Kohimarama School News - 16th July 2025

School News

A Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope the break provided a chance for rest and reconnection as we head into a term filled with rich learning opportunities, creativity, and collaboration.

We are pleased to welcome two new Learning Assistants to our team: Elliott Bentley, who joins the Snell Team, and Sebastian Shaw, supporting students in the Kiri Team. Both bring enthusiasm, care, and capability in supporting our learners with their individual needs. We know they will make a positive impact and be warmly welcomed by our community.

Last evening, we hosted a Cybersafety Presentation by Rob Cope, which was both confronting and enlightening. Robb’s message was clear – while social media and online platforms are pervasive, we must be proactive in safeguarding our children from the real harm they can cause. His solutions were grounded in strengthening family connection, open conversations, and setting clear boundaries. I encourage you to explore more of his advice via Rob Cope’s website, as it aligns with our shared responsibility to keep our children safe.

Cross Country is fast approaching next week. Our students have shown commitment in their training during PE, and we look forward to an energetic event that celebrates effort, perseverance, and team spirit. We encourage all families to attend and support our runners next Wednesday 23rd July at Madills. More information to follow.

This term, our school community will embark on a remarkable cross-curricular production:
‘The Secrets of the Pohutukawa Tree’ – an original script created by our talented Year 7 & 8 students.
Set beneath the large, gnarled pōhutukawa on our school grounds, the story follows five students who awaken a once-banished Tūrehu—a mystical tree fairy—and are swept into a world of wonder, adventure, and responsibility.
Will they return in time for Block 3? Can they restore balance to the lands they visit? What will become of the tree fairy, now free?

This production will involve every student and every class, engaging them in literacy, the arts, design, performance, and storytelling. It reflects our commitment to a rich, holistic curriculum where every learner can shine.

Board election of three parent representatives will be occurring this term. Watch out for special election messages and communications during this time.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. Let’s make this a term to remember.

The Kohimarama Way - Aroha/Compasion

Kohimarama School Rock Band Performance - Friday 18th July @ 11.30 am

We have a 'wicked' school Rock Band, directed by Ben Jurisich and they will be performing live in a couple of days time.  You are very welcome to come and 'rock' with us.

School Cross Country Event - Wednesday 23rd July 2025

The annual School Cross Country event will be held at Madills on Wednesday 23rd July starting at 10.00am. Please find below a schedule of when we intend to begin races.  

We  ‘intend to begin’ because as you know it depends on the number of pupils running on the day and the weather. We will try our best to run on time however, we cannot guarantee exact times and we thank you for your patience.  We suggest you allow yourself 20 to 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your child’s race.  

All parents are welcome to come and encourage your child as they run our Cross Country course. Children are expected to remain with the other children who are in the same house team during the event. 

Spectators

We would really appreciate all spectators sitting/standing in the designated area near the finish line. It is most important that you stay away from the running area.

Event Timetable

The PTA have organised the Eastern Suburbs club rooms to be open to serve tea and coffee. Thank you for this important and necessary support as I know that the staff certainly enjoy a coffee break at times during the day.

Scholastic Lucky Book Club

The catalogues are in your teacher’s cubby holes and should be sent home this week!

If you prefer to view the catalogue online please use this link: scholastic.co.nz/media/9255/final_nzbc525_p5.pdf

Ordering is done through the LOOP app.

Please note all orders must be in by 30th July.

Futsal – Car wash fundraiser on Sunday 27th July!

Mark your calendars – Car wash fundraiser on Sunday 27th July!

Our Year 8 futsal team is heading to the AIMs Games in Tauranga this August, and they’re working hard to get there, both on and off the court!

Join the team on Sunday 27th July, from 10.30am to 1.30pm in the Kohimarama School car park for a community car wash fundraiser. The team, along with some eager Year 8 helpers, will be scrubbing and shining to raise money for their trip, with all proceeds going toward accommodation and team gear.

While you're there, treat yourself! We'll have coffee, delicious home baking, and raffle tickets for sale, perfect for a Sunday pick-me-up while your car gets cleaned for a cause.

Let’s get behind our team and help them get to AIMs!

Certificates & Awards

Caught being good - "Greenies"

We had some very tumultuous weather in the last couple of weeks of Term 2 - our fields were closed and we were restricted to concrete.  Thank you to all of our students who did their best to play positively under these conditions.  Our fortunate greenie winners at the end of last term were:

• Max          LS 3            for Respect               Colenso
• Aya            LS 16          for Respect               Selwyn
• Julian       LS 18           for Respect               Selwyn
• Romeo     LS 19           for Honesty              Selwyn

Road Patrollers of the fortnight

Thank you to our Road Patrollers for their bravery working in the howling wind and torrential rain at the end of Term 2, particularly Nayan and Ajay.  Mahi pai road patrollers.

