Tawatawa News

6 November 2026

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

Ridgway School Inaugural Quiz Night - doors open 6.30, quiz starts at 7pm

All the tables have been sold!  Thanks for your support for this event. 

We’ve had new auction / raffle donations from:

Madmia socks

Embassy Cinema

Piece House puzzles

Le Marché Français

Jo’s Pies

Chimichurri cafe

Bowlarama

Burger Wisconsin

The Cellar Room

Hell Pizza

Wellington Phoenix 

Pak 'n' Save Petone

Chess tournament Tuesday 17 November

Mark will be running our annual chess tournament. $5 per child, all ages can play. You can sign up here! 

Noho marae

We had a very successful noho marae for our Year 5 - 8s this week.  Thanks to all our wonderful parent volunteers, plus our teachers who went the extra mile to make it a positive experience for everyone. 

Southern Zones Athletics

40 students competed in Southern Zones Athletics yesterday!  Well done to all the competitors.  We’ve got 10 students progressing on to Interzones so another congratulations to them. 

Any accommodation contacts in Tauranga?

We are looking at taking two teams to the AIMS Games in Tauranga next September.  Just putting out some feelers in case anyone has any contacts for accommodation up that way. Please let us know. 

Crazy Hair Day next Friday

As our PB4L reward for positive behaviour, we are having a Crazy Hair Day next Friday, complete with Juicies won by Olivia Ravji through What Now!

Shakespeare Performance

The Year 7 & 8s performed today alongside four other schools as part of the Shakespeare in Schools programme. The play was Romeo and Juliette and they did an excellent scene!  Thanks to all the parent helpers and our theater director extraordinaire Harriette! 

Ridgway’s Got Talent

If your child has any talents they would like to showcase, they can shine on 4 December at the annual RGT.  Auditions will be run the week starting 23 November (except for Year 7 & 8s who will be at camp and can do it the following week). Get practising! 

Another push for…..Kapa haka opening the Brooklyn Twilight Festival - Saturday 14 November

We’d love to have as many as possible so please fill out this form if your child would like to take part. Meet at the Scout Hall in Brooklyn at 12.30 on Saturday 14th. 

Spotlight on Hauora: Mitey, Mental Health, and Wellbeing at Home

We use Mitey (developed by the Sir John Kirwan Foundation) to support our tamariki in understanding and managing their mental health and wellbeing. Mental health education is an essential part of everyday learning, helping our ākonga build resilience, recognize their emotions, and know where to turn when they need support.

To help bridge home and school learning, each fortnight we will provide an optional wellbeing challenge for whānau to try together.

Fortnightly Challenge 2: Tawatawa Reserve Nature Reset (Mana Ūkaipō)

Whānau Challenge: Take a 15-minute whānau walk in nature this weekend. Challenge each family member to notice 3 different plant shapes, listen for 2 bird calls, and find 1 peaceful spot to take three deep, slow breaths together.

Thank you for partnering with us to foster positive hauora/wellbeing across our school and home communities.

Upcoming events

• 9 November - Road Patrol Training for Year 5s

• 13 November - Mid term hui at 9.15

• 14 November - Brooklyn Twilight Festival

• 23 - 26 November - Year 7 & 8 at Camp Makihika

• 27 November - Quiz Night!

• 4 December - Ridgway’s Got Talent

• 10 December - Year 8 Leavers’ Celebration

• 11 December - final assemblies

• 16 December - last day of school, 2pm finish and no Rascals