Term 2, Week 9, 23/6/2025 - 27/6/2025
From the Principal's Desk
Kia ora kotou katoa, Greetings Parents and Caregivers
Final day of the term, and a huge thanks to everyone who makes our school so fantastic. We are fortunate to live in paradise and to have students who are growing into excellent community leaders. It's been a complex term with more requirements placed on us by the Government. I have appreciated the extra hours our teaching team and staff are putting in to make our school the best it can be. I am always very proud and privileged to be a principal at Whenuakite.
Research shows that top talent wants three things.
1. Better Leadership
2. A Brighter Future
3. A Bigger Vision
Peter Drucker the American Leadership guru was quoted as saying..." The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself".
How do we do that? Well, one of the most powerful tools is the skill of empowerment. Intentionally and skillfully allowing others to play in the imagination space, creating the future of education. Innovation and change happen by invitation and permission.
BOT Elections
The election for the new Board of Trustees (BOT) happens in September. Please be aware that we do need new members to join our team. Please contact us if interested, and you are more than welcome to come to our BOT meetings. Our next meeting date is at school in Room 3 on Wednesday, 23rd of July at 3.30 pm.
HOUSE POINTS
What an amazing term, with some great events and well done to everyone who gave the events a go.
Total points for the Year so far
1st place - Kotare 692
2nd place - Tui 640
3rd place - Pohutukawa 612
4th place - Kauri 593
AIMS Games Update
On Wednesday, the 25th of June, we had our first meeting in regards to the AIMS Games and updates for parents of students going for individual and teams. The following are some of our notes and follow-up from the meeting.
Communication - Parents, please sign up for Skool Loop and connect to the AIMS Games notices. We will also send out updates in the newsletter and notices about events. We will have another meeting early in term 3.
All students to have and complete a fitness and strengthening routine over the holidays (This will be discussed again with students)
Costs will be worked out for Team and Individual events to cover the entry fees and costs. We will continue fundraising in term 3 and will need parental help.
Hip Hop group (8 students)
We now have a coach - Ellie Grierson, a secondary school teacher (who worked part time at MBAS for 2024) and dance teacher for her own business, LECOOLJams Dance. Ellie will set up routines with the teaching on a Tuesday, and Paige will continue practices on Thursday. Needing to start thinking about costumes/outfits.
Costs - This will be approximately $200 or less per person.
Accommodation sorted if needed for Friday night, 29th of August - Sunday, 31st. Performance day is Saturday.
Football group (14 students)
Coach - Chris, Assistant Coach - Nick and Manager - Gary. Practices next term will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Individual and group goals set.
Costs - This will be approximately $300 or less per person.
Accommodation sorted for Sunday 31st - Friday 5th of September. This will in two houses in Papamoa - near the football fields. Mr Veysi is checking them in the holidays.
Individual events
The main focus is that parents will need to manage these individual events
Term 3 Overview
The Term Overview should be inside the Newsletter or can be found online on our website. Please check the dates and times of events next year.
Bus runs and lists
We work hard to ensure students are on the bus list, and the bus monitors check them on the bus. If your child will not be on the bus, we do need to know. Please contact the office - Donna as early as possible, if your child is away or now going to sports and not needing to be on the bus.
Thanks, Nga mihi, Gary Veysi - Principal
Cooks Beach Carnival Group AGM
We Need You! on Tuesday, 15th July at 7pm
Join the Dream Team Behind Our Biggest School Event
Join us for our Annual AGM at COOKS BEACH FIRE STATION
Drinks & nibbles provided along with formalities and a few laughs - RSVP Tracey 0274773350
Our annual School Carnival isn’t just a fun-filled day of games, food, and community—it’s a vital fundraiser that raises up to $40,000 each year for our tamariki. That’s right—other principals and teachers dream of having something like this!
This incredible event helps fund the extras that truly elevate our children’s education, like new tech, sports gear, creative arts programs, shade sails, and playground upgrades. None of this would be possible without our amazing fundraising team.
