Kōkopu Newsletter

Kia ora whānau,

We have had another couple of weeks filled with exciting learning experiences and enriching activities. At Kōkopu School, we strive to provide a well-rounded curriculum with high expectations for academic progress, complemented by engaging and motivating opportunities that allow every student to shine.

Last week, I was particularly impressed with the writing progress across the school. Room 3 stood out with their detailed recounts from camp, focusing on adding a ‘who’ and ‘do’ to strengthen their sentences. Writing is a key part of our structured literacy approach, and we are proud to use the Writer’s Toolbox program to support our students. This tool provides clear, structured steps to becoming a confident writer, and we’ve seen great success—especially among our boys—by removing the mystery from the writing process and setting clear goals for improvement.

Meanwhile, Room 1 has been exploring volcanoes in their writing today, and in the afternoon, Mrs. Hibbert led a hands-on science session where students made flour volcanoes! The excitement was obvious, and it was fantastic to see students so engaged in both the writing and the messy, explosive fun. Learning through hands-on activities like this makes concepts come alive and helps reinforce key literacy and science skills.

Room 3 and Room 5 had an incredible time at camp in Whananaki, blessed with stunning weather that allowed them to fully enjoy Northland’s beautiful beaches and outdoor activities. Camp is always a time for growth, whether it’s the challenge of being away from home, jumping off the footbridge, or learning to surf. It was fantastic to see students, parents, and teachers stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing these challenges. A huge thank you to the parents who joined us—your support is invaluable in creating these memorable experiences for our students.

We also recently hosted our school-wide swimming sports and the Zone swimming competition. These events truly showcased our school values in action. Whether it was cheering on a friend, giving their best effort in the pool, or showing manaakitanga (hospitality) to visiting schools, our students demonstrated Respect for Themselves, Others, and the Environment. We look forward to supporting our swimmers in next week’s interschool competition in town.

Property Updates
We are continuing some final clean-up work after our car park project. We’re currently waiting for our new water tanks to be connected and for the old system to be decommissioned. This will likely happen once we receive a bit of much-needed rain to fill the new tanks.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue Growing Together, Learning Forever.

Yaron Overeem

Principal, Kokopu School

Exciting news! Our students were thrilled to hear that plans are underway for a new sandpit and the reinstatement of the trampoline. The trampoline will be returning to its spot near the playground, while the sandpit will be built on the grassy bank behind Room 4. This will be a unique two-tier natural sandpit, and our students have been busy sketching their own design ideas—some of which will be incorporated into the final plan! (See our concept drawing).

To bring this project to life, we are looking for large local rocks to create a natural border around the sandpit. If you know of anyone who might be willing to donate or sell large rocks at a small cost, please let us know.

Additionally, we are on the lookout for a concrete culvert pipe, approximately 1 metre long. If you happen to have one lying around, we’d love to give it a new purpose in our sandpit design.

If you can help, please get in touch with the school office. Your support in creating this fantastic new play space is greatly appreciated!

Thank you! 😊

Please DO NOT park at the FRONT GATE. It is NOT a drop off zone.

Thursday 13th March - get your orders in here: https://lizdaviesphotography.co.nz/order-school-photos.../

Get dressed up and wear your best smile.

On Friday 14th March it is our turn to host the Country Meal at the Mangakahia Sports Complex. This is a fabulous opportunity to fundraise for our school. We need help from our school community to host this event please. We ask that every family provide a salad which can be sent to school on Friday or bought along on Friday evening to the Sports Complex. Everyone is welcome to come along, so get your family members, neighbours and friends to join us for a nice meal and great company.

The PTA will be running raffles on the night and need donated items please. Send any items suitable to raffle along to school. e.g. non perishable food/grocery items, personal care items etc.

Number of Affiliate / School Volunteers Required:

● 4-6 people to arrive around 5pm and set up

● 2/3 people to take orders from 6pm

● Kitchen: 1 x Fryer and 1 x server helper from 5.30pm

● 2-3 runners / table clearers from 6.15pm

● 1-2 person to serve desserts from 6.30pm and replenish platters

● 1-2 dishwashers from 6.30pm

● 2-4 people to tidy up from 7.30pm

If you can help out with any of the jobs above, please email the school office -

office@kokopu.school.nz.

Congratulations to the following children who qualified from our zone to go into the WPSSA Swimming Championships at Whangarei Intermediate on Wednesday 12th March.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT HAS BEEN EMAILED HOME TO PARENTS TODAY.

