Kererū Hapori News

Little Miracles Fundraising Day-School Council News

Wear something purple or bring your favourite baby doll or soft toy on Thursday, the 28th of May, to support the Little Miracles Trust.

The 2026 school council has decided to fundraise for the Little Miracles Trust, which supports families with babies in the NICU by arranging meals, transport, and clothing for the baby, as well as counselling, so the unexpected stay in hospital is a little smoother.

So we are going to raise money for the Little Miracles Trust. To help all the little miracles, please bring in a gold coin donation. There will be cupcakes for sale, too.

• When: Thursday, the 28th of May

• Wear Purple

• Bring: A gold coin donation and your baby doll or favourite soft toy. Bring a pram for your doll if you would like to.

• Cupcakes will be on sale for $2.

All money raised goes to the Little Miracles Hospital.

Please wear anything purple (e.g., PJs, slippers, clothing, hats, etc.) on this day. You are also welcome to bring in a soft toy or doll.

Thank you,

From your school councillors, Maggie and Mae.

Project Based Learning

Counting Down to Blast Off: Our Space Exploration Begins!

Over the past few weeks, our budding astronauts and cosmic researchers have officially launched into our space project-based learning projects.

This project is about venturing into the great unknown. Over the coming weeks, your children will be asking questions, making discoveries, researching, creating, recording and reflecting on their understanding of our universe.

Kaik Voices Raised at The Kids Sing!

What an incredible experience our Kererū and Tūī hapori shared this week! We attended a spectacular evening of singing at the Dunedin Town Hall for The Kids Sing. Our students worked hard over the past few weeks to learn and master their songs, and their dedication truly showed as they sang to the large crowd in attendance. A massive thank you to all the parents, caregivers, and whānau who came along to support the children and cheer them on—your presence made the evening extra special for our tamariki.

Pink Shirt Day-Turning the School a Sea of Pink!

Last Friday, our school became a vibrant sea of pink as students and staff came together to celebrate Pink Shirt Day! This global anti-bullying movement encourages people to wear pink to take a strong stand against bullying. By dressing up, our school community helped promote kindness, inclusivity, and an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

The excitement continued into lunchtime, when our fantastic Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) kept the positive vibes going by hosting an epic Pink Balloon Party for the students! It was wonderful to see so much joy, energy, and connection in the playground. Thank you to everyone for supporting this important day and for keeping the spirit of kindness alive at our school.

Celebrating Our Incredible Support Staff!

Last week, our school community came together to celebrate Support Staff Week, showering some of the most important people in our school with the recognition they deserve. Our wonderful students poured their hearts into showing their gratitude by making beautiful handmade cards, bringing in lovely flowers, and writing heartfelt poems and notes to say a massive "thank you."

To our amazing support staff—our teacher aides, administration team, caretaker, and everyone working behind the scenes: we appreciate you more than words can say. Every single day, you bring kindness, patience, and dedication to our classrooms and grounds, ensuring our students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for everything you do to make our school such a wonderful place to be!

Girl's Tag Tournament

A group of our Year 5 and Year 6 girls took part in a girl's tag tournament. Girls' tag rugby is a fast-paced, non-contact version of rugby where players wear Velcro tags attached to their shorts, instead of tackling, defenders "tag" the ball carrier by pulling one of these tags off. The girls had a great day out of school and worked together to have a successful day of rugby.

Taonga Pūoro

On Tuesday, the children were visited by a talented guest musician who introduced us to the beautiful world of traditional Māori instruments (Taonga Pūoro).

It was a captivating experience as we listened to the unique sounds of each instrument being played live. Beyond the music, the children learned the rich stories and history behind them through tikanga (Māori custom and values)—understanding how these instruments connect to the natural world, the elements, and storytelling.

Camp News

Weekly sausage sizzles have started to help raise money for our Year 6 camp in November. Thank you to all of the caregivers who have helped over the last few weeks.

Have you received emails or forms about camp? If not, please email bmcdowall@kaikorai.school.nz to be added to the Year 6 camp email group.

Bridget McDowall, Hannah Sims, Kane McKay and Rosarah Johnston.