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Connect Communication
20 August 2025
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It’s been a great few weeks at school, with lots of exciting learning. Of particular note are three learning outcomes that sit under our value of kaitiakitanga & māku e whakatika - It starts with me!
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Firstly, in 2025 our Year 2 & 3 inquiry group contacted Qizzle to give feedback about their gluestick and how the lids get lost and it is made from plastic. Qizzle has been in touch to say they have redesigned their gluestick and it is now to be made with 95% recyclable plastic. This gives the children a solid example of the power of action and they can make a difference.
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Recently our environmental leaders celebrated with the Selwyn District Council and Environment Canterbury as the sign on the Liffey giving information about local tuna was unveiled. This was a collaboration with Springston School and led by Matt Stanford from EnviroSchools and Whaea Larissa. The sign is informative and an example of learning having a positive impact on the community. Great mahi team!
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Finally, Whaea Deb and Brie from Te Ara Kākāriki worked hard with tamariki last week planting a rongoa garden by the beehives. Rongoā is traditional Māori healing that uses particular native plants. Planting the trees and shrubs is the first part of the project. Once they're in the ground, tamariki start to learn about the plants and their medicinal purposes and look for ways to share our new knowledge.
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During our hui last week we reminded students | tamariki about the differences between snitching and reporting. We wanted students to know that getting help is okay and is the right thing to do when you have a problem. Our children need support to know that some problems are tricky to solve and might needs adult support. Here is a graphic to use should you wish to support at home.
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Chaos in the Carpark Continues!
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We are at a loss as to how to make the carpark work as intended. It is particularly bad on wet days. Parents arrive and park in the kiss and go from 2:30. The driveway then fills and overflows onto Russ Drive. This makes it impossible for parents to turn right when exiting the car park. If you have older children make your pick up 3:10pm, the carpark and kiss and go are empty. Alternatively, make a pick up point with older children that is a little bit away from school, they could walk to meet you.
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If the driveway is full - keep driving! Find a park on the street, drive away and come back when you can enter the driveway. Driver behaviour is very hard for us to manage when our focus has to be on the children and their safety. If this doesn’t improve we will have to consider closing the carpark on wet days. Our children’s safety has to come first.
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Last week, I had the pleasure of working with Principal Hendrix for the day. Hendrix employed two deputy principals to work with him for part of the day. They worked hard and had a lot of fun too - certainly the reality of the job! If this is an experience you would like for your child, it is a auction item at quiz night.
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NZEI Paid Union Meeting (PUM) Thursday 28th August
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A reminder of our union meeting next week. We ask that if you can pick up your children at 12:45pm it would be fabulous. We will have a skeleton staff on site to provide supervision in the afternoon. To help us with our planning, please complete this linked form letting us know what is happening for your children. You need to complete this for each child. We have information for 220 of our 500+ children.
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Thanks so much for your support. Until next time,
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The Power of Sleep and Routine: Helping Tamariki
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Arrive Ready to Learn: For tamariki aged 5 to 16, having a consistent sleep schedule and calm morning routine can make a huge difference to their ability to engage in school life.
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We know poor sleep and chaotic mornings are common reasons why some students struggle to get to school, or arrive feeling tired, stressed, or unprepared. These may seem like small things, but over time, they can impact learning, wellbeing, and attendance.
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- Tamariki and rangatahi aged 5–16 need between 8–11 hours of sleep each night to function well at school.
- Irregular sleep patterns and screen time before bed can lead to tiredness, lack of focus, and increased anxiety the next day.
- A calm and predictable morning routine can reduce school refusal and lateness.
- Encourage regular bedtimes, even on weekends.
- Create a screen-free bedtime routine at least an hour before sleep.
- Get bags packed, lunches made, and uniforms ready the night before.
- Use visual timetables, alarms, or checklists to guide the morning routine.
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We are now planning for 2026 and would be grateful if you can advise us if any of the following apply to you:
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- Your child will be leaving at the end of 2025 and is not a Year 8 student - please email office@ararira.school.nz to advise us.
- Have you moved out of our school zone and your current student has a younger sibling turning 5 towards the end of 2025 or in 2026? If so, we need to hear from you now.
You must complete this survey by Friday 22nd August if you have a child who meets the above criteria to enable the Board to make informed decisions in our planning for 2026.
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If you have any questions, please call Trine on 03 4200888.
