Term 3, Week 6, 18/8/2025 - 22/8/2025

From the Principal's Desk

Kia ora koutou katoa, Parents and Caregivers

It was great to have some dry and warm weather this week, the fields are looking ok. We are in the process of getting advice on how to improve the drainage on the fields. If you have expertise in fields, drainage and development, please let us know.

From Wednesday, 27th of August  - Friday, 5th of September - I will be away from school. I will be attending the National Secondary Schools Hockey for my own child in Taupo. I will then be travelling to Papamoa, where I will be supporting the various teams/individuals we have going to the AIMS Games. I will still be able to be contacted via email if needed, however, if it is a day-to-day matter please contact Nicola -nicola@whenuakite.school.nz in my absence.

MOTAT

A huge thanks to Hamish, who ran the  STEM Education, bringing a unique STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,  Mathematics) experience to our school. If your child enjoyed it and wanted to follow up on some other activities please visit.  https://www.motat.nz/learning/steam-cells/

Toys and digital devices from home

We would prefer that students do not bring toys/devices to school. If your child/ren are keen to bring a special something to show and share, you must organise this with the classroom teacher. If an item does get confiscated, it will be either given back to the child in the afternoon or put in a bag to be picked up from the office by parents.

AIMS Games 

Our Hip Hop Girls head down to the AIMS Games on Friday 29th of August for their performances on Saturday, the 30th of August. Then the football team heads down on Sunday 31st of August to play their games from Monday 1st - Friday 5th of September. We also have individuals competing in the cross country, mountain biking and golf. A huge thanks to the coaches, managers and everyone who have supported/helped our students meet their goals. A reminder to all students who completed the footy-athon and hip-hopathon, you need to get your paperwork signed off to allow you to get your sponsors. This needs to be done by Monday 25th of August.

Camp

Room 6 and 7 go to camp in term 4, The cost is $400, 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. One fundraiser that we are keen to run will be either a Mathsathon or a Spellathon. Information on this will come out before the holidays for students to seek sponsors.

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

STEM Transport

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." The 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.  

BOT Elections

In September, we will hold our 3-yearly BoT election. Every family should have received their posted election forms to be able to vote and return the forms to the office. Voting closes on the 10th of September at 4 pm.

All the candidates standing for election came to the BOT meeting on Thursday to look at how the meeting runs and whats involved with being a BOT member.  The next BOT meeting at school is on Wednesday, 17th September.

Cultural Festival - Kapahaka

With one week 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 running the BBQ and doing a sausage sizzle, and need to have 4 adults to share the job and take turns.

If you can help with this please email - principal@whenuakite.school.nz

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 - Jordi Shortland, Arlo Morcom

Room 2 - Ivy Bowen, Huia Gemmell

Room 3 -Tanner Brockett, Mika Illingworth

Room 4 - Zoe Dalgety, Jesse Thomson

Room 5 - Ashton Auricht, John-Henry Heath, Pounamu Shelford-Woodcock

Room 6 - Valerie Drewitt-Fisher, Emerson Orbell

Room 7 - Lucy Bramley, Hunter Velvin-Turner

Principal Awards - Riley James-Rameka for supporting our juniors with sports

Sport

The Whenuakite Red Rockets Under 10's were back in the winning seat on Saturday with a fabulous 4-0 win over Te Rerenga, a team they had previously drawn with.  Their positional play and support was on point as Kahu ran in 3 goals, and our guest players   (Thanks Ashton and Archie!) worked together to score the 4th, a strong defence also keeping the Te Rerenga team from scoring. It was happy faces all round!  Players of the Day were Raala Gray and Kassi Pearce - Congratulations!

The Fireworks @ Te Aroha Netball Center Tournament

Our mixed Year 7 & 8 team put on a great performance on Sunday, pushing through an early start, cold wind and rain with fantastic attitudes. Their teamwork, energy, and determination led to some strong plays down the line, great intercepts, and well-earned goals.

A big thank you to Abby and Kelly for their incredible coaching and support throughout the season. We also greatly appreciate Natalie Ebbers for her time and commitment as umpire.

Under 10 Red Dragons 

The dragons played a very exciting game last Friday under the big lights in Tairua.

We had some absolutely magic goals and skills showed throughout the game, including some beautiful celebrating dance moves! 

Tairua came away with the nail biting win 5-4. 

Player of the day went the Oscar F and Hugo. 

Well done Red Dragons! 

Cricket

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

Karate

Last week our amazing Counties Shotokan Karate students took the next steps in their journeys and achieved new belts.  I'll let the smiles on their faces in the photos speak for themselves!

If anyone would love to come along and see what we do in the dojo and join us, we train on Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5.30-6.30 (coloured belts) and 6.30-7.30 (brown belts) in the school Activity Room, you would be most welcome!

My New Gallery

Up and coming events

Term 3  

Week 7

Monday 25th of August - Fire Drill 

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

Friday 29th of August - Cultural Festival at MBAS

Week 8

Saturday 30th of August - Friday 5th of September - AIMS Games students away in Tauranga

Swim School