Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau 
Two weeks has flown by and we are here sharing more information with you. Last year a number of parents asked for more regular communication so we are acting on that request putting out newsletters every fortnight with updated information you need to be aware of. 

This is a reminder that, as previously advised, Kihikihi School will be holding a Teacher-Only Day on Monday 23 February as part of the nationwide rollout of the refreshed Mathematics curriculum.

On this day, our teachers will be working alongside curriculum experts to build their knowledge and confidence in the updated mathematics and statistics curriculum. This professional learning is an important part of ensuring we continue to provide high-quality teaching and learning for our students.

School will be closed for instruction on this day, so please make alternative arrangements for your children.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

This is a reminder that all students must have a hat at school with them everyday during term 1.  We have hats available for sale at the school office for $10.  Please make sure all uniform is named clearly.

Plain black shorts, pants or skirts are permitted. Please do not send your child to school in items that have writing, logos or other stand out features. You will be asked to come to the school to provide correct uniform if no valid reason is provided. 

We’re introducing a new Student Management System at Kihikihi School. This will allow us to streamline and improve how we communicate with whānau. Our staff are currently undertaking training, and we expect to have the new system up and running for families by week six this term. We’ll share clear instructions with you once everything is ready to go.

In the meantime, please ensure you have downloaded the Skool Loop app and continue to check your emails and your child’s school bag for classroom notices.

Our school newsletter is published fortnightly and sent electronically via email. It is also available on our website and through the Skool Loop app.

You can find the school calendar on our website and the Skool Loop app. Key upcoming dates are listed at the end of this newsletter. Community notices about local clubs and opportunities for students are shared in the community section from time to time.

There’s never a dull moment at school! We’ve been learning, creating, exploring, and having lots of fun along the way.

Take a peek at our photo gallery below to see some of the great things we’ve been up to!

These Room 2 tamariki have been working hard with whaea Tiana (literacy kaiako) to master words with blends and how to transfer their knowledge into reading, spelling and the transference of these skills into sentences. Today's new vocabulary word was 'Stunt' meaning a dangerous trick or skill.

At Kihikihi School, our PB4L–School Wide approach is grounded in our five core values. These values guide how we learn, how we treat others, and how we take care of our kura every day.

Our values are explicitly taught, modelled by staff, and reinforced across all areas of the school — classrooms, playgrounds, and shared spaces. We focus on what positive behaviour looks like, sounds like, and feels like, so students clearly understand what success means at our kura.

Wairuatanga – Kia Tau.    We are calm and ready to learn.  Kia mauritau ki te ako
 Students show Kia Tau when they are settled, respectful, and ready to engage in learning.

Oranga – Kia Kaha.     We are sharp and ready – ki te hoe!
This value reflects wellbeing and personal strength. Students demonstrate Kia Kaha by being prepared, focused, and looking after themselves and others.

Whanaungatanga – Kia Toa.     We care for each other and our school.   He kaitiaki tātou
 Kia Toa is about collective responsibility, manaakitanga, and caring for people and places.

Ihumanea – Kia Manawanui.  We are learners.    He tangata ako, he whānau ako
 This value is shown through perseverance, effort, and a willingness to keep learning — even when things are challenging.

Te Reo – Kia Mārama.  Our language creates our understanding of the world
Kia Mārama supports clarity, understanding, and the revitalisation of te reo Māori as central to who we are.

Each of our school values — Kia Tau, Kia Kaha, Kia Toa, Kia Manawanui, and Kia Mārama — is built into the ClassDojo app.  When teachers see a student demonstrating one of these values in a way that sets a positive example for others, the student is awarded a Dojo point. This is entered into the app and stored against the student’s name.
Teachers monitor points daily and weekly to track progress and ensure acknowledgements are consistent and fair. Points are not about competition — they are about noticing positive behaviour, reinforcing expectations, and celebrating students who live our values.