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IMPORTANT DATES
- 22 August - Curiosity Clubs. 11.45-12.45pm
- 22 August - ASP Quiz Night
- 28 August - Union Meeting, early pick-up at 12.45pm
- 29 August - Daffodil Day Non-Uniform Day, gold coin donation for Cancer Society
- 29 August - Hui (Huarapa), 9.15am in the Hall
- 29 August - Curiosity Clubs. 11.45-12.45pm
- 04 September - THT Meeting, 7pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
- 10 September - School Board Voting Closes
- 10 September - School Board Meeting, 6-7.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
- 19 September - Last Day of Term 3
- 06 October - First Day of Term 4
- 02 February - First day of Term 1, 2026
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School Board
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Next meeting 10 September, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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Have Your Say – Vote in Our School Board Elections
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We are excited that 17 parents have been nominated and accepted as candidates in our School Board elections. This is a fantastic turnout and a reflection of the commitment our community has to Ararira Springs. Please click here to view our 2025 candidate bios.
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Your vote matters. The School Board plays a key role in shaping our vision, supporting student achievement, and ensuring our school is the best it can be. By voting, you help choose the people who will represent your voice and make important decisions for our tamariki.
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Voting papers were sent out on Wednesday and voting is open until Wednesday 10th September. We encourage you to take the time to read about each candidate, consider the strengths they bring, and make your choices. Every vote counts towards building the strong, vibrant school community our children deserve.
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Let’s make this election one to remember – have your say and vote!
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Te Hapori Tautoko (THT)
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Next meeting 04 September, 7pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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Quiz Night is this Friday! Whoop Whoop!
Just a couple of things for the evening - doors open at 6.30pm, and the Quiz starts at 7pm.
Please bring along a couple of $2 coins per person for our Heads or Tails games. You will need a gold coin to participate.
Bring your dancing shoes as there is a disco at the end of the Quiz. Please have a plan or a place to keep any prizes/vouchers safe once the tables get moved, as we do not want anyone to lose their valuables.
Make sure you have a plan to get home safely. We suggest you walk if you can; otherwise, sort out who will be your sober driver.
And most importantly of all, get ready to have an awesome time, win some great prizes, and raise funds for our tamariki!
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Our Zones Netball Rugby Competition took place at the Lincoln Domain this week. All our teams represented our school well and did their best. We are very proud of everyone who took part. We would like to say a big thank you to our coaches and managers who supported the teams on the day. A special thank you to Emily, one of our past pupils who umpired our netball teams. She also arranged for three other Lincoln High students, Oraka, Kurenga and Maddison to umpire all our teams.
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Hockey and Netball Canterbury
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We have had some incredible games over the past term. Our Year 7/8 hockey and Year 8 netball team have made it through to the Canterbury Competition. This competition will be taking place on the 11th of September 2025. I will be looking for parent helpers to manage the teams on this day as the hockey team will be playing at Nunweek Park and the Netball team will be playing at Hagley. If you are able to assist with managing or transporting children please contact me as soon as possible.
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Ararira Springs Athletics Day
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We have had to change the date of our Athletics Day due to equipment that is yet to arrive. Our Athletics Day will now be held on Thursday, 18th September 2025. This is the second to last day of Term 3. Our postponement day will be the 31st of October 2025 (Term 4). If you can assist on the day please contact me.
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Keep an eye out for new sports or events on our What’s coming up page on the sports website. Different sporting codes often send us information about their activities throughout the year. There are girls’ rugby days, and softball have a go days on offer at the moment!
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The closing date for Issue 6 is 19 September 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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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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Singing Stars Musical Theatre and Drama Classes
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Attendance at Ararira
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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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Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum Curriculum Update - English, Term 3, 2025 Kia ora, Earlier this year, we held a successful whānau hui regarding the refreshed Maths curriculum for Phases 1-3 (Year 0-8). We are unfortunately still waiting on Phase 3 (Year 7-8) of the English curriculum, which is due to be released in Term 4 of this …
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New Parent Portal Released The Ministry of Education has released a parent portal to help whānau partner with schools to support their child's education. From Minister Stanford: "Education is a partnership of what happens in the classroom and what happens at home. Parents, caregivers, and whānau play an important role in supporting their child’s learning and development. The new webspace …
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2025 Reporting Update - What it means for your child As 2025 marks the transition to the refreshed English and Maths curricula, both Ararira Springs and the Ministry of Education (MOE) are closely monitoring student progress to ensure a smooth and effective change. Thanks to our ongoing professional development and early use of structured literacy and maths practices, we are …
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