Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa – Greetings to you all.

End of Term One – Kio Kio School Update

As we come to the end of an exciting and busy term, it’s time to reflect on the incredible experiences our students have had. From starting the term with their new year levels and classmates to participating in swimming sports, class camps, the triathlon, and engaging in our classroom programmes and routines, it has been a term full of learning and growth. These experiences have helped to build important skills and knowledge that will benefit our students for years to come.

Term One Wrap-Up and Term Two

Triathlon: The atmosphere at the school was buzzing with excitement as the children eagerly lined up their bikes, ready for their races ahead. Each student had prepared well through classroom practice and knew exactly what to do in each stage of the triathlon: biking, swimming, and running. It was truly inspiring to witness the determination and perseverance of all the participants, as they gave their absolute best from start to finish. A huge congratulations to each and every student for their outstanding effort!

A special thank you to Emma Telfer for leading the day, and to the incredible team of staff who played an essential role in the planning and execution of the event. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the Supporters Committee for organising and serving the delicious sausage sizzle that kept everyone energized. It was an unforgettable day filled with perseverance, team spirit, and determination. Well done, everyone!

Next week marks the final week of Term One, followed by a well-deserved two-week break for the school holidays.
Our Term One celebration assembly will take place at 2pm next Friday to conclude the term. Please remember that students are required to wear their school polo shirts for the assembly.

Please note that students will not return to school until Tuesday, April 29th, as staff will be attending a Ministry of Education-led professional development session focused on the new Mathematics Curriculum.

Mountain Excursion – Monday

On Monday, our students will have the opportunity to explore one of our local mountains: Kakepuku, Pirongia, Puketarata, or Manungatautari, where they will learn about the mountain's history and environment. We are still in need of transportation assistance, so if you are able to help out, please let us know.

Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the day, with sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing suitable for walking around the mountain. We also ask that you pack a hearty lunch with plenty of healthy snacks, as well as a large water bottle to keep them hydrated throughout the day.

As the long-range forecast is looking like rain on Monday, we will decide on Sunday evening and let you know if the day will continue.

ANZAC Day Commemoration

ANZAC Day, observed on April 25th, is a time to honour and remember the sacrifices made by New Zealand and Australian soldiers during World War I and in subsequent conflicts. It is a day of national significance, where we pay our respects to those who served and gave their lives in the pursuit of peace and freedom.

Our students have the opportunity to participate in the ANZAC Day service in Otorohanga. If you would like your child to join the procession, please meet Karen Coleman at the Village Green at 9:40am on the 25th of April. Students should wear their school polo shirts, black shorts or trousers, or skirts. They will walk quietly to the memorial and stand respectfully while our Councillors lay a wreath. Afterward, the group will return to the Village Green, where parents can pick up their children.

Bus Safety Reminder

It’s important to remind our students of the safety rules when travelling on the bus:

Be respectful when getting on and off the bus, avoid pushing.
Wait safely on the roadside or footpath until the bus has moved away.
Wait for the bus to be at least two power poles away before crossing the road, ensuring it’s safe by looking both ways.
Sit in your seat for the entire journey and remain seated.
Keep noise levels low so the driver is not distracted.

Car Park Safety

Our car park has a 20km speed limit.
The speed limit when passing a stationary school bus is 20km per hour on either side of the road.
Always drop off and pick up children on the same side of the road as the bus.
Teach your children to stop, look and listen when crossing the road.
Keep a close watch on children in the car park getting in and out of vehicles & crossing the car park.

Weetbix Club Volunteers

We are still looking for a few more volunteers to assist with our Weetbix Club from 8:30 to 9:00am. If you have some spare time in the mornings, please contact the office for more information.

Staff Update

As you know, Mrs. Emma Telfer has resigned from her position as the Year 7 & 8 classroom teacher to take on the role of Learning Support Coordinator. We are currently recruiting for a new teacher to join our dedicated team. In the meantime, Mr Kevin Jones will be teaching the Year 7 & 8 students from the beginning of Term Two, ensuring continuity for the class. Welcome back Kevin!

Looking Ahead to Term 2

Term Two will be a nine-week term, and we have several exciting opportunities lined up:

Science Roadshow (Week 2): This is a fantastic hands-on experience for our students to explore the nature of science through interactive activities.

Life Education Trust (Week 3): Educator Abby Miles will deliver content tailored to the needs of our students across the following strands:

- Food and Nutrition

- Human Biology

- Relationships and Communities

- Identity and Resilience

- Substances

This is an excellent opportunity for our students to engage in meaningful, relevant learning experiences.

Daylight Savings

A reminder that Daylight Savings ends this weekend, so don’t forget to set your clocks back by one hour.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and a relaxing school holiday break with your family and friends.

Ngā mihi nui,

Pip Were

Principal, Kio Kio School

STUDENT INFORMATION UPDATE FORM 2025

This form has been sent home to all families two weeks ago for each student. The form is requesting that you check that we have the current information on file and permissions. Can we please have them returned to the school office as soon as possible.

SUNSMART - HATS

All students have to wear a hat when playing outside. No Hat, No Play. Those students without a hat are asked to play on the deck undercover. Please name your child/ren's hats.

STUDENT ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from school, please advise the office by phone (078731816), email (admin@kiokio.school.nz) or the absent tab on the Parent APP with the reason so the absence can be marked correctly for the Ministry of Education. If the school is not notified, the child is deemed TRUANT and marked accordingly. If your child is late to school, they must come to the office and sign in on the electronic register.

STUDENTS ENTERING & LEAVING SCHOOL

Please make sure that your child/ren are dropped off and collected from the bus shelter each day.
We are enforcing safety rules at school pick-up and drop-off. Children are NOT to open our school gates. Parents are required to drop off inside the gate and come into the school grounds to collect their children. This is a safety measure. Our carpark is very busy at the end of the day and we need to do everything we can to keep everyone safe.

BUS BOOK REMINDER

Please ensure that the school office is informed early if your child won't be on the school bus in the afternoon. We also need to be contacted if your child/ren are getting off at another stop. You can do this by phoning the school office on 07 8731816 or emailing admin@kiokio.school.nz

PEANUT ALLERGY

We have a student in Kahikatea class with a severe peanut allergy who cannot come into contact with peanuts or products with peanuts in them. We ask that parents do not send peanuts or any peanut related products to school, so that we can keep this student safe. Thank you for your understanding.

LOST PROPERTY

Our lost property stand is gaining some momentum with stock. We have shorts, sweat shirts, t-shirts, track pants, hats, shoes and a towel already. Come and check it out so we can return the clothing to your children.
Please ensure that your child's name or initials are placed on their belongings, so they can be returned to them immediately.