Term 3, Week 5, 11/8/2025 - 15/8/2025

From the Principal's Desk

Kia ora koutou katoa, Parents and Caregivers

We are already halfway through the term, and it's great to see the work the students are producing in class. Again, I can not stress the importance of attendance at school, and to let us know if your child is going to be away. The teaching team works extremely hard to plan engaging learning activities, and as a school with the help of the Cooks Beach Carnival group we organise events like the MOTAT visit.

MOTAT

MOTAT on the Move - STEAM Cell, bring a unique STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) experiences to our school. They have a range of programmes which form the basis for customised experiences with our students, where they work alongside and amplify learning intentions. From explorations of coding, robotics and machines to design and innovation, the aim is to excite and inspire students about the diverse world of STEAM.  They are a curriculum aligned ELC provider and have expertise in educating STEAM from ECE through to NCEA.  https://www.motat.nz/learning/steam-cells/

BOT Elections

I would like to personally thank all parents who have put their names forward to help our school. This will mean we have an election that will happen in September. Each candidate had the opportunity to write a little bit of information about themselves with a photo. These have been sent out/posted out with voting papers to every parent/caregiver to vote.  The next BOT meeting at school is in Room 2 on Thursday, 21st of August at 3.30pm. We welcome all candidates to come to see how the BOT meeting runs. 

AIMS Games 

Congratulations on the students who are practising on their fitness and skills related to the AIMS Games. It was great to hear the excitement about the fundraising they are doing to help cover costs. Our next meeting for all AIMS Games groups and individuals is on Monday, 18th of August from 3 - 3.45pm in Room 7.

Tree Planting

We planted over 800 native trees on a local farm, we really appreciated the support from the parents and community. Next year our aim is to plant trees and bushes around the school. Next year's trees have been set aside to plant out along our streams and fields, we hope to plant 10 trees for every student at Whenuakite.

Camp

Room 6 and 7 go to camp in term 4, The cost is $400 and this has already been subsidised by the Cooks Beach Carnival group and BOT. If parents can start thinking of good ways to fundraise or need help with covering costs, please come in and have a catch-up and chat. Let's work together to get everyone to camp. More information out soon.

Upgrdaes to telephone

As part of the upgrades to the land lines (old phone systems) we no longer have  a fax or answering machine. We are working on getting a new answering system. In the meantime please do not leave a message while this is getting sorted and either email or use skool loop.

Thanks, Nga mihi, Gary Veysi - Principal

STEAM CELL

What is a STEAM Cell? 

One of our focuses in science this term is the  'Physical World' of science:
MOTAT  will be able to offer our 'Simple Machines' programme for years 1-3. 
"Get hands on while learning all about the simple machines that make up our world. In this program, students will come to understand and interact with the simple machines of; the wheel and axle, the pulley, the inclined plane, the screw, the wedge, and lever."

And for years 4+ we can combine this with our 'Invent-A-Machine' activity, where tamariki will be able to build a marble run that uses a lift component powered by pulleys, levers and inclined planes. 

Board Of Trustees

From the Board of Trustees

In September, we will hold our 3-yearly BoT election. The BoT is an important part of our school in that it provides governance and advice to the teaching staff at our school. The BoT makes policy and financial decisions and represents the school community. If you have any questions, please contact me on 027 837 6004. Nomination forms are at the front desk. Thank you for your support.      Ray

Property Project Updates

Nga iti Kahurangi programme - This is the re-carpeting of classrooms in the school and will happen on the 22nd - 26th of September (first week of school holidays)

Water Upgrade - We have gained funding to replace the water tanks and gain more water storage off the roofs. We will go from 3 water tanks to about 9 water tanks (almost 3 times the capacity) The water will be diverted off the roofs and from the natural spring. This will go through more fitering/cleaning.

Fields - Recently, the BOT signed off on the lease of the land behind the school. We have been working in conjunction with Don and Dawn Walker on leasing this space and have had final approval from the Ministry of Education. This means we can create more space for the students to investigate and play in. Next year, the size of football fields also needs to be at least 70 metres, and we are also keen to have a proper rugby field and running track. For this to happen, unfortunately, we will need to move the dripper lines for the effluent field to the end part of the grounds and chop down some trees. We will have more information after our next BOT meeting on the 21st of August and will run community consultation around this and the specifics of what will need to happen to meet council consents.

As this is a community asset and we have no money, we need community help. If you can help with taking some trees down, removing and mulching, levelling fields, re-grassing and putting up a 7 wire fence. We have already had some very kind donations of work and resources. please contact - principal@whenuakite.school.nz 

Cultural Festival - Kapahaka

With two weeks to go before the Kapahaka Cultural festival on Friday 29th of August, we are really focusing on the last items of the performance. It is essential that we are all here. We are helping to host the event with Coroglen and Mecury Bay School. 

