Crikey!  This term is zooming by.  We only have 4 weeks remaining until the end of Term 1. 

Karearea have enjoyed two weeks of kayaking at Kuratau.  Massive thanks to Marrianne Williamson and Ingrid Sundt for their leadership of the kayaking skills programme.  Students learnt some fantastic kayaking skills and enjoyed swimming in the lake while waiting for their turn on the kayaks. 

On Thursday 14th March, 14 of our students represented Kuratau School at the Taupō Rugby League Festival.  This awesome opportunity was organised by Kiwi Sport NZ and New Zealand Rugby League.  There were 14 teams competing on the day.  Congratulations to Rosa Hoebers, who was awarded the Kuratau School Player of the Day. 

This week we held our first Bike Day planning meeting.  We had a great turnout of people at the meeting and are really excited to be getting underway with our planning. Our annual Bike Day is a major fundraising event and requires the help of many in our school community.  We have set this year's Bike Day for Sunday 9th June.  If you are able to help on the day, or offer any sponsorship in the form of prizes or monetary donations, please let us know - shirleyb@kuratau.school.nz.  Our next planning meeting will be held Wednesday 10th April, 6pm, in the staffroom.   If you would like to become involved in this event, we warmly invite you to attend the next meeting. 

Reminder:  Easter is fast approaching.  Please note that all schools will be closed on Good Friday (29th March), Easter Monday (1st April) and Tuesday 2nd April. 

Our Triathlon will be held next Friday - 22nd March.  Please make sure you read the information below.

Have a fantastic weekend.  It's looking like it could be chilly ... so much for the L.O.N.G hot summer they predicted!  It won't be long before we are lighting our fires, cranking up our heaters and digging out our thermals.  


Ngā mihi

Shirley Bailey and the Kuratau School Team.

The plan is to hold this event down at Kuratau Beach - the exact location will be advised by Wednesday 20th March.  Belinda Pyman has sent an email to all whānau requesting parent volunteers to assist with marshalling on the day.  If you can help out, PLEASE contact Belinda to let her know - pymanb@kuratau.school.nz .

Due to the nature of this event and the risks involved (running/cycling on roads and swimming in the lake), if we are unable to secure enough volunteer helpers we will hold the event at school.   NOTE:  This Education Outside the Classroom event does involve a high level of risk due to running and/or cycling on roads and swimming in the lake.  We are required (by EONZ) to obtain parental consent before your child can participate.  Please complete this ONLINE FORM to indicate your consent.  We appreciate and understand that these forms are frustrating and time consuming.  However, if we want to continue offering these unique outdoor opportunities to our tamariki, we are required to follow certain processes and procedures.  These processes are designed to ensure the safety of both your children and our teaching staff.  As a PCBU - persons conducting a business or undertaking, we are ultimately responsible for the health and safety of your children and take this very seriously.  

The latest Bulletin I received from the Secretary of Education once again highlighted the nationwide concern surrounding New Zealand's low attendance rates.  

Below I have copy and pasted the message from the Secretary:

Parents and caregivers have a responsibility to send their children to school.  They also have a responsibility to let us know when their child is absent and why they are absent.  It is difficult for children to slot back into the learning that is happening in their class after a long period of absence.  It is equally difficult for teachers to try and 'catch' students up with what they have missed.   

Below I have attached a Guide for Parents and Caregivers around their responsibilities with regards to regular school attendance. 

Our aim is to have all students attend school regularly, as we know regular attendance is strongly linked with academic success and positive social and emotional outcomes.  Where possible, please organise appointments, trips and holidays outside of school time. 

You can track your child's attendance by logging into the Edge Mobile App.  On the home screen page click on attendance and you will see your child's current attendance rate. 
 

We have been notified by NZEI Te Riu Roa |  Primary Teachers Union that there will be a paid union meeting for teachers who wish to attend on Wednesday 20th March from 1.30-2.30pm in Taupō.   

Teachers attending this meeting will leave school at approximately 12.30pm, to allow travelling time.  School will remain open.  However, from 12.30pm we will not be teaching our normal daily programme due to reduced teaching staff.  We will be splitting classes and offering various supervised activities until the end of the school day.  

Our network company, The Lines Company, has scheduled maintenance to the electricity network in our area.

This work is needed to maintain the electricity network and ensure the on-going reliability of electricity supply. The maintenance work means the electricity at school will be turned off temporarily.

School will be without power on Wednesday, 10th April, 2024, from 9.00am-3.30pm.

School will remain open for instruction. 

Our 2024-2025 Strategic Plan has been finalised and shared with the Ministry of Education.  A copy of our Strategic Plan is attached below and is available on our school website.