Tawatawa News

8 May 2026

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

Library Update

Whoops! I left all this library information off the last newsletter (sorry Librarian Lucy!!) - so here is the rest of the update. 

We have just purchased two Yotos for the school library, which are being used with headphone splitters as a listening post in the library. We're still exploring the possibilities of this, including having students record their own stories. 

 A reminder to all whānau that the library is a community space and we warmly invite you to come in with your kids at drop-off if you'd like to have a look around or explore our whānau resources. 

Please also feel free to email lucy@ridgway.school.nz directly with any questions, such as a lost book or if your child needs help finding a book that interests them. If your family is experiencing a challenge (like a loss, a move, or other disruptions), feel free to get in touch as we have an amazing (and underutilised) section of books that can support challenges at home or school.

Road Patrol - parent helpers

As much as we love standing on corners, we always appreciate parent help with road patrol!  Whether you just rock up when you’ve got a free ten minutes after school or twenty minutes before school, it’s always appreciated!  We don’t need to formalise it but if you’re free and can help out, just tell the teacher standing there and they will be delighted! 

Drop and Go

Thanks everyone for watching our exciting video and complying with the new road signs. Our wonderful student helpers are loving being on duty in the mornings too. Something to note is that it is the same rule at the end of the day from 3 - 3.30.  This could be tricky, but please be aware they will often send up traffic wardens to issue tickets when they change the signs. It’s a good way to make money fast! 

Explore Your Coast

We had the wonderful Dr Nicole Miller come in and share her documentary ‘Seaweed: A Love Story’ earlier this week. You can see the trailer on YouTube here  and read more about the documentary, including film festival awards here. We were very lucky to have her and a big thank you to the Vogelmorn Foundation for funding this! It was really interesting learning about the underwater world of Wellington and our very own south coast. 

Pink Shirt Day

We will be celebrating this next Friday, so if you’ve got a pink shirt please wear it! There are lessons about how to be an upstander and celebrating diversity and inclusion! 🩷

Upcoming Events:

• 12 May - special hui for Sir John Kirwin

• 15 May - Pink Shirt Day

• 19 May - Year 1/2 trip to Zealandia

• 21 May - Mid-term hui at 2.15pm

• 25 May - Year 3/4 trip to Te Matapihi

• 26 May - Southern Zones Cross Country

• 26 May - Raising Resilient Children with Kathryn Berkett at Island Bay School 6.30-8pm

• 27 and 28 May - School Photos!

• 9 June - Inter Zone Cross Country

• 1 July - Matariki Celebration 5.30-7pm

• 15 - 18 September Year 7 & 8 Camp Makihika

• Noho marae for Year 5 - 8:  November 25 - 27th