Newsletter Term 3 | Week 2 2026
From the Tumuaki/Principal
Nǐ hǎo ma | Sawatdee khrap | Kia ora whānau and MBS Community,
A warm welcome to all of our new MBS students and their whānau, including our new international students from China and Thailand! It was wonderful to officially welcome you all during our mihi whakatau on Monday, 20 July.
Professional Learning & Academic Progress
Thank you to all of our parents and caregivers for looking after your tamariki on Monday during our Staff Only Day. Our teaching team spent the day diving deeper into our Structured Literacy Programme.
This evidence-based approach is already paying dividends in our learners' reading results. In our recent SMART assessments, over 80% of our Year 8 students are on track to be proficient or exceeding in reading this year—a fantastic milestone for our school!
Cross Country Celebrations
It has been a busy, energetic week on the running track!
ECCS Cross Country (Years 5–8): A special thank you to Mrs Els for leading our team at Te Puru, with fantastic support from Mrs Smit, Mrs Revie, Mrs Laker, and Mr Rob. We had a number of students place in this competition, including standouts:
Siena – 1st Place (Year 7 Girls)
Isla – 1st Place (Year 8 Girls)
Congratulations to all of our placemakers and competitors!
Phase 1 Cross Country: Our junior students had an amazing day at school today! Led by Mrs Hales and the Phase 1A and 1B Team Leaders, the children ran their little hearts out. We are so proud of the determination and effort they put into preparing for the big race.
Community Fundraiser for Leo
When: Sunday, 2 August at 10:00 am
Where: BMAFC Grounds at Te Puru
A friendly reminder to please support the upcoming community fundraiser for Leo. To help make the day a success, Maraetai Beach School is running a lolly and drinks stand, and we would love your support:
Donations Needed: We would be incredibly grateful for donations of bags of lollies (so we can assemble lolly bags) and cans of drink. If you are able to contribute, please drop these off at the school office by Thursday, 29 July at 4:00 pm.
Thanks to the Jenna, Anna and Mrs Laker for organising this fundraising opportunity - for Leo with the Beachland Maraetai Football Club.
Volunteers Needed: We need extra hands on the day to help run the stand. If you (or your student leaders) can spare some time to assist, please email klaker@maraetaibeach.school.nz.
We would love to see our school families come along, join in the fun, and show their support for Leo on the day!
Safety Reminder: Bikes, Scooters, E-Bikes, and E-Scooters
Please help us ensure the safety of all our students and visitors. We ask that all tamariki (students) and parents "walk their wheels" once inside the school grounds.
We have seen a few near-misses recently where fast-moving bikes and scooters have nearly collided with younger siblings. Taking a moment to dismount at the gates helps keep our school grounds safe for everyone!
Lastly I wanted to thank the parents, board, tamariki and staff, who reached out to me on Principal Day yesterday to show your support. The principal role is in the service of our tamariki and I was humbled by your kindness yesterday and today.
Nga mihi nui
Lou Reddy
School Notices
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:
Learning Spotlight
Phase 3
Year 7 & 8 Coastal Sketching Ignite for Art Connections Unit
Our Year 7 & 8 students enjoyed a creative day exploring our beautiful local coastline as part of our visual arts learning. Walking along the coast and looking out over the Hauraki Gulf, students carefully observed the landscapes while sketching in the style of New Zealand artists Dianne Vasey, Graham Young, Barry Ross Smith, and Mary E. Taylor. They focused on composing their artwork by framing their views with a tree in the foreground wherever possible.
Although heavy fog meant we couldn't see the usual landmarks of Rangitoto, Motutapu, Waiheke, or Ponui Islands, the mist created a unique atmosphere and encouraged students to look more closely at the shapes, textures, and tones of the surrounding landscape. Throughout the day, students also took plenty of photographs to capture details and perspectives. These photos, together with their sketches, will provide inspiration and reference material as they begin creating their final landscape masterpieces later this term.
A huge thank you to our wonderful parent helpers for giving up their time to join us and help make this learning experience possible.
A Wild Start to Term 3!