As students collect points, they work towards set milestones within our PB4L system. Every five weeks — mid-term and at the end of each term — we hold an assembly to acknowledge students who have reached a new level.
In Term One, there may be fewer students who reach a new level, and that is expected. Our system is designed to recognise consistent positive behaviour over time, not quick wins. Even when students have not yet reached a new level, we still celebrate effort, growth, and learning, and we talk with students about what working towards the next level looks like.
A chart is attached to this notice to clearly explain what happens at each stage and level of the system.
By working together — school and home — and using shared language around our values, we create a calm, caring and inclusive environment where our tamariki can thrive.

Our Rūmaki classes have an exciting programme set up for this term where differentiated and targeted learning in a variety of areas has been designed and currently in the process of implementation. 

The Kaiako worked solidly during the term break and have been working consistently tweaking and redefining the parameters to support all the needs across the Rumaki. This is no small feat and takes a lot of precision in programme design. 

Part of what can support the success of this programme design is by way of whānau support. We are very keen to know if there are any whānau who might have some time available during the week to pop into the kura and help out in the ākomanga. If you have any questions about what support might look like from you, please come and speak with Matua Cedric or Whaea Sunny.

Last week we had wonderful whānau support with our Garden to Table - Kei Aku Ringa programme on the Friday, providing our tamariki with some outstanding learning opportunities. We welcome anyone who might be able to provide some time during their week in the ākomanga. 

There will be a sign up sheet available in the office for anyone to put their name down who would like to offer their help in the Rūmaki classes at this stage. 

This is a great opportunity to come along after work, hear about learning for the term ahead, and connect with our teaching teams and other whānau. With a 4.30pm start, the afternoon is set to be relaxed and easy for families to attend.

Teaching teams will share their plans for the term, giving whānau the chance to hear about learning across the team and connect with more than one kaiako. Following the hui, whānau are welcome to stay for a free sausage sizzle and swimming, and to meet some of our newest staff members.

Swimming will take place after the hui, with juniors first followed by seniors. We ask that whānau please supervise their own tamariki in the pool area so kaiako can spend time connecting and kōrero with families.

Bring a picnic rug, bring the kids, and join us for a relaxed afternoon together at kura.

Thank you for all those that have registered for term 1 touch rugby.  Registrations have now closed and the first games will be played this Thursday 19 February. Here are our teams:

This weeks draw is:

The draw is available each week on the Te Awamutu Sports website - https://tasports.co.nz/pak-n-save-touch/junior-touch

A big thank you to our parent volunteers - we really appreciate your support.

Best luck everyone for your first game!  

The Public Health Nurse will be at school for immunisation education and to hand out consent forms on Tuesday 24 February. This is for Year 7 & 8 students.  If you do not wish your child to attend the education session, please let the school know.

2026 dates for Immunisation

Round One: 5 May 2026

Round Two: 10 November 2026

If parents have any queries, please contact the Public Health Nurse - Bronwyne Albright 021761632

Please help your child by ensuring they have their togs available for their classes scheduled day. 

It is also a good option to name all your children's clothing including socks and underwear as we often have things left over at the end of each day. Named property is always easier to return to its rightful owner. 

If your child has been vomiting they should not go swimming for at least 48 hours from the last time they vomited. 

Our school is part of the KickStart Breakfast programme!  KickStart Breakfast is a free initiative that provides our students with access to Sanitarium Weet-Bix and Anchor milk each morning at school. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to start their day with a healthy breakfast in a welcoming and supportive environment.

All students are welcome to attend Breakfast Club for some kai, and a chance to connect with friends before the school day begins.

KickStart Breakfast is a community partnership between Fonterra, Sanitarium, and the Ministry of Social Development. The programme has been running across Aotearoa since 2009 and now supports nearly 1,500 schools nationwide.

To help us get Breakfast Club up and running for 2026, we are looking for parent and caregiver volunteers who are available in the mornings to assist with set-up and supervision. If you have any time to spare during the week, we would greatly value your support. Please contact the school office if you’re able to help.

Breakfast Club will run daily from 8:15am to 8:50am.

We’ve been part of the Fruit in Schools programme for a number of years now, and we’re excited to let our new families know that this is something we offer here at school!

Through this programme (supported by the Ministry of Health), our tamariki receive free fresh fruit and vegetables to enjoy during the school week. It’s a great way to encourage healthy eating and make sure everyone has a tasty, nutritious snack.