Tēnā koutou e te iwi,

What a vibrant fortnight we’ve had at Arataki School! Our tamariki have been buzzing with energy, flexing their problem-solving brains, and letting their imaginations run wild with two fantastic events back-to-back.

Celebrating Maths Week

Last week, our classrooms turned into hubs of strategy, logic, and numerical fun for Maths Week. From an exciting Maths trail around the school to collaborative problem-solving daily challenges, students across all year levels showed incredible persistence and enthusiasm. It was fantastic to see the tamariki discovering just how much fun math can be in our everyday lives.

Book Character Dress-Up Day 

Yesterday, our school grounds were transformed into a storybook wonderland for our Book Character Dress-Up Day! The creativity on display was outstanding—we had everything from classic fairytale heroes to modern comic book favourites strutting their stuff. Seeing the excitement across all year levels was a wonderful reminder of how much our school loves reading.

Linewize - Online Safety Hub

At Arataki School, we take keeping our tamariki safe online very seriously. This year, we have launched Linewize. Linewize is a cyber safety and web filtering platform used by schools to keep students safe, focused, and protected while using digital devices. 

What Linewize Does at School

  • Blocks Harmful Content: The Linewize Filter uses artificial intelligence to block inappropriate websites, adult content, and searches in real time. This is an additional layer of protection on top of the Network For Learning filtering funded by the Ministry of Education.
  • Keeps Kids Focused: It provides teachers with classroom management tools to see student screens during lessons and close distracting tabs.
  • Detects Serious Risks: A 24/7 monitoring system flags red-alert behaviours like cyberbullying, self-harm searches, or threats, alerting school staff immediately if a student is vulnerable when a child is logged in on an Arataki School device or using their Arataki School email address.

As part of our Linewize package, our whanau have access to an online safety hub, and the Qustodio Parent App to assist you to monitor your child when they are online. Please click on this link to access our online safety hub or  www.arataki.onlinesafetyhub.nz. In the next newsletter, I will share more information about the Qustodio Parent App, how to download and use the app.

A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing ATK PTA 

We want to extend a massive thank you to the Arataki Parent Teacher Association  for their endless support:

  • The Book Sale Success: Thank you to the PTA for all their hard work organising the book sale. It was an absolute success, bringing fantastic stories into our students' homes while raising funds for our school.
  • Brand New Picnic Tables: A special thanks for the generous donation toward the new picnic tables now installed outside Hopukiore (Rooms 15–19). Our tamariki are loving the new setup and are thoroughly enjoying eating their kai together.

Thank you to all our parents, whānau, and supporters who helped with costumes, supported the book sale and continue to make Arataki School such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Nga mihi nui, 

Vicki Hiini - Tumuaki/Principal

 

 

 

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Click here for  2026 and 2027 Term Dates

 

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In this issue:

  • News and Events
  • ATK here Everyday
  • ATK PTA
  • Extra Curriculars at Arataki
  • After School Care/Programmes
  • Holiday Programmes
  • Community Notices

 

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NEWS AND EVENTS

Book Day in Pictures

 

 

 

Netball Tournaments

Year 4 - ATK Pulse

Our Year 4 ATK Pulse played amazing, they played every game with absolute mana and never gave up! This day was filled with so much joy and lots of excitement leading into the games. Well done ATK Pulse 

 

Year 5 - ATK Steel

Our Year 5 ATK Steel came out of that tournament undefeated, winning 5/5 games on the day. Played unreal and always gave each game their best effort as if it was GF time. Tau ke ATK Steel 

Year 6 - ATK Firebirds

The Year 6 Firebirds had a fantastic day at their tournament, winning 3 out of their 4 games! The girls played with lots of energy and sportsmanship, working really well together, supporting one another throughout the day and putting to work all the skills they've learned throughout the season. They had lots of fun and enjoyed spending time with their friends and the other Year 6 team - we were really proud of them all! - Tracy & Jade

Year 6 - Arataki Ferns

Arataki Ferns won 4 out of 5 games with our loss by only 1 goal. 

They all played amazing and had such a fun day. Our parents and supporters were amazing our girls were very spoilt and well looked after. The girls have built some great friendships.

 

 

Awesome Season for our Ferns

Our Year 6 Arataki Ferns topped of a great year of netball coming in 2nd in Year 6 Division 1.  The girls worked so hard to improve their skills and team work and we couldn't be more proud of them.

 

 

Hockey

What an awesome day out of hockey! Watching our tamariki play with so much energy and sportsmanship out on the turf was really inspiring. Hockey is such a fast-paced and challenging sport, but our tamariki gave it everything they had and represented our kura with pride.

A massive nga mihi to our whanau, coaches, and supporters who came along to cheer everyone on and make the day so special.

 

 

 

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ATK here Everyday

 

Ka mau te wehi!  Congrats to our three ATK winners presented at our hui today, Arlo, Katta and Isla. We hope you enjoy your voucher, maybe over the weekend.

To be in with a chance to win at our next hui, attendance needs to 95% for the fortnight.

 

 

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A T K     P T A

 

 

QUIZ NIGHT

JUST OVER A WEEK TO GO!

We’re counting down to the Arataki Quiz Night, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our school community and local businesses, there are plenty of ways to support Arataki School and our playgrounds!

RAFFLES – ON SALE AT SCHOOL MONDAY 24 AUGUST

For just $2 a ticket, you could win:
 Van Trip for a Big Mac with Miss Mac
 Principal for the Day
 Boys’ Raffle
 Girls’ Raffle

Or for $5, you’ll go in the draw to win a signed Warriors jersey, generously donated by Brian and Diane Hesford. The jersey has been signed by the 2026 Warriors NRL team!!

And that’s not all…

Our amazing silent auctions will be available for everyone to bid on via Trade Me, with some fantastic items up for grabs.

Plus, on Quiz Night itself, we’ll have live auctions, more raffles and spot prizes!

Follow the ATK PTA Facebook Page as we count down to next Saturday and reveal more of what’s up for grabs - Linked Here

Every ticket, bid and purchase helps us raise funds for Arataki School and our playgrounds. Thank you for your support! 

 

FUND-O-METER

 

Here's an update of our fundraising efforts before our Book Day.  

We gratefully acknowledge the donation from Mr Steers whānau in his honour. Ka nui ō mātou mihi!

 

 

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SCHOOL LUNCH MENU

 

 

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EXTRA CURRICULARS 

@ ARATAKI

 

 

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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

 

Our Friends at Fun First Football are filling fast for their most popular sunny Term 2 Programme! 

Simply go to https://funfirstfootball.co.nz/ to Book your Spot and to receive your kids Free FFF Tshirt! :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Play Time @ Arataki

 

 

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HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES

 

 

 

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

 

 

Kick off the weekend with good vibes every Friday Night at Baywave!

What's On
From 3pm onwards:
Aquaplay Station
Hydroslide
Manu Zone

From 7pm onwards:
Waves
Spa Pool access (11+)

*Spa Pool access for 11+ years only. **Food available to purchase from the Poolside Café until 6pm. Standard entry and child supervision conditions apply.

 

 

 

 

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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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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