
Newsletter | Term 2, Week 6
Monday, 02 June 2025

Principal's Panui
Tēnā koutou whānau,
Can you believe we are already halfway through the school year? Time has flown by, and we’re proud of all the progress our students have made so far!
I’m reaching out today to ask for your valuable feedback on two important matters that could shape how we support our tamariki and staff moving forward. Linked below are two short surveys:
1. Cohort Entry Policy
We are exploring the possibility of introducing Cohort Entry for new entrant students. This would mean that instead of starting school on their fifth birthday, children could start at the beginning of the term or mid-term intake. This approach helps children settle into school as part of a group and supports smoother transitions and routines.
2. Early Release Wednesdays
We are also considering an early finish (2:00 PM) every Wednesday starting from Term 3 to provide our teachers with dedicated time for professional development. This time would be used to strengthen our teaching in areas like Structured Literacy, Mathematics, assessment practices, HERO platform training, and curriculum planning for 2026. The school day would begin at 8:45 AM daily to ensure learning time is maintained.
We would love your feedback on both of these proposals. Your voice matters, and your responses will help guide our decisions. Please return completed surveys to the office by 16th June 2025.
Focus on Attendance
We are putting a big focus on improving student attendance this term. Every day counts — when children are at school regularly, they build strong friendships, stay connected to learning, and are more confident in their progress.
To encourage great attendance, we have lots of fun incentives like lunch with the principal, movie vouchers, class parties, and more. Let’s work together to make every school day count!
Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up
We’ll soon be scheduling parent/teacher conferences. These meetings are a great opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher and discuss their progress. Keep an eye out for booking information in the coming weeks — we look forward to seeing you then.
Thank you again for being such a supportive part of the Awapuni School community.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Ms. Russell
Tumuaki | Principal
Awapuni School
Upcoming Events
Monday, 2nd June
- King's Birthday – Closed 🚫
Monday, 9th June
- Teacher Only Day – Closed 🚫
- Cross Country Final – Rangitāne Park
Friday, 20th June
- Matariki – Closed 🚫
Monday, 23rd June
- Parent/Teacher Conferences – 12:00pm Finish
Friday, 27th June
- Pyjama Day Mufti Fundraiser
- Last Day of Term 2
Attendance
One of our key initiatives this term is improving student attendance. Currently, around 44% of our students attend school regularly. Regular attendance is closely linked to student achievement—students who are at school consistently have a much better chance of reaching their full potential. We understand there can be barriers to getting children to school every day. To help support families, we are currently advertising for a van driver to assist with transport to and from school.
If your child is going to be away, please let us know by using the HERO app or by calling the office and leave a message. If we don’t receive a valid reason, the absence will be marked as unjustified, and we are required to report this to the Ministry of Education, which is placing a strong focus on attendance this year.
We will also be celebrating students with excellent attendance through rewards and recognition—let’s work together to support every child’s success!
Office Reminders
Student Payments (sports, music lessons, stationery)
Parents and caregivers can view their child’s billing statement at any time via the Finance page in Hero. We kindly ask you to check for any outstanding payments, particularly as we head into the winter sports season.
If you have any questions about student billing or would like to set up a payment plan, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.
Payments can be made directly from the app, or by direct credit to the school’s bank account:
ASB | 12-3142-0505673-00
Absences
Parents/caregivers need let the school know if your child is going to be absent for each day they are away during the school term. You can let us know in the following ways, please include the reason for absence so we can record this correctly in our system:
- Hero: Report an absence function
- Phone: 06 358 1735 (absentee line)
- Email: admin@awapuni-primary.school.nz
Hero Parent App
We strongly recommend parents download the Hero app to stay in the loop with Awapuni School. This is how we share important school messages with parents and keep you informed about new learning posts from your child/ren.
Please click here to download the Hero app and login – Follow the steps to sign up with the email address you provided the school. If you are having any issues, please contact the school office to ensure we have the correct email in the system.
From the School Board
SchoolDocs Policy Reviews
Each term, the whole school community is invited to review and comment on specific policies and procedures. This feedback is captured using the review button on topic for the board to consider.
This term our Health, Safety and Welfare policies are under review. Login to our SchoolDocs with the username (awapuni-primary) and password (rochester) to read these topics and provide your feedback.
Community Notices
Te Aroha Noa Early Childhood Centre
Te Aroha Noa Early Childhood Centre is open and welcoming to all families in the community. We currently have spaces available for children aged 3 to 5 years, and we’re able to offer an immediate start to anyone who gets in touch.
Website: https://tearohanoa.org.nz/what-we-do/early-childhood-centre/
PNCC – Māori Ward Referendum
Council elections and the Māori Ward referendum are coming – enrol now to have your say! If you’ve moved house or haven’t voted in a while, check your details now at vote.nz. Voting papers go to the address on your enrolment, so make sure yours is correct!
How to enrol or update details:
- Visit vote.nz to enrol online.
- Call 0800 36 76 56 to request a form.
- Head to our Customer Service Centre or libraries to pick up a form.
Puanga Festival - Friday 20 June
Palmerston North City Council is excited to invite your school community to join us for this year’s Puanga Festival – a celebration of the Māori New Year in partnership with Rangitāne o Manawatū. The theme is ‘honouring the past, enjoying the present, looking forward to the future’ - a reflection of Puanga as a time to reconnect, reflect and reset for the year ahead.
Come along and experience:
An awesome line-up of local performers – including Te KuraHuia, Forte, The KaRs and AfterParty
Tamariki-friendly activities – including poi and ti rakau (stick game)
A variety of tradition kai to keep bellies (and hearts) full
The StarWalk installation, featuring eight LED sculptures representing the Matariki constellation and Puanga star.
The festival will take place on Friday 20 June from 3-7pm at Central Energy Trust Arena’s Pit Lane.