, supporting hands-on learning in your school gardens, helping tamariki learn where food comes from, how to grow it, and how to care for Papatūānuku. Order online now at vegbabies.co.nz Let’s grow a greener, healthier future together — one Veggie Box at a time. |
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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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Play Time @ Arataki
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EXTRA CURRICULARS@ ARATAKI |
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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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PRE LOVED UNIFORMS
Have your tamariki grown out of their uniforms? Please consider donating them back to the kura. These uniform donations are:
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 |
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SPONSORS WALL |
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