Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

As Mother’s Day approaches this Sunday, we want to take a moment to pause and celebrate the incredible women in our Arataki School community.

From the early morning rush and the sideline cheers to the quiet moments of support and endless multitasking, our mums (and those who play a mothering role) are the heart of so many of our students' lives. Your resilience, kindness, and unwavering encouragement help our tamariki grow into the best versions of themselves.

Thank you for everything you do, both at home and within our school whānau. Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful Arataki School mama!

Production

There has been a lot of excitement this week as our tamariki eagerly practice and prepare for our production ‘Poseidon, Tales of the Deep Blue Sea’ which will be performed on Wednesday and Thursday next week. There are separate detailed notices coming home with all the information you need to know for next week. 

I want to acknowledge and thank Sue Taylor for her preparation of ‘Poseidon, Tales of the Deep Blue Sea’ during term 1, and to Kate Barker, who has stepped in this term to take over from Sue. The work behind the scenes is immense, and we appreciate your mahi.

On Thursday & Friday next week, we are encouraging children to sleep in and come to school later at 11am if this works for your family. Please note, this will not affect your child's attendance.

There are still some tickets available. Click here to purchase tickets - https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/poseidonrs-tale-of-the-deep-blue-sea/tauranga

School Lunches

This year, we have changed school lunch suppliers. Our lunch is supplied by Ka Pai Kai. Everyday, children are given a hot cooked lunch. Currently, we are closely monitoring our surplus lunches, uneaten lunches and food waste. If your child does not eat the school lunch, can you please email the school office, office@arataki.school.nz, to opt your child out of the programme. 

We want our children to eat the school lunch everyday. 

We are closely monitoring the menu, to ensure that the lunches provided are lunches the children enjoy. Please be aware that the lunches have strict nutritional requirements that must be met everyday.

Reporting to parents information afternoon

Last week, we hosted an information session for parents about our mid-term reports and the new reporting requirements. The whanau that attended found this session incredibly informative. We will repeat the session again, on Wednesday 10th June at 3pm. We will also make a recording of the session. 

Have a great weekend, and I look forward to seeing you at our shows next week.

Nga mihi nui, Vicki Hiini - Tumuaki

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Dates for the Diary

Click here for  2026 Term Dates

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In this issue:

• From the Sports Desk
• Arataki Friends of the School(AFoS)
• ATK here Everyday
• After School Care/Programmes
• Community Notices
• Extra Curriculars at Arataki

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FROM THE 

SPORTS DESK

BOP Primary Climbing Champs

Alexa Kearvell-Gramner represented Arataki so well at the BOP Primary Climbing Champs on Tuesday, 5 May.   She did herself proud and earned her 3rd place in the Y3-4 Female Division. Ka mau te wehi!!

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Friends of the School

AGM 2026 Update

Last week we had our AGM and we were thrilled to see lots of parents attend, both old and new faces - thank you!

As part of the AGM process, the chairman, treasurer and secretary step down and then these positions are reelected.

Jo Budd and Janelle Meacheam both stepped down as co-chairmen but thrilled to say they will still be involved.

Esther McGreevy stepped down as treasurer and as her time at primary school comes to an end she will be stepping off the committee completely. We want to say a HUGE thank you to her as she has been instrumental in lots of the financial processes we now have in place. And we hope we can still call on her for some of the confusing questions that come up

Emily Crawford is stepping down as secretary but again still will continue to help in other capabilities.

Thank you ladies for all your hard work last year!! These things don't run without people like you

Lots of new and exciting updates coming from AFOS (including an exciting brand refresh!) so watch this space.......

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ATK here Everyday

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SCHOOL LUNCH MENU

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EXTRA CURRICULARS 

@ ARATAKI

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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

Hire the Tauranga Moana Cook Islands Culture Group for your next event!
We provide vibrant, authentic Cook Islands entertainment for birthdays, weddings, corporate functions, and community events.

Bringing the Cook Islands to you — with the graceful swaying of the hips, the sharp knocking of the knees and the beats of the drum.

Experience the beauty of our culture — from the graceful swaying of the hips and the sharp knocking of the knees to the beautiful tunes and beating of the drums.

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Play Time @ Arataki

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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

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SPONSORS WALL