38-46 Keith Street Whanganui
P: 0800 349 1111
E: office@keithst.school.nz
Important Information
Important Information
Nau mai haere mai
Cook Islands Māori Language Week
Office Hours
Term Dates
8:30am 3:30pm
Term 1: 29/1 to 11/4
Absences
Cohort Entry Dates
Term 1: 29/1 & 3/3
Phone: 0800 349 1111 or txt: 027 349 1112
Term 2: 28/4 & 26/5
The 2025 theme for Cook Islands Māori Language Week was 'Ātui'tui’ia au ki te raurau a tōku matakeinanga –“Connect me to the offerings of my people'. This kama’atu (Cook Islands proverb) emphasises the importance of being connected to our culture and heritage.
We were lucky to have an ex-pupil of KSS, Taiko Edwards-Haruru, come and share his language and culture with some of our classes last week.
Class/Break Times
Term 3: 14/7 & 18/8
Term 4: 6/10
8:30am Gates open
Kia ora – thank you for the
amazing fund raising
School Gates
9am Class starts
11am First Lunch
1pm Second Lunch
3pm Home time
Open at 8.30am. Please do not drop children to school before 8.30am.
The KSS team wants to acknowledge the amazing support we have had from you all in our fundraising efforts for the Wellington Zoo trip. We are getting close to our target. Thank you to those who have bought raffle tickets, meat pack tickets, sent your child to our disco, donated items or donated your time and expertise. We are so grateful.
Office Hours
8:30am 3:30pm
Arriving Late/ Leaving Early
Please sign in/out at the office on the Vistab.
Class/Break Times
9am Class starts 10.50am First Lunch
Exciting and fun learning in term three at KSS
Messages to Students
1pm Second Lunch
3pm Home time
Contact the office before 2.45pm so messages can be delivered in time.
Arriving Late/ Leaving Early
Students to sign in/out on the office Vistab.
Absences
Phone: 0800 349 1111 or send via Skool Loop
@keithstreetschool
Throughout this year students will be inquiring into learning about Tipu HaereGrowth – what this means, how living things grow and work and what actions we can take to be healthy. This term we will all be learning about Tuarangi (Space) – Growth and changes in Space/our Solar System. Tamariki will learn about planet Earth, planets of the solar system and space related topics that interest them. Our tamariki have returned to school excited about our new enquiry.
Is your year six student going to intermediate next year?
Visit our page for important notices
Messages to Students
Contact the office before midday so messages can be delivered in time.
Security
CCTV cameras operating 24 hours, 7 days.
When Year Six students are enrolled at the intermediate of their choice now, they are more likely to be placed in classes for 2026 that suit their needs. If the enrolment occurs in January or February, it is extremely hard for intermediates to place them to the child’s individual need. Your learner will have been given enrolment packs for both intermediates by their teachers, we will happily deliver completed enrolment forms to either intermediate for you.
Attendance Celebration
Kia ora – thank you for supporting your child’s learning progress by regular attendance at school. Maximum learning progress happens when tamariki attend school regularly. We know that tamariki feel more connected to their school through regular attendance as they have more opportunities to form solid friendships and positive connections with teachers.
Here is a graphic from MoE that makes attendance goals clear:
Tamariki turning five in 2026
If you have a child turning five next year, or you have a relative or friend considering sending their tamaiti to KSS, please make a time to come and see Linda. You will be able to have a look at the school. You will be supported to understand the new entrant transition process. Ring the office on our free phone 08003491111.
Supports for Whānau
Being a parent is one of the most wonderful parts of our lives. It can also be the most challenging. Everyone wants to do their best. Sometimes we experience stresses and issues that make this difficult.
Reminders
Lunches
Hot lunches must be in oven proof wrapping please. No snaplock/ plastic wrap/bags.
Mobile Phones
Phones are to be handed to office staff on arrival at school and collected at the end of the day.
Sun Hats
Sunhats must be worn in Terms 1 and 4. Learners without a sunhat will have to stay in a shady place during breaks. Uniforms
Please name your child’s uniform, including socks and shoes.
School Payments
We have some wonderful support for whānau and tamariki working in our school. You can talk to Linda, Nicola, or your child’s teacher about them at any time or self-refer using the phone or online details below.
Public Health Nurse Sharlene Sheppard. Sharlene’s wealth of experience in health is available to support whānau with things such as toilet training, bed wetting, asthma plans, skin health plans, Healthy Homes referrals and so much more. Referrals can be made by talking to Linda or Nicola.
Jigsaw Whanganui This non-government organisation (NGO) supports whānau with a wide range of services from working with tamariki, to supporting whānau with neurodiversity, to working in school, to working inhomes supporting parents. Phone 345 1636. https://jigsawwhanganui.org.nz/
Or talk to Linda or Nicola.
Life to the Max This NGO trust works alongside whānau and tamariki for a year supporting our tamariki to be the best they can be. It is specifically tailored for 5- to 13-year-olds.
Phone 3448555. http://www.lifetothemaxtrust.org.nz
Or talk to Linda or Nicola.
