Newsletter 8, 25 March 2026 – Please note change to MANA Assembly time on Friday.

Week 8 – 25 March 2026

Lumi the therapy dog comes to Waterlea

Kia ora Whaanau,

Attendance

Our attendance rate as a school for the eigth week at school is at 88%. This time last year our attendance rate across the kura was 77% so well done everyone for bumping that rate up! As always, please remember to let the office know if your child is going to be away and the reason for the absence. This information will allow us to enter the correct attendance code for your child. You can phone the office on 096364233 or email reception@waterlea.school.nz.

If your child is going away during the school term please email principal@waterlea.school.nz with the details for the absence and the dates your child will be away.

Keep up the great effort ensuring your children are coming to school each day!

WoW Week at Waterlea School

Important Dates

23 Mar– WoW Week-Walk or Wheel to School

27 Mar – MANA Values assembly-note the time change 12pm 

27 Mar – PTA Casual Clothes Day

28 Mar – PTA Brick Show

30 Mar – Year 2 Trip to Dust Palace Circus Theatre

31 Mar – Year 1 Trip to Dust Palace Circus Theatre

2 April – Whole School Walk to Ambury Farm -11am

2 Apr – Last day of Term 1

20 April – First day of Term 2

On Thursday the 5th of March, 2026, Rooms 9, 7 and half of Room 5 went on a bus trip to Goat Island.

There were 3 groups: Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3.  I was in group 2 so I was going snorkelling second. The reason I was going snorkelling second was because there was a cycle. People in Group 1 are snorkelling first, Group 2 are snorkelling second and so on, and so on. 

I was doing the stream observation first. We were looking at a stream and honestly, it was looking pretty brown. I got a paper sheet and my buddy was Neve. We were answering questions together. We were playing on the rocks together and talking to each other after we finished all of the questions! It was really fun!

It was finally snorkelling time! I was ecstatic and petrified at the same time. As soon as I dipped my body in the water, I was shivering. We went a long way in the sea and there were so many fish! It was literally a fish scramble!!! There were fish of all colours and sizes. It was a beautiful and amazing sight. As I went out of the cold, bitter sea, I thought to myself: This trip was way funner than I expected!

Now it was the final activity of the day and believe me, it was so fun! We were at the rock pools. We were looking for some stuff that is normally located in rock pools. I found lots of Neptune’s necklaces. If you’re wondering what Neptune’s necklaces are, well they’re these necklace-like corals and there were lots of them there. I also found a painted shrimp. They’re called that because they have a bit of a pattern on them. It was cool!

It was a fun adventure that all of us had but unfortunately, all things must come to an end. After we came back from the rock pools, all of us were getting ready to go back. We hopped back in our bus and drove back to school. Some of us took a nap and some of us didn’t. When we finally arrived at school, my mum and I drove back home. This trip has provided me with lots of happiness and it was the best trip of my life.                                                                     

The End!       By Cornelius

Goat island 

At 5 am I woke up to hear the Black Caps had won the Semi-finals but I was focusing more on our Goat Island trip. We were going there to learn about marine reserves . The day had finally come. At 7am we headed to school but when I went there most of the classes were dead with silence. The only class rooms that were open were  Rooms 7 and 5. Room 9 was also on the trip but there was no point to be open because they do not have access to the toilets. 

After a 1 1/2  hour bus ride we finally got to Goat Island. As soon as we got out of the bus we raced to get our morning tea. It was 9.15am and barely any of us had had breakfast so we were pleased to have food. As soon as we got morning tea we ate 2 or 3 foods. After morning tea we started our first activity which was a coastal walk or you could call it a hike. Uphill, downhill, my legs felt like they were going to break. My Dad told me that it felt like climbing Motutapu Island at my big brother’s year 7 camp.Then the teachers told us to name any tree that we knew. Next we were heading back to the tent where we would have lunch.

After lunch we moved on to our second activity, the stream study. The instructor talked about eels, their cycle and stages of their life. We searched to see if we could see something that the instructor could not see, so we looked for rocks, eels and sticks. Then we buddied up to answer some questions. My buddy was my best friend Viraat. After we finished our questions we raced down to the rocks. But then the time was up so we headed to the tent.

As we got up to the tent we grabbed wet bags and went to the changing rooms to get into our togs. As soon as group 2 got out of the water we got wetsuits and flippers plus Snorkel. Then they told us our parents and our buddy. My parent was my dad and my buddy was Viraat. Then we went down where we would be snorkeling. The instructors told us what we should do like follow his tube. After saying all the rules we put on our gear like the snorkel and the flippers. After we put them on we walked backwards into the ocean. When it was deep enough we lay down on the water. We held on to a boogie board and kicked. When we were far enough out we looked around to see if we could see lots of fish. I saw snapper,  silver fish, and trevally. My dad said that he saw goat fish. It felt like 5 minutes but it was probably 20 minutes. Then we started going in. I wanted more minutes. I got out of my gear, took my wet suit off and I wore my towel over my togs.

Then we thanked the parents “And if you have a child you can bring them home if you bring your car” said Mrs Jackson. So my dad brought me home in his car. And on the way home we stopped to get candy and a drink. It felt like one of the best experiences I have had at Waterlea School.

By London 

Moth Busters Latest count… 

1067 Pods collected, thank you!

Kapai Waterlea, keep them coming in!

Waterlea’s WOW Week Poem

Move it Monday, we’re on our way,

Walking or wheeling to start the day.

Travel together on Tuesday to school,

With friends and school-mates, Waterlea rules!

Wheely Wednesday, our wheels shining bright,

Rolling to school with all our might.

Thoughtful Thursday, clean air for the planet,

Saving the environment, we know we can do it!

Funky Feet Friday, shoes with flair,

We loved our walk in the fresh Kiwi air!

If you have any free time to help on the day of the Brickshow between 

12pm – 4pm

the PTA would love to see you there!

Even an hour of help would be

Amazing!

“Great news! Ezlunch is running an Easter promotion. Every lunch order placed between now and the end of term goes into a draw to win Kindo credit (up to $100!). You don’t need to do anything extra. Just order Ezlunch as usual and you’re in the draw. Winners announced in Term 2. Happy ordering!”

You can download your sticker collection sheet here if you would like your own one, or pick one up at the office