Pāpāmoa Primary

Kia Ora Whānau

As we wrap up another fantastic year at Papamoa Primary, I just want to take a moment to say a huge thank you to everyone who makes our school the special place it is.

To our incredible Board of Trustees—you’re the backbone of our school, helping guide us with your vision and ensuring we have everything we need to give our tamariki and staff the best opportunities. We’re so lucky to have such a supportive team steering the ship.

To our amazing staff—you are the heart and soul of this kura. Every single day, you pour your passion, energy, and kindness into our tamariki, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. You’re more than just teachers and support staff; you’re role models, mentors, and memory-makers. Thank you for everything you do, from the little things behind the scenes to the big moments that make our school shine.

A special shout-out to Sara and Anna, our fabulous Deputy Principals. Your hard work, leadership, and support keep this place running like clockwork. On a personal note, I can’t thank you enough for always having my back—you make coming to work each day an absolute joy.

To our wonderful whānau—thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Your trust, support, and encouragement mean the world to us. It’s a true partnership, and we couldn’t do it without you.

As we head into the holidays, I want to share a few beliefs we hold close here at Papamoa Primary—things we think make our school pretty special:

1. Feeling Safe: Every child should feel safe, cared for, and like they belong here. School should be a place where they can be themselves and take on new challenges with confidence.
2. Friendships: Learning to make and keep friends is a big part of growing up. It’s not always easy, but it’s through these relationships that tamariki learn compassion, connection, and how to navigate life with others.
3. The Basics: Reading, writing, and maths are the bread and butter of primary school. They might not be the most exciting memories, but they’re the foundation for everything else, and we work hard to get them right.
4. New Experiences: Whether it’s visiting a marae, going on camp, or trying something new, we want to give kids moments that spark curiosity, build confidence, and maybe even ignite a lifelong passion.
5. Making Memories: School should be fun! The best memories are made when we’re laughing, learning, and sharing moments together. We aim to make each term a little unforgettable.
   
   

To our Year 6 leavers, we hope you walk away from Papamoa Primary with a treasure trove of memories, great friendships, and the confidence to take on the next chapter of your journey. Think about the best times, the people who made you smile, and the challenges you overcame—these are the moments that shape you.

For everyone else, we wish you a summer break filled with laughter, sunshine, and quality time with your loved ones. Thank you for being part of our Papamoa Primary whānau—we can’t wait to see you back in 2025, ready for another year of learning, growing, and making memories together.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Ngā mihi nui,

Matt Simeon

Principal

Kia ora whānau,

As 2025 approaches, it is a fitting time to reflect on the achievements of the past year and look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead for our kura and community.

This year, we say a heartfelt farewell to Sarah Webb, who is stepping down from the board after six years of exceptional service. Sarah has been a cornerstone of our school’s progress, contributing significantly to the appointment of two principals, navigating the challenges of COVID-19, supporting the establishment of Te Manawanui, and providing invaluable guidance through multiple building projects. Her dedication and wisdom have left an enduring legacy, and on behalf of the board and the entire school community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude and best wishes to Sarah for the future.

As a board, we have continued to work collaboratively to guide our school forward. Over the past year, each member has contributed their unique skills and perspectives to ensure we remain focused on supporting the success and wellbeing of our tamariki, staff, and community. From governance training to strategic planning and overseeing key initiatives, the board has worked tirelessly to uphold the values of our kura and maintain a strong foundation for growth.​ I would like to thank all of our board members for the part they have played in 2024.

Looking to 2025, we are excited to appoint a new member via selection early in the year to ensure the board continues to reflect the strengths and aspirations of our school community.

One of the most significant developments this year has been the progress on our major building projects. Over the summer, we will see continued work on the replacement of 12 classrooms with seven new offsite manufacuted buildings. This Ministry of Education-led initiative represents a milestone in the transformation of our school’s infrastructure. While the project is MOE-driven, we have been strong advocates for our community’s needs, and we are thrilled to see this long-awaited work becoming a reality.​ We hope that by the time you come back in February 6 of these 7 buildings will be onsite and open for operation by the beginning of term 2.

As we reflect on 2024, it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of our school’s leadership team. Principal Matt Simeon has once again demonstrated outstanding leadership, supported by Deputy Principals Sara Travers and Anna Oglesby, and the wider senior leadership team. Their unwavering focus on providing the best possible outcomes for our tamariki has been evident throughout the year. From teaching teams to support staff, every member of our kura has played a vital role in creating a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment.

Lastly, I would like to thank you, our whānau and community, for your ongoing support. Your partnership, involvement, and encouragement are vital to the success of our school, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us as we work together to shape the future for our tamariki.

As we head into 2025, I wish you all a joyful and restful holiday season. We look forward to another year of growth, opportunity, and connection in our kura.

Mark Divehall

Presiding Member

Pāpāmoa Primary School

Back Row: Matt Simeon, Cyrus Tuporo, Jamie Smith, Amber Brooks, Tukara Matthews, Mark Divehall

Front Row: Olivia Hayward, Sarah Webb, Kate Wallis

As you are aware of the building works happening on our school site, it is highly recommended that the school grounds not be used over the Christmas period.

Key Safety Information:

• Demolition Work Starting 6 January: From this date, extensive demolition activities will commence, including the use of heavy machinery, which will create hazardous conditions.
• Avoid School Grounds: For the safety of our community, we strongly advise all students, families, and staff to avoid the school site entirely during this time.
• Increased Hazards: Restricted areas, heavy vehicle movement, and construction materials will be present, posing significant risks to anyone onsite.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to ensure everyone’s safety. Thank you for your support as we work to improve our school facilities.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season.

Please keep an eye out for a seperate newsletter that will come out with details on the following.

• Stationery Packs 2025
• Learning Partnership Day Bookings
• Office Opening Hours Late Jan
• Summer Sports Registrations

Please contact the office if your child is going to be absent from school on :

Phone: 542 3261 (absentee message service)

or

Email: papamoaprimary@papamoa.school.nz

or

Website: http://www.papamoa.school.nz/report_an_absentee

Please include your child’s name, room and reason for absence.

If your child arrives at school after 8.40am they are late. Please ensure they sign in at the office before going to class. Thank you.

As part of our School-Links communication system, an automated text message will go out to all unexplained absences. This number is a reply once only.

While we understand that families sometimes need to take time away from school, it is essential that we as a school are notified.

Any absence longer than 20 school days will need to be approved in advance by the school principal. You can do this by sending an email to papamoaprimary@papamoa.school.nz explaining the reason for your child's absence and the dates they will be away. If your child is absent for longer than 20 school days the MOE instructs us to remove a child from our school roll. If you live outside of our school zone there is no guarantee that your child will be able to re-enrol at Pāpāmoa Primary School. It's important to keep communication open between us. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please feel free to reach out to us.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in your child's education.

It would greatly assist us if you could please advise the office if you have any changes of address, phone numbers or emergency caregiver details.

In the event of an emergency, sickness or injury we need to be able to contact someone who can collect your child.

All students are required to hand in prescribed medications to the office.

Office staff will only administer medicines to students once a form has been completed and signed by a parent or caregiver.

Would you like to know more about our School Policies and Procedures?

We invite you to visit the site at https://papamoa.schooldocs.co.nz
(note that there's no "www.").

Our username is "papamoa" and password "3118".

Phone: 07 542 0865

Location: 312 Dickson Road Pāpāmoa

Email: admin@papamoa.school.nz
Website: www.papamoa.school.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PapamoaPrimarySchool/