LATEST NEWS AND ACTIVITIES FROM OUR TEAMS
ACROSS THE SCHOOL
OUR NEW ROAD PATROLLERS
Congratulations to our new Year 5 Road Patrollers who completed their training with Constable Bryan and Constable John last week. They are now ready to begin their new duty in 2025! A roster will be sent out later in the term ready for Term 1.
Ms Hedstrom




WALKING SCHOOL BUS
Our Walking School Buses are ‘up & walking’. We now have 4 routes walking regularly. Thank you to those parents who have offered to ‘lead a bus’. If you are keen to join a Walking School Bus and/or you would like to set up a walking school bus in your area please contact Louise Cameron at Auckland Transport - Louise.Cameron@at.govt.nz or Anna Hedstrom - annah@redbeach.school.nz
GLEE
This year, GLEE has run as a lunchtime group with a smaller but committed group of singers. The students have practiced a range of songs with uplifting messages, learned some vocal warmups, experimented with harmonies, and had lots of fun with music games. On Friday the 22nd of November we were fortunate to be able to perform three times to show off our talent and hard work. The group traveled to Kingsway Preschool and Red Beach Early Learning Centre to perform a set of songs to a group of captivated children. In the afternoon, the group performed for their families in an intimate celebration setting. A huge thanks to Katerina Armstrong for your support and talent in preparing our group for their performance.
KAPA HAKA End-of-Year CELEBRATION
Kapa Haka celebrated a hugely successful year with a performance to whanau on Monday the 25th of November. We celebrated our achievements over the year and praised our rangatahi(youth) who have grown in confidence and developed their talent for performance.
Our year 6 graduates were celebrated for their time and commitment to Kapa Haka. Congratulations to Max Bodley and Marni Price who were the recipients for the Outstanding Leadership Awards for 2024.
The 2025 leaders were announced and were honoured by our current leadership group by the placing of Korowai. It was a wonderful time of celebration and Shelley and Carla look forward to 2025, which will see the opportunity for new students to join the roopu(group). Ka mau te wehi!
Te Kotahitanga Tuatorua
On Thursday the 5th of December, 7 children had a unique experience of Te Ao Maori learning of Rongoa Maori, Manu Tukutuku, and a guided archeological tour of Mangere Moutain. The experienced guides shared their rich knowledge of the past and the Traditional Maori way of life on the Maunga. This experience brought to life many lessons we have been learning in class this year. The children gathered medicinal leaves and tried Kawakawa tea and balm. In pairs, students created Manu Tukutuku which were once used to signal tangi and hui at the pa. Despite being super tired from camp, the children were fully engaged, full of questions and well connected with the children from other schools in our area.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Year 1 Christmas Reindeer
The year 1 team were asked to paint and decorate some reindeer for the Mitre 10 float in the Orewa Santa Parade on Saturday 23rd November. We incorporated our school values, vision and RICH hearts. They looked amazing.





Year 2 Zoo Trip
We finally made it to Auckland Zoo and excitement was high as we boarded the bus! Our zoo visit was an exciting adventure filled with memorable moments, a little rain and sunshine. We all had a talk from a Zoo Educator, who went over animal classification groupings. It was impressive to see how much the children remembered from their Term 1 learning, eagerly sharing their knowledge during the session. We all enjoyed walking around the zoo to see all the animals. We learned that habitat loss is a major factor in causing animals to become endangered. We can make a difference by choosing products with the FSC logo to support sustainable forest practices. It was a day of fun, learning, and appreciation for nature enjoyed by all.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to our amazing parent helpers for their support in making this day such a success!



Year 3/4 MIDDLE SCHOOL & 5/6 SENIOR SCHOOL
Athletics Skills
In physical education, our Year 3-4 students have been focusing on learning athletic skills. Through fun and engaging teaching sessions, they developed skills such as running techniques, jumping, and throwing, all while building confidence and for our Year Threes - trying something new!
It was wonderful to see our tamariki shine, supporting each other and showcasing the benefits of physical education and perseverance.
Year 5-6 students have been working on improving their skills in high jump, long jump, shot-put, discus and sprints.
Our Year 5-6 Athletics Day was held in Week 4 and it was so great to see everyone trying their best and demonstrating strong technique. The excitement and effort on this day was a testament to their hard work, with many students achieving personal bests and displaying great sportsmanship.










YEAR 5/6 CAMP
What an unforgettable adventure our Year 5/6 students, parents, and teachers had at Carey Park Christian Camp in the Waitakere Ranges! Nearly 200 excited individuals set off on Monday for a week of fun, challenge, and discovery that will be remembered for years to come.
Over the course of the camp, the students tackled an incredible variety of activities. From kayaking, rock climbing, archery, crate stacking, and human foosball to orienteering, rogaining, rainbow tag, and the ever-popular Burma trail, there was something for everyone. The confidence course and watery free-time activities, such as bombing off the rope swing into the waterhole and the slip’n’slide, provided countless laughs and refreshing thrills under the camp-perfect weather.
For many, camp was also about personal growth. Whether overcoming fears of heights, trying something new, or simply being away from home, our students demonstrated incredible perseverance, resilience, and courage. While a few tamariki felt a touch of homesickness, they showed remarkable tenacity and fully embraced the experience.
The camp wouldn’t have been complete without the fantastic food to fuel the action-packed days and the laughter-filled evenings spent bonding with their mates. The camp wasn't just about adventure but also about teamwork, growth, and creating lifelong memories with friends.
A massive THANK YOU to all the wonderful parent volunteers whose time and effort made this camp possible. Special recognition goes to Carla Wintle and Briony Hansen for their countless hours of organisation, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Carey Park Christian Camp provided an experience of a lifetime, and we’re so grateful to everyone who contributed to making it such a success.
MOTUORA TEAM
We love the summer terms as it means that our afternoon trips on Tuesdays are to the park in Millwater or to Splashpad in Stanmore Bay. What fun there is to be had in the sun!
Link below for our uniform, to order visit: www.argyleonline.co.nz - find Red Bach School in the Upper North Island region schools.
A FRIENDLY REMINDER
Please don't park in our Staff Carpark. We need these parks to be available for staff. We have many itinerate and special needs staff who come and go throughout the day transporting resources and sometimes students.
If you need to collect an unwell child, you are most welcome to come down close to the office for pick up.
Thank you for your understanding.