Try an instrument today with the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra

WYO-Flyer-Try-Out-Lessons.pdf

Happy reading

T4-wk6-wed-13-Nov-2025.pdf

Wairarapa-Walking-Festival-14-23-Nov.pdf

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7 November 2025

Kia ora e te whānau,

What a wonderful week we have had at Featherston School Te Kura o Paetūmokai. The sunshine has certainly helped everyone feel energised and excited for the learning ahead. I had the absolute privilege of reading some fantastic writing from many tamariki across the kura. Here we have Ashlan and Bella pictured this week with writing that demonstrates creative ideas, strong vocabulary choices, and detailed descriptions. We truly have some amazing young writers at our kura!

You may have seen recent news about the refreshed English Curriculum being introduced across Aotearoa. Please be assured that at Featherston School Te Kura o Paetūmokai we are already aligning our teaching with these expectations in a steady and well-planned way. While updates and changes are coming quickly, we continue to deliver strong literacy programmes that support every child to progress. Our teachers are making sensible adjustments as needed.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.
This whakataukī reflects the teamwork and connection we have seen across our kura recently. On Wednesday, we welcomed St Teresa’s School for a reciprocal visit, enjoying morning tea together and strengthening relationships through shared activities. Our ākonga set up impressive bike courses and took part in the Pedal Ready programme, developing confidence and important safety skills for riding both at school and out in the community.

Next Friday is our much-anticipated Night Market! This is always a fun and vibrant community event and we would love your support. We are currently collecting groceries for the Grocery Raffle, bottles of any kind for the Tombola, and baking to sell on the night. All funds raised will go directly towards the continued development of our playground spaces for our tamariki. Any contributions, big or small, are very much appreciated,  thank you in advance for your generosity!

As the warmer weather continues, please ensure your child has a named sunhat/pōtae and has sunscreen applied before arriving. We do have sunscreen available at school, but if your child prefers their own brand or has skin sensitivities, please pop a small bottle in their bag. A reminder too that if your child is going to be away from school, please contact the office to let us know, this is an important safety requirement so we can ensure all students are accounted for.

We are pleased to share information about the Whānau Kai Collective – Paetūmokai. This is a wonderful community opportunity for whānau to grow kai together, learn gardening skills, and share in the harvest. Spaces are limited, with priority given to whānau seeking greater kai security and those interested in supporting similar projects in the future. The first working bee will take place on Saturday 15 November, 11am–3pm, with kai provided and art/nature-based activities available for tamariki. Further details, including how to apply, can be found on the poster below.

We are excited to share some fantastic staffing news. We have appointed Maree Patten as our new Technology teacher based in Ruma Whio. This space is set up primarily for food and textiles technology. Many of you will already know Maree from her long tenure at Kuranui College. She brings a wealth of expertise, creativity, and passion for hands-on learning. We are absolutely thrilled to have her join our kura team and look forward to welcoming her officially in 2026.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership with us. Together, we ensure our tamariki thrive and grow every day. 

Ngā mihi mahana,
Vanessa Phillips
Tumuaki | Principal
Featherston School Te Kura o Paetūmo  

Wk-5-7-November-2025-2.pdf

Join-our-Paetumokai-Kai-Collective.docx