Tawa Newsletter – Term 3, Week 1–2

Kia ora whānau,

Welcome back to Term 3! It’s been a busy and exciting start, and we have a lot happening over the coming weeks. Our overall theme this term is creativity — exploring our talents, expressing ideas, speaking up, and sharing our views with others. We’re really looking forward to seeing students grow in confidence and creativity across all areas of learning.

Learning Focus

In Mathematics, we are diving into all things triangles! Students are learning how to classify triangles, measure sides and angles, and calculate area. It’s been great to see them developing their understanding and applying new skills.

In Reading, our focus is on fluency — reading smoothly, accurately, and with expression. We are practising reading with attention to punctuation, increasing words read per minute, and building confidence. We are also exploring plays and beginning to perform short pieces, helping us prepare for our school production later this term.

In Writing, we are working on improving handwriting, revising key spelling rules (this week’s focus is the long “a” sound using ei), and developing more complex sentence structures.

Mid-Canterbury Technology Centre (Year 7)

Our Year 7 students had their first session at the Mid-Canterbury Technology Centre on Monday and made a fantastic impression! We received a lovely email from the staff praising their effort and attitude. Students used the vinyl cutter and created personal handprint designs showcasing their strengths. Next week, they’ll be making pizzas — something to look forward to!

A reminder that the Technology Centre bus leaves school at 8:45am every Monday. Please ensure students arrive on time so they don’t miss the bus.

Camp Reminder

Thank you to those who have already returned camp permission slips — we’ve had a great response so far. If you haven’t yet returned yours, please do so as soon as possible. We are also still looking for a few parent helpers, so please get in touch if you’re available.

School Production – Week 9

Our Term 3 production, “A Night at the Zoo,” is fast approaching! Tawa Class will be part of the Primate Enclosure, and students are currently creating masks for lemurs, gorillas, chimpanzees, and tamarins. We’ll share costume details soon so you can begin organising these at home.

Options Programme

Our options programme begins Thursday, and students have all been informed of their groups. We’re excited to see them develop new skills and interests through these sessions.

LDA Dance Performance

Good luck to our students involved in the LDA Dance! The performance is on 11 August, 7–8pm. We hope you’ve managed to get tickets — they’re selling fast!

Communication

Thank you for taking the time to go through your child’s report from the end of last term and celebrating their progress. While we don’t have scheduled interviews this term, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss anything. You can email us anytime to arrange a meeting.

We’re looking forward to a fantastic term ahead!

Ngā mihi,
Jackie Brown and Angela Winchester

Kia ora,

Welcome back to Term 3! We have a super busy term! I hope everyone is feeling refreshed and ready to go! 

Ned Show: We have a show coming to perform for us next week. This is a show about resiliency. The show is free for us, because another school bought yo-yo's at the show. We will be selling them as well to ensure another school gets to see it. The yo-yo's are $16-$25.

Year 6 Camp: I am still waiting for a few more forms to be returned! Please make sure these are in by the end of the week. If your child is not going please send me an email. 

Winter Tournament: Thank you to those who have returned these forms. I am still waiting for a few more.

Pie Fundraiser- Please see previous notice on bank account number change- I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused! 

I am out of the class tomorrow (Thursday) on Sick Leave with Nova in Chch. Alice Czerski will be in the classroom, the students know her already! 

Have a good week

Ella 

ella.shapland@ashborough.school.nz

Good morning,

We would ideally like one more adult to join us for our trip to the Gallery/Museum tomorrow please.

We will be walking, leaving school at 1.10pm and returning by 2.50pm.

Thank you,

Rebekah

rebekah.clement@ashborough.school.nz

Please find attached the Year 5–6 Miniball information for the 2026 season, including season dates, competition format, grades offered, team requirements, registration process, and important information for schools.

Form to be filled in by Friday, 14 August 2026

Click the link here

Once teams have been made, Basketball Mid Canterbury will create each team in GameDay (Basketball New Zealand’s registration database) and provide schools with a unique registration link for each team. This link will need to be shared with players and families so they can complete their individual registrations and pay the compulsory $5 BBNZ Participant Levy.

Please ensure all team information is submitted by the deadline so we can finalise grades, teams, and the draw ahead of the season starting on Monday, 31 August.

Girls Year 5–6 Miniball Registration

As outlined in the attached information, the Girls' Grade will continue with the same format as last year. Girls will register individually and take part in two “Have a Go” sessions before teams are created for the remainder of the season.

Girls Registration Form:
https://forms.gle/WaGumENg7c4LWVX88 

Please note:

• There are no mixed teams in the Year 5–6 competition.
• All Year 5–6 grades will be played on Monday evenings.
• The first two weeks of the boys' competition will be used as grading rounds to help place teams into the most appropriate division.
• A reminder that Year 1–2, Year 3, and Year 4 Miniball will take place in Term 4. More information, including dates, registration details, and team entry information, will be sent out to schools in the coming weeks.

Camp Payments Year 6 , 7 & 8

Please ensure all payments for camp are paid into our new bank account number 12  3271 0043284 00  Ashburton Borough School.

The account number that was provided on the Year 7/8 camp notice is no longer valid.  If you made a payment to that number that started with 02 it should have been reversed to your bank account and will need to be sent again to the account number above.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Kind regards

Brigid 

Ashburton Borough School