Chapel Downs - 28 May Newsletter 2025
Kia ora, Talofa, Mālō e lelei, Bula, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Aloha, Kamusta, Xin chào, Nǐ hǎo, Konnichiwa, Annyeong haseyo, Selamat siang, Sawasdee ka/krap, and Namaste to everyone!
Principal’s Message - 28 May 2025
As we move into the heart of winter, it's great to see our students arriving at school each day, keeping warm and dry in their classrooms. Regular attendance is so important – every day at school counts. Our classrooms are warm, welcoming spaces, and with a hot, nutritious lunch provided daily by Lunchy, our students are well-fuelled for learning.
A warm welcome to two new staff members who have recently joined our team. Mrs Vijayeta Dayal is working in our Year 0–1 team, and Miss Rachel Kay has joined our Year 4 team. We are thrilled to have them on board.
With the wetter weather, please help us keep everyone safe by parking responsibly on the surrounding streets and using the footpaths to walk into school. A reminder that the field is currently closed due to soggy ground and mud.
It’s been wonderful to hear students sharing their excitement about winter sports – they speak with such enthusiasm about the teams they’re part of and the fun they’re having. Our Year 3 to Year 6 students are also making fantastic progress in their free swimming lessons. We are incredibly proud of their growing skills and confidence in the water.
Let’s all keep well, stay warm, and make the most of the learning opportunities this term brings.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vaughan van Rensburg
Student REports & Parent Teacher Interviews
Mid Year Student reports will be released through the HERO app on Monday 9 June. This is a great opportunity to see how your child is progressing in their learning. We invite you to attend Parent-Teacher Interviews on Thursday 12 June, where you can discuss your child’s achievements, progress, and next steps with their teacher.
Parent Teacher interviews will be held in the school hall on Thursday 12 June. These meetings are very important as they are an opportunity to celebrate student achievement and share next steps for learning. Students are expected to attend with parents.
On Thursday the 12th of June school will close at 12.30pm. There will be no school lunches on this day. Please ensure you collect your child/children at 12.30pm. The interviews will be held from 1.30pm-7.30pm.
To book an appointment:
- Interviews are booked on Hero through 'School Bookings'
- You should see School Bookings on your home page of the Hero app or you can select it from the left hand menu.
- Once in School Bookings click on ADD BOOKINGS and you will see the available time slots for all of your children.
If you need assistance with making a booking please contact Emily Mason at emilym@chapeldowns.school.nz
If your child is already enrolled in our After school care programme, this will start at 12.30pm. If your child is in after school care please provide them with lunch on this day.
Year 3 to Year 6 Swimming Lessons
Our Year 3 to Year 6 students are making the most of the free swimming lessons this term. The aim of the programme is to help every child develop essential water safety and swimming skills. We are very grateful for this opportunity through the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation and we can already see our students growing in confidence and capability in the water.
Swimming Days:
- Tuesdays - Rooms 4, 5 and 34
- Wednesdays - Rooms 3, 7, 13, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, and 39
- Fridays - Rooms 8, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 41, 43 and 44
Building Work Update
Our building project continues to make great progress!
Brosnan have now completed all the piling work and have broken out the piles. The lift pit has also been completed—most of this work is below ground level and forms the foundation for the next stages of construction.
Currently, the ground beams are being boxed and reinforced in preparation for the next concrete pour.
Brosnan have also topped up the gravel pathways near the area where the new hard courts are being built, helping to keep access safe and tidy. In the coming weeks, a new pathway will be added across the field to connect to the relocated classroom block, making movement around the site easier for everyone.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as the project progresses—thank you for your ongoing support and patience.
Keeping contact details up to date
It’s important that we are able to contact parents and caregivers quickly in case of an emergency, illness, or urgent matter involving your child.
If you have recently moved house, changed your phone number, or updated your email address, please let us know as soon as possible. Keeping your contact details current helps us ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students.
You can update your details in any of the following ways:
- Call the school office on 09 274 8002
- Email us at office@chapeldowns.school.nz
- Send a written note with your child
Thank you for helping us stay connected and keep your child safe.
Year 5 & Year 6 Trip to the Maritime Museum
As part of the Year 5 & 6 Science Inquiry – Exploring the Oceans, students will be visiting the Maritime Museum to deepen their learning. During the visit, they will take part in a hands-on workshop led by educators from the Maritime Museum. These sessions will provide opportunities for students to ask meaningful questions and further develop their understanding of ocean exploration.
Two classes will visit the Maritime Museum at a time. Permission letters with more information will be sent out on 3 June.
Dates and classes for the trip:
- Tuesday 17th June - Room 23 (Yr 5) & Room 27 (Yr 6)
- Wednesday 18th June - Room 31 (Yr 5) & Room 28 (Yr 6)
- Thursday 19th June - Room 26 (Yr 5) & Room 25 (Yr 6)
- Monday 23rd June - Room 24 (Yr 5) & Room 30 (Yr 6)
- Tuesday 24th June - Room 32 (Yr 5) & Room 29 (Yr 6)
National Young Leaders Day
Our House Captains attended National Young Leaders Day 2025. The theme was ‘Stronger Together’. It means that when we work as a team and help each other, we can do amazing things! We’re stronger when we stick together and support one another.
Ehara Taki to a I te toa takitahi engaging he toa Taki Toni.
My strength is not due to me alone, but due to the strength of many.
Speakers that inspired the house captains were Cam Calkoen, Elisa Harley, Julia Arnott-Neenee, Jase Te Patu, Fraser Grut and Georgia Lines.
2025 Term Dates
- Term 1: 28 January - 11 April 2025
- Term 2: 28 April - 27 June 2025
- Term 3: 14 July - 19 September 2025
- Term 4: 6 October - 10 December 2025
- Public holidays during term time: 6 February Waitangi Day, 2 June King's Birthday, 20 June Matariki, 27 October Labour Day.
2026 Term Dates
- Term 1: 27 January - 2 April 2026
- Term 2: 20 April - 3 July 2026
- Term 3: 20 July - 25 September 2026
- Term 4: 12 October - 8 December 2026
- Public holidays during term time: 6 February Waitangi Day, 3 April Good Friday, 25 April ANZAC Day, 27 April ANZAC Day observed, 1 June King's Birthday, 26 October Labour Day.
ENROLMENT information
If your child is turning 5 in the next 12 months please ensure you enrol them as soon as possible. With the roll steadily growing at Chapel Downs this will enable us to keep a track of how many New Entrants we can expect in the future. Please click on the form below to enrol online