Kia Ora Koutou, Namaste, Talofa Lava, Konnichiwa, Ni hao, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Chao, Hallo, Zdravstvuite, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Salam, Suostei, Hola, Annoyong Haseyo, Caio, Nei ho, Suoday, Ni sa Bula, Kamusta, Xin chào, Gutentag, Bonjour, Greetings
 

Nau mai, haere mai and a very warm welcome to our new students and whānau who have started at our kura. It is wonderful to have you here. Thank you to everyone who is using Hero to communicate with us, it is great to be able to connect with you in this way as well. Kia pai tō wiki.  
Mauri Ora!  From your Totara Grove School team.

 

What's in this newsletter…..

The Ngā Mātāpono Awards are special certificates given out to students each week by the classroom teachers.  The winners of the Ngā Mātāpono Awards for the last two weeks are: 

Rm 1: Chaz, Charvik, Kyah
Rm 2: Nicole, Levi, Zendaya
Rm 3: Austin, Cavalli, Amaia-May, Khartel
Rm 4: Bo, Tawhiri, Ryan, Kaio, Arihia
Rm 5: Kadeius, Waiaria, Kyson, Rāniera, Maliah, Fiord
Rm 6: Henoa, Jayden, Kalenzo, Wikitoria
Rm 8: Zaryah, Troy, Tahu, Indi
Rm 9: Martin, Nevin, Sade, Alexious
Rm 10: Ailsa-May, Abena, Manaia, Ria
Rm 11: Te Hira, Lance
Rm 12: Naima, Phoenix, Lochlan, Princess
Rm 13: Lexus
Rm 14: Jaxon, Lexi, Jake, Jayziah

The Duffy Caught Being Good Awards are certificates given out to students each week by the classroom teachers to reinforce positive behaviours at school. It is also a way to incentivise reading as these students are awarded a book of their choice to keep as a prize. The winners of Duffy books for the last two weeks are:

Rm 1: Enoch, Eternity Rose
Rm 2: Israel, Wiremu
Rm 3: Te Awa, Julian
Rm 4: Nelly, Cavalli
Rm 5: Nicole, Alexis
Rm 6: Ky-Mahli, Remi
Rm 8: Eli, Hilux
Rm 10: Amaia-Rose, Hemi
Rm 11: Owen
Rm 12: Tupono
Rm 13: Tatianah
Rm 14: Jayziah, Rylee

A reminder that our kura has moved away from the Seesaw and Skool loop apps. Hero is the new central platform that replaces both of those apps. So all classroom updates and school reports will come from Hero. For student absences, please remember to use the absence form on the website, call the school or submit via the Hero app, absence notices will no longer be accepted from Skool loop.

Totara Grove would like to introduce Madison Elrick. She will be onsite at school on Mondays as our Creative Art Therapist and is very excited to be doing mahi with Totara Grove and our lovely tamariki. Madison Elrick is a Registered Creative Arts Therapist from Australia working for Mauri Tui Tuia in Whangārei, Te Tai Tokerau. She practices person-centred and trauma-informed Art Therapy, supporting young people to explore their identity and experiences through art, play, and sensory processes.

With lived experience of disability and supporting others with disability, Madison is passionate about fostering safe, respectful, and curious therapeutic connections. She works alongside children and whānau to support shared reflection and expression, helping them better understand themselves and their relationships with others.

Inspired by her own love of visual expression, she finds joy, release, and connection through art-making and creative experimentation, and values learning alongside the young people and families she supports. If teachers feel this could be particularly beneficial for your child, your permission would be required and further information would be provided to you as well. We are excited to welcome Madison and look forward to working with her throughout 2026.

A reminder that school will be closing for the term on Thursday 2nd April as the school holidays begin with Good Friday on April 3rd. School will finish at the usual finish time of 3pm.

Any orders for the current scholastic book club brochure (issue #2, 2026) need to be in by Friday, 13th March. If making a cash order, please return the order form to the school office with the child’s name, room number, selected books and the correct money owing. Orders past this date can still be made directly online as long as they are within scholastic’s final closing date, however they won’t be delivered through the school and postage costs will be added to your order.

https://www.scholastic.co.nz/parents/lucky-book-club/

If you have a concern about your child’s language development, learning progress, social and emotional wellbeing, or behaviour, Te Manawa Tahi have specialists available so you can discuss your concerns directly with them.

This is a free service and each site will be identified by a Te Manawa Tahi sign or flag. Drop into a hub or make an appointment by phoning 0800 524 842 or emailing TT.Support@education.govt.nz. 

                     
Term 1         28th Jan – 2nd April
                    25 March: School board meeting

Term 2         20th April – 3rd July
                    28 April : Staff only day

Term 3         20th July – 25th Sep

Term 4         12th Oct – 10th Dec

For school dates, office hours and school break times please refer to the school website linked here