Kis Ora Koutou,

Last week was another big one for our Year 7 and 8 tamariki! Fresh off a massive week at Sports Camp, a group of Puketaha students represented our school at the AIMS Games. Competing on this stage after such a full-on week was a huge ask, but each of them dug deep, showed resilience, and made us proud.

AIMS Games Results

Year 8 Netball Team – Won 3 of their 10 games

• Fraya Harrison
• Ivy Perry
• Paige Barnes
• Brooke Haddon
• Mackenzie Dawson
• Milla Goodin
• Lydia Russell
• Ava Ramaka
• Alice McConnell
• Phoebe Hurst

Swimming

• Georgie Shell – multiple Personal Bests
• Ashton Tinworth – multiple Personal Bests

Gymnastics

• Ashton Tinworth – 2nd High Bar
• Miller Dawson – 1st Aerobics

Cross Country

• Lauren MacPherson – 100th placing

A huge congratulations to all our AIMS athletes and a special thank you to the parents who supported them — your encouragement made this opportunity possible.

Puketaha also had the honour of hosting the Waikato Country Schools Speech Finals and the Waikato Full Primary School Regional Speech Qualifier. Our students spoke with confidence, entertained the audience, and represented the school with pride.

Speech Results

• Year 8 Girls – 1st: Lydia Russell
• Year 6 Girls – 1st: Lily Khoo, 2nd: Chelsea Russell
• Year 6 Boys – 1st: Kees Olliver, 2nd: Mateo Bilcich
• Year 5 Girls – 1st Gia Redgate

Lydia went on to come runner-up in the finals of the Waikato Full Primary Speech Competition, out of 53 schools a massive achievement!

We are also thrilled to share that one of our Battle of the Books teams placed 1st out of 18 teams! Congratulations to Georgia Emslie, Chloe Creighton-Pester, Maia Jeftha, and Thea Lemon on this outstanding result! 

Our students are highly involved in all the extracurricular activities happening, and we have students across the school and throughout the year who are achieving outstanding successes. It highlights the talent, commitment, and spirit of our students and the strong whaanau support that helps make these opportunities possible.

Have a wonderful rest of your week and a lovely weekend,

Ngaa mihi nui,

Nyree Olliver