We meet just once a month, and while yes, we get the job done—there’s also banter, laughs, and a real sense of fun and connection. It’s a team effort, and we need some fresh faces to help steer the ship:
Stalls Manager – Organise and oversee our epic range of stalls. You don’t need experience—just good vibes, a love for community spirit, and a stalls management system that comes with the role, plus a full handover and support until October (when most bookings are already locked in). This can totally be a two-person job—teaming up makes it easier and way more fun!
Volunteers Manager – Coordinate our incredible team of parent helpers on the day. If you’re friendly and a great communicator, this one’s for you!
Shadow Roles for Chairperson & Treasurer – Walk alongside our current team this year so you’re confident and ready to take the reins next time. It’s a smooth handover, and you’ll be supported every step of the way.
This is more than volunteering—it’s your chance to make a real difference, leave your mark, and be part of something other schools wish they had.
Even if you’re just a little curious, reach out! Let’s keep the magic (and the money!) going.
Minivan Update
Again, so many people to thank for helping us gain the new minivan!
Being a K.I.T.E Kid Awards
Certificates presented to: -
Room 1 - Aart Laird, Charlie Farrance
Room 2 - Willow Frost, Ezra Shortland
Room 3 - Noah Probett, Benji Norriss, Aubrey Blomfield, Tui Clow
Room 4 -Fleur Eggmann, Jesse Thomson
Room 5 - Ada Roach, Hazel Matson
Room 6 - Levi Nicholson, Coco Bougen
Room 7 - Evana Jamieson, Hunter Velvin-Turner
Principal Awards - Nyx -What a great effort in the cross country
Kassidy - For being a positive role model to others.
Sports
Netball
Fireballs lived up to their name this week in our Yr5/6 netball competition! We were up against the Coro Kutai team, a team that beat us at the beginning of the Season. Girls came out firing with great work in midcourt by Emme and Ella resulted in great shots in by Ana and Kate! But the magic was happening down in defence with Isla getting intercepts and tips all over the place making it near impossible for the opposition to score.
The second half was a cliffhanger for us devoted supporters - these girls meant business, was so good to see the work at practises coming to fruition. The defense by Seazyn and Kaia making it difficult for the Coro team to fight back on our goal count. It’s a win for the Fireballs! 10-3 - one of our best games yet! Isla Walker player of the day for her huge impact in the first half and playing her heart out every week, well played ladies!
The Flames took to the court last night against Mercury Bay’s Tsunami in what can only be described as 50 minutes of nail-biting netball. It was goal for goal the entire game, with barely a point separating the two sides. Despite battling through injuries and illness, the team dug deep and showed incredible grit to finish with a well-earned draw. Having not watched a game in a few weeks, it was clear just how much progress the team has made – their growth is impressive. Player of the Day went to Hunter, who was outstanding on defence, pulling off multiple intercepts and driving the ball back into our attacking end. Thanks, Chelsea
Yr 6/7
The Networks v Coro Stingers
In what proved to be a challenging clash at the end of a demanding term, the team faced off against strong and determined opponents. Despite the pressure, the girls showed true resilience and determination, staying focused and working hard from start to finish.
Player of the day went to Anita Ebbers for consistently creating space, delivering pinpoint passes and sinking some fantastic goals.
Special mention to Isla, who stepped in as a stand in, proving to be a fantastic asset to the team.
We look forward to seeing them return refreshed and ready for more action next term.
Annual Cross Country
Most students ran on the day and gave it a go. Well done to our community for coming and supporting. It feels like the event gets bigger every year. I was very impressed with the costumes and House colours
Points from the Cross Country
Pohutukawa: red = 105
Kōtare: yellow = 100
Kauri: green 83
Tui: blue 81
Thanks to everyone who helped organise the cross country. We will have the places of the students who will go through to the Cross Country at Mercury Bay - this event is run on the beach. We can take the top 5 for each age group from ages 8 to 13. If you got a place, please continue training to ensure you are ready for term 3.
Action shots
A huge thanks to Hellers for their kind donation of 1000 Sausages for our fundraising for the AIMS Games. Next term, we will be doing sausage sizzles during the week to help with getting our students to the AIMS Games 2025.
Up and coming events
Term 3 Some early dates to be aware of
First Day back - Monday 14th of July
TOD - Monday 28th of July, Parent/Teacher interviews