Newsletter No.16 - 25th September 2026

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Parking Arts and Culture Evening

A quick reminder for our School Community that the OSPA carpark will not be available for parking during our Arts & Culture Evening.

Please make sure you park in the designated school parking areas and keep the OSPA carpark clear for the evening.

Thanks everyone for your help and cooperation, and we look forward to seeing you all at our Arts & Culture Evening.

Parking - Arts and Culture Evening

Kia ora,

With our Arts & Culture Evening kicking off tomorrow night, we ask that the OSPA carpark is kept clear and not used for parking during the evening.

Please use the designated school parking areas instead.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to a fantastic evening celebrating our students and their amazing talents!

Library Book Amnesty

While it's awesome that our students are enjoying reading and taking home school library books, unfortunately some are forgetting to bring them back, and our overdue returns are now significant. As our annual stock take is due to start next term, it's time to start hunting out our Onewhero Area School library books and returning them, no questions asked! Please check your students' bags, bedrooms, bookcases, under the couch, in the car, etc, and return them to the Library as soon as possible, so other students can continue to enjoy this valuable resource. (Individual letters will be going home next term). 

Newsletter No.15 - 11th September 2026

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Parenting Talk this evening - Digital Safety at 6.30pm

For those attending tonight - please note we have moved this presentation from the Gym to Room 33 (beside the front field).

Reminder about our Parent Presentation on managing digital devices with your children - Tomorrow night at 6.30pm (see flyer),

One of the strongest things we can do as a school is to support parents and caregivers with reliable information, practical strategies and tools to help you navigate this increasingly complex area with your children.

We are very lucky to have Holly Brooker as our presenter. Holly is the co-founder of Makes Sense, an advocacy group calling for changes to online regulation, as well as a parenting presenter and educator with Parenting Place.

To help us with numbers, please complete the short google form if you would like to attend.

Flyer

Google Form

Non-Uniform Day - Friday 4th September 2026

🎉 NON-UNIFORM DAY – AG DAY RAFFLE 🎉

It’s time to ditch the school uniform and come to school in your favourite clothes! 👕👟

To help us get ready for Ag Day, we’re asking students to bring along ONE pantry item to help us put together some awesome raffles! 🎟️🛒

But we’re looking for something a little different this year… let’s think beyond the baked beans and spaghetti! 😂

Some ideas could be:
🍫 Chocolate & lollies
🍪 Biscuits & crackers
☕ Tea & coffee
🫙 Jam, honey or spreads
🥣 Cereal & muesli
🍝 Pasta & sauces
🍿 Chips & snacks
🧁 Baking ingredients
🥫 Tinned fruit
🍯 Sauces & condiments

Basically, if you’d be happy to find it in a fantastic food hamper, we’d love it! 🙌

Every item will help us create some great raffle prizes for Ag Day, so get creative and bring along something delicious!

Donations can be brought to the office or collected from class.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Reminder about our Parent Presentation on managing digital devices with your children - next Tuesday 8th September at 6.30pm (see flyer).

One of the strongest things we can do as a school is to support parents and caregivers with reliable information, practical strategies and tools to help you navigate this increasingly complex area with your children.

We are very lucky to have Holly Brooker as our presenter. Holly is the co-founder of Makes Sense, an advocacy group calling for changes to online regulation, as well as a parenting presenter and educator with Parenting Place.

To help us with numbers, please complete the short google form if you would like to attend.

Flyer

Google Form

FT5 Bus

The bus company have informed us that the FT5 bus has become stuck on Andrews Road this morning. All the students are safe and they are sending out another bus to transport the students to school.

Newsletter No.14 - 28th August 2026

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PhotoLife

Kia ora koutou, 

Just a reminder that PhotoLife is at OAS tomorrow and Friday. 

Thursday -  Classes and Portraits 

Friday - Siblings and Teams 

Ngaa mihi

Students Services 

Influenza A – Health Update

Kia ora whaanau,

We have confirmed cases of Influenza A within our school community, along with a small number of suspected cases.
We are also seeing a higher number of students away with flu-like symptoms, some of which are lasting for several days.
Please continue to monitor your child for symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, body aches and tiredness. If your child is unwell, please keep them at home until they have recovered and are well enough to return to school.
We also encourage students to continue good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes.
Thank you for helping us reduce the spread of illness across our kura.
Ngaa mihi,
Luke Thompson

Tumuaki/Principal

Onewhero Area School

Newsletter No.13 - 14th August 2026

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Newsletter No. 12 - 1st August 2026

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Cross Country

The school Cross Country is scheduled for next Friday 31st July 1pm-3pm.

All runners must have foot wear on.

School Photos Postponed

With the school being closed on Thursday we have had to reschedule both the class and sports photos. There will not be any photos tomorrow or Thursday.

The rescheduled dates for the photos are 27th (Class and individual) and 28th (Sports) August.

School Closure - Thursday 23rd July

Kia ora parents, caregivers and whānau,

Following the tragic passing of one of our Year 11 students, Ricky Maitland, his funeral will be held on Thursday 23 July.

A significant number of our staff will be attending the funeral to pay their respects and support Ricky's whānau. As a result, we will not have sufficient staff available to safely operate the school.

On behalf of the Commissioner, I am advising that Onewhero Area School will be closed on Thursday 23 July 2026.
The school will reopen as normal on Friday 24 July, with classes resuming at the usual time.

We appreciate that this closure may cause some inconvenience for families, and we thank you for your understanding and support during what has been a very difficult time for our school community.

Our thoughts remain with Ricky's whānau, friends and all those affected by his passing.

Ngā mihi,
James Thomas
Commissioner
Onewhero Area School

Newsletter No. 11 - 2nd July 2026

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