NEW PUPILS

A very special welcome to our new student Azaria Dowie in Room 2. Welcome to Waitohu School.

Our Home and School Association are organising a gathering for all of our whānau to have a fun and relaxing evening. Come and get your kai (hamburgers, sausages ……) or bring your own, enjoy the activities on offer for our tamariki (jumpy castle, inflatable slide, sumo wrestling, Year 6 led activities) and the ambience of live music with Andrew & Kirstin London.  The only cost is food - the aim is us coming together as Waitohu whānau.

WHĀNAU HELPERS - we still need helpers on the night. Please open the Helpers Needed attachment below to  see where we still need help.

BAKING CAKES & SWEETS - a paper plate has been sent home yesterday. If each whānau is able to please return one plate loaded with goodies for sale on Friday 21st March (by 11.00am) that would be awesome.

The cake box decorating competition is underway – we are looking forward to the awesome ‘Native to Aotearoa’’ designs! Cake boxes were given out last Friday to all students who wanted to decorate one. Decorated cake boxes (with cakes in them!) need to be at school next Friday 21st March by 11.00am for judging. Please make sure name and age are clearly visible on the top of the cake box,  thanks.

WAITOHU CAFE
It would be much appreciated if your whānau could provide some items from the list below to help reduce the costs for our Waitohu Café at our whānaungatanga evening.  Can items please be delivered to the school office by this Monday 17th March, ngā mihi. We still some bakers to support. If you can help please ring Andy Paroli on 0273704073.
Please open the Ingredients Needed attachment below to  see what we still need.

 

The Junior Touch Module on Thursday afternoons at Ōtaki Domain begins today, Thursday 13 March.  Please look out for Sheralee Mildenhall who will direct you to the correct field. Due to an uneven number of teams for Year 1/2 Waitohu Nikau have a 'bye' this week.

DUATHLONS - SENIOR & JUNIOR - TOMORROW FRIDAY 14 MARCH
9.30am ish
10 year olds (Girls and boys will race separately)
- Run 5 laps
- Swim 6 laps of pool (children must swim – walking not permitted)

10.05am ish
8 & 9 year olds  (Run as separate boys & girls races in each age group) 
- Run 3 laps
- Swim 3 laps of pool (children must swim – walking not permitted)

10.45am Kai Time

11.30am ish
5 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 1 lap of the field                                          
- Walk 1 lap of the pool

6 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 1 lap of the field                                          
-     Walk 2 laps of the the pool 

7 year olds (Run as separate boys and girls races)                     
- Run 2 laps of the field                                          
- Walk 3 laps of the pool 

LUCKY BOOKS
Scholastic Lucky Book Club Offer 2 2025, was handed out today. Orders are due by Friday 21 March. The online ordering system now available is explained in the brochure or bring in your order and correct cash to the office.

LUNCH TIME FUN
Tamariki are loving the new scooter circuit, and keeping our kura rubbish free, using the grabby claws during  breaktimes.

 

Our fun, safe and friendly ‘on-site’ Before and After School Care Programme has casual and permanent spots available for Waitohu School students for 2025 and beyond!  Enrol, book and manage your bookings ONLINE! And ….. our breakfast club is free of charge! Come and visit our team after school at the Waitohu School Hall from 3.00pm for more information or find us online at  www.funzone.co.nz, email info@funzone.co.nz or contact us on 0800 FUNZONE (0800 386 9663) or 04 298 4287.
We are OSCAR approved and WINZ subsidies apply.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON SAUSAGE SIZZLE FUNDRAISER - ŌTAKI SCHOOLS TOUCH RUGBY MODULE
Over the next couple of Thursdays, the Ōtaki College J19 Womens Waka Ama Team will be at the Ōtaki Domain FROM 3.30PM  -5.00PM fundraising for the Nationals in Rotorua. Sausages will be $2.50, Drinks $2.00, Juicies $2.00 and home made baking will be available to purchase too.

NEW PROGRAMME AT ŌTAKI POOL - KAUORA
He kaupapa hou e haere ake nei!

He kaupapa wai a Kauora, he kaupapa haumaru mō te whānau. Ka whakaako ēnei kaupapa ki roto i ngā kura Māori, Kōhanga reo, me te hāpori Ōtaki ki te puna kaukau o Ōtaki me Ōtaki awa. Mā ngā kaimahi tēnei kaupapa e ārahi kei raro i te āhuru mōwai o ngā tikanga me ngā kauhautū o Kauora.

The Ōtaki Pool team is excited to introduce a new programme- Kauora.

Kauora is a connection to our tupuna through swimming and engaging in the taiao. It is based on the three key pou of kaukau (swimming as play), kauhoe (swimming as providing) and kautiaki (swimming as protection) and contributes to flourishing whānau hauora. Kauora is delivered in te reo Māori, guided by our mātāpono and iwi.

Classes for school aged kids will be run after school on weekdays. Expressions of interest for this exciting new kaupapa are currently being sought.

Please email otaki.pool@kapiticoast.govt.nz with your child's name and age, and what days of the week work best for you.

WHAREROA FARM SUMMER OPEN DAY
Whareroa Farm, Mackays Crossing, Paekakariki is having a Summer Open Day on Sunday 16 March from 10.00am-4.00pm.  It's a 10 minute walk from the carpark to the activities.  There will be guided walks, a botanical walk and trapping demo and different activities according to who's there.  Horses and cyclists are welcome.  BYO everything.  No fires or dogs.  Contact the organizers at whareroa.guardians@gmail.com for more information.