Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
It has been a great start to the year.  We have had over 30 students join us from other schools.  We welcomed them to our school at our Mihi Whakatau.  It was wonderful to see students bringing so many of their family members to meet us all.
We also welcomed many new staff in 2025.  Here is an overview of our 2025 staff.

Timatanga Taonga - Junior School
Muriwai - Whaea Ash & Whaea Steph (Friday)
Karekare - Matua Matthew & Whaea Sarah (Friday)
Te Henga - Whaea Gretchen
Piha - Whaea Marcia
Release teacher - Whaea Pat

Bi-lingual Pathways
Penina o le Moana - Whaea Fola & Matua Toma (Tuesday)
Papatūānuku - Whaea Elaine
Ranginui - Whaea Hariata
Rūaumoko - Matua Regan

Te Whare Kotahitanga
Seniors - Matua Jermane, Whaea Theresa & Matua Brad
Intermediate - Whaea Nichola, Matua Toma, Matua Kevin

Pouāwhina/Teacher Aides - Matua Vaughn, Matua Walter, Whaea Kilistina, Whaea Te Hokingamai, Whaea Sandy, Whaea Danielle, Whaea   Sylvia, Whaea Misiona,

Office - Whaea Debbie & Whaea Faye

Learning Support - Whaea Meli & Whaea Cilla

Leadership: 
Whaea Vikki - Principal
Whaea Sarah - Deputy Principal
Whaea Fola - Deputy Principal
Matua Kevin - Deputy Principal

Caretaker - Matua Muzza

Social Worker - Whaea Tyler

Breakfast Club & Lunch in Schools - Whaea Kilistina

We look forward to meeting with you all at upcoming events throughout the year.  You can check out the calendar for 2025 on the Skool Loop app.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Vikki Rihari
Tumuaki 
vikkir@birdwood.school.nz 

We are immensely proud to announce the 2025 Birdwood Leaders.  
We look forward to working alongside you in your leadership role.

Deputy Head Girl - Dominique Anania-Farmer 
Deputy Head Girl (Kaitatiki) - Nori Kirby 
Head Girl - Leilani Palepoi Leitu

Deputy Head Boy - Tusai Foiaso
Head Boy - Anthony Reid 

We are very proud of our Intermediate Tag Teams.  They attended the Northwest Cluster Tag Tournament on Tuesday.  They worked very hard as teams to achieve 4th place (girls team) and 6th place (boys team).  Shout out to Matua Toma and Matua Muzz for all the training and Matua Jermane for the organisation.

Term 1 assemblies will be in the morning due to the extreme heat in the afternoon.
You can always check out the times on our Skool Loop Calendar.

Bell times - 2025

8.55 - First bell (return to class and get ready for the day)
9.00 - School starts
9 - 11 Learning Time (with a break for Brain Food)
11.00 - MT (play outside)
11.20 - MT (eating time)
11.30 - 12.50 Learning Time  
12.50 - LUNCH (play outside)
1.25 - LUNCH (eating)
1.40 - 3.00 Learning Time

It was our honour and privilege to welcome our 6 new staff members and our 27 new students to Birdwood at our Mihi Whakatau at the beginning of Term 1.
Thank you to all of our whānau that came along in support 
He aha te mea nui o te ao?  He tangata! He tangata!  He tangata! 💙

On Wednesday 19th March we are having a GOAL SETTING DAY.
Download the Skool Loop app to book an appointment or ring our school office on 8388229 and we can help you out.

Remember there are no classes on this day.

In Muriwai, we are writing about Hape's journey to Aotearoa. Te Kawerau Ā Maki has shared their pūrākau of how Hape was not allowed to be the tohunga of the Tainui Waka because of his club feet. Instead of giving up he rode Kaiwhare the stingray (a kaitiaki- a guardian) to Cornwallis Beach