Newsletter 

Friday 3 March

He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa
Bonjour à toutes nos familles

Mid-term hui - Friday 10 March 1.45pm

We are having a whole school mid-term hui at school on Friday 10 March at 1.45pm in Kahikatea.  This will be followed by a performance (or should that be promotion) by Good Time Music Academy who offer music lessons in their music bus, once a week at school.  You are welcome to come for the hui and then leave before their performance/promotion, or stay for both.  We will have an online option for those who can’t make it in person. 

Whānau hui - Wednesday 8 March 6 - 8pm

We invite whānau to join us for a potluck dinner on Wednesday March 8 from 6 - 8pm. Come along and see what it’s all about and enjoy some shared kai.  

The kaupapa of the whānau group is: 

To support Ridgway’s growth as an inclusive school and provide ideas and practical ways for all students to strengthen their knowledge of and pride in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori.

  • To empower Māori students to be confident in their culture and to be leaders in sharing it with the wider school community.

  • To provide a link between students, families, staff and the board so that as a community we honour our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).

 Children are welcome!  If you’re interested, here is a set of slides we are working on about Te Ao Māori at Tawatawa Ridgway

Picnic night - koha proceeds

Whoop whoop!  From all the generous koha for our sausage sizzle on our picnic night we raised $158!  We are going to use this money to buy sports gear for the tamariki to play with at morning tea and lunchtimes. 

Movin’ March 

We’re loving all the stamping of passports!  Remember if you walk or wheel the teacher will tick off your trip and all entries are sent to GWRC at the end of March (remember you only need at least one trip recorded on your “passport” to enter).  All passports in the WOW Passport Challenge go in the draw to win one of 12 x $400 MYRIDE vouchers.  We also have loads of spot prizes to give away too! 

Old Mate COVID

As we all know, our familiar “friend” COVID is still lurking around like a bad smell at the back of the fridge. If there is COVID in your household, children must test negative before school each day for five days. Please do test your children daily if there is a case in your house before sending them to infect the masses. We love it when people stick to the rules because it keeps us, and everyone else, safe.  

Walking School Bus

To carry on the moving it to school theme, did you know about our Walking School Bus?  We have two currently running (one from Vogeltown and one from Kingston) and your child can join in and get to school safely as part of a group!   


The Walking School Bus operates similarly to a real bus, in that it leaves from designated 'Bus Stops' at specific times and follows a specific route, in the mornings only.


Drivers are provided with fluorescent yellow vests that clearly identify them as Walking School Bus helpers. These can be worn on Walking School Bus duty and help 'others' to identify the Bus. 


To join a Walking School Bus and keep up a school tradition that has been going for over ten years, or for any queries you may have, please contact:

  • Kerry McCarty 027 454 5628, Route Co-ordinator for the Vogeltown Bus

  • Elizabeth Clement 021 807 666, Route Co-ordinator for the Kingston Bus.

Lucky Book Club

If your children (like mine) inexplicably want every single rock collection box available through Lucky Books and they catch you at a moment of weakness, the last day for ordering is 20 March. (Also true if you actually want to buy them a book not involving a box of rocks and no reading.)


Upcoming Events

All of March:  Movin’ March

8 March: Whānau Hui evening 6 - 8pm

23 March: Athletics Day Newtown Park 

6 April: Teacher Only Day

7 April: Good Friday and start of school holidays

Community News

Nga mihi,
Sarah Patterson
Deputy Principal
Te Kura o Tawatawa Ridgway School



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