SCHOOL NEWSLETTER: 10th October 2025

Tena Koutou e te Whānau

Last term ended in spectacular fashion with our Art and Writing festival the “Science of Art” showcasing the children’s wonderful art and writing. This event was quickly followed by Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with wonderful opportunities for the children to be immersed in Te ao Māori and celebrate the use and teaching of Te Reo at Torbay school. I want to thank all staff for their efforts that make events like this possible.

Events of this nature take hours of teachers personal time and an incredible amount of creativity and drive to make them happen. Torbay School is fortunate to have a team of incredibly dedicated and talented Kaiako and Support Staff who do an amazing job and I thank them for their continued Mahi

The final term of the year has started and the School is once again buzzing with the sounds of our children and the hive of activity that the spring term brings. It is lovely to see the sun starting to appear and the activity in our garden. The children have returned and settled in well and I look forward to another wonderful term of learning and fun.

Board Elections

I would like to congratulate our newly elected board and thank them, along with all other candidates, for making themselves available for the Board. Being on a school board is a significant responsibility and involves representing and serving your community while working collaboratively with school management to achieve our agreed goals.

Our Board members are: Stefan McIntyre, Jim Davis, Theresa Brown, Laura Heathcote, Thads Cooke and our staff Board member Susan Ye.

I look forward to working with our new board to take our school forward over the coming years.

Class Placements

As we enter term 4 we are moving ahead with class placements for 2026. Now is your opportunity to provide us with information about class placements for next year.

These requests should be based around our ability to meet any specific needs your child may have whether they be learning, health or well-being issues. While we are aware of many of our children’s needs there may be something you consider important that we may not be aware of.

I would like to emphasise that this is not an opportunity to choose your child’s teacher or classroom, or to ensure children stay with their friends, but to inform us of important issues that we should consider when placing your child. Do not just rely on a discussion with our teachers, please put your thoughts in writing so they are not overlooked.

Please send these requests direct to me via my Email address by Friday 24^th of October. gobrien@torbay.school.nz

Strike Day

As outlined in my Email yesterday, Teachers, Support Staff and Principals will be striking on Thursday the 23^rd of October. A significant proportion of our staff are union members, and the Board has agreed that the School will be closed on the strike day. SKIDs after-school care will be offered on that day, further information will be made available regarding this care option.

Enrolments for next year

Please ensure that you have enrolled your children for next year. If you have younger children due to start school in 2026 please go on to our website and enrol them. It is important that we have as much information as possible to inform our planning for the coming year.

Please also ensure that you let any friends or acquaintances who have school age children and who live in our school zone to ensure they enrol just as soon as possible.

Pool

We are thrilled that we will open our, newly heated, School Pool next week for class swimming. This will provide an extended swimming season for our children and community. Our thanks go to our PTA for their wonderful fundraising efforts that have significantly contributed to this project making it possible.

We will soon be issuing community keys for the pool and hope to open the pool to the community in Week 6.

Hats

Hats are compulsory uniform in terms 4 and  1. Please ensure that your children are wearing a school hat as of Monday next week, the 13^th of October.

Important dates for the remainder of term 4 include:

• 13^th October – Te Tira Hoe Meeting
• 17^th October – PTA Pie Day Friday
• 21^st October – PTA Meeting
• 22^nd October – Board Meeting
• 23^rd October – Proposed Strike Day
• 24^th October – Waterwise start day
• 27^th October – Labour Day Holiday
• 28^th October – Nest Parent Evening
• 14^th November – PTA Pie Day Friday
• 21^st November – Onepoto Kapa Haka Festival
• 22^nd November – Long Bay College 50^th Celebration
• 26^th November – Board Meeting
• 29^th November – PTA Colour Run
• 4^th December – Performance Assembly
• 11^th December – Awards Assembly
• 17^th December – Graduation Assembly
• 18^th December – Final Day of School

I thank you for your continued support of all we do here at Torbay School. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any matter.

Nga mihi nui

Gary O’Brien

Principal

gobrien@torbay.school.nz