Year 5 Girls Freestyle - Emily Pearson, Lily Donaldson

Year 5 Boys Freestyle - Aiden Jambor, Silas Hughes

Year 6 Girls Freestyle - Ana Waterhouse, Amelia-Rose Hape

Year 6 Boys Freestyle - Daniel McGrath, Denim Hutchison

Year 7 Girls Freestyle - Tawhai Rakich, Pippa Peyton

Year 7 Boys Freestyle - Lachlan McMurchy, Hunter Schraag

Year 8 Girls Freestyle - Eva Gray, Ady Gibbs

Year 8 Boys Freestyle - Zac Burgin, Gideon Woodman

Year 5 Girls Backstroke - Emily Pearson, Lily Donaldson

Year 5 Boys Backstroke - Aiden Jambor, Mason Schraag

Year 6 Girls Backstroke - Ruby Croucher, Tahan Bellingham

Year 6 Boys Backstroke - Daniel McGrath, Denim Hutchison

Year 7 Girls Backstroke- Tahwai Rakich, Taylor Masefield

Year 7 Boys Backstroke - Lachlan McMurchy, Hunter Schraag

Year 8 Girls Backstroke - Ady Gibbs, Bella Hill

Year 8 Boys Backstroke - Zac Burgin, Gideon Woodman

Year 5 Girls Breaststroke - Emily Pearson, Lily Donaldson

Year 5 Boys Breaststroke - Theo Goodin, Mason Schraag

Year 6 Girls Breaststroke - Lauren Postlewaight, Ana Waterhouse

Year 6 Boys Breaststroke - Daniel McGrath

Year 7 Girls Breaststroke - Pippa Peyton, Whaiawa Tito

Year 7 Boys Breaststroke - Lachlan McMurchy, Hunter Schraag

Year 8 Girls Breaststroke - Eva Gray, Amelia Tasker

Year 8 Boys Breaststroke - Zac Burgin, Tristan Woolston-Boys

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATES

On Wednesday 26th March we will hold our bike day. This is an opportunity to bring your bike to school for a practice for Triathlon and a safety check.

On Thursday 27th March we will have our triathlon here at school. All children compete in this event. We start at 10am with Room 1 followed by Room 2, 4, 3 and 6. The children will compete in their Year groups. Lunch will be at 12.30. Everyone is welcome to come along to school and support the children at this event.

Please check our link for the triathlon maps

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MVOhyCFrgwZb7pW3xHvxig3ePUVy4Oty/view?fbclid=IwAR2NQPIsHwxoPUlLmb3nweRlhs-rDXCPxyTKXzi9C2gJytaOL1K07Ewt0n0

The PTA will have food for sale.

American Hot Dogs, Chocolates, Drinks, Ice Blocks and Baking. Please send your children with cash if you want them to buy food.

All children are required to wear hats while outdoors this term as part of our sun safe policy 🌞

Please name your child's/children's clothing so our lost property is not overflowing. Now children are swimming everyday they tend to leaving items of clothing lying around so naming clothing will be most helpful.

Please ensure your children bring their togs and towel as they are swimming every day. Students with long hair will also need a swimming cap.

If they are unable to swim please send a note explaining why. Thank you.

Every day the senior children will be selling ice blocks for $1.00 each after the children have eaten their lunch.

Parents, please ensure the gates into the school are shut at all times.

We need them shut after school, as there are still children at After School Care until 5.30pm.

Our Skool Loop is a great way to communicate with our School Community. Please re-register which classroom your child/children are in. If you have not register please see the instructions below.

We would love to welcome new members to our PTA. We have met already this term, but any help with events on the food stalls would be appreciated. i.e. Swimming Sports, Triathlon etc. If you are interested in joining us or helping out please contact Amy Pugh phone 0211729388.

Term 1 2025

Wed 12 Mar - WPSSA Swimming Sports

Thu 13 Mar - School Photos

Fri 14 Mar - Mangakahia Sports Complex Country Meal - Kokopu School hosting

Mon 17 Mar to Fri 21 Mar - Room 6 Camp to Rotorua

Mon 24 Mar - Board of Trustees Meeting

Wed 26 Mar - Bike Day - NOTE CHANGE OF DATES

Thu 27 Mar - Triathlon - NOTE CHANGE OF DATES

Fri 4 Apr - Futures Event Year 6 to 8

Mon 7 Apr to Thu 10 Apr - Room 4 Camp

Fri 11 Apr - ANZAC Assembly

2025 Term Dates

• Term 1: Wed 5 Feb – Fri 11 Apr 2025.
• Term 2: Mon 28 Apr – Fri 27 Jun 2025.
• Term 3: Mon 14 Jul – Fri 19 Sep 2025.
• Term 4: Mon 6 Oct – Tue 16 Dec 2025.

On Friday afternoon we have a sharing assembly at 2.30pm for the whole school. Parents are welcome to come along and see what the children have to share.

Vicki is in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Bexs is in the office on Wednesday and Friday until 12.50pm.

Don't forget we are collecting Yummy Stickers. So please collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear you get so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now!

Guitar lessons are on Wednesday's. If you are interested in getting lessons for your child, phone Lynn Moase on 0212979437.

Lunchonline will not be taking orders on 06/03/2025 for the following provider(s):

• Westend Sushi

Zone Swimming Sports - Lunches for sale from the PTA

If parents/caregivers want to visit the website https://kokopu.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm to look over our school policies and procedures, please see the following instructions: Enter the username (kokopu) and password (0179). Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

Email: office@kokopu.school.nz
Website: www.kokopu.school.nz
Location: 921 Kokopu Road, Kokopu, New Zealand
Phone: 094346765
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokopuschool