E kā whānau, E kā kaimahi, E te pāriha, E te hapori o Hato Ani,
Nau mai ki te tau hou kura!

We have heard so many fun stories from the holidays and have seen so many smiles from the children as they learn and play with their friends again.  With our nine classes averaging 19 students (thanks to our extra staffing for bilingual education), rooms are not packed like those at other schools, and the environment is calmer and quieter for learning.

HOLIDAY WORK / MAHI HARAREI
Over the break we had our gutters cleaned (so many balls were recovered), a full exterior wash down, a full exterior paint, a full paint of the playground that hopefully won’t chip, replanted class garden boxes, we received and were trained with interactive whiteboards in a few rooms, we received our staff school polo top, we received some new furniture and set up to begin our second bilingual Samoan / English class. Staff came in for some call back days (on top of their preparation days) to do work on how mathematics will look over the year and to plan the year ahead.

TEACHER ONLY DAY TOMORROW / KO TE RĀ MŌ KĀ KAIMAHI ANAKE ĀPŌPŌ
Yes, shut we are shut tomorrow. We hope our communication through the Christmas Newsletter and Skool Loop reminders got to everyone. We are so sorry that we have a teacher only day so early in the year!  With the changes (continuous changes!) pushed onto schools from the government, we tried to get the providers / experts to come in for staff professional development before school starts, but this was one of the only days left this term (Lots of schools, not as many providers). This choice of day was the one attached to a long weekend so we hoped that would suit some of you. Again, apologies.
Photo: A TOD last year combined with other schools

FRIDAY THE 13TH (OF FEBRUARY) IS LOOKING SCARY! MAINLY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING AND YOU ARE INVITED!!!!
New Family Welcome and Meeting
8.45am-10.30am
We warmly invite any new family to the school to attend this. Families may bring anyone in their immediate and extended family that they want, but just let us know for catering purposes (and so we have the right amount of chairs!). This will start with a Mihi Whakatau and then a meeting with me so I can tell you about the school and answer any questions.  RSVP with numbers to shelley@stannes.co.nz
Meet the Teacher / Meet the Staff / Open Classes
4.30pm to 5.30pm
Please come along and meet your child’s teacher. Classrooms will all be open for you to meet all of us. Like last year, there will be a competition for families, but this year the challenge will be to meet each staff member in the hour, and find out a few things about each one. Completed and correct entries will go in the draw to win some great prizes. Walls might not have much on them yet, but this is more of an opportunity to touch base, make connections, ask any questions and have a good look around.
Photos: Winners of the competition ($175 of meal vouchers!)
School Picnic / Parish Cultural Day
5.30pm to 8.30pm
Being a parish school, we are combining our picnic with the parish so it will be busy! The parish has organised cultural food and dances to entertain us. Our children will hopefully open the night with a welcome song!
Bring:
They are requesting cultural food, so if possible, please bring something to share to add to what is provided. If you could bring picnic mats or chairs, that would help. Stay for a short time or stay the whole time, see how you go!
Photo: Last year’s picnic

UPCOMING WORK / MAHI E HAERE MAI ANA
Court repair – We all know about the puddle that forms at the pedestrian gate. Unfortunately it’s more than just clearing a blocked pipe. This work is being completed by the Diocese very soon and will cause some disruption. We have been waiting a while so will welcome the disruption to have it fixed before winter!
Photo: When this happens, we use one side of the car gate for entry/exit
Classroom upgrades to Room 3, Room 4, Room 5 and Room 6 – These will be done two rooms at a time, i.e. Room 3 and 4 together, and Room 5 and 6 together. Classes will be relocated for the work (to the library and the spare room).
Room 3 and 4 will return to their rooms after renovations. Room 5 will not return to their class and will shift to the Mission Centre once it is all complete. Room 5 and 6 will become the Samoan Unit as we are putting in cooking facilities for the senior room to use as part of their programme. We are also looking at making a sensory room that could be used by students who need it there. This work will cause disruption but we welcome this as we currently have six beautiful rooms and four tired rooms, this will mean everyone will be in a beautiful space.
Work is due to commence around the beginning of March.
KAPAHAKA
This is an optional group that students can join. We aim to compete at Tūhono and perform regularly this year. 80 students have joined so far. Practices will be on Tuesday at 1.50pm to 2.50pm.
CAR BEHAVIOUR / TE WHANONGA O KĀ MOTOKA
We have noticed some illegal and dangerous parking to start the year (and late last year). All of our children and families are important, not just yours!
It’s simple:
– The 3 minute zone is a drop off zone, DON’T WALK YOUR CHILD IN, it’s a hug and go zone!!!!!
– Please do not park on yellow lines, they are there for safety purposes
– Please don’t drive up to the car gates as if you are driving in and stop. Young children can’t get past and look to go on the road. This is not cool.
– There are 5 more parks after the 3 minute zone on the school side, and if you have time, there’s always parks on the south side of the road. Walk them across, give a kiss, then head to work!!
Photo: A car slightly over the first yellow line, and the effect with the cycle line. We have some families with the front of their car where the back of this one is, the entire cycle lane is blocked and then some. Some parents have driven onto the footpath, crazy!!!!! Please take photos and report them!!!!

