Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

“Whaia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.”
Pursue that which is precious, and do not be deterred by anything less than a lofty mountain.

Celebrating Perseverance

As we head into the final week of Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the perseverance shown by our students, families, teachers, and wider community. This term, we have all continued to “show up” and keep going, even when challenges arose. Our students have persevered by tackling new learning, stepping up in speeches and sports, and showing resilience in the classroom and playground. Our families persevere by supporting children with homework, sports practices, early mornings, and late nights. Our teachers persevere through the many demands of teaching while ensuring every child feels supported. And our community continues to back our school through encouragement, sponsorship, and volunteer hours. Together, this perseverance has helped us achieve so much.

Regional Speech Finals

Last week, two of our students, Naia Willis and Caitlin Gill, represented Kio Kio School at the Regional Speech Finals held at Puketaha. Both girls delivered their speeches with confidence, flair, and enthusiasm, showcasing not only their writing talent but also their ability to engage an audience with clear stage presence. They were outstanding ambassadors for our school, and we are very proud of the courage and hard work they put into preparing for this event.

Wacky Wig Wednesday

Yesterday, our school supported Wacky Wig Wednesday, a nationwide event raising awareness and funds for child’s cancer support. Students and staff came along with colourful wigs, funky hairstyles, and plenty of creativity! It was wonderful to see everyone embracing the fun while supporting such an important cause.

Conservation Week – Enviro Leaders

Today, our Enviro Leaders are in Cambridge for a Conservation Week educational day. This event gives students hands-on opportunities to explore nature, sustainability, and conservation practices. They’ll take part in workshops, interactive activities, and discussions with experts, all designed to inspire a deeper connection with the environment. Many thanks to Mrs. Kelly and Miss Blackwood for accompanying our students and helping them make the most of this experience.

Year 7 & 8 Sports Camp

This week, a small group of our Year 7 & 8 students joined Kōrakonui School at their Sports Camp in Matamata. Leading up to the event, the students trained weekly, often giving up their lunchtimes to prepare. This five-day Sports Camp is a demanding week with nearly 40 sports on offer, games running from breakfast until late at night, and strong competition between schools. Our students gave their best effort in every game, showed great sportsmanship, and lived out our school values—especially perseverance. A huge thank you to Mrs. Emma Telfer for her commitment to leading and supporting the team throughout this exciting but exhausting week.

Badminton Skills Development

We are also grateful to Rosemary Fleming for her ongoing support in developing our students’ badminton skills. Rosemary has dedicated her time each week to coaching our Year 6–8 students, helping them build confidence, develop technique, and understand the game better. Next week, students will put their skills to the test as they compete for the Fleming Family Trophy and the Ryan Family Trophy. We wish them all the best and sincerely thank Rosemary for her passion and commitment.

Market Day & Celebration Assembly

Mark your calendars!

Market Day: Thursday 18th September, 11.00am–12.30pm
Students will sell a variety of products, including crafts, baked goods, and plants. We invite all families and community members to come along and support our young entrepreneurs. A sausage sizzle will be available.
Celebration Assembly: Thursday 18th September, 2–3pm
This change allows whānau to attend both Market Day and stay on for the assembly. Everyone is warmly invited.

Introducing Our New Board of Trustees

I am pleased to introduce our newly elected Kio Kio School Board of Trustees. Each member brings valuable expertise and a strong commitment to supporting our school:

Charlie Telfer – Transport & Logistics Manager at Bulk Lines, with extensive governance experience
Leanne Lawrence – Environmental and Project Management Consultant with over 18 years’ experience in local government and project work
Karl Morrow – Managing Director at Scafpro Ltd and Raglan Scaffolding, with strong knowledge in construction and property
Craig Mora – Operations Manager at BBC Farms and former rural bank manager
Louise Payne – iDeaL Development Manager at Learning MATTERS and experienced primary school teacher
Nick Willis – Senior Investment Analyst at Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, skills in policy, commercial and impact investment.
Larna Culpan - Staff Representative

I am grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to working alongside them to guide the future direction of our kura.

Property Works

Our very supportive Board of Trustees continue to ensure that Kio Kio School’s facilities are well maintained and upgraded to provide a safe, comfortable, and modern learning environment for our students. This week, new blinds have been installed in all classrooms, helping to reduce glare and create a more comfortable learning space. We are also completing a long-standing project with the installation of a bell system across all buildings, designed to improve day-to-day coordination seamlessly. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed to enhance school security and ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Community Voice

Thank you to all the families who took the time to complete the cohort survey. We were delighted to receive such a strong response, with the majority of families supporting the continuation of cohort entry. In response to this feedback, the Board of Trustees will honour the community’s wishes and continue to implement the Cohort Entry policy.

Healthy Lunches and Drinks

At Kio Kio School, we encourage all students to make healthy choices when it comes to their lunches and drinks. We are a water-only school, and we ask that students bring water bottles to keep them hydrated throughout the day. Nutritious food and water not only help our students stay focused and energised for learning, but also support their overall wellbeing. Thank you, whānau, for supporting this important kaupapa.

Attendance Matters

Attendance continues to be a focus for schools across New Zealand, including ours. Every day at school counts—regular attendance helps students build strong foundations in learning, develop social connections, and gain the confidence they need to succeed. At Kio Kio, we are proud of the commitment many of our students and families make to ensuring children are here, ready to learn each day. Together, we can keep working to ensure every child has the best possible opportunity to thrive.

Looking Ahead to Term 4

Next term starts with a big event for our Pōhutukawa Class, who will head off to Pirongia Forest Lodge Camp alongside the Rangitoto Year 3 & 4 students. This camp will be a wonderful opportunity to build teamwork, resilience, and outdoor skills. Then, in Week 3, we look forward to Agricultural Day—a special celebration of our rural community that brings students, families, and animals together.

As this is our last newsletter for Term 3, I would like to wish all students and families a safe and happy two-week break. Enjoy your time together, and I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an action-packed Term 4.

Ngā mihi nui,
Pip Were
Principal

YR8 HPV IMMUNISATION

The Public Health Nurses will be at school on 17/9/25 to provide dose 2 of the HPV immunisation for the Year 8 students whose parents/caregivers consented earlier in the year. If your child is absent there will be a catch up planned within 3 weeks.

If parents have any queries or changes contact the PHN Anne Green 021578052

LOST PROPERTY

Please check the Lost Property rack that is on the front deck at the moment 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, TRACK PANTS, LOTS AND LOTS OF JERSEYS, MACPAC JACKET, PUFFER VESTS, SHOES, SOCKS, DRINK BOTTLES AND 1 LUNCH BOX with their rightful homes!

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.