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Monday 25th May 2026 | Vol 36 Issue 15 | Term 2 Week 6
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Social Problem Solving with Tamariki
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Robyn Windley – Rātā Head Teacher, Primary
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In the classroom and playground, we often notice something interesting: a child will run over to tell an adult every detail of a problem… and then immediately run away again before we can even respond. Often, they were not looking for us to solve the problem. They simply needed to tell someone, feel heard, and release the emotion.
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As adults, we do this too. We come home and tell our spouse, partner, friends, or family members about frustrations at work. It's rare we are looking for direct help or even advice about Jill's overuse of the photocopier or Bob talking loudly in the office all afternoon. Usually, we simply want someone to listen, empathise, and help us process the experience.
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Maria Montessori wrote, “The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” If children can learn to solve problems peacefully themselves, this is wonderful hope for the future of mankind. So what can we do to help?
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When children come to us with friendship difficulties or frustrations, it can help to first listen calmly and acknowledge their feelings:
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- “That sounds upsetting.”
- “What happened next?”
- “Do you want help, or did you just want to tell me about it?”
Sometimes children do want support. Rather than immediately stepping in to fix the situation, we can help give power back to the child by asking:
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- “What could you try?”
- “What could you say?”
- “Would you like to practice?”
- “Is there someone who could help you?”
This helps children build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills over time.
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As Montessori said, “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” Our role is not to solve every social challenge for children, but to support them as they learn how to navigate relationships and advocate for themselves within a community.
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E WHAI AKE (Coming up) . . .
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Tuesday 26th May Preschool Kapa Haka, 2:45pm - 3:15pm, Pōhutukawa
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Tuesday 26th May Drama Club (9-12 and High School ākonga), 3:15pm - 4:15pm, T2
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Wednesday 27th May Primary Kapa Haka, 3pm - 4pm, Kauri Classroom
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Friday 29th May Technology - Year 7's, 8:45am - 12:15pm, Avalon Intermediate
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Monday 1st June King's Birthday (WHOLE SCHOOL CLOSED)
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Tuesday 2nd June Preschool Kapa Haka, 2:45pm - 3:15pm, Pōhutukawa
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Tuesday 2nd June Drama Club (9-12 and High School ākonga), 3:15pm - 4:15pm, T2
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Wednesday 3rd June Primary Kapa Haka, 3pm - 4pm, Kauri Classroom
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Friday 5th June Technology - Year 7's, 8:45am - 12:15pm, Avalon Intermediate
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Saturday 6th June Working Bee, 9am - 12pm
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King's Birthday
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A reminder that it is King's Birthday this coming Monday, 1st June, so the WHOLE school will be closed. School will resume as normal on Tuesday.
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Please check below for your eldest child’s name to attend the next working bee. Contact the office with any queries.
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Saturday 6th June
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Preschool July Holiday Programme
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Bookings for our July Preschool Holiday Programme are open!
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- Week 1: Monday 6th - Thursday 9th July (closed Friday 10th July for Matariki)
- Week 2: Monday 13th - Friday 17th July
Hours are 8:45am - 3pm, costing $35 per day. Extended care from 3pm - 5pm is available for an additional $20 per day and must be booked in advance.
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If your child attends another Preschool/childcare centre during the holidays and they claim the 20 Hours ECE subsidy, please let Emma know so your enrolment can be adjusted.
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Spaces are limited and bookings close Friday 5th June 2026. Payment is due by Friday 19th June. No refunds or booking changes can be made after confirmation.
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Morning tea is provided. Please send a named lunchbox that follows our Food Policy (no nuts or nut products).
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Families who book will receive further information closer to the programme start date.
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Please complete the online booking form here.
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Matariki Concert
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We warmly invite you to join us for Wā Ora’s annual Matariki Concert on Monday, 15 June 2026, at 10:00 am at the high school.
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This is a special event in our school calendar and an important opportunity for our whole community to come together to celebrate Matariki; a time of reflection, connection, renewal, and shared celebration as we mark this turning point in the year.
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All classes, from Preschool through to High School, will be performing and sharing their learning, music, movement, and creativity. It is always a joyful occasion that reflects the spirit of our kura and the strength of our Wā Ora community.
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The Kawakawa baristas will also be selling tea, coffee, and hot chocolate from their kitchen from 9:00 am. All whānau are welcome from 9 am to mingle and connect together in T2 before the concert begins.