Sport News

Sports Fixtures in Term 3 and 4

The Bay Suburbs (years 5 and 6) and Eastern Zone Schools (years 7 and 8) hold a variety of competitions and tournaments across the year.  For the most part these are events for students who already participate in the particular sport, however sometimes there are opportunities for students to have a go at something new with some parent-led coaching in the lead up to the competition e.g. orienteering.  Being able to participate in the events relies heavily on support from parents/caregivers, in the form of coaching, managing, providing transport and being there to support individuals or teams on the day.  So parents and caregivers, if you see something below that you think you can help with to enable our students to have these excellent experiences, please get in touch with Antonia on sports@kohimaramaschool.co.nz

All the below fixtures can be found in the school calendar on SchoolZine

• 21 Jul - EZ Netball Tournament. We have our year 7 and year 8 teams competing.
• 28 Jul - EZ gymnastics competition  (years 2 - 8).  Entries closed last term and we have 29 competitors from Kohimarama! 
• 12 Aug - BS and EZ Cross Country. The top runners from our school competition in years 4 - 8 will go through to compete.
• 14 Aug - EZ Boys Basketball Tournament.
• 19 Aug - EZ Girls Basketball Tournament.
• 2 Sep - BS Basketball Tournament.
• 16 Sep - BS Hockey.  If there are any hockey players among our year 4 and 5 students, please get in touch to see if a team can be formed.  Coaches will be needed.
• 9 Oct - EZ Volleyball.  If there are any volleyball players among our year 7 and 8 students, please get in touch to see if a team can be formed.  Coaches will be needed.
• 28 Oct - EZ Touch Rugby.
• 4 Nov - BS Touch Rugby.
• 5 Nov - Years 4 - 8 Athletics.
• 18 Nov - BS Athletics.  The top place getters from our school competition will go through to compete. in the BS and EZ fixtures.
• 20 Nov - EZ Athletics.

Results from Bay Suburbs Netball Tournament

In the last week of Term 2 three Kohimarama School teams competed at the Bay Suburbs inter-school Netball Tournament.
In their grade, our year 5 team ended the day tied in first position with Glendowie School on overall points, however and after beating Glendowie in the qualifying game for the final, they then lost to them in a tightly fought match!  On points our girls were first equal, but on paper they came second.  A tough but good experience for them.
Our year 6 teams, both came in third in their respective grades, both clocking up some great wins, but ultimately missing out on first or second to Orakei and St Ignatius for the Emeralds team and St Heliers and Churchill Park for the Diamonds team.  
All the players put in a great effort and should be proud of what they achieved on the day.
I tell you what - there were quite a number of boys teams representing their schools, so how about it Kohimarama boys?!  Maybe next year?

PTA News

And just like that.. We are half way through the year! 

Welcome to Term 3! 

Let's kick off the term by looking back on what we achieved in Term 2!

Here is a snap shot of the revenue each area has generated during Term 2; Revenue generated for the school

• Sushi and Pizza – Awaiting donations from suppliers
• Ice blocks - $1166.70 Inc of GST
• Uniform shop (Term 1 & 2) – 4600.00
• Mother day Muffins with Mum - $3800.00 Inc of GST
• Comedy Evening - $2100.00 Inc of GST + percentage of beverage spend (TBC) - % donated to school 

A massive THANK YOU to each and every single person who has help in any way shape or form and THANK YOU to all of you who have donated in someway or another.

Term 3

During Term 3 we are running a number of other cool events which we hope you can take the time and come along to.

Rob Cope Event

Held last night at the school hall, we saw a number of school parents and general community parents in attendance. 

It was a very informative evening with plenty to process. This was a not-for-profit event run by the PTA and the School. We sold 80 tickets which saw the PTA covering the short fall but the information and support it has offered our school and wider community is priceless!

Fundraising Thermometer

The installation of our Fundraising Thermometer is in the final stages of design and we aim for it to be in place before our GALA event on October 18th . Speedy Signs in Newmarket have been very supportive.

Term 3: July 14th – September 19th

Yummy Stickers

We have a winner – We received pages and pages of Yummy stickers BUT Reece Holloway from LS12 ate the most amount of apples in term 2! CONGRATULATIONS REECE! 

Pop into the office and the PTA have left your well-deserved Giant Bar of Chocolate there for you! (After all of these apples, you deserve a sweet treat!) Well Done again…. 

Now for TERM 3….. Who will secure the prize? Pick up your forms from the office and please return it to the office by the last day of term 3 WITH YOUR NAME CLEARLY ON IT. Please ensure your name is clearly on it as we have no other way of identifying you! 

Remember “An Apple a day, Keeps the Doctor away!”

Gala, Gala, Gala! – TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Follow the link below to the Gala Website.

Community Notices