Newsletter Term 2 | Week 8 2026
From the Tumuaki/Principal
Kia ora Maraetai Beach School Whānau,
Welcome to Term 2! I hope you all had a refreshing break and are ready for another vibrant, action-packed term so far.
A Huge, Thank You!
I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who turned up over the weekend to support Leo. It was incredible to see our community rally together. On a personal note, I really enjoyed getting pie’d so many times by our MBS students! It was all for a fantastic event with so many sponsors and donations, and your generosity means the world to Leo and his family at this time. A special shout-out to our amazing event organisers, Anna, Jenna, and Mrs. Laker, for putting together such a fun and successful fundraiser.
Introducing our New-Look Fortnightly Newsletter
In collaboration with Britta Saxer from Saxer Design, we have launched a brand-new version of our school newsletter. The new format is vibrant, easy to read, and hosted directly on our school website.
To keep you connected, a link will be emailed to all families fortnightly as soon as a new edition is published-just as The Week Ahead is.
What you need to do:
Update Your Email: If you have recently changed your email address or think the school might have an outdated one, please contact the main office as soon as possible so you stay in the loop.
Check Your Spam Folder: If you don't receive our first link, please check your junk/spam folder and mark us as a "safe sender."
We'd love to know what you think! Feel free to reply to the email with your feedback.
Thanks in advance
We have some exciting events next week, firstly, a huge special shout-out to our dedicated Sports Camp crew who will be representing us soon: Mrs. Els, Mr. Rob, Mrs. Hales, Ms Laker, and our fantastic parent helpers, Marc and Sonia. Thank you all for giving up your time to support our young athletes. A special thanks to Physio Moves for sponsoring our sports camp this year.
Finally, please keep an eye out for dates regarding our upcoming Parent, Teacher, and Student Conferences on 23 and 24th June. These meetings are an invaluable opportunity to discuss your child's progress and set goals together. We have created a facebook link with more details.
Thank you for your continued support in making Maraetai Beach School such a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Ngā mihi,
Lou Reddy
Tumuaki/Principal
School Notices
Important Reminders
Temporary Playground Closures: We sincerely apologise for the current playground closures. We are working hard to get things sorted and truly appreciate your patience. If you would like to help us build an even better play space for our tamariki, you can donate at any time via our Community Contributions Page.
Curriculum Whānau Evening: Please join us this Thursday at 6:00 PM to learn more about our learning programs. Please let us know you're coming by RSVP here.
PJ Day (June 12th): Cozy up! Friday, June 12th is Pyjama Day. Don't forget to wear your favourite PJs to school.
PTA Disco: Get your dancing shoes ready! Keep an eye out for more details coming soon from our wonderful PTA.
Donation and Activity Costs
As a school, we endeavour to provide an exceptional programme whilst keeping the costs as low as possible. If you have any questions with regards to paying these school costs, please contact accounts@maraetaibeach.school.nz; or in regard to the event itself please contact your classroom teacher.
Donation and Activity Costs have been uploaded onto your Kindo accounts. If you are as yet to set up an account on Kindo, please go to the Parents tab on our website and select the School Shop. Please ensure that you register with the same email address that we have on record for you at school.
Thank you to those parents who have paid their school costs for the year already. If you did not receive a tax receipt for your donation and you would like one, please contact accounts@maraetaibeach.school.nz
Community and Fundraising
Sponsorship - Partner with Maraetai Beach School
We are offering the sponsorship package options to be made available for 1 year from the date of signing and payment for our new sponsors this year.
Sponsorship funds will go directly to supporting the key strategic goals of the school, such as developing existing programmes and implementing a range of new initiatives to empower our student learning and development.
Through our school values - Manawaroa (Resilience), Whakaute (Respect), Rawe (Excellence) and Ngākau Tapatahi (Integrity), our students are given the opportunity to reach their full potential academically, culturally and within the sports arena.
