A warm welcome to our new student Leikyn McConnell

Kis Ora Koutou,

Last week was another big one for our Year 7 and 8 tamariki! Fresh off a massive week at Sports Camp, a group of Puketaha students represented our school at the AIMS Games. Competing on this stage after such a full-on week was a huge ask, but each of them dug deep, showed resilience, and made us proud.

AIMS Games Results

Year 8 Netball Team – Won 3 of their 10 games

• Fraya Harrison
• Ivy Perry
• Paige Barnes
• Brooke Haddon
• Mackenzie Dawson
• Milla Goodin
• Lydia Russell
• Ava Ramaka
• Alice McConnell
• Phoebe Hurst

Swimming

• Georgie Shell – multiple Personal Bests
• Ashton Tinworth – multiple Personal Bests

Gymnastics

• Ashton Tinworth – 2nd High Bar
• Miller Dawson – 1st Aerobics

Cross Country

• Lauren MacPherson – 100th placing

A huge congratulations to all our AIMS athletes and a special thank you to the parents who supported them — your encouragement made this opportunity possible.

Puketaha also had the honour of hosting the Waikato Country Schools Speech Finals and the Waikato Full Primary School Regional Speech Qualifier. Our students spoke with confidence, entertained the audience, and represented the school with pride.

Speech Results

• Year 8 Girls – 1st: Lydia Russell
• Year 6 Girls – 1st: Lily Khoo, 2nd: Chelsea Russell
• Year 6 Boys – 1st: Kees Olliver, 2nd: Mateo Bilcich
• Year 5 Girls – 1st Gia Redgate

Lydia went on to come runner-up in the finals of the Waikato Full Primary Speech Competition, out of 53 schools a massive achievement!

We are also thrilled to share that one of our Battle of the Books teams placed 1st out of 18 teams! Congratulations to Georgia Emslie, Chloe Creighton-Pester, Maia Jeftha, and Thea Lemon on this outstanding result! 

Our students are highly involved in all the extracurricular activities happening, and we have students across the school and throughout the year who are achieving outstanding successes. It highlights the talent, commitment, and spirit of our students and the strong whaanau support that helps make these opportunities possible.

Have a wonderful rest of your week and a lovely weekend,

Ngaa mihi nui,

Nyree Olliver

Sports photos are now available to order online

Access key 8YGH4Y3A

Orders Close on the 3rd October

PAC & Classroom Rebuild (after fire)

The Ministry of Education has approved the rebuild of our Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and the lost classroom, and funding has been allocated. This funding follows the MoE’s Value for Money process and is intended to reinstate facilities comparable in size and function to what we had.
The Board has established a Rebuild Committee, and we’re in the early planning phase.

Kaakano 1 & 2 – Deck Improvements

• Kaakano 1: A canopy will be built over the deck during the upcoming school break. This will provide shelter from the sun and rain and support better indoor-to-outdoor flow as an extension to the classroom learning space.
  
• Kaakano 2: We’re enclosing the open end of the front deck (area in front of the kitchen/ wet area door) to create more sheltered cloak-bay space.
  

Roofing & Maintenance (timing TBC)

• Kaakano 2: Internal gutter replacement and partial re-roof; clear-light panels over the deck will also be replaced.
  
• Puaawai (Year 7–8): Cloak-bay/toilet block roof replacement and some repairs..
  
• Maahuri: Internal gutter repair on the covered deck area.

Below are the confirmed Term Dates for next year .

The Ministry of Education has updated the required number of school days for 2025. This means we’ve shortened our school year by two days to align with the new requirements.

Term 1:  Wednesday 4th Feb to Thursday 2nd April

Term 2:  Monday 20th April to Friday 3 July

Term 3:  Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 

Term 4:  Monday 12th October to Wednesday 16th December

All sports uniforms that are not currently being used for sports need to be returned to school.  This includes netball dresses & jackets, sports shirts, and all school shirts used for any extra-curricular activity.

If your children require shirts for any future events these will be given out as needed. 

Monster Garage Sale-  This Saturday,  Sept 13th

Thank you for your donations! Please spread the word of this upcoming event through your social media channels.  We need volunteers to help sort items tomorrow ( Friday 12^th ) and Saturday 13^th to help sell and pack up.  We  will be offering to the Puketaha School Community a first pick preview on Friday afternoon 2.30pm-4pm. Eftpos will be available.

Pepper & Me Fundraiser Sept 1^st – Sept 21st

Our school will receive 20% of all sales made through the Pepper & Me website when you use the code FUNDPS25 at checkout.
These products are always a hit in the kitchen — perfect for adding flavour to your meals or gifting to friends and family. The fundraiser runs until Sept 21st. (See attached poster for details.)

“Paddington In Peru” Movie Night –  Next Wed Sept 17th

Join us for a fun night out with friends and whānau at our Paddington in Peru Movie Night! Tickets are available through KINDO. (Poster attached with full details.) A great chance to relax and support the school at the same time. We will be selling a $2 raffle at the venue also.

Thanks everyone for your help and support this term.

Kind regards,

Merynn Connors

Puketaha PTA Chairperson

M: 027 6296820 E: pta@puketaha.school.nz