38-46 Keith Street
Whanganui
P: 0800 349 1111
E: office@keithst.school.nz
Important Information
Important Information
Nau mai haere mai - Welcome to Term Four
2025
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
I cannot believe we are almost at the end of the year. Aroha mai – we would have had a newsletter out in week 3 but we had so much happening including the industrial action, Tam being sick and ERO’s visit. It will be no surprise to you that ERO was very positive about the culture of our school and quality of teaching at KSS.
Class/Break Times
Term 3: 14/7 & 18/8
Term 4: 6/10
8:30am Gates open
We had our whakatau to welcome new tamariki and whānau and kaiako to KSS on Tuesday 7th October. A huge kia ora to Havyn and Ronan for being our kaikōrero. Havyn was also our kaikōrero when we held a whakatau for ERO.
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.
Exciting and fun learning in term four at KSS
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 1pm Second Lunch 3pm Home time
Throughout this year students will be inquiring into learning about Tipu Haere - Growth – 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 Animal Adaptations. Tamariki will learn how animals need to adapt to survive. Our Wellington Zoo trip was a way to support this learning.
Messages to Students
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 Messages to Students Contact the office before midday so messages can be delivered in time.
@keithstreetschool
Visit our page for important notices
Security
CCTV cameras operating 24 hours, 7 days.
Kia ora - thank you for our wonderful Wellington Zoo Trip
Thank you to all our parent helpers who came to the Wellington Zoo on Friday 31 October. You were outstanding with your patience, kindness and stamina. It was a long day, but an excellent time was had by everyone. Wellington also turned on spectacular weather.
“Madvember”
Have you noticed that your child is more emotional, temperamental and difficult to deal with lately? You are not alone! In education circles, this month is sometimes referred to as "Madvember".
The combination of lighter nights (which makes it difficult to get to sleep), the unpredictable weather, the low-level anxiety about leaving
their teacher and class, and the excitement of Halloween, Guy Fawkes and Christmas on the horizon means that children can be particularly tired and temperamental at this time of year.
Another thing you might notice with younger children is the urge to build forts and huts or to get under furniture. This is all part of the changing of the seasons. Sometimes November can be hard for adults too as we gear up for a huge two months ahead.
The best remedy for all of this is slowing down and ensuring there is ample down-time for everyone and meeting all temper tantrums and tears with compassion and understanding and boundaries.
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. It will also help us plan for classrooms for next year.
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.
Life threatening allergy
We have a child with a life-threatening allergy to pineapple and any kind of citrus fruit (oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, grapefruit), including those flavourings in manufactured food. Please do not send these to school in your child’s lunch box. Thank you.
Important Dates Term Four 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
Term 4, Week 5
Term 4, Week 7
Thursday 6 November Room 5&6 junior wheels day
Thursday 20 November Quiet Tough kids
Term 4, Week 7 Friday 21 November Tough kids Challenge
Term 4, Week 8
Thursday 27 November White Ribbon Riders
Term 4 Week 10 Thursday 11 December End of Year KSS Awards ceremony
Term 4 Week 10
Thursday 11 December Year 6 Leavers’ Dinner
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
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
Term 4 Week 10 Friday 12 December Year Six leavers’ assembly & LAST DAY of term
Monday 15 December Teachers only day so students last day of term is the 12th
Summer Holiday Break 13 December 2025 28 January 2026 Summer Holiday Break
Term 1 Week 1 Wednesday 28 January 2026 First day of new term
Me te whakaaro nui
Linda and your Keith Street School Team
Coping with Change
Pineapple & Citrus Allergy
Wehaveabeautifulākongawhohasalife-threateningallergytopineappleandallcitrusfruit(oranges, lemons,mandarins,limes,tangelos).
Eventhesmellofthesefruitwillinduceasevereallergicreactionwhichoftenendsupinavisittothe hospital. Weaskthatyoupleasedonotputanyformofcitrusfruitorpineappleorproductsthatcontain them,inyourchild’slunchbox. Thankyousomuchforyoursupportinkeepingourlearnersafe.
Are you a grandparent caring for or raising grandchildren?
Woven Whanau ‘Alongside grandparents raising their mokopuna’ are an organisation committed to supporting grandparents. Contact Rachel Puru 027 355 9411 or rachel@wovenwhanau.org.nz
Skool Loop is one of our most important communication apps. Download it today so you don’t miss any notices about upcoming school events.
Drop off/Pick up Parking
To our generous sponsors
Harrisons HireMaster
Please do not park on the yellow lines directly outside the gates or in the disabled park. Please cross the road with your tamariki.
Contact up-dates and absence phone number
Do we have your current address, phone/mobile numbers and email? If not, please advise the school office as soon as possible. This helps us contact you if your child falls sick or has an accident at school.
If your child is going to be absent from school the Ministry of Education requires notification daily. Please leave a message on our free phone number...08003491111 or send an absence notice via Skool Loop.
November 20-21/11
27/11 White Ribbon Riders
December 11/12 End of year Awards 11/12 Yr6 leavers dinner
12/12 Leavers assembly
12/12 Last day of Term for students
15/12 Teachers only day
2025 School Terms
Term 1 29/01 to 11/4
Term 2 28/4 to 27/6
Term 3 14/7 to 19/09
Term 4 06/10 to 15/12