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Connect Communication
26 March 2025
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New happenings around Ararira!
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Kia ora koutou, this is my first newsletter in Claire's absence. We hope she is enjoying her well-earned sabbatical. Claire will be away until Week 2 of Term 2, so please send all principal communication to principal@ararira.school.nz and I will respond accordingly.
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I want to wish "Eid Mubarak" (blessed Eid/happy Eid) to all of our families celebrating Eid-al-Fitr on 30-31 March.
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You may have noticed some movement around the school this week. We had our STRG (short-term roll growth) classrooms delivered overnight on Monday, which are now being moved into position. The building will be refurbished during Term 2, with a hopeful occupation date of the start of Term 3. These classes will be known as Pūrei 3 & 4. On Tuesday, we had our Athletics container delivered. This container will be a permanent fixture to store our future athletics and sports gear.
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Hoods Up for Autism 2 April – Celebrate Neurodiversity!
On April 2nd, we’re joining the Hoods Up for Autism movement to raise awareness and celebrate the unique strengths of individuals on the Autism spectrum. Many people with autism experience the world in incredible ways - some have extraordinary focus, creativity, or problem-solving skills, making autism a kind of superpower! Famous autistic individuals like Albert Einstein, Temple Grandin, Greta Thunberg, and Sir Anthony Hopkins have made remarkable contributions to science, activism, and the arts. Wearing a hoodie on this day symbolises understanding and support for sensory needs, helping create a more inclusive world. Join us in celebrating the amazing minds of people with Autism - hoods up! Students are encouraged to wear a hoodie over their school uniform on 2 April and will have education on Autism awareness during the week.
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A former ASP student, Vincent, has designed one of this year's hoodies and is visiting parliament next week for breakfast to celebrate his achievement! Tū meke, Vincent!
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Advance notice: Learning conversations, Week 2 of Term 2
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This is an early notice that in our Week 10 newsletter, you will be sent information and booking information for our Phase 1 & 2 (Year 0-6) learning conversations in early Term 2. Phase 3 (Year 7-8) learning conversations will be held later in Term 2.
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Maths Whānau Information Evening
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A reminder this will be held in Pūtahi | Library on Tuesday 1 April from 7pm. No RSVP is needed and children are welcome if you cannot find alternative care for them.
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We wish to extend a very warm welcome to the following students who have joined us in the second half of Term 1, 2025:
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Daniel, James, Iza, Nilan, Kendall, Suhani, Ole, Alfie, Millie, Zilla, Priscilla, Momo, and Alisha.
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Early Pickups/Daytime Appointments
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Due to the size of our school, it has become increasingly difficult for our office staff to deliver forgotten items to classrooms, or to collect children from their classrooms for early pickup/appointments during the school day.
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Should you need to collect your child early, you will need to come to the office, sign them out, and collect them from the class yourself.
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If you are dropping off items such as lunches, please place them directly in your child’s school bag.
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Thank you for your understanding.
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For the safety of all our students and families, please exercise extra caution when driving in the school carpark and surrounding roads. The speed limit around schools is 30km/h from 8.30am - 9am and 2.45pm - 3.15pm. Please refrain from making u-turns outside the school. This morning we experienced a near miss. Our priority is to ensure the safety of everyone in our school community. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Please also remind your child/ren to wear their safety vests when traveling to and from school, whether they are coming by car, bike, scooter, or on foot.
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Subway orders are still being accepted through Kindo, even though the Lincoln store is closed for renovations. Orders are being processed at a different location and will be delivered as usual during this period.
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IMPORTANT DATES
- 27 March - Hot Cross Bun orders close (see below)
- 27 March - THT meeting, 7pm in the Staffroom
- 31 March to 11 April - Life Education
- 01 April - Maths Whanau Information Evening, 7pm in Putahi | Library
- 02 April - Hoodie Day (see above)
- 02 April - School Board meeting, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
- 04 April - Hui (Teretere), 9.15am in the Hall
- 07 April - Hot Cross Bun orders sent home with children
- 11 April - Last day of term 1
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School Board
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Next meeting - 02 April, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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Te Hapori Tautoko (THT)
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Next meeting - 27 March, 7-8pm in Tahuna | Staffroom (all welcome)
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Well done to all our learners who took part in the top team challenge this past Friday. There was great teamwork and support within our whānau groups. Well done to the two teams that won the challenge. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents who helped out on the day, we could not have done it without you!
