Today marks the halfway point of Term 4, with just five weeks left in the 2024 school year!   The weather is starting to feel a bit more like summer and the lake, although a little chilly, is starting to warm up nicely for summer swims.  I think I've clocked up 10 lake swims so far this term (although, to be fair, the word swim is probably a slight exaggeration - more like a quick duck dive or two).

Teachers are currently very busy working on completing end-of-year assessments and preparing student achievement summaries (end of year written reports).  Our Achievement Summaries will be shared with caregivers via Edge (email) on Friday 13th December. 

Last week was action-packed with our Athletics Day on Wednesday, 6th November, followed by Pet Day on Friday, 8th November. A huge thank you to the Friends of Kuratau School group for organising Pet Day, and to everyone who contributed baking for the Bake Sale. Thanks to your support, we raised almost $600 from the Bake Sale and Sausage Sizzle!

This week, some of our senior students traveled to Taupō for Inter-School Athletics, while some of our junior students attended a junior athletics day at Marotiri School on Thursday. We’re incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who helped make these events successful – your support means a lot!  Massive well done to Henry Collier who finished 1st in the Year 5 Long Jump competition and Sydney Kernohan, who earned 2nd place in the Year 4 Long Jump competition.  

Looking ahead, we have two more whole-school events to keep in mind.  Firstly, our noho marae from 2nd–4th December.  All whanau were emailed a notice on Thursday 14th November, outlining the details of the Pukawa noho marae trip.  See below also for links to a volunteer form and student consent form.  Secondly,  our End of Year School Prize-Giving will be held on Wednesday, 18th December at 12:30 p.m at the school hall.  All whanau are warmly invited to attend this end of year celebration.  

Thank you all for your continued support as we make the most of the final weeks of this school year!

Ngā mihi,

Shirley & the Kuratau School Team

Just as the New Zealand Curriculum has undergone a ‘refresh,’ we’ve also been updating the graphics for our school logo, vision, and values. We’re excited to finally share our refreshed identity with you!

Our Board has spent several months reimagining our school crest. The new design reflects our connection to Ngāti Tuwharetoa, featuring Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Pihanga, along with Lake Taupō. The fern symbolises our bond with the whenua and our role as kaitiaki, caring for and protecting our surroundings.

We’ve also created updated classroom signage, whānau group signs, and visual displays for our school values and vision. Take a look at our new designs!

Yesterday, all whānau were emailed details, volunteer forms and a student consent and health profile form about our upcoming Education Outside the Classroom overnight camp to Pūkawa Marae.  We are looking forward to a great couple of days at Pūkawa.  

Karearea Students:  Will leave school by bus at 9am on Monday 2nd December and either be collected from the Marae, or travel home on the bus from the Marae at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 4th December. 

Ruru, Tui, Pīwakawaka and Pīrere students will leave school by bus and cars at 9am on Tuesday, 3rd of December and be collected from the Marae, or travel home on the bus from the Marae at 2.30pm on Wednesday 4th December.  

We will be having a Hangi for dinner on Tuesday, 3rd of December. This will be prepared by the senior students on Monday 2nd December. We are asking each family to donate a food item and to have it at school on Monday, 2nd December. Please provide one thing from the list below.

To help make our trip successful we require some whānau volunteers.  If you would like to come along to our noho marae please complete the online Form attached indicating your availability. 

We need volunteers in the following areas:

Please ensure you have completed the online form by Friday 22nd November.  Upon receipt of your offer to volunteer we will send you the required volunteer and medical forms that will need to be completed by the 25th November.

If your child is in Pīwakawaka or Pīrere we encourage you to come and stay the night with them.  If this is not possible please indicate preference on the form below.  

Due to this experience being an overnight camp, that also involves water activities, all parents must have completed this overnight camp consent, swimming consent and ākonga health profile form.  Please complete this online by 22nd November, 2024.

If you have any queries regarding our Pūkawa noho marae camp, please contact me at school - -07 386 5801, or shirleyb@kuratau.school.nz 

Check out our list of placegetters for the day below.

Big shout out to our parents and Friends of Kuratau Team who raised $482.45 from our Bake Sale.  The amount of baking was outstanding and many went home with lots of tasty treats on the day.

We have a number of containers left behind here at school following the Bake Sale.  If you are missing anything, please get in touch as we hope to return these containers to their rightful owners.

Our 2025 Stationery Packs have been finalised and we are reaching out to confirm your requirement for 2025. 

Each pack includes all stationery required for your child's learning throughout the school year.  Purchasing through the school is not mandatory, but by doing so you are sure to have all your child's stationery needs catered for to complete their learning for the year.

Bulk stationery packs will be priced as follows:
Room 1 (Year 6-7 and 8) - $39.73
Room 2 (Year 4-5) - $36.81
Room 3 (Year 2-3) - $39.22
Rooms 4 and 5 (Year 0-1) - $38.76

Bulk Stationery Pack options come with substantial savings and, depending on excess stationery items you may have, may work out to be cheaper than purchasing items individually.

If you have a collection of stationery items at home and would like to purchase items you are missing independently, please contact the school office for a list of what is required.  Indicative prices (if purchased from Office Max with 'Back to School' Pricing) can be found by browsing officemax.co.nz.  You are also welcome to source these products from alternative providers.  Once decided, please advise us of your choice on the attached form as we will be consolidating and placing our school order PRIOR to the end of Term 4 2024.

Stationery Packs ordered through school must be ordered by Friday November 22nd November 2024.   The school will be ordering the Stationery Packs ONLY and will not order individual items.  

Completion of the Attached Form will confirm you agree to purchasing your child's stationery pack at the price offered and payment will be made on receipt of the invoice.
 

We’re looking for new members to join our Friends of Kuratau School fundraising group! If you’re interested in helping to plan events and support our school community, we’d love to have you on board.

No experience is needed—just a willingness to get involved and make a difference. If you’d like to join or learn more, please reach out to Sarah Jane Clark - sarahandjohnny@icloud.com 

Bus fees for Term 4 and any outstanding fees from Terms 1 - 3 have now been emailed home.  The deadline for payment is Friday 20th December.  Thank you to those who have already paid or are paying in regular instalments.