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Connect Communication
20 May 2026
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I am back today, having been away for professional learning. Last week I was in Methven with the other Principals from the area. We worked together on common issues and were designing the way forward for working together as a Kāhui.
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This week I have been in Auckland, taking part in an Advanced Leadership Forum with the Springboard Trust. This was an amazing opportunity to hear from people in the corporate world and consider how different areas of business and the economy overlap with education. We worked with Ian Narev from Seek, economist Shamubeel Eaqub, Chris Knox from the Herald and others. It provided the opportunity to get onto the balcony and consider bigger issues that are influencing education.
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Last week, our environmental leaders participated in a reflection with Matt Stanford to maintain our official status as an EnviroSchool. This was a wonderful opportunity to see evidence of lifelong learning in action and to reflect on the impact this learning has had on our kura. Kaitiakitanga is a supporting value for capability. Our children demonstrated capability, confidently articulating their learning, challenges and next steps. Our thanks to Whaea Larissa Jay for supporting the mahi | work in this area.
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Our team are currently preparing mid-year reports for you in line with the new Ministry of Education requirements. We will provide more information for you, but we wanted to take a moment to remind you that the new English and Maths expectations are at least a year higher than they were previously. As we have moved to new descriptors and formats, our graphs have had to be reset. Mid-year levels will be a starting point for the new curriculum, and you won't see progress until the end of the year.
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To help our focus and implementation of the new curriculum, we are hosting two Ministry of Education teacher-only days in 2026. The first of these will be on Monday, August 10th. We will advise you of our second date as soon as it is locked in but it will not be until much later in the year.
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As Waikirikiri Selwyn grows, roads that were once rural now connect new homes, schools, and commercial areas. In many places, traffic volumes and how roads are used have changed, and some communities have specifically requested changes in their area.
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The proposed changes are required to be consulted on under the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, and are intended to improve safety, support economic activity, and help keep people and goods moving efficiently.
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Feedback from the community will help shape the final proposal, which will then be considered for adoption by Council and submitted to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for final approval.This consultation follows Road Safety Week last week, which remembered the 261 people who died or were seriously injured on roads across the greater Canterbury region last year.
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The consultation will run for six weeks and closes at 5pm on Monday 22 June 2026.We encourage schools to have a look, share the information with your community where appropriate, and consider making a submission.
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Writers Workshop - Selection of Poetry
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Like a cat, like a cat, like a cat, like a cat
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Do you love me? Like I love tuna.
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I want food, I want food, I want fooood.
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Haven’t you heard of the internet cat?
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Every picture of me is like “aw so cute!”
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Where's the tuna? Where's the tuna?
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Feed me, feed me, oh you hate me!
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As I was walking into class, I was miserable as ever until the doorframe and my toe collided!
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I was madly enraged, and it made me look like I had a severe fever.
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I was storming away, and that was decided!
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Until I bashed into the wall and I fell right through, truly the worst day ever.
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Congratulations!
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Well done to two of our tamariki who passed their Brown Belt grading in Karate!
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Important Dates
- 22 May - Hui (Hikuwai 456), 9.15am in the Hall
- 27 May - Selwyn Zones Cross Country
- 01 June - King's Birthday, school closed
- 05 June - Hui (Kaunuku 3/4), 9.15am in the Hall
- 10 June - THT AGM, 7-8pm Tahuna | Staffroom
- 17 June - School Board Meeting, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
- 10 June - Yr 7-8 Learning Conversations, 3:15-8:00pm
- 11 June - Yr 7-8 Learning Conversations, 2:00-6:30pm
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School Board
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Next meeting Wednesday 17 June, 6.30pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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Next meeting (AGM) - 10 June, 7pm in Tahuna | Staffroom
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Zones Basketball was held at Selwyn Sports Centre on the 13th of May. We had four teams that took part and represented our school proudly. Our newest Year 5/6 girls' team went as far as to win the overall competition and will be heading to the Canterbury Competition next term. Well done, ladies! Thank you to all our parents who came down and supported us on the day, and to those who volunteered and managed teams. We could not have done it without you!
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Our Zones Cross Country event will be taking place on Wednesday, 27 May at Ngā Puna Wai. The Year 7/8 athletes will start running at 10 am, and the Year 5/6 athletes will start at approximately 11 am. For a more detailed schedule, please see the Cross Country tab on the Sports Website. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to marshal or manage on the day. We wish our athletes all the best!
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If your child is competing in a sport outside of Ararira and you would like to share their successes, please send a photo of your child to me along with a blurb about the sport they are doing, so I can print it and add it to the wall display outside the office.
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The closing date for Issue 4 is 03 July 2026.
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We recommend you place your order by 12 June to ensure you receive your order before the end of Term 2.
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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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Selwyn Parenting Network is a grassroots charity dedicated to bridging the gaps for whānau across the Selwyn District. We work to connect parents and caregivers with the right support, at the right time, in the right way—whether that’s through information, services, or simply someone to walk alongside them.
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We’re best known for helping parents navigate services, providers and resources —a local, trusted, and confidential way for whānau to access guidance, support and signposting to trusted providers and service organisations. Whether you’re facing challenges or just looking for what’s out there, we help make the system feel a little less overwhelming.
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Through community-led events, speaker nights, collaborations, and initiatives that respond to the real needs of local families, we’re building a stronger, more connected Selwyn—one whānau at a time.
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We believe in practical, inclusive, and non-judgemental support—and we’re proud to be a hub for parenting in Selwyn.
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Follow us to stay in the loop with events and opportunities that uplift, inform, and empower.
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Children's Anxiety: Talk and Q&A
Free Webinar for Parents and Caregivers
Date: Wednesday 27 May
Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm
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Berry Street Education Model BSEM at Ararira - Nicky Harding and Claire Howison At Ararira Springs, we are committed to fostering a learning environment where every child feels safe, supported, and ready to thrive. To support this, our kura has adopted the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) - a trauma-informed, strengths-based framework designed to boost student wellbeing, engagement, and academic …
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Attendance Monitoring at Ararira The government has publicly stated that it wishes to lift attendance rates at New Schools so 80% of all children are attending 90% of the time by 2030. We have set this as a target for our kura|school in 2026. All schools are required to have an attendance management plan (AMP) in place that follows stepped …
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2025 End of Year Progress Graphs The end-of-year progress graphs for students (English Year 0-6 and Maths Year 0-8) will be live on Friday, 12 December. English progress in Years 7-8 will be released in a statement at the bottom of Year 7-8 children's reading and writing comments. The Overall Teacher Judgements (OTJs) regarding progress that your child will receive …
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