Newsletter 28 February 2025

Tēnā Koutou, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Namaste, Ni sa bula, Noaia’e mauri, Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Orana, Ni Hao, An Nyung Ha Sai Yo, Nay Ho, Hej, Hallo, Sawat Dee, Cześć, Goeie Dag, សួស្តី, Здравствуйте, hola, 안녕하세요Greetings to our school families.

This week the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, presented for over an hour to the Auckland Principals, on her focus and goals for education. She was consistent in her message that Learning Support would be a major focus in this year’s education budget. I live in hope that this will prove to be the case, because the battle to get our children the support that they need and deserve often seems endless.  In recent times, almost all support funding has been reduced, reviewed or redirected, meaning that schools are forced to cover teacher aide and specialist salaries as best they can, even when kids qualify for centrally supplied funding. Every kid deserves to safely be part of their local school and community – some just require more assistance than others to achieve this.

As I write this there is a buzz in the air – our first Pizza Lunch of the year is just starting. For those new to SBS, every cent of funds raised goes to our students – in this case our Year 5 campers who head off in a few weeks, lowering their overall cost. Thanks to everyone who has supported this.

Dawson Road locals well may see our new Kōwhai Block toilet module arrive on Saturday morning. The ground works for this have already been completed, and once the toilet block goes in, the Kōwhai project will finally be ticked off. Now, to start campaigning for the next “new block”!

Ngā mihi nui,

Kathryn Ramel

Principal

School Diary

Week 5: 3rd Mar – 7th Mar

• Tues 4.3 Whole School Sprints
• Fri 7.3 Pizza Day fundraising for Year 5 camp
• Fri 7.3 Full School Assembly 2:00pm – Mananwa 2 performing, School Council announced, Athletics Certs

Week 6: 10th Mar – 14th Mar

• Fri 14.3 Pizza Day fundraising for Year 5 camp
• Fri 14.3 Interschool Athletics – more info to come

Week 7: 17th Mar – 21st Mar

• Fri 21.3 Pizza Day fundraising for Year 5 camp
• Fri 21.3 Full School Assembly 2:00pm – Puriri 1 performing

Information from our Board of Trustees

Kia Ora Snells Beach School Whānau,

Tenā koutou katoa

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE

From next week our pump track will be closed for use immediately after school. During school hours, use of the track is monitored to ensure that numbers using it are kept reasonable, adults are on duty and kids are safe. Straight after school is becoming a bit of a “free for all”, with too many kids and very little parent supervision. It is simply a matter of time until someone is badly hurt. Students wanting to use the track need to go home and come back later with adult supervision. We will be monitoring that the area is staying clear when the bell goes – please pick your kids up on time. 

School Athletics Results

This week both our Middle and Senior School held their Athletics Days, on glorious sunny days (it was quite hot out there!). Congratulations to all our successful athletes below, and good luck for those going on to compete at the Inter School event at the Showgrounds in mid-March.

Discus

• Year 3 Boys: 1st Albie R, 2nd Harry D, 3rd Remi H
• Year 3 Girls: 1st Bea T, 2nd Aaliyah N, 3rd Siena P
• Year 4 Boys: 1st Corbyn T, 2nd Itinua E, 3rd Jake S
• Year 4 Girls: 1st Kaiya R, 2nd Morgan J, 3rd Grace L
• Year 5 Boys:  1st Ben F, 2nd Sosaia H, 3rd Jordan P
• Year 5 Girls: 1st Marnie M, 2nd Ruby E, 3rd Harper M
• Year 6 Boys: 1st Rome M, 2nd Roman F, 3rd Oscar B
• Year 6 Girls: 1st Ireland VD, 2nd Aria N, 3rd Mila P