CASH to the teacher DIRECT PAY to account 12-3163-0170593-00 please reference your child’s name and reason for payment.
School Policies
All KSS School Policies can be found online at keithst.schooldocs.co.nz
In-school counselling. This is an MoE funded support. Our wonderful counsellors, Emma and Lincoln, are employed by Family Works to work in the school supporting tamariki who may be working through anxiety, grief, whānau break-ups, stress, or other aspects of life that effect emotional and mental wellbeing. Referrals can be made online by whānau. https://www.familyworkscentral.org.nz/koreromanaaki-referral/ Or talk to Linda or Nicola.
Kaizen Mentoring Aotearoa. This mentoring programme is for primary and intermediate aged students. Its philosophy is ‘Continuous Growth - to support tamariki to take small steps towards big changes.’ Self-refer to Shannon Casson at 021 027 46291 or kaizenmentoringaotearoa@gmail.com Or talk to Linda or Nicola.
Woven Whanau: Supporting grandparents raising their mokopuna. This NGO aims to give practical support and advice to all parents, but especially grandparents raising their moko. Contact Rachel Puru 027 355 9411 or rachel@wovenwhanau.org.nz https://www.wovenwhanau.org.nz/ or talk to Linda or Nicola
Winter ailments
Colds and flu continue to make the presence felt. Please keep your tamaiti home if they are unwell, especially if they have a fever. There has been a very nasty gastric bug doing the rounds. Children need to be kept home for 48 hours after they last vomited or had diarrhoea, to break the infectious cycle. Having paper towels to dry hands or individual hand towels and sanitising the taps frequently is a way to break the cycle too.
Positive Behaviour 4 Learning (PB4L)
Keith Street School is a PB4L school. You will see and hear our Keith Street Code (school values) being walked and talked at Keith Street School. Please ask your children about the code. Our values are:
Ākonga – Be a Learner; Manaakitanga – Be Respectful; Haumarutanga – Be Responsible.
Important Dates Term Three 2025
KSS teachers are on a professional learning journey and research for constant improvement in teaching and learning at KSS. This will entail some days when we need to close early or have a teachers’ only day: This term we are going to the Splash Centre every Wednesday morning
Term3, Week 5 Friday 15 August, Teacher Only Day. School is closed. Teachers are doing professional learning in the refreshed Mathematics curriculum.
Term 3, Week 7 26-27 August, Art Gallery Visit Tuesday Rm9 & Wednesday Rm7 trip to the art gallery
Term 3, Week 7 Wednesday 27 August, Paid Union Meeting. School will close by 2pm. Please pick your child up by 2 pm. This hui is for all support staff, teachers, and the principal
Term 3, Week 7 Thursday 28 August KSS Run-amok. Running schedule will be sent home closer to the time
Term 3, Week 7 Friday 29 August Year Six students visit Rutherford Intermediate
Term 3 Week 8 Tuesday 2 September Aranui Cross Country
Term 3 Week 9 Friday 12 September Year Six students visit Whanganui Intermediate School
Term 3 Week 9 Friday 12 September Sports Ability Day
Term 3 Week 10 Te Wiki oTe Reo Māori ‘Ake, Akke, Ake’ Aforever language
Term 3 Week 10 Friday 19 September Last day term 3
HOLIDAYS Monday 22 September Sunday 5 October
Term 4 Week 1 Monday 6 October Term Four begins
Me te whakaaro nui
Linda and your Keith Street School Team
SELF REGULATION...
is the ability to understand and manage our own behaviour and reactions, especially when responding to emotions or challenging situations. It involves controlling impulses, managing emotions, and adjusting behaviour to meet the demands of different situations. It’s about being able to think before we act and make conscious choices about our responses. It needs to be explicitly taught and modelled by the adults in the lives of tamariki so that they will develop these skills themselves.
Pineapple & Citrus Allergy
Wehaveabeautifulākongawhohasalife-threateningallergytopineappleand allcitrusfruit(oranges,lemons,mandarins,limes,tangelos).
Eventhesmellofthesefruitwillinduceasevereallergicreactionwhichoften endsupinavisittothehospital. Weaskthatyoupleasedonotputanyformof citrusfruitorpineappleorproductsthatcontainthem,inyourchild’slunchbox. Thankyousomuchforyoursupportinkeepingourlearnersafe.
Survival techniques
Water confidence
Our tamariki participating in water safety is a part of the curriculum and all student are expected to attend.
If you have worries regarding your child having wet hair, you are more then welcome to get them a swimming cap (these can be found on many online stores) to wear or a beanie to put on afterwards.
If you have any other concerns feel free to discuss with the teacher.
This page will be dedicated to current & upcoming fundraising for our whole schools trip to Wellington zoo as well as 10 iPads for our Juniors
Amount Raised Just Over $4700
Goal $6000
A BIG thank you goes out the company's below that donated $500 each towards our goal
And another BIG thank you to Hire Master for donating lights for our disco fundraiser