We do need help with

Someone who could video the show for us.

As a fundraiser we are running the BBQ's and doing a sausage sizzle and need to have 4 adults to share the job. 

Needing kai (food) as we are making the 850 packs for the students going from the schools, we need 3 items - piece of fruit, museli  bar, chips, etc?

Please see or email Mr Veysi if you can help with any of the above.

Boys practising a haka

Some extra tuition from Whaea Briar

Pet Day Wednesday 17th September 2025

School Carnival 2026 - Pet Day, Local Farming Families - Daisy Dung Drop – Can Your Calf Help?

Our much-loved Daisy Dung Drop raffle is one of the biggest fundraisers at our School Carnival, helping to support valuable resources and opportunities for our kids. 

This year, we’re on the lookout for a friendly calf to take centre stage at the carnival – and with Pet Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to find one!

If your child is raising a calf for Pet Day, it could be the next Daisy! We’d love families to consider whether their calf might be suitable for the big event. After Pet Day, it’s important to keep up the care and handling so your calf stays friendly and calm for carnival day. 

Thank you for your support – it really makes a difference!           Contact April if you can help 0274224988

Being a K.I.T.E Kid Awards

Certificates presented to: -

Room 1 - Tiffany Liley, Freddie McLaren

Room 2 - Jack Carter, Mila Gore

Room 3 - Fae Charles, Chase Hayward, Hailey Hert

Room 4 - Cohen Ryan, Sparrow Sheriff

Room 5 - Kahu Gemmell, Raewyn Wallace, Seth Black

Room 6 - Oscar O'Kane, Noa Jensen

Room 7 - Jaxon Walker, Maddie McLean

Principal Awards - Wylie Ramage - Great handwriting work - Keep up the good work.

Cricket

5 August 2025
To: Whenuakite School
Subject: Invitation to participate in a new model of junior cricket delivery in Terms 4 and 1
Dear Chris,
Mercury Bay Cricket Club is excited to invite Whenuakite kids to participate in a new junior cricket delivery model. The model is designed to provide kids of all abilities a chance to enjoy and participate in the sport, while reducing barriers to participation.
We are proposing a local eight-a-side competition made up of Te Rerenga, Coromandel, Whenuakite and Mercury Bay teams, split across several age groups:
•
Years 3 & 4
•
Years 5 & 6
•
Years 7 & 8
Age groups will play every second Saturday or Sunday (rather than weekly). All games will be played at Moewai Park, Whitianga, with different age groups playing alternate weekends. Teams are school-based, rather than club-based, allowing kids to play with their mates. This approach also allows teams who wish to hold weekly training sessions to train locally, rather than centrally.
Eight-a-side cricket is a fast-paced, dynamic format that encourages teamwork and plenty of time with ball or bat in hand for all players. Games are completed in a couple of hours on a Saturday or Sunday, leaving plenty of time for other important lifestyle factors.
To encourage greater participation, we have taken steps to reduce known barriers, including:
•
Team entry fees, rather than individual player subs. This reduces the cost to families.
•
Minimal travel compared to historic competition models – games played in Whitianga, rather than Morrinsville, Matamata, Ngatea, Thames.
•
Shorter games. Two hours rather than five hours.
•
Flexible Team Composition – all genders, all abilities.
•
Flexible training times and locations for teams who wish to train.
•
Some equipment provided on game days
We would love to see Whenuakite kids represented in the competition and would appreciate it if you could confirm your interest in entering teams. Please let us know the number of teams you may be able to submit in each of the above age categories.
If you have any questions or need further details, please feel free to contact me.
We look forward to your participation in what promises to be an exciting, accessible, and memorable cricket season!
Best regards,
Rob Corkill Mercury Bay Cricket Club
021 923 986

Up and coming events

Term 3  

Week 6

Tuesday 19th of August - MOTAT

Wednesday 20th of August -MOTAT

Thursday 21st of August - BOT meeting at school at 3.30pm

Week 7

Monday 25th of August - Fire Drill 

Tuesday 26th of August - Thames Valley Cross Country (For selected students who qualify from MBAS CC)

Whenuakite Achievements!

Some keen young musicians.

Busy on the BBQ for the AIMS Games fundraiser

Senior students finishing artwork for Peace week.

Room 6/7, parents, teachers and community planting

Planting the tees/shrubs.

Community member of the week. Worker at Seabreeze helping to remove blackberry and rubbish from the stream.