St Teresa's School Newsletter

We are so excited to welcome our tamariki back to school on Monday, ready for another year of learning and growth. A special welcome to Etienne, Zion, Dante, and Tawera, who are joining us for their first day at St Teresa’s – we’re so pleased to have you as part of our school whānau.

We’re delighted to welcome several new staff members this term. Natilee Orbell joins us as our new reception teacher – we know she will bring so much energy and care to our juniors. A big thank you to Jocelyn Kebbell for holding the fort so well while Mary Sankey is on leave. Melissa Ngatai joins us as a teacher aide and student teacher in Tākitimu class, and we also warmly welcome Sam Richards as our new school cleaner.

The summer holidays saw exciting developments around our school. The new junior block project is officially underway, and we can’t wait for it to become two super junior rooms with a shared maker space. FOSTA’s generosity has funded final repairs to the senior playground and a new concrete pad, which will soon become a chill-out space for Tākitimu. The recladding work is complete, and the school now looks fresh and vibrant with its new coat of paint.

A big mihi to our teachers, who have done an incredible job getting their classrooms ready to rock for Term 1. We’re off to a fabulous start and look forward to another year of learning, community, and faith.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Lindsey

Saturday 1st February

Martinborough Fair Fundraiser

Monday 3rd February

Term begins at 8.45am

Tuesday 4th February

Meet the Teacher Picnic 4pm - 6pm please join us

Wednesday 5th February

Mihi Whakatou 9am please join us

Road Patrol Training

Thursday 6th February

SCHOOL CLOSED

Waitangi Day

Friday 7th February

SCHOOL CLOSED

MoE Curriculum Day

Tuesday 11th February

Junior Mass 10am please join us

Board Meeting 6pm

Wednesday 12th February

School Swimming

Thursday 13th February

School Swimming

Friday 14th February

School Swimming

Remutaka Assembly 8.50am please join us

Last day to enrol for the Baptism Programme

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Friends of St Teresa's are a group of parents, caregivers and family members who support the school by contributing their time and enthusiasm to the following focuses:

• To provide activities for families to socialise and know one another.
• To raise funds to support the school in learning and teaching.
• To raise funds to provide pleasant surroundings.

There is a variety of activities that the group are involved with and we like to involve as many people as possible from our school community. We look forward to having new members join the group. Meetings are notified through the school newsletter, and are based around funding activities.

For more information contact us on fosta@teresas.school.nz

As we do every year, we have the opportunity to run a fundraiser at the February and March Martinborough Fairs, by parking cars in the paddock behind the St Anthony Church. This is a fantastic fundraiser for our school, and raises around $1000 at each fair.

The dates for the Martinborough Fairs are Saturday 1st February (this weekend!) and Saturday 1st March.

To run this fundraiser successfully, we need your help. We generally run three shifts per fair, and need 3 or 4 people each shift. The shifts are two hours, however if you can only spare one hour, that would also be greatly appreciated.

Times are as follows:

• 7:30-9:30

• 9:30-11:30

• 11:30-1:30

If you are able to help, please feel free to email or text Liz on liz@teresas.school.nz 0274446627

We have **12 cubic metres of bark chip** to spread over our senior playground, and we’d love your help!

If you're passing by over the weekend and can spare a little time, we’d be incredibly grateful for an extra pair of hands. Many hands make light work! No special instruction needed, just an even spread across the ground.

Thank you in advance for your support! 😊

Stationery packs for 2025 are $45 each and will be delivered directly to your child's class, ready for their return to school. We continue to bulk buy stationery items to keep costs as affordable as possible for our school whānau.

Payments can be made to our school bank account 12-3290-0001450-00 and can be spread over the 2025 school year.

Please email principal@teresas.school.nz for more information or an informal chat.

Our amazing teachers and support staff work tirelessly to nurture and support our tamariki every day. But even superheroes need their rest! 🦸‍♂️💤

To keep them at their best, we kindly ask whānau to remember that our staff aren’t available 24/7. Emails and messages will be responded to during school hours (Monday–Friday), but our team won’t be expected to reply in the evenings or on weekends. Just like you, they need time to unwind, enjoy their whānau, and finish a hot cup of tea for once! ☕

As a small and friendly community, we love seeing you out and about, and we’re always happy to say hello. But if you catch a teacher mid-cornflakes at the supermarket, please save school-related discussions for email or the classroom. They'll gently steer you back to official channels while trying to remember if they need milk! 🥣🛒

If your enquiry is urgent, please contact the school office or principal—we’re always happy to help. Thanks for supporting our staff and helping us create a positive, balanced school environment!

😊 Ngā mihi

In 2025, we’re continuing to focus on a vital part of your child’s success—regular school attendance. It’s a topic we’re passionate about and something we’ll be talking about with you, your children, and our team throughout the year.

Did you know that missing just one day of school every two weeks adds up to more than a full year of missed learning by the time your child turns 16? That’s why we’re here to support you in building strong attendance habits—it’s a partnership between home and school.

Why Attendance Matters

Every child is legally required to attend school every day from the time they start. Together, we share the responsibility to ensure they are present, engaged, and making the most of their learning opportunities.

If your child is going to be absent—for example, for a tangi or a medical appointment—please let us know as soon as possible. However, absences for family holidays or extracurricular activities not organised by the school are not considered valid reasons.

Facing Challenges? We’re Here to Help

If you’re finding it difficult to get your child to school, please reach out. We understand that life can get busy, and challenges can arise. Our team is here to work alongside you to support your child in attending and thriving at school.

How We’re Supporting Attendance

At St Teresa’s, we’re committed to creating a school environment where students feel excited and safe to attend every day. Here’s what we’re doing:

• Building strong, meaningful relationships with students and families.
• Celebrating and valuing who your child is, where they come from, and what you as a family hold dear.
• Taking every practical step to ensure your child is at school and progressing in their learning.
• Providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone.

Let’s Work Together

Attendance is a team effort, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions, concerns, or need support with attendance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Together, we can help your child make the most of their school experience.

St Teresa's School

Email: office@teresas.school.nz
Website: https://www.teresas.school.nz/
Location: St Teresa's School Bell Street, Featherston, New Zealand
Phone: 06 308 9064
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/St-Teresas-Featherston/100057033717170/