Kia ora e te whānau,
We have two weeks to go with lots of milestones ahead. It’s been pleasing to see positive results for our kura in Waterpolo, Interzone Cross Country, and always nice to get a bit of TV exposure for our kura too!
It was fantastic to celebrate Rory McDowell on Seven Sharp recently and learn all about their incredible achievement as New Zealand’s youngest official bridge player! Inspired by Rory’s success, our kura has officially partnered with the Hutt Valley Bridge Club to bring this fantastic game of strategy to our school.
As a result, lunchtime sessions have started in the library every Wednesday. This is an awesome opportunity for our tamariki to try something entirely new, sharpen their critical thinking, and challenge themselves further. A huge thank you to Rory for providing the inspiration to get this club off the ground, and to Whaea Col and the McDowell whānau for joining the dots on the logistics.
All eyes are on Huttfest next week! Our incredibly hard-working roopu has been putting in the hours to polish their performance, and they are officially ready to take the big stage. Another major highlight for this year’s festival is the debut of our brand-new kākahu! The design beautifully reflects our kura’s identity, showcasing a vibrant, modern look that our performers will wear with pride. A massive thank you to our Fundraising team! We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the team for their tireless fundraising efforts over the last couple of years to make these stunning new uniforms a reality. Last but not least, a thank you to Matua Whaitiri and Whaea Penny for the preparation of the roopu over the last term. I have seen firsthand the passion and dedication from our tamariki. I know they will represent our community to a very high standard.
Lately, we have noticed an increase in swearing and inappropriate language being used by some of our students. We want to ensure our school remains a safe, positive, and encouraging environment for everyone, so we are addressing this directly.
We will be firmly reminding our tamariki that they have a responsibility to uphold the mana of themselves and others in our learning community. There is simply no place here for language that puts people down.
We are fully aware of the many different external influences that young people are exposed to in this day and age. However, the moment students step through our school gates, we expect a high standard of speech and respect.
- Clear Expectations: We are talking to all students about choosing words that lift others up rather than tear them down.
- Playground Consequences: Students who choose to use inappropriate language out in the playground will have clear consequences put in place.
We love seeing our tamariki shine, and maintaining a respectful environment helps everyone focus on learning and growth. We greatly appreciate your support at home in reinforcing these positive communication standards with your children!
As part of our school’s Attendance Management Plan, you may receive a notification letter if your child reaches a certain threshold of absences. In many cases, this letter is simply to keep you informed and make you aware of the current situation. We completely understand that there are often very valid reasons for a child to be away, such as illness or family situations, and these letters are not about laying blame.
Our ultimate goal is to work hand-in-hand with whānau to ensure our tamariki are present, supported, and able to thrive at school.
Knowing exactly where your child’s attendance stands can also be a helpful tool for navigating the right support. For instance, if health issues are a recurring barrier to attendance, having this clear picture can help us connect you with valuable services, such as our school health nurse. We are always here to help, so please reach out if there is anything we can do to support your child’s regular attendance.
A final note, about enrolments, as we have continued to have a steady stream come in over the last few weeks. If you are planning on enrolling your child, please do so as soon as you can. We already have many enrolments for 2027, so it’s never too early.
Have a great weekend and go the Hurricanes!
Ngā mihi
Lee Ewington
He tumuaki no kura o Dyer Street
Hangi Order Form: 
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Maori
Portuguese
Russian
Samoan
Spanish