23 Jan 2026

Kia ora whānau,

We hope you have all had a restful and refreshing summer break. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting year at Maruia School.

School start date
School will begin on Monday 9th February. The school bus will operate as usual on this day, with the same times as 2025.

Beginning of year hui
In previous years we have held beginning-of-year hui before school starts. This year, we are making a small but important shift - these hui will now be held midway through Term 1, once assessments are complete and students are well settled. This means our conversations can be more meaningful, learner-focused, and include clear discussion around learning and behaviour. More information will come closer to the time.

Camp – Week 5 (10–13 March)
Our Term 1 camp will be held in Week 5, from Monday 10th – Thursday 13th March.
We will be heading to Christchurch, staying at North South Holiday Park, and exploring Ninja Valley, the Antarctic Centre, and much more. A full camp email with details will be sent separately soon, but if you would like to start making weekly payments towards camp, you are very welcome to do so.

Hero app – our new school hub
This year we will be rolling out Hero as our school app. We already use Hero as our Student Management System for attendance and student information, but the app will now become our one-stop shop for all school communication.

Through Hero you will be able to:

• Log student absences (similar to Skool Loop)
• Access learner portfolios
• See updates about your child’s day-to-day learning
• Receive school notices and updates

Once Hero is fully up and running, Skool Loop will be phased out (please wait for further notice before deleting it). We’ll send clear instructions soon to help everyone get set up - and we’ll make sure no one is left to figure it out on their own.

Term 1 Topic – Antarctica
Our whole-school inquiry focus this term is Antarctica, linking closely with our camp experience. Be prepared to hear lots about ice, explorers, science, and survival at the dinner table once school starts!

Stationery for 2026
As in 2025, we will stock and supply exercise books and learning materials, which will be charged to accounts. This year we are also supplying basic pencil-case stationery (pens, pencils, glue sticks, etc.), as we noticed students were finding it hard to keep up with supplies last year. Gracie will send monthly accounts. We will actively monitor stationery use to ensure it is not being wasted. If you do not wish your child to purchase stationery from the office, please let us know
 
A few important reminders as we start the year:

• Term dates & calendar

A full term calendar, including key dates and events, will be shared with you once the Hero app is fully up and running.

• Communication & support

If you have any questions or concerns at any point, please get in touch. Our door is always open and we’re more than happy to help.

• Named clothing and footwear

Please ensure all clothing is clearly named. This makes a huge difference with lost property.
We would also appreciate it if your child could wear sneakers to school each day. While crocs and gumboots are practical at times (and very Maruia!), they aren’t suitable for fitness, PE, or sport, and can make it tricky for students to fully take part in learning activities.

• Bus arrangements

If there are any changes to your child’s usual bus arrangements, please let us know as soon as possible so we can ensure everyone gets where they need to be safely.

 
We’re really excited for the year ahead and can’t wait to see everyone back on Monday 9th February.

Ngā mihi nui,
Alex Wilson
Tumuaki | Principal
Maruia School

8 Dec 2025

Kia ora e te whānau,

As we head into the final days of the school year, here are a few important reminders:

Books coming home: Student books will be coming home tomorrow and Wednesday. Please ensure your child has an extra bag so they can bring everything home safely.

Bikes: If your child has a bike at school, please arrange for it to be collected before the end of term, as we are unable to lock them up over the holiday break.

Summer BBQ: Thursday 11 December, 1:00–2:30pm. Whānau, siblings and friends are warmly invited. The pool will be open, and sausages will be available for $2. Please bring togs and a towel if you’d like a swim. Clean-up will begin at 2:30pm. Students are free to leave with attending whānau once the clean-up is finished. The bus will run on the afternoon of Thursday 11 December, as usual, for those students who need it. 

Prize Giving: Wednesday 10 December. Students are to arrive at the Maruia Community Hall by 5:30pm to change into their kapa haka uniforms. Prizegiving begins at 6pm in the Maruia Community Hall. All whānau and community are invited to join us as we celebrate our amazing tamariki and the year that has been. This is a formal event, please ensure your child’s uniform is tidy and reflects the importance of the occasion - students are to wear their uniform to the hall, where they will change into their kapa uniforms, they will then get changed back into their uniforms after the performance for the Prize Giving. 

Pool keys for summer: Pool keys are available for whānau and close community members for $50 per key. Please see Gracie in the office between 8:30am–10:30am on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of this week, to pay for and sign for your key. The pool will be closed from 14–21 December. It will reopen for those who have purchased a key from 22 December onwards. The $50 fee goes directly towards the cost of pool chemicals and upkeep - this is a significant yearly expense for our small school. We kindly ask that keys are not shared, as this helps us manage usage, maintain water quality, and ensure the pool remains safe and sustainable for everyone who contributes.

Lost property: We will do our best to return items to the right students over the next few days.

Library books: Please return any remaining books as soon as possible.

School photos: Photos went home today for those who ordered them - please check your child’s bag.

As we wrap up the year, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our whānau for your support, kindness, and involvement in our school. Maruia is a truly special community, and your partnership makes an enormous difference to the experiences and wellbeing of our tamariki.

Ngā mihi nui,
Alex Wilson