Tawatawa News

30 January 2026

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

Term 1 Sports Sign Ups

Please sign up for these now to give us time to put the teams together before the games start. There’s always a bit of shuffling around of teams so it’s great to have everyone signed up early on! 

Futsal in Term 1

These games are:  Year 1-2 on Fridays, 13 Feb - 20 March.  Year 3-8 Wednesdays on 18 Feb - 1 April (no games 25 March).  If your child would like to play futsal in Term 1, please sign up here. 

Netball in Term 1

Sign up here for Year 1 - 4 netball on Saturdays in Term 1. 

From the Library

Grand Opening

With the final delivery of shelving scheduled for week 1 of term, our library redevelopment is almost complete. Woohoo! Our Rascals tamariki have already tested out the space over the break and one year 4 student called it, "the best library I've ever been to!"

At 2pm on Thursday 12th February, we'll be welcoming Alan Dingley, (NZ's Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador 2023–2025) as a guest speaker at our Library Grand Opening. Alan is travelling down from Palmerston North to share his passion for reading and to help officially open the space. Whānau are warmly welcomed to attend this hui if they are interested. 

Borrowing

Students will begin borrowing books in their regular weekly class library slot as of week 3. We are encouraging students of all year levels to use a book bag to transport library books in order to protect them. If your child has a book bag, please help ensure it's in the backpack on their library day. The library has spares that can be used and returned to school. The library will also be open for browsing and borrowing during lunchtimes once our student librarian team is up and running. 

New student management and reporting system

This year, Ridgway School will be moving from Spotlight to a new student management and reporting system called HERO.

HERO will become the main place where you can:

• Report absences

• Read your child’s updates and reports

• See key school notices, newsletters and messages

• Update contact details and permissions

• Access important documents from the school.

You will be able to log in through a secure app or website.

You will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to set up your account.  Once set up, you can access HERO through:

• A web browser, or

• The HERO app on your phone or tablet

Contact the office if you need any help with this, but hopefully it will be a seamless transition! 

Regular Attendance Matters

School attendance is legally required in New Zealand. Your child should be at school every day the school is open unless they are unwell or have an agreed, justifiable reason. Schools record daily attendance and work with whānau when attendance becomes a concern. Attending more than 90 % of the term is considered regular attendance by the Ministry of Education.  In 2025 we had 71% regular attendance and we have a target of lifting our regular attendance to 75% by the end of 2026.  It’s those pesky term time ski trips dragging us down 🤭! 

Upcoming Events:

• 4 Feb - school starts

• 6 Feb - Waitangi Day (school closed)

• 9 Feb - Year 7 & 8 technology starts

• 11 Feb - School Picnic 5pm - 6.30pm

• 12 Feb - Kākā trip to Tawatawa 10am - 12.30pm and Library Grand Opening 2pm 

• 13 Feb - Mihi Whakatau to welcome our new children and families 9.15

• 17 Feb - Athletics Day at Newtown Park

• 23-24 Feb - Goal Setting Conferences (late night Tuesday)

• 3 March - Year 7 & 8 camp/tramp at Catchpool Valley, Remutaka Forest Park (TBC)

• 5 March - mid term hui 2.15pm

• 16 - 18 March - Forest Lakes Camp for Year 5 & 6 

• 24 March - Southern Zones Football 

• 2 April - last day of the term and mid term hui 9.15am

• 3 April - Good Friday (school closed)

• 20 April - start of Term 2

Sarah Patterson
Principal/Tumuaki

Te Kura o Tawatawa - Ridgway School