05/12/2025

From the Principal’s Desk

Kia ora e te whānau,

It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into Week 9. This term has been absolutely jam-packed — from camps and events, to classroom projects, to staff planning for a big year ahead in 2026. The energy around school has been awesome, and we’re really proud of how students have kept their momentum right through to the end.

As we approach the final stretch, here are a few important updates, celebrations, and details for the end of year and the start of 2026.

End-of-Year Prizegiving – Monday 15th December

We’re looking forward to celebrating another fantastic year with you all.

• Hall opens: 6:30pm

• Students seated by: 6:50pm

• Prizegiving begins: 7:00pm

• Expected finish: Approximately 1.5 hours

Because it’s a later evening, parents are welcome to pick students up early on Monday if they feel they’ll need a rest.

School will remain open on Tuesday 16th December, but teachers will be engaged in professional learning. Students who attend will take part in a relaxed, adjusted programme with our support staff.
If your child finishes for the year after prizegiving, that’s completely fine.

End-of-Year Reporting – HERO

Reports will go live on HERO at the end of next week.

Teachers have worked incredibly hard to ensure each student is accurately assessed against the refreshed English and Maths curriculum. Alongside strengths, next steps, and photo highlights, you will see a graph showing each child’s achievement.

For some students, the graph may look as if they’ve moved backwards. This is not the case — the expectations have shifted nationally.

DON’T PANIC.

This is happening across New Zealand. Students are now being measured against higher benchmarks. We will continue to monitor progress throughout 2026 and communicate clearly with whānau.

A sporting comparison:
In 1984, Carl Lewis won the Olympic 100m in 9.92 seconds. In the last Olympics, the eighth-place finisher ran 9.91. The bar moves — not the athlete.
The same applies here.

Class Placements for 2026 – click HERE

A huge amount of thought goes into class placements — socially, emotionally, and academically. You’ll find an image below showing where your child will be placed in 2026. These will also be sent via HERO for easier viewing.

Over the next fortnight, teachers will work collaboratively to transition key information to ensure each student starts strong next year.

We’ll also be running Home–School Partnership Hui early in Term 1 to connect with whānau and set shared goals for the year.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding placement, please contact me directly.

Student Support

• Learning Support Mentor: Ms Vicki Caldwell
• Child/Youth Pastoral Care Mentor: Mr Logan McDonald
  Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour: Mrs Sonia Vind
• Learning Support Coordinator: Mrs Sue Fergus

EnviroSchools Silver Award

Congratulations to our Room 6 “Vegepods”, who have led a year of outstanding mahi in sustainable practice — designing, trialling, and refining environmental projects around school.

Yesterday, our Enviro group presented to members of the Taranaki District Council EnviroSchools team, sharing their initiatives and vision. Their work was recognised with the EnviroSchools Silver Award!

This is a whole-school achievement years in the making (Bronze was earned in 2018), supported by the dedication of Mrs Uhlenberg, Mrs Henderson, Jackie, and Gwenda.

We will celebrate this milestone at a special assembly this Friday at 2:30pm.
Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau.

Ngā mihi nui

Thank you for your ongoing support, energy, and partnership throughout what has been a massive and rewarding term. Our students have shone, our staff have worked incredibly hard, and our community continues to be at the heart of everything we do.

He whakataukī hei whakakapi:

“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.”
My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Shane Burgess
Principal/Tumuaki, Ngaere School

Key Dates – Term 1, 2026

Before School Starts

• Friday 30th January – Office open for uniform purchases & general enquiries

• Monday 2nd February – Term 1 begins

February Events

• Friday 6th February – Waitangi Day (School Closed)

• Monday 16th February – Cycle Safety (Years 3–8)

• Wednesday 11th February – Turnbull Cup Swimming

• Friday 13th February – Maize Maze Opens

• 24th–27th February – Life Education in school

March Events

• Friday 6th March – MOE-Approved Curriculum Maths Teacher Only Day (School Closed)

• Monday 9th March – Taranaki Anniversary Day (School Closed)

• Friday 13th March – Interschool Hockey

• Wednesday 18th March – Cluster Swimming Sports (Years 5–8)

• Tuesday 31st March – Rural Cluster Athletics (Years 1–4)

Hui & Whānau Engagement

• Week 3/4 – Home–School Partnership Hui (dates to follow)

April Events & Term End

• Friday 4th April – Good Friday (School Closed)

• Monday 7th & Tuesday 8th April – Easter Monday & Easter Tuesday (School Closed)

• Friday 11th April – Last day of Term 1

• Monday 28th April – Term 2 begins

A huge thank you to Mike & Mandy Hansen from

THE WATERHOG LTD   https://thewaterhog.co.nz

who have very generously let the school use their truck again for the  xmas float.

REMINDER…..

Support Our School & Get Your Christmas Shopping Done!

This year, we’re partnering with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on a fun and easy school fundraiser with the new Taranaki Monopoly board game!

For every game purchased before the end of the school year using our school’s unique code, our school receives a $10 donation (you must use our schools
unique code).
It’s the perfect Christmas gift that encourages family fun, and every purchase directly helps us fund our school projects for next year.

How to support us:

 Visit: https://taranakimonopoly.co.nz/pages/schools                                                                Add the game to your cart.

 PLEASE BE SURE TO USE OUR SCHOOLS UNIQUE CODE AT CHECKOUT:   NGA
 We then get a school donation!

Thank you for your support!

Thank you to those who have dropped items in for the Xmas Hamper raffle.  If you are yet to drop your item/s in, please do so to the school office by Friday 12th December.  Thank you.

COMMUNITY NOTICES……