Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Greetings to you all,

It’s a pleasure to connect with you all through this week’s pānui. At Kio Kio School, we’ve had a vibrant few weeks full of learning, laughter, and the joy of shared experiences. Our students have continued to embrace every opportunity with enthusiasm and positivity, and we are so proud of the growth we see in them every day.

Book Week & Grandparents’ Morning

Last week was a celebration of reading, stories, and connection. A huge thank you to Amanda Wright for organising a week full of creative and engaging activities to promote literacy and the library.

We began the week with stories shared in the library by our student librarians and a fun book-themed quiz that brought lots of smiles and friendly competition to our classrooms.

Tuesday was a true highlight — Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Morning. It was heartwarming to watch our students snuggled up with their grandparents, sharing favourite stories. The connection between a grandparent and grandchild is truly special — full of warmth, wisdom, and unconditional love. Many of our students took pride in showing their grandparents or special person around the school, introducing them to teachers, and spending time together. Thank you to all who came along — your presence brought so much joy and created beautiful memories for our tamariki.

On Thursday, the school was buzzing with excitement as students came dressed as their favourite book characters. From Princesses and Minecraft heroes to the Cat in the Hat and Scarecrows, our catwalk parade in the gym was full of fun and colour. Even our teachers got into the spirit of things, joining the stage with style!

We ended the week with a special visit from Rachel Numan, author of the Tractor Dave books. Rachel, a veterinarian and talented storyteller, shared her journey as a writer with our students. She spoke about how her stories began during her time at home with her young sons, and explained the writing process — from ideas to drafts, editing and final publishing. Our students were fully engaged, asking thoughtful questions and showing real curiosity about the world of books and crafting writing.

COPs Winter Sports

Last week, our Year 3–8 students represented Kio Kio School with pride at the COPS Winter Sports event in Ōtorohanga. Whether it was rugby, netball, or football, our students demonstrated incredible perseverance, teamwork, and respect throughout the day. They truly lived out our Kio Kio POWER values — Perseverance, Ownership, Wonder, Excellence, and Respect — both on and off the field.

I was especially proud to receive feedback from teachers and parents from other schools, who took the time to tell me how impressed they were with our students’ attitude, sportsmanship, and respectful behaviour. Ka mau te wehi, Kio Kio!

Matariki Week – Week 8 (June 16–19)

We’re looking forward to celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year, in Week 8. This special time of year is all about reflection, renewal, and coming together as a community. Throughout the week, students will take part in activities that deepen their understanding of the Matariki cluster and the values it represents.

On Tuesday, June 17, we’ll prepare food and the pit for the hāngī.

On Wednesday, June 18, we’ll begin the day with a hāngī prepared onsite from 6:00 am. A big thank you to those who have already offered their support — we’ll be in touch with more details soon.

Other Notices

🌟 Polo Fridays
It’s been fantastic to see our students proudly wearing their school polo shirts each Friday. They look great and help foster a strong sense of school spirit and pride — ka pai, everyone!
👑 King’s Birthday Public Holiday
A reminder that school will be closed this Monday in observance of the King’s Birthday public holiday. We hope you enjoy the long weekend with your whānau.
✨ Matariki Public Holiday – Friday, 20 June
School will be closed on Friday, 20 June to celebrate Matariki, a special time to reflect, celebrate, and spend time with loved ones.
👥 Parent Interviews – Tuesday 24 June & Wednesday 25 June
We warmly invite all families to book a time to meet with your child’s teacher. These interviews are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and learning journey.
Please note: School will finish early at 1:00 pm on Tuesday 24 June to allow teachers time to prepare. We kindly ask that you arrange for your child to be picked up.
🧑‍🏫 Teacher Only Day – Term 3
There will be a Teacher Only Day on Monday, 11 August for staff professional development focused on curriculum knowledge and teaching practice. School will be closed for students on this day.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are so fortunate to be part of such a caring and connected school community. Wishing you all a safe and restful long weekend.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Pip Were
Principal – Kio Kio School

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 supply is building up again. Come and check it out so we can return the clothing to your children.
Would be very helpful if your child's name or initials are placed on their belongings, so they can be returned to them immediately.