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- Date: Monday 15 June 2026
- Coffee available: From 9:00 am
- Concert: 10 am - 12 pm
- Location: Wā Ora High School, 175 Rātā Street.
We look forward to celebrating Matariki together with you all.
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Bake Sale
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A reminder for the bake sale this Wednesday, 27th May, organised by 6-9 ākonga Micah, Elsemiek, and Romelie!
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They will be selling delicious feijoa muffins for $2 each, with all funds raised going towards Wellington Free Ambulance.
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Please come to the Rātā akomanga deck at 3:00pm on Wednesday to support them!
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Kawakawa: Seeking Fertilised Chicken Eggs
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Kawakawa is looking to expand its chicken flock as part of its ongoing Occupations and Production and Exchange mahi. Mikel and the construction ākonga have been working hard and are close to completing our new chicken coop and installation.
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We are now hoping to source 5-10 fertilised eggs for the start of Term 3 so that we can hatch and raise our own laying hens here in Kawakawa. This will provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities for our ākonga, including animal care, responsibility, food production, and observation of life cycles.
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If you, or someone you know, may be able to provide or help us source fertilised eggs suitable for laying hens, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
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Please contact Hilary if you are able to help.
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Does anyone recognise this key?
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It has been sitting in our lost property for some time and we would love to reunite it with its owner. If it belongs to you, please collect it from the office.
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Bricks, Bricks and Bricks
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Mikel’s Kawakawa ceramics class is looking for 50+ fire bricks to build a kiln, as well as at least 40 red bricks.
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If you are able to help or donate any bricks, please get in touch with Mikel or Hilary.
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Cyber Safety Evening with John Parsons
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A reminder that Wā Ora is excited to host John Parsons from CITIZEN21, a nationally recognised cyber safety expert, for a special parent and community evening next month.
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John works with schools and organisations across New Zealand and internationally, helping communities navigate the safe and ethical use of digital technology. He is also the author of Keeping Your Children Safe Online.
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Thursday 11 June
7:00–8:30pm at the High School
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Friends and whānau of our school community are warmly welcome.
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More details will be shared soon but for now, please save the date!
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Wellington Regional Chinese Bridge Speech Competition
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On Saturday 23rd of May, I took a group of students to the Wellington Regional Chinese Bridge Speech Competition. Congratulations to Adeline Johnstone and Vera Liddington for winning the Cultural Understanding Award, and a big big BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Eulie Norton for winning the Best Talent Award and trophy.
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This is the first time our school has won one of the four big prizes and awards for this competition. You all did an amazing job. During lunch break, our students and whanau had an opportunity to experience a variety of Chinese cultural workshops and foods. I hope to see more of our students participating in Chinese competitions and continuing these excellent achievements in the future. Thank you to all the whānau who came and supported this competition.
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Below are some of the photos of the event.
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Lisa Chin – Mandarin kaiako
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Coming Up
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Next Meeting: Thursday 2nd July (via Zoom)
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Wairua Zone Cross Country
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Congratulations to the following tamariki for representing our school at the Wairua Zone Cross Country at Sladden Park & Petone Memorial Park last Tuesday:
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Jesse Horspool (2nd place) and Theodore van Beynen
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Aria Landall and Amelia Conza
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Manuāriki Te Huki, Tom Tom Woodson (19th place) and Beau Blake
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Clara Buescher, Adeline Johnstone (21st place) and Lottie Falconer
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Charlotte Jellicoe (15th place), Emme Harford, Lola Simon and Romelie Johnson
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Harrison Jarvis, Arthur Watt (20th place), Liam Matthews, Jack Comeskey and Logan Dyer.
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The top 20 children from each age group will go on to represent our school at the Inter-Zone Cross Country later this month.
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We would like to say a huge thank you to Margot Newlands and Neriah Hopoi from Kawakawa for volunteering to marshall at this event with Elizabeth Morgan.
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We would also like to acknowledge Rhiannon Jarvis (Harrison’s mum), Alice Conza (Amelia’s mum) and Christine Watt (Arthur’s grandmother) for helping out with transportation and supervision of our tamariki at this event. It was lovely to have so many Wā Ora whānau come along to watch, support and cheer our tamariki on from the sideline.
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Basketball
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Badminton
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Term 3 Sports
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Further information about the sports can be found when you click on the Google Form:
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Please note all Term 3 registrations will close on the 23rd of June.
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