TAGATA MAI SAUTE
Another optional group for our children. If your child wants to learn to dance and sing pasifika styles, this is a good group. It will be weekly on a Thursday. Students need a ie lavalava for the practices.

SPORT / HĀKINAKINA
Notices for Tamai Touch (Years 1-8), volleyball (years 7-8) and miniball (years 3-4) have gone home. Have you missed them?  Ask your child’s teacher asap or email palo@stannes.co.nz
Photo: Where spares are put, in the office

PAST STUDENTS’ SUCCESSES / TE AKITU O KĀ ĀKOKA O MUA
This could be a regular section, please inform the school of the success of past students. They are part of ‘Our Story’ and are always part of our community. Whilst saying that, any outside of school achievements can be added here (sports, cultural etc. etc.).

Catholic Cathedral College
Hollie Parker – A Kaiārahi and received Te Poutama Award (the top Māori award) 2025
Ata Aileone – Deputy Head Girl, Pasifika Leader, Special Award from the Mission Sisters, and the Brothers’ Cup for Leadership 2025
Jacinta Tanoai – Pasifika Leader 2025
Lola Edlin – Head Peer Support Leader 2025
Aidan Aileone – Scholarship recipient from First Foundation 2025

Te Aratai
Donna Enosa – Head Girl 2025

St Thomas’ College
Joe Jerry Loto – College Captain (Head Boy) 2026

Burnside High School
Issy Wichman – NCEA Level 1 Māori with excellence 2025 (as a year 9 student), top student in Māori for year 11 (as a year 9 student)
Although Issy only had two years in a bilingual space at St Anne’s, this showed the position the students are set up for. Some of ours are now into their third year in bilingual spaces so expect continued growth. We recommend you speak to your future high schools about whether they will allow NCEA to be done in year 9 for your child (if wanted) when you enrol.
Photo: Joejerry is working hard trying to strengthen the team at St Thomas’

HATS / WHAREAMA
These are compulsory, no hat, no play, no PE etc etc. They are plain navy blue. Please don’t send blue NRL hats (as much as I love NSW or the Bulldogs) or random colours. We purchased 50 last year and sold them at a loss (Cost: $10-$15, sold $2). We can’t keep doing this. Please can these be sorted and named. The best places are Postie $10 and The Warehouse $8 (the school section is expensive, the cheaper and more comfortable ones are in normal sections). Thanks so much everyone!!!

KĀ HERE / POLICIES
A reminder, if you are interested and would like to take part in our termly reviews of policies, or are interested in any, they can be found here. Please follow the link and then have a look around!

He mea maumahara tēnei, mēnā tō hiahia, tirohia kā here, mahia kā arotake hoki. Kai konei kā here. Whāia te honoka, kātahi, tirohia!

UPCOMING EVENTS / KĀ TAIOPEKA E HAERE MAI ANA
If you have any questions, please email or talk to the person whose email address follows the reminder. If there is no email address, it is just something to be aware of.
Mēnā he pātai āhau, īmēra atu te īmēra kua tuhia, kōrerotia ki te takata kua whakaikoatia. Mehemea kāhore he īmēra, he mea hai whakamōhio noa iho.

TERM 1 / WĀHAKA TAHI  (If an event is for your child and you have misplaced the notice, go the the calendar entry on the Skool Loop app for all the information you need for the day)
WEEK 2 / WIKI RUA 
Thursday 5 February – Teacher Only Day – No school
Friday 6 February – Waitangi Day – No School
WEEK 3 / WIKI TORU
Tuesday 10 February – 1.50pm to 2.50pm Kapahaka principal@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 11 February – First day of technology for years 7 and 8 palo@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 12 February – First day of Tagata Mai Saute mareta@stannes.co.nz
Friday 13 February – 8.45am to 10.30am – New Families Welcome and Meeting principal@stannes.co.nz
Friday 13 February – 4.30pm to 5.30pm – Meet the Teacher / Meet the Staff / Open Classes principal@stannes.co.nz
Friday 13 February – 5.30pm to 8.30pm – School/Parish picnic/cultural evening principal@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 4 / WIKI WHĀ
Tuesday 17 February – 3.30-5.30pm Tamai Touch begins palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 5 / WIKI RIMA
Wednesday 25 February – PALS Training palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 6 / WIKI ONO
WEEK 7 / WIKI WHITU
WEEK 8 / WIKI WARU
Monday 16 March to Wednesday 18 March – Year 7/8 Camp at Living Springs palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
WEEK 10 / WIKI TEKAU
Friday 3 April – Good Friday – No school

Te Atua te aro’a ‘ē kia manuia,
Dallas Wichman
Tumuaki / Principal / Pū ‘Āpi’i Ma’ata