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Congratulations to all our swimmers who represented our school at the Zones Swimming competition at Jellie Park on the 18th of March. Our swimmers did well displaying our school values. Amelia did very well coming first in all her races and second in the individual medley relay. Amelia will be representing Arararia at Canerbury’s next month. Thank you to Whaea Megan and Whaea Sherryn who went along to manage, officiate, and support our swimmers.
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The Robyn Tobeck Spirit Award
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Since 2022, the Robyn Tobeck Spirit Award has been given to schools that best demonstrate school and sporting spirit. During the Zones Tournament, we keep an eye out for schools that show outstanding sporting spirit. The school that stands out in their support and spirit will receive the cup to proudly display for the year.
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The schools in the Lincoln Zone Sports Association voted Ararira Springs School as the winner of the Award for 2024 for the following reasons:
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Basketball: Excellent team work.
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Cross Country: Great support to your own team and of other runners.
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Football: for playing with an amazing team spirit and showing fair play to all.
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Congratulations Ararira for showing our best school spirit!
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Thank you to Charlie, Alex, Seth and Amelia for accepting the cup on behalf of all our sporting representatives over the past year! Ka rawe!
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Don't forget to check out our “What’s coming up” page for any clubs advertising what they have on offer.
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Achievement Challenges Student-Led Workshops!
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We’d love to invite you to one of our upcoming student-led COL2040 workshops. These sessions are a chance to hear directly from our awesome students, who’ve been supporting our mahi on some big ideas about the future of learning in our community and the challenges we face.As part of this project, we recently surveyed students, whānau and staff what they think are the biggest challenges to student success. Two clear themes came through:
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- Social challenges – things like connection, wellbeing and relationships
- Technology – how fast it’s changing and how we prepare students and our community for it
Now we’re diving deeper into these themes, and we’d love your input. The workshops will be run by students, and they’ll guide us through some creative ways to explore the issues and come up with ideas together. What we learn will help shape a long-term strategy for our kāhui ako – and your voice matters.
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Everyone in our kāhui ako is welcome, so please feel free to bring others along – whānau, friends, neighbours – anyone interested in the future of education in our community.
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We do need RSVPs, so we can plan the sessions and make sure we’ve got enough space and snacks!
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- Option 1: Thursday April 3rd - 6.30pm - 8.30pm - Tai Tapu Primary School
- Option 2: Sunday April 6th - 4pm-6pm - Lincoln High School
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Please let us know you're coming by filling in this quick form: RSVP here
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Tumuaki Tuatoru me te ūpoko o te Tau 13
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Leader Ngā Matapuna o Ngā Pakihi Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako
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Lincoln High School | Te Kura Tuarua o Waihora
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Katrina Robinson has been teaching guitar and ukulele now for a number of years at schools and also from her home. She loves to sing too and is a professional musician playing in wineries and cafés as well as weddings and private functions. Katrina likes to make her lessons fun and really enjoys teaching. You can read more information on Katrina at www.thesingingdiva.co.nz
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Spaces are available for 2025!
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The closing date for Issue 2 is 11 April 2025.
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All orders will be delivered to school in batches and distributed to the classrooms as they arrive. Any orders marked as gifts, we will put to one side and contact you when they are ready to be collected.
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Every order from Issue 2 will receive a $5 promotional code to spend on Issue 3. See page 10 of the catalogue for more details.
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The Importance of Attendance We all recognise that education is the pathway to the future. The key to educational success relies on being present at school. Consistent routines and practice are a big component of learning. Neurological pathways in our brains require repetitive exposure to strengthen and cement learning and develop mastery. We also create these neural pathways for resilience, …
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Assessment Update - Term 1, 2025 At Ararira Springs Primary, we use assessment to support learning and help each child grow. Our main focus is on formative assessment, which means we check in on students’ progress regularly through class discussions, observations, and their work. This helps teachers understand what students already know and what they need to learn next. By …
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Payments and School Donations Our community’s socio-economic status means our school is not eligible for the government’s school donations scheme. Our equity index means we receive less operational funding than other schools. More information about the Equity Index can be found at the bottom of this post. Due to this, we request donations from parents. Voluntary Donations The Ararira School …
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Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum Curriculum Update - Term 1, 2025 From Term 1 this year, all NZ primary schools are required to teach the refreshed Maths (Year 0-8) and English (Year 0-6 at the stage) curriculum areas. Please refer to my blog post from 6 November for a more detailed explanation of the changes. Your child will …
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