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Principal’s Message
We hope you have had a wonderful holiday break. It was great to see so many families bringing their children along to meet their 2026 classroom teachers on Tuesday.
Fresh paint and fresh energy for 2026:
Our outdoor facilities have been getting a major glow-up in 2025 so we can start the year off with a bang. We are incredibly proud of how our school grounds are looking. If you’ve walked through the gates lately, you’ll have noticed our vibrant, newly painted court lines and the crisp new Four Square grids.
Welcome to new staff:
A warm welcome back to Claire Sew Hoy, who has returned from maternity leave as our specialist Arts teacher (Visual Art, Dance, Drama & Music). Claire will be working with us 3 days a week (Tuesday to Thursday).
As a SunSmart School, we require all students to follow our sun safety policy during Terms 1 and 4. Please help us keep your tamariki safe by checking the following:
Students must wear a wide-brimmed or bucket hat (that protects the face, neck, and ears) during morning tea and lunch. Students without a hat will be asked to play in the designated shaded areas.
Sunscreen: We encourage students to apply sunscreen before arriving at school. We have sunscreen stations available in every classroom for “top-ups” throughout the day.
Water Bottles: Playing hard in the sun is thirsty work! Please send your child with a named, reusable water bottle every day.
Understanding the Stepped Attendance Plan:
The new national framework is designed to catch attendance dips early so we can support families before this becomes a larger issue. The Government’s target is for 80% of students to attend regularly, that is to attend school more than 90% of the time.
Good: Less than 5 days’ absence in a term.
Worrying: Less than 10 days absence in a term.
Concerning: Up to 15 days absence in a term.
Very concerning: 15 + days or more.
The impact of lateness
Being “just five minutes late” might seem minor, but it can be quite disruptive. When a student arrives late:
- They miss the morning kōrero and essential instructions for the day.
- It can cause “entry anxiety” as they walk into a lesson already in progress.
- It interrupts the flow of learning for the rest of the class.
How you can help
- Notify us early: If your child is going to be absent, please let the office know by 8:45 AM via [School App/Phone/Email].
- Schedule appointments wisely: Where possible, please try to book medical or dental appointments outside of school hours.
- Communicate: If there are challenges at home making it hard to get to school on time, please talk to us. We are here to support you, not judge.
Water Skills for Life
This is not an option. Like all curriculum areas, teachers will be teaching and assessing their progress. If there is a medical reason preventing them from participating, we ask for a written note from your child’s GP, in which case we will make alternative arrangements.
Key dates for Term 1:
Friday 6 February – Waitangi Day (No school)
Friday 13 February – Family Picnic – after school event
Monday 16 February – Board Meeting 6:00pm
Monday 16 March – Culture week (one week)
Sunday 29 March – Shore to Shore event
Wednesday 1 April – Last day of Term 1
Thursday 2 April – Teacher Only Day (No school)
Friday 3 April – Easter Friday (No school)
Please feel free to contact your child’s teachers or any of the leadership team, if you have any further questions. We are excited about a fantastic year of learning at Takapuna Primary School.
For Sports Notices, please scroll further down
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