Kia ora koutou,

A quick note from me,  I’m lucky enough to be visiting our Year 7 and 8's at Sports Camp today. It’s a week-long competition against nine other schools across 27 codes, and our Puketaha students are doing us proud with great sportsmanship, team spirit, and some fierce competition.

Our final Board meeting for the current three-year term is coming up. Two long-serving members are stepping down and not seeking re-nomination: Simon Perry and Renika Siciliano. Simon’s three daughters have all come through Puketaha (his youngest is now in Year 8), and Renika’s son moved on to high school last year. We’re sincerely grateful for their six years of grounded, big-picture governance through some interesting times. Ngaa mihi nui, Simon and Renika — your contribution has been a real asset to our school.

Voting is now open for the next three-year Board term. We have a wonderful group of nominees; please take a moment to vote for who you’d like to represent our parent community.

There are plenty of winter bugs about, and like many workplaces, we’re juggling staff illness. Thanks to our co-teaching spaces, learning programmes continue smoothly, and relievers can slot in with minimal disruption. Attendance remains a Government priority: if your child is clearly unwell, please keep them home — and bring them back as soon as they’re well enough to learn. If you’re unsure, send them in and we’ll keep an eye on them. Please report absences each morning via HERO, email, or text to the office. Unreported absences mean our office team must follow up — a quick message from you saves time. Any absence still unexplained by 4 pm is recorded as unjustified (truant).

We’ve been excitedly watching the progress on our junior playground, which is now almost complete and ready for the soft-fall to be installed. All going well, it’ll be open for play early next week. Have a lovely rest of your week!

Ngaa mihi,

Nyree Olliver

Principal