Tawatawa News

7 November 2025

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

Brooklyn Twilight Festival

We have been invited to open this festival next weekend with our kapa haka.  We would love to have as many children as possible attending! It will be the third year in a row we’ve done this which is awesome.  If you’re able to come, we will meet at the Scout Hall at 2pm on Harrison Street to get into kapa haka uniforms and get the stencils on faces. The performance starts at 2.30 and typically runs for about 10 minutes. 

Please have a chat with your child and see if they’re keen, then fill out this form.  We’d love a big turn out. 

Children’s Bookshop Event

Want to get ahead on Christmas shopping? You can do so while helping our school library redevelopment! In Week 8 of term (November 24-30), we are running a fundraiser through the Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie. 10% of anything you buy goes towards our school library. Just mention Ridgway School when purchasing either online or in person at the Children's Bookshop during that week. Grandparents and others are welcome to do so too, so please spread the word if you have a book-buyer in your family. 

The Children's Bookshop is running an evening event for us Thursday 27th November from 7:30pm to 9pm, so come along for wine, nibbles, and chats with other Ridgway parents while you pick up a few books on Santa's behalf.

Thanks also to those parents who've answered last week's call for parenting book recommendations and donations - keep 'em coming! It's much appreciated.

Jonathan is leaving us 😭

Sadly for us, Jonathan’s partner has been offered a job in Canada and this means Jonathan and family are relocating at the end of the year. We would love you to join us in farewelling him as part of our Junior final assembly, followed by morning tea on Friday 12 December at 9.15. He has promised he will return to Ridgway when they are back! 

Year 5 and 6 bakesale - Friday 14 November

Our Year 5s and 6s have been super keen this year to run a bakesale to support charities. Together, they have chosen the SPCA, Ambulance, Children’s Hospital.  If the rest of the school would be able to bring a coin or two to support that would be awesome! 

Congratulations to our Shakespearean Thespians!

Our Year 7 & 8s took part in the Shakespeare in Primary Schools event yesterday at the university, performing a scene of As You Like It with 100 other children from around Wellington.  Ridgway, under the strong creative direction of Harriette (who has a ‘Masters of Theatre Arts, in Direction’ in case you didn’t know) performed extremely well and blew everyone away!  No photos allowed sadly (until we buy them)! 

Ridgway Reboot

We’ve sold 52 stalls so far….and counting!  Remember to register your interest in a stall here.  If you’re not able to have a stall because your house is a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing temple with nothing out of place you may still be able to help with donations of baking, paper plates, food for the BBQ or even your coffee machine and outstanding coffee making abilities.  We will let you know what we are on the scrounge for next week! 

Ridgway’s Got Talent

Most of the auditions have been done, with any last ones happening on Monday.  Parents are welcome to come along next Thursday afternoon.  It will start at 1.45. 

Upcoming Events

• 13 November - Ridgway’s Got Talent

• 14 November - Bake sale at morning tea

• 18 November - Interzone Athletics

• 20 November - Bike Monitor Trip

• 23 November - Ridgway Reboot: A Garage Sale Extravaganza 11am - 2pm 

• 27 November - Children’s Book Shop wine and nibbles and book buying

• 28 November - Ruru trip to Island Bay

• 12 December - Junior Final Assembly (9.15) and Senior Final Assembly (2.15)

• 15 December - Water fight on the field

• 17 December - Last day of school, 2pm finish.

Community Notices

Join the Paekawakawa Community Hīkoi – Sunday 16 November

Walk the catchment from Berhampore to Island Bay and explore how our neighbourhood is changing and adapting to the climate around us.

Join Stu Farrant (Morphum Environmental) with mana whenua and local hosts for a guided hīkoi weaving together local history and insights into how past changes shape our climate challenges and opportunities today.

Get outside, meet people, share stories, and see familiar places in a new light. Together we’ll explore how the catchment connects - ki uta ki tai, from the hills to the sea.

Spaces are limited — register now to join the walk!
https://events.humanitix.com/paekawakawa-community-hikoi?token=undefined

Sarah Patterson
Principal/Tumuaki
Te Kura o Tawatawa - Ridgway School