Gold Sponsorship | $600–$1,000 PA
Perfect for consistent, multi-channel local reach.
Digital Presence: Dedicated features on our school website and Facebook page.
Print & Media: Fortnightly newsletter advertising and a prominent spot in the school yearbook.
Events & Perks: Free entry and advertising slots at all major school events.
Community Pride: A Certificate of Appreciation to proudly display at your workplace.
Platinum Sponsorship | $1,000+ PA
The ultimate spot for unmatched, daily local visibility.
Includes all Gold benefits listed above.
Prime Physical Signage: High-traffic, year-round advertising signage placed right on our front fence by the bus bay-putting your brand front and center for commuting locals every single day.
Ready to Join Us as a Sponsor?
We invite you to check out our proposal to learn more. If you would love to become a valued sponsor or want to discuss which option fits your business best, please reach out to us at:
Science Project Appeal: Grass Head Monsters!
As part of Phase 2's Science unit this term, we are learning all about plants, their lifecycles, and their unique attributes. To celebrate the end of this unit, we are going to create our very own "Grass Head Monsters" (like the ones pictured)!
To make this happen, we need a few recycled supplies. If you have any of the following at home, please send them to school with your child:
Old stockings or pantyhose OR clean, empty yogurt cups.
Please can you drop them to the office or to Hub 3 (Mrs Bowden) Thank you so much for your support in bringing our science lessons to life!
Jammies in June
Winter has arrived, and it is getting chilly out there! We want to make sure every child in our community stays warm, cozy, and healthy this season, which is why we are kicking off our annual Jammies in June pajama drive.
We need your help to make a difference! Here is how you can participate:
What we need: Brand-new pajamas (all sizes are needed, from toddlers right up to teens!).
Where to drop them: We’ve placed a special collection box right in the front office.
When: Anytime from now until the end of June.
A massive thank you to our wonderful student for organising this initiative as part of her Leadership Award, and to all of our families for your incredible generosity
Yummy Sticker Collection
Please keep collecting, and don’t forget to encourage your extended whānau and friends to collect too. Every sticker makes a difference!
Fun with the Takutai Trust Intergen project
Some amazing activities are happening at our school with the support of the Takutai Trust and their Intergen project! We want to thank them for all of the wonderful opportunities and support they give our students.
See below for some incredible patchwork our students have completed as a community project, along with a photo from the local bingo event that took place on Saturday.
Special mention to Paula for making these activities happen!
The next event is this Saturday! Head to Te Puru Community Centre Hall for a free screening of Shrek. Bring your blankets, bean bags, and cushions, and settle in for a fun evening with friends, whānau, and the wider community. Doors open at 6:30pm, with food and drinks available for purchase. We look forward to seeing you there!
Learning Spotlight
Welcome to the World, Little Chicks!
Our science curriculum got a major upgrade in the fluff department! To wrap our heads around how living things grow and change, we have officially kicked off our chick-hatching project. Students have been acting as real-life scientists-monitoring the incubator, charting growth, and learning exactly what it takes to care for new life. Ask your child what milestones our new feathered friends reached today! Thanks to Mrs De Beer and Miss Goodwin for organising this.
From Mammals to Monsters: Room 10’s Coolest Creations
Room 10 loved learning about mammals. We created our own imaginary animals and came up with some super interesting creatures.
Wrapping Room 11 in Pride: Our Beautiful Korowai
Room 11 has officially completed their stunning, collaborative Korowai (cloak)! This beautiful piece of art is a powerful symbol of unity, identity, and the vibrant creative spirit of our classroom.
Here is what makes it so special:
Unique Designs: Every student poured their imagination into creating their own unique patterns, reflecting their individual personality and artistic style.
Our Names, Our Connection: Proudly woven into the piece are the names of every single member of Room 11, permanently stitching their identity into the fabric of our class community.
This Korowai represents more than just great teamwork, it is a celebration of who we are as individuals, coming together to create something truly magnificent. Come take a look at the incredible detail next time you visit our classroom!
