Week 3, Term 2 Newsletter

Week 3 – Saturday 9 May, 

In this newsletter:

1.  A message from the Principal
2. Welcome to new whānau and ākonga
3. Important Dates and Reminders
4. Fundraising Committee
5. School Events
6. Sport at DSS
7. Writer’s Corner
8. Community Noticeboard

Kia ora e te whānau,

It’s been an interesting start to Term 2 with a school closure and two public holidays in a row, meaning shorter weeks. In saying that, we have packed in some awesome events and learning so far over the first 3 weeks. Our School Cross Country, held in Week 2, was a real success with our tamariki showing aumangea in their efforts. Of note was the support from whānau on the day, which no doubt makes a huge difference for our tamariki. Ngā mihi to Mr Ranchod for organising this event, and congratulations to all 26 students who will be progressing to the Interschool Cross Country on Tuesday, 19th May at Sladden Park. 

Yesterday, our kura held a highly productive Teacher Only Day, providing our staff with an opportunity to dive into the latest assessment elements and digital tools designed to support the new curriculum. While you may have seen recent headlines regarding the rapid pace of change in the education sector, this dedicated time allowed our teaching team to pause and “take stock” of our current practices. We focused on ensuring our methods align closely with the Ministry of Education’s evolving expectations and on strengthening our collective understanding of how reporting will look for the remainder of the year.  

Our Mid-Year Reports will remain the same as last year. However, looking ahead to the end of the year, there will be some slight adjustments to the levels of achievement we assess against to meet new national requirements. We are committed to keeping you informed and will provide more detailed information later this year so you feel fully supported and aware of these mandated changes.

In staffing news, I am pleased to announce that we have made an appointment for a new Roll Growth class, which will start at the beginning of Term 3. I am thrilled to announce Kimberley Sinclair, a NZ-trained teacher who is returning home from teaching new entrants in the UAE. Kimberley impressed the panel with her energy, enthusiasm and teaching philosophy. She is an experienced new entrant teacher and will work in a job share with Nicole Hawke to support her transition into our kura. This is also a good reminder for anyone looking to enrol their child for the second half of the year to do so as soon as possible. We also have several enrolments coming in for 2027, so don’t feel it’s too early to make this call. 

Finally, I hope that all of the Dyer Street Mums out there have a wonderful Mother’s Day tomorrow. You deserve it!

Ngā mihi

Lee Ewington

Tumuaki.

Week 3 Principal’s Award Winners

Welcome to our new students:

Room 1 – Nixon, Mazaedis, Mazaiyah, Caleyius

Room 2 – Rangimaaria, Charli

Room 9 – Lachu

Room 11 – Mila

We are so happy to have you join our school community.

Term 2

Week 4 – Support Staff Appreciation Week

Monday 11 May – Fundraising Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday 13 May – Assembly, Room 4 hosting, Room 4 & 10 sharing

Friday 15 May – Pink Shirt Day

Week 5 

Tuesday 19 May – Zone Cross Country

Week 6

Wednesday 26 May – Assembly, Room 3 hosting, Room 3 & 9 sharing

Friday 29 May – House of Bricks Lego Day

Week 7

Monday 1 June – King’s Birthday (Public Holiday, School closed)

Week 8

Wednesday 11 May – Assembly, Room 2 hosting, Room 2 & 6 sharing

Friday 12 June – Disco

Week 9 

Tuesday 16 June – Zone Cross Country

Week 10

Wednesday 24 June – Assembly, Room 1 hosting, Room 1 & 5 sharing

Friday 26 June – Hutt Fest performance (Show 7, 12 p.m.)

Week 11 

Tuesday 23 June – Regional Cross Country

Friday 3 July – End of Term 2

Term 3

Week 4

Friday 14 August – Teacher Only Day (School closed)

Dyer Street School has a small but friendly fundraising committee that works together to raise funds and put on fun events. We are in need of some more people to come on board this year. There is an active Facebook group as well as a mailing list to receive posts on Hero. The committee has plans for more online hui this year to make sure those who can’t attend in-person meetings can be more involved.

The next meeting is Monday May 11th at 7:30 p.m. in the school library. We’d love anyone who would like to be involved to come along. If you can’t make it but have ideas or would like to be kept in mind as a volunteer, please email megw@dyerstreet.school.nz or join the Facebook group: Fundraising Facebook Group

Cross Country – Friday 1st May

25 April 1915. I am Tyler. I am a New Zealander I am 22 Years old. We landed in Gallipoli. Bombs were being dropped, guns being fired. Day 2 I was hiding inside the trenches, throwing grenades. I had to kill people, and it was stressful. I tried to get out of the trenches to shoot, but I nearly died. Day 3, it was in the morning, we were sleeping, but our commander woke us up. It was stormy. I miss my mum and Dad.

Tyler – Room 9

April 25th 1915. Dear diary…Day 1, I’m a bear, and I’m getting forced to jump out of a plane to squish some people. Now I’m falling. I have made a crater. I’m being instructed to eat some people. Oooh, people are tasty! Huh, what’s this? I’m a bear…with a gun! 

Is this a New Zealander or not? Hmph, doesn’t matter, I’ve eaten half the Turkish army num num NUM! Ohh, I don’t feel so good blaaaaahhh. The war is is over. I ate too many people. Yay! Somehow, the war was done in a day.

“I’m on my way home. I’m on my wa…” said Military Bob “ahhhhh the planes are crashing”. Military Billy Bob can bear skydiving. Wolram the bear “yeah”. Military Bob – “Okay, here’s a parachute yeet!!!.” Wolram the bear –  “
This isn’t a parachute, it’s a glider. Zip im falli…” splat.

Marlow – Room 9

Day 1: I just got off the boat. I can hear the bombs shooting at us. We haven’t got to the trenches yet. The Turks have already killed five people, and I am starving! But I still have an ANZAC cookie in my pocket!

Now we have finally made it to the trenches, and I am so tired.I feel like I could collapse right now, but I know I can stay awake!

Day 2: I survived the night luckily, and today I got my first gun! It was hard to use at first, but it got easier, and it is fun to ambush the Turkish! Now we have gone to our trenches, and all the other soldiers were talking about their families, oh! We just got some Anzac cookies. 

Day 3: We are going to play a football match. So we won the war, and I am super happy.

Arwen – Room 9

Please send any contributions for Writer’s Corner to megw@dyerstreet.school.nz – this can be work created at home or at school, and from any year level.

St Bernard’s College Open Day

St Bernard’s College will be holding an Open Day on Saturday 23 May 2026 from 10.00am until 2.00pm. Prospective students and their parents are invited to visit during these hours to find out more about St Bernard’s College and what it can provide. St Bernard’s College is a Year 7-13 Catholic boys’ college.

For further information please see our website: www.sbc.school.nz

or contact the office at:

183 Waterloo Rd Lower Hutt Ph 560 9250

Email: office@sbc.school.nz

As St Bernard’s College has reached its maximum roll, the Board of Trustees will be accepting applications for enrolment in accordance with its enrolment policy. The closing date for 2027 applications is 3 July 2026.