Kia kaha - do your best * Kia māia - be courageous * Kia manawanui - have a heart

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to see the Harmonic Resonators at Ngamotu Beach for Waitangi Day and it was awesome. What was even more awesome was that Ana Whelan had a big part to play in their lead singer, Jeremy's development. He put out a shot out to Ana during the performance and thanked her for getting him to co-lead their Kapa Haka ropu with her in Auckland. Now he is a pakeha country singer that travels the country and sings in Te Reo. Tau ke Ana.

Please read the reading below around Te Tiriti o Waitangi to get a deeper understanding of the 'why' behind this important document in Aotearoa history.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi (10 min reading)

• Ranginui Walker: Te Tiriti and the abyss of meaning - Three decades ago one of the giants of New Zealand thinking and writing, Ranginui Walker, published Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou, Struggle Without End. The book, originally released in 1990 and revised in 2004, is a history of Aotearoa from a Māori perspective had a profound influence and today remains as piercing and illuminating as ever.

Oops! We left out one of our wonderful support team last week!

How could we forget Mrs Sandra Fonoti who is a long-standing part of our team.

It is a HUGE undertaking, with lots of learning and figuring out as we go.

Recap for lunches:

• Lunches are provided for free, to all students, delivered daily
• Lunches are put together by Compass Group, at their kitchen at NP hospital and delivered by Mainfreight.
• Menus will be shared in advance
• Remember to bring your morning tea snack and drink bottle
• Please let the office know of any dietary requirements

And the verdict? Yum!

This term our school wide learning theme is all about who we are and where we belong.

Moemoea/Aspiration:

Our akonga will have an understanding of the concept of:

• our cultural narrative

• who they are

• our school vision and values

• apply lessons from the past to shape our future

As part of this learning theme we are wanting our students to have a strong sense of belonging, where they come from and who they are. We also want our akonga to really think about who their role models are, why they are their role models and what they want to be when they are older. We want students to understand how the past can shape our future.

Our learning will be displayed visually around our learning spaces and we invite you to come in and have conversations with your children about these.

Inline Hockey

Who’s keen to play inline hockey?

School League restarts Thursday 18 February until Thursday 25 March (with 1st April as a backup date if any of the 7 weeks gets cancelled).

Cost: $25pp payable to the school.

First time players are welcome. Invite your friends who’d like to give it a go too!

Basic gear required:

- Bike Helmet

- Drink Bottle

- Mouth guard (recommended)

- Skate elbow & knee pads (recommended)

- Inline skates (recommended but can be borrowed each week)

- Inline hockey stick (provided or available to borrow each week)

Contact Davina Perry if you are interested in playing.

The cost is $5 per student, please collect notice & permission slip from the office and return along with your $5 by Wednesday 24 February.

Pack a picnic for your whanau and come join us for a swim in the school pool.

We would love to see you there!

We will be doing another order for Puketapu Hoodies later in the term. Details will follow later this term.

• Nancy Chen
• Kupa Brider
• Kayden Tango
• Millie Collinson
• Pavihi Ekeroma
• Amber MacDonald
• Brianna O'Keeffe-Wano

Here are some of the main items on our school calendar for this term. More information will follow closer to the time:

Week 3

Monday 15 Feb: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Tuesday 16 Feb: Last day for Lucky Book Club #1 orders

Wednesday 17 Feb: Board of Trustees Meeting 5.30pm

Friday 19 Feb:

• Board of Trustees and Home & School picnic at the pool 4pm
• Kowhai - Walking to Bell Block Pool (12.20pm leaving school)

Week 4

Hockey in schools programme all week

Monday 22 Feb: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Wednesday 24 Feb: Ki-o-rahi for Kowhai year 5&6

Thursday 25 Feb: RNZB Tutus on Tour - dance workshop (9.30am juniors, 10.30am seniors)

Week 5

Hockey in schools programme all week

Monday 1 March: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Wednesday 3 March:

• Kauri - Overnight camp at school
• Kauri - beach trip / water safety
• Kowhai year 5 & 6 - Ki-o-rahi

Friday 5 March: Teacher Only Day / School Closed

Week 6

Monday 8 March: Taranaki Anniversary / School Closed

Tuesday 9 March: Year 7 & 8 Vaccinations

Week 7

Monday 15 March: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Tuesday 16 March: Vision & Hearing testing New Entrants

Wednesday 17 March: Board of Trustees Meeting 5.30pm

Friday 19 March: School Swimming Sports

Week 8

Monday 22 March: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Tuesday 23 March: Te Wera Camp (year 6)

Friday 26 March: Bell Block School Gala 5pm-7pm

Week 9

Monday 29 March: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Wednesday 31 March: Weetbix Tryathlon

Friday 2 April: Good Friday / School Closed

Week 10

Monday 5 April: Easter Monday / School Closed

Tuesday 6 April: Easter Tuesday / School Closed

Wednesday 7 April: Interschool Swimming (Bell Block Pool)

Friday 9 April: Gumboot Friday (wear your gumboots, optional gold coin donation)

Week 11

Monday 15 April: Kapa Haka (yr 4-8) 11.30-12.30

Term 1 ends on Friday 16 April

Term 2 starts on Monday 3 May

A fun day of games, food and spot prizes for the whole family.

Visit the Facebook event for more information.