A warm welcome to our new students: Mihailo Belosovic and Iniko Simpemba

Kia ora koutou,

A quick note from me,  I’m lucky enough to be visiting our Year 7 and 8's at Sports Camp today. It’s a week-long competition against nine other schools across 27 codes, and our Puketaha students are doing us proud with great sportsmanship, team spirit, and some fierce competition.

Our final Board meeting for the current three-year term is coming up. Two long-serving members are stepping down and not seeking re-nomination: Simon Perry and Renika Siciliano. Simon’s three daughters have all come through Puketaha (his youngest is now in Year 8), and Renika’s son moved on to high school last year. We’re sincerely grateful for their six years of grounded, big-picture governance through some interesting times. Ngaa mihi nui, Simon and Renika — your contribution has been a real asset to our school.

Voting is now open for the next three-year Board term. We have a wonderful group of nominees; please take a moment to vote for who you’d like to represent our parent community.

There are plenty of winter bugs about, and like many workplaces, we’re juggling staff illness. Thanks to our co-teaching spaces, learning programmes continue smoothly, and relievers can slot in with minimal disruption. Attendance remains a Government priority: if your child is clearly unwell, please keep them home — and bring them back as soon as they’re well enough to learn. If you’re unsure, send them in and we’ll keep an eye on them. Please report absences each morning via HERO, email, or text to the office. Unreported absences mean our office team must follow up — a quick message from you saves time. Any absence still unexplained by 4 pm is recorded as unjustified (truant).

We’ve been excitedly watching the progress on our junior playground, which is now almost complete and ready for the soft-fall to be installed. All going well, it’ll be open for play early next week. Have a lovely rest of your week!

Ngaa mihi,

Nyree Olliver

Principal

At the end of every term a large amount of lost property from school is sent to charity.

Getting children to reclaim their personal belongings such as clothing, water bottles, and lunch boxes is an ongoing problem and losing items can be upsetting for both caregivers and children.

Please help reduce this problem in the following ways:

1. Labelling Items: Please ensure that all your child's belongings are clearly labelled with their name. This greatly increases the likelihood of lost items being returned to their rightful owner.  There are permanent markers available at the school office if you would like to take one home and label your children's clothes.

2. Checking Lost and Found: Encourage your child to check our lost and found area regularly. We regularly collect lost items in boxes in the learning spaces and in the lost property trolley.

3. Valuables: Remind your child not to bring unnecessary valuables to school. We discourage items like toys and collectable cards. 

Your cooperation and support are greatly appreciated.

Puketaha School will hold its annual Agricultural Day on Tuesday 14th October. 

If you have a lamb, kid goat or calf that you would like to enter please complete the Puketaha School Agricultural Day entry

Last day for entries is Friday 5th September

You can also check out the information on the Waikato A & P show website Waikato Show Children's competition

The Puketaha School Board has determined that there will be a Single pre-enrolment period for applications for 2026; however, if required, an additional enrolment period will be set for March.

Applications are to be received at the school by  Monday, 15th September, with the ballot to be drawn on Wednesday, 17th September

The board has determined that there will be separate ballots held for different year levels:

16 spaces for Year 0 (Terms 2,3 & 4), 9 spaces for Year 1 (Term 1), 1 space for Year 2, 3 spaces for Year 3, 1 space for Year 4.

There are no spaces available in the following year levels -  5,6,7, & 8

Siblings of children who already attend Puketaha but live outside our school zone need to be in the ballot.

The school would also like to confirm numbers of in zone children for 2026 so please get in touch if you have a potential enrolment for next year. 

Term 1:  Wednesday 4th Feb to Thursday 2nd Apri

Term 2:  Monday 20th April to Friday 3 July

Term 3:  Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 

Term 4:  Monday 12th October to Friday December 18th

Look out for the Invitation to Vote in their email inbox.  If you do not recieve one please get in touch with the Returning Officer returningofficer@myschoolelection.nz