Term 4, Week 4, 27/10/2025 - 31/10/2025
From the Principal's Desk
Kia ora koutou katoa, Parents and Caregivers
A hugely busy time, and we are trying to manage the events that are coming up and ensure a good balance with being in class, completing work and assessing. Please be aware that we are teaching and learning all the way to the end of the year. Our last day this term is on Tuesday, the 16th of December.
Camp
Room 6 and 7 go to camp at Lakewood Lodge from November 10th - 14th of November. The cost is $350 per child, minus any money made from the Maths Quiz. This week we sent home information on what is needed at camp then met with parents about general information, costings, the plan of the camp, and expectations/responsibilities at camp. On Monday, we will know the exact costings for each child and invoices will be sent out for payment. Once again, let us know if you need help with payment options.
Maths Quiz Update
As of today, we have fundraised over $6,789 to go towards Camps and trips. Well done to all the students, families and businesses that have supported us with getting kids to camp and trips. The money raised goes back to EOTC - Education Outside The Classroom events, trips and camp costs.
House Achievements
Link to Kotare - Kowhai (Yellow House) $1,844
Link to Kauri - Kereru (Green House) - $1,835
Link to Tui - Harakeke (Blue House) - $1,715
Link to Pohutukawa - Piwakawaka (Red House) - $1,375
Maths Quiz learning was completed on Wednesday, and we would like to thank the community members who came and helped with running our special day.
Lucky Draws - Maths Quiz
There will be special draws throughout weeks 5 and 6 for top fundraisers and math prizes. There will also be lucky drawa for anyone who joined the fundraising effort.
(House groups. Some of the incentives will be a movie at school, in school disco, a pizza party, a BBQ lunch, and ice blocks for the winning Houses.
Thanks, Nga mihi, Gary Veysi - Principal
Maths Quiz Wizard
We had a great time during our Maths Quiz. A thanks to everyone who was involved.
A huge thanks to our main sponsors JTP Plumbing and Gas, and SUNZ
Photo Day
Photo day is 26th November. We will let you know when the sibling forms are available.
Library
All library books need to be returned to school next week please.
Congratulations to community members
Mercury Bay Senior School Prizegiving Results - 2025
We would like to extend our congratulations to the following past Whenuakite School Students. If we have missed any past students, please let us know
Cross Country Champ - Leah Clow
Outstanding and Team performance- Tahlia Osborne
Football - Mahlia Herbert, Sam Chamberlain
1st in Painting and Gallery Painting - Lizzie Till
Music - Valo Gray for L1, Zach Greenfield for L2, Musicianship - Brynn Ramage
L1 Math with Algebra - Tahlia Osborne
Overall Top Math student - Rory Grant
Food and Nutrition L1- Tessa McGovern
L3 Physics and Computing - Rory Grant
L3 Biology and Overall Excellence in Science - Mila Smith de Zeeuw
History and Business - Mila Smith de Zeeuw
L2 Computing - Connor Keane
Apiculture and Most Improved Dive Zone - Isobella Roach
Student Volunteer Army and a Scholarship - Mila Smith de Zeeuw
Maori Entrance Scholarship- Kizzy Sampson
Triumph through Adversity- Casey Riedinger
Mila Smith de Zeeuw - Deputy Head Girl 2025 Wellbeing Leader 2025 - Kizzy Sampson House Leader 2025 - Isobel Roach
Mahlia Herbert - Deputy Head Girl - 2026
School Leader - Lizzie Till 2026
BoT
Follow up from the meeting on Wednesday, 22nd of October.
The community/parents are welcome to attend meetings at school each month. The following are some key aspects of the meeting and some processes moving forward.
Strategic Decisions
2.1 We have gone through the process to Co–Opting, Christopher Morcom onto our Board of Trustees for property projects. There has been an increase in projects via funding from MOE and community projects.
2.2 Staffing entitlement and budget funding for 2026 have increased. We are in the process of organising extra teaching spaces - learning pods to meet this space deficiency. A sub-committee has formed around personnel for the employment of new teachers and possibly learning support assistants to ensure we have an excellent ratio and coverage throughout the school. The Senior Leadership Team are now working with the teaching team on placements of students for 2026. More information will be out soon.
2.3 Camps/trips 2026 - 2028 planning, consultation and engagement with families will continue with surveys and information going out for feedback and support.
Strategic Discussions
3.1 Induction Pack for BOT members - This will continue to be updated to support our new members on the BOT and to help define sub-group portfolios.
3.3 Budget 2026 preparation
Next Meeting date - Wednesday 26th November at 3.15pm
Production
Classes are busy with their practices. A huge thanks to the teachers and especially Shona for her dedication to the performing arts. Its going to be a special show. Tickets almost sold out in some shows, please see Donna in the office to purchase tickets - $2 a seat.
At the same time, we are doing a raffle to help cover costs - $2 per raffle or $5 for 3 raffles.
Teacher Vacancy
Teacher Position: Fixed-term (.8) role in Year 5 Start Date: Monday, 2nd February 2026
Due to a roll increase and entitlement, our School is seeking a passionate and fully registered New Zealand teacher to join our dedicated team. We are looking for an educator who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to building positive relationships with students, colleagues, and the wider community.
Key Qualifications:
- Experience or a willingness to work in a collaborative team
- Understanding of and commitment to the Positive Culture 4 Learning framework and our school values
- Ability to articulate and demonstrate your strengths
- Willingness to co-lead various initiatives and areas within the school
We encourage prospective candidates to visit our school to get a sense of our community and values.
Applications close 5 pm, Wednesday, 19th of November 2025. Please email your cover letter with a CV or professional growth cycle that includes 3 referees to The Principal: principal@whenuakite.school.nz
Being a K.I.T.E Kid Awards
Certificates presented to: -
Room 1 - Week 3 - Tiffany Lilley, Blake Thomson Week 4 - Riley Macken, Maddie Spyve
Room 2 - Week 3 - Olive Hansby, Sayul Rathnayaka Week 4 - Roxy Dunn, Tulsi Stephens
Room 3 - Week 3 - Mariah Baroro, Benji Norriss, Jake McLaren Week 4 - Ashley Grogan, Tanner Brockett
Room 4 - Week 3 - Arlo Guilford, Zahlayn Alexander Week 4 - Jesse Thomson, Lily Blomfield
Room 5 - Week 3 - Raewyn Wallace, Seth Black, Ella Newton Week 4 - Ada Roach, Christopher Olsen
Room 6 - Week 3 - Archie Hansby, Clara Riddle, Levi Nicholson Week 4 - Coco Bougen, Cat Wickrama Arachchige
Room 7 - Week 3 - Alex McLean, Israel Matson Week 4 - Riley James-Rameka, Evana Jamieson
Principal Awards - Thea Dozell for being an awesome Maths Wizard!
Disco
Jar Throw
If you need jars we have plenty at school.
Up and coming events
Term 4
We have some amazing events planned, and we have finalised some of the trips for everyone and the camp for the seniors. It is critical if you would like to be involved with trips and especially camp, we do need you to complete a police vet. These are taking about 6 weeks to complete. Please see Donna asap if you need to get this done.
Week 5
Monday 3rd - 7th of November - This week is our school Production
No assembly due to production
Week 6
Monday 10th - 14th of November - Room 6 and 7, Senior school camp to Lakewood Lodge
Road Safety Update
Please be aware that we are working with different agencies. NZTA and police to look at improvements. Recently, the electronic signs were lowered from 40 km to 30km. These go on just before school starts and finishes. As the road is a State Highway, we are not allowed to have road crossing - road patrol.
However, we have had a bit of a close call with one child in the junior school crossing the road on Thursday before school. It wasn’t the child's fault - their jandal had come off and they’d dropped a stick while crossing, so he was putting his shoe back on and grabbing his stick - but a car came around the corner and swerved around them into the other lane instead of stopping. If they’d been going 30km they should’ve been able to stop, but they didn’t.
We would like to thank the community member who was there at the time, who mentioned to the child that they’re more important than their stuff, and the child seemed fine afterwards. but it really made the community member think how easily something worse could happen.
Parents/caregivers, please ensure your child if crossing the road before and after school is supported. Younger children should have an adult/parent.
At school the teachers will go over the expectations of crossing the road at the right area.