Shotput

• Year 3 Boys: 1st Zahir J, 2nd Harry D, 3rd Albie R
• Year 3 Girls: 1st Willow-Rose C, 2nd Fionnula B, 3rd Goldie N
• Year 4 Boys: 1st Hunter S, 2nd Luca H, 3rd Pax S
• Year 4 Girls: 1st Ruby H, 2nd Kaiya R, 3rd Arabella VB
• Year 5 Boys: 1st Ben F, 2nd Sosaia H, 3rd Alex M
• Year 5 Girls: 1st Ruby E, 2nd Harper M, 3rd Marnie M
• Year 6 Boys: 1st Kortez R, 2nd Axel M, 3rd Elias H
• Year 6 Girls: 1st Ireland VD, 2nd Emily T, 3rd Bree P

Long Jump

• Year 3 Boys: 1st Baxter H, 2nd Manawa DR, 3rd Albie R
• Year 3 Girls: 1st Goldie N, 2nd Willow-Rose C, 3rd Siena P
• Year 4 Boys: 1st Brody H, 2nd Zach P, 3rd Hunter S
• Year 4 Girls: 1st Kordei LM, 2nd Coco W, 3rd Zenna P
• Year 5 Boys: 1st Teddy R, 2nd Stanley M, 3rd Simon M
• Year 5 Girls: 1st Ruby E, 2nd Harper M, 3rd Maggie H
• Year 6 Boys: 1st Rupert B, 2nd Harry L, 3rd Kortez R
• Year 6 Girls: 1st Aria N and Ireland VD, 2nd Mishka P, 3rd Alice C

High Jump

• Year 3 Boys: 1st Manawa DR and Baxter H, 3rd Baxter T and Remi H
• Year 3 Girls: 1st Mya S, 2nd Siena P, 3rd Bowie P and Goldie N
• Year 4 Boys: 1st Hunter s and Itinua E, 3rd Brody H
• Year 4 Girls: 1st Isla K and Morgan J, 3rd Coco W
• Year 5 Boys: 1st Camden H, 2nd Stanley M, 3rd Ben F
• Year 5 Girls: 1st Harper M, 2nd Ruby E, 3rd Isla-Rose A and Maggie H
• Year 6 Boys: 1st Joseph V, 2nd Oscar B, 3rd Axel M and Ryder W
• Year 6 Girls: 1st Aria N, 2nd Caitlyn W, 3rd Alice C

School Sprint Finals – Next Tuesday 4 March from 9:15am on the field. All welcome. 

Students can run in house colour mufti if they wish – please bring uniform to change into afterwards. This will start with our Year 1’s, and then we will progress through to the Year 6 events. Each event will comprise of as many heats are required based on numbers, followed by a final. Girls heats will run first, followed by boys, and then the finals for both. Please do not request more detailed times – we simply don’t have them. Please also note, students may run in their choice of shoes or bare feet, but NOT spiked athletic shoes.

Well done to our Values Awards winners at this week’s Values Assembly

• Kea: Value Of The Term – Respect Nua M

• Kiwi: Respect, Kindness – Luca H for the kindness award.

• Kakapo: Personal Excellence – Archer O: He took really great responsibility for himself at athletics day and stood out as being polite to everyone around him including the year six helpers and teachers at activities

• Takahe: Determination – Perseverance, Resilience  – Rikus for the perseverance award for continuing to participate in written and creative tasks using his left hand due to his right being injured.

Thanks to all whānau that assisted with our Junior water Confidence Sessions

It takes a village, especially when we take little people swimming. A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their time to come along and support our Junior School as they went through our Water Confidence programme. It was sad that we missed a few sessions due to the weather, but the beach fun day at the end was a total cracker!

Are you keen to help with our Cultural Group?

Would you feel comfortable, with teacher support, coming along to teach our kids songs or dances from your culture? We would love to see a greater range of cultures recognised in our Cultural Performance Group. Not sure? Contact Miss Ramel for more information.

Keeping in touch – communication is key

Keeping in touch is important. We need to be able to contact whānau quickly and efficiently. If you have changed address or contact details, please let us know asap, either via email admin@snellsbeach.school.nz, or by calling the school office 09 425 6058. 

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