“Mistakes show you're trying, and small steps each day lead to big change.”

Kia ora e te whānau,

At Kio Kio School, we believe that learning is a journey powered by effort, courage, and persistence. Mistakes are not setbacks—they are stepping stones to success. Every small step forward, every challenge faced, and every mistake made is part of the progress our tamariki are making each day. It’s through trying, failing, and trying again that true growth happens.

Sometimes we make mistakes in our learning, but we keep going, and each attempt brings us closer to understanding. At times, we make mistakes in our friendships too, but even these moments provide valuable opportunities to learn how to listen, apologise, problem-solve, and respond with kindness. Let’s continue to support our learners as they grow not only in knowledge but in character too.

At our Final Celebration Assembly this Friday, 27 June at 2 pm, we will honour the students who have consistently demonstrated our Kio Kio POWER values through their learning, their play, their behaviour, and the way they relate to others. These students have shown remarkable growth not only in their academic efforts but also in how they navigate friendships and respond to challenges with resilience. We warmly invite all whānau to join us as we reflect on a busy and fulfilling Term 2 and celebrate these wonderful achievements.

Matariki Celebrations

Last week, we celebrated an incredible Matariki Week at Kio Kio School. Under the leadership of Larna Culpan, our staff led students through meaningful learning experiences—from our Maunga Group rotations to exploring the protocols, preparations, and process of putting down a traditional hāngī.

A huge thank you to the wonderful whānau who supported every stage of the hāngī—preparing food, digging the pit, donating ingredients and firewood, lighting the fire, and overseeing the process from start to finish. It was a powerful and memorable experience for our tamariki, topped off by enjoying the delicious kai together as a school community.

We are incredibly grateful to all those who took time out of their daily life to be part of this day. Your generosity, time, and aroha made our Matariki celebration truly special.

A highlight of the week was the Hautapu Ceremony—a traditional dawn ritual held to honour loved ones who have passed and to welcome the rising of the Matariki stars. Led by Anaru Morgan, the ceremony included karakia offered by our students for each of the nine stars of Matariki. It was a moving and spiritual moment, strengthening our connection to the meaning and values of this special time in the Māori calendar.

Parent Interviews

Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who took the time to come into school and meet with your child’s teacher. These conversations are incredibly valuable opportunities to celebrate student progress, share insights, and strengthen the vital partnership between home and school.

When whānau and teachers work together, it has a powerful impact on a child’s learning, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. We appreciate your ongoing support and the role you play in helping our tamariki thrive.

Cadbury Chocolate Fundraiser

A huge thank you to all the families who have already sold their box of chocolate bars as part of our school fundraiser—we truly appreciate your support!

A special shout-out to Hayleigh Richardson and Ange Richards, who have each sold over ten boxes—an incredible effort!

We still have around 16 boxes to sell. If your whānau is able to take on just one more box over the holiday break, it would make a big difference. Every box sold helps raise valuable funds to support our students and school programmes.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

School Disco – Thursday 17 July

Our amazing Student Councillors are busy planning this term’s School Disco, happening on Thursday 17 July!

The theme is Matching Outfits—so grab a buddy, sibling, or friend and coordinate your look! Or simply come dressed in your favourite fun outfit. Everyone is welcome to join the party in their own style.

Please see the poster in this newsletter for all the details, including times, entry cost, and what’s on offer. We can’t wait to see everyone there for a night of music, dancing, and fun!

Pyjama Day for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Today, many of our students came to school in their pyjamas to show support for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides accommodation and support for families with children in hospital. Thanks to everyone who participated—we love seeing our students taking action to support others with empathy and compassion. Together, we raised awareness and $202 for an important cause while having a little fun along the way!

~THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU~THANK YOU ~ THANK YOU ~

We are incredibly grateful to our amazing Supporters Committee, who have once again gone above and beyond for our school community. Thanks to their hard work and generosity, we now have three brand new shade sails installed on our school grounds. These vibrant additions will provide much-needed shade and shelter for our students during break times and outdoor learning. A special thank you goes to Steph Hughes, whose dedication behind the scenes—applying for grants, coordinating logistics, and keeping things moving—made this project possible. The sails look fantastic, and we are so appreciative of everyone who helped bring this to life for our tamariki.

Wishing You a Safe & Restful Break

As we wrap up Term 2, I want to thank each and every one of you—students, staff, and whānau—for your hard work, kindness, and commitment to our school community.

I wish you all a safe, restful, and joyful two-week break. May it be filled with family time, fresh air, laughter, and a chance to recharge.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 14 July, beginning with a Whakatau to welcome new students and families and to mark the start of Term 3 together.

Ngā mihi nui,
Pip Were
Principal

BREAKFAST CLUB

We are still on the lookout for parent volunteers to run the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings for approximately 3/4 of an hour before school. If you are able to help out please contact the school office.

STUDENT ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from school, please advise the office by phone (078731816), email (admin@kiokio.school.nz) or the absent tab on the @School Parent APP with the reason so the absence can be marked correctly for the Ministry of Education. If the school is not notified, the child is deemed TRUANT and marked accordingly. If your child is late to school, they must come to the office and sign in on the electronic register.

STUDENTS ENTERING & LEAVING SCHOOL

Please make sure that your child/ren are dropped off and collected from the bus shelter each day.
We are enforcing safety rules at school pick-up and drop-off. Children are NOT to open our school gates. Parents are required to drop off inside the gate and come into the school grounds to collect their children. This is a safety measure. Our carpark is very busy at the end of the day and we need to do everything we can to keep everyone safe.

BUS BOOK REMINDER

Please ensure that the school office is informed early if your child won't be on the school bus in the afternoon. We also need to be contacted if your child/ren are getting off at another stop. You can do this by phoning the school office on 07 8731816 or emailing admin@kiokio.school.nz

PEANUT ALLERGY

We have a student in Kahikatea class with a severe peanut allergy who cannot come into contact with peanuts or products with peanuts in them. We ask that parents do not send peanuts or any peanut related products to school, so that we can keep this student safe. Thank you for your understanding.

LOST PROPERTY

LOST PROPERTY IS CALLING OUT!

Our Lost Property bin is overflowing and some of the items are crying out for help – quite literally!

Please check the Lost Property area outside the Rec Centre and encourage your children to take a look too. Named items will be returned to students, but unnamed gear is piling up fast.

Help reunite our poor hats, jerseys, shoes, and lunchboxes with their rightful homes!

NEXT BOT MEETING - 29th July 2025 at 6.30pm

'WHAKATANGATA, PLAYING THE GAME OF LIFE'

# 10 - 26th June 2025

In This Issue

PRINCIPAL NEWS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MINUTE SECRETARY VACANCY

NOTICE OF UPCOMING PARENT ELECTIONS

MATARIKI REPORT

SCHOOL DISCO

IMPORTANT DATES

OUR SCHOOL VALUES

EVERYDAY NOTICES

AGRICULTURAL DAY 2025

LIBRARY THANK YOU

FRIDAY LUNCHES AVAILABLE

KIO KIO SCHOOL POLICIES

CALF SCHEME

SUPPORTERS COMMITTEE FUNDRAISER