I hope you have all had a fabulous couple of weeks, despite the rain and wind!  We have been busy preparing the school grounds for the term ahead. We have finished planting new plants in some gardens, water blasting concrete areas, grassing some areas, installing blinds in some classrooms and replacing some exterior cladding of hubs. 

I have been having a play with an online newsletter function on our website and thought I would give it a try with my welcome back to Term 4 email. It is meant to be mobile friendly so am keen to hear your thoughts!

We had a great end to term 3 with a fantastic Cultural Week. Your support was incredible and massive thanks to the many parents who visited classrooms and shared their culture with students. The term ended with a superb cultural celebration and a cultural parade on the last day. Serah was so talented and brave to share a cultural dance with us. The Junior Kapa Haka did a fabulous performance for us. Our Rōpu Whai Mana (Te Reo Māori Group) shared a lovely whakatauki with us. The Chinese Cultural Group from Fairfield College performed some amazing cultural dances.  It was definitely a fun-filled week for our students and a great way to end the term. 

On the first day of term, we are welcoming our 5 year old students who will be starting school in Term 4. A whakatau is a Māori welcome where our school Kaumatua, Principal or other nominated person will give a speech in Māori to welcome you and your family / whānau to our school. This will be followed by a waiata (song). It is a special time for our 5 years to be starting school and we can't wait to meet them and their whānau. 

We are looking forward to a fun-filled term 4 which includes the following events: Year 4 overnight Marae trip, Year 5 and 6 Beach Education, Showcase Celebration in Week 4, Leaders Fun Day, Year 6 Waimarino End of Year trip, Road Transport Safety Week in Week 5, Year 6 Leavers Ceremony, School Athletics, Interschool Athletics, Amazing Race, Service to School Celebration, and the epic PTA organised Colour Run. 

We can’t wait to see you and the students back at Rototuna Primary on Monday and know that the students will be excited to see their friends. Enjoy your weekend!