On a school day, the whole school people went to the zoo. My group was Ivy and Isabella and Ruby. First we went on the bus. It was a long drive to get to the zoo and when we arrived at the zoo we had lunch. First we went to the crocodiles. Then we finally went back on the bus. There was a lot of noise. I slept through it. Then we arrived at school and went home. My mum was exhausted because we looked at a lot of things. She wanted a coffee, she said!
Mac from Room 8
Term 3 kicked off with a fantastic Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) adventure for our Phase 1 students! On Wednesday, 187 of our students-along with our 10 junior international students-headed off to Auckland Zoo. It was a wonderful day filled with hands-on learning, exploration, and building connections outside the traditional classroom setting.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the wonderful parent helpers who gave their time to make this trip such a smoothly run and memorable experience for everyone!
Gardening Club Veggie Victories!
We had some very excited gardeners in the dirt this week as they harvested our latest crop of radishes and carrots!
The kids had an absolute blast digging through the soil to uncover their hidden treasures, scrubbing them squeaky-clean, and tucking in for a fresh, crunchy snack. It's safe to say these homegrown veggies got a 10/10 rating from our student taste-testers! Dirt, wash, crunch, repeat!
International Students
We’ve had a brilliant start to the term welcoming our new, enthusiastic international students to MBS. We also had the honor to host a school group from The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Experimental Primary School. Our guests have had a very busy week soaking in the local culture, baking, creating art prints, exploring the beach, wandering around Ōmana Regional Park, and the Phase One students even visited Auckland Zoo!
There have been so many new experiences shared and the start of many new friendships formed. Thank you to everyone who has made our new whānau feel so welcome!
Staff Profiles
Kia Ora all,
My name is Katrina Giles (Miss Triny for the little ones).
I am one of the Learning Assistants at Maraetai Beach School which I have been at since 2016. I have lived locally for over 30 years, am married with 3 adult children and one grandchild. I love the beaches, the people, the school and the community that make this a wonderful place to live and it makes me feel blessed to be part of the area. You will see me all around the community mucking in and helping where I can and to help make this a great place for all of us.
Amy McColl
My name is Amy McColl and I have been a Learning Assistant at MBS since 2021, you may also see me occasionally doing day relief throughout the school. I count it a privilege to work alongside the amazing children and staff at MBS!
I live with my husband Stu and our three children Zoe, Asher and Quinn. I love to learn and be challenged and have recently completed postgraduate studies in guidance and counselling. I love spending time with friends and family, walking, baking, op-shopping and getting creative!
My name is Tracy Harold and I am a Learning Assistant currently in my eighth year at MBS. I feel privileged seeing our current Year 8 students grow before my eyes navigating their school life from the moment they first started school as Year 1's.
Home is Beachlands having arrived from the UK 19 years ago with my Husband and our two sons. I have two older step-sons who live in the UK and love to visit us in our slice of paradise. My Husband and I have recently become empty nesters with both our sons graduating from University and moving out of the area. I love to travel, explore different places, listen to music, read, build Lego and watch football and of course spend time with my wonderful husband.
Community Notices
Speech & Drama Lessons
Imaginaire Speech & Drama at Maraetai Beach School – Term 3
Give your child the opportunity to build confidence, creativity, and communication skills through our fun, engaging and dynamic Speech & Drama programme at Maraetai Beach School.
At Imaginaire, we love inspiring the next generation of young performers while also supporting students to overcome shyness and express themselves with confidence.
Each lesson includes:
• Public Speaking skills
• Drama and Acting skills
• Improvisation and Impromptu Speaking
• Communication, Conversation, Listening, and Teamwork skills.
Students from Year 4+ also have the option to work towards nationally recognised Speech & Drama exams through Speech NZ.
Class details:
Small group sessions (max 6 students)
30-minute lessons on Thursdays (during school hours)
No-obligation Trial lesson available
Limited spaces available
Secure your child’s place today:
Please contact Nicole at nicole@imaginaire.co.nz for more information.
Or complete our enrolment form here: https://www.imaginaire.co.nz/speech-and-drama/enrolmentform/
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.