Celebrating Success
Mud, Manaakitanga (showing deep respect and care for our land and one another), and 850+ Trees: Way to Go, Year 7 & 8!
Our Year 7 and 8 students proved that a little mud is no match for a great attitude. Facing some seriously challenging, soggy conditions, they dug deep and showed incredible resilience to plant over 850 native trees!
Living Our Values
Our students represented our school with immense pride, putting our core values into action:
Resilience & Teamwork: Powering through the elements together to get the job done.
Manaakitanga: Showing deep respect and care for our land and one another.
Environmental Passion: Displaying a true, hands-on commitment to our ecosystem.
It Takes a Village (and some gumboots!)
An impactful day like this requires an incredible support crew. We want to extend a massive thank you to:
The Dream Team: Mrs Smit (Lead Teacher), Matt, Greg, and Sarah (our TFS organiser) for designing such a meaningful learning experience.
Our Legend Parent Helpers: Who braved the freezing elements right alongside the kids. We quite literally couldn't have done it without your energy and support!
To say we are proud is an absolute understatement. What a phenomenal effort by everyone involved!
Growing Together
School Garden Update
This week we planted some new flowers alongside our very happy vegetables. They were very delicate flowers and we had to be very careful with their roots planting them.
We also gave our garden a big water. We love taking care of our garden and seeing our hard work bloom and grow.
Staff Spotlight
Meet Mrs Marissa Bowden - Hub 3
Kia ora, my name is Marissa Bowden, and I am fortunate to be the teacher working alongside the learners in Hub 3. I have been teaching at Maraetai Beach School for four years and thoroughly enjoy supporting our students and being part of such a wonderful community.
My husband, Matt, and I have two children, Maya and Mason, and our furry child called Marley. As a family, we love living in this beautiful part of the world and making the most of everything our local area has to offer. You will often find us walking (with Marley) or cycling to the nearby beaches and playgrounds, enjoying the outdoors together.
I am looking forward to another fantastic year of learning, growth, and partnership with our Hub 3 whānau.
Meet Mrs Lauren Revie - Hub 4
Kia ora!
I am Lauren Revie, the lucky teacher of Hub 4!
I have been at Maraetai Beach School for a few years now and actually came here with Mrs Bowden from Willowbank School. I love teaching at Maraetai, particularly all the hellos I get around the community and the friendly, warm welcome everyone brings.
I love creating awesome opportunities for our tamariki. Whether it's Project Jonah, police dogs, orienteering, or art experiences, I try to make our school an exciting place to be!
I have two boys, Hugo (7) and Jonty (9), and my husband, James. You'll often see us out running, biking, kayaking etc. We feel incredibly lucky to have so many opportunities right on our doorstep.
In my spare time, you'll often find me getting up at crazy hours to exercise. I enjoy cycling, running, and swimming, and one day I would love to complete a full Ironman!
In the community, I also sit on the Pohutukawa Coast MTB Club board, and on my day off you'll often find me out on the trails. I also organise the local Tuesday running group- 6pm from The Franklin, runners and walkers welcome!
Community Notices
Speech & Drama Lessons
Imaginaire run their fun filled confidence building lessons on Thursdays at Maraetai Beach School during the school day.
Open to all Maraetai Beach School students from Year 0 - 6.
Please contact Nicole at admin@imaginaire.co.nz or visit their website https://www.imaginaire.co.nz/speech-and-drama/ for more information.
Music Lessons
Musiqhub offers guitar, keyboard and drum lessons onsite during school hours.
Mako Year 4 Rugby Team
Are you in Year 3 or Year 4 with a passion for playing rugby? Or interested in trying it out? Mako Year 4 Orange is searching for a few more players to complete the team. For more information please contact Lani (team manager) 027 276 6299 or Jp (coach) 02108808956
Sponsors
Thank you so much to our sponsors! We appreciate the support to enhance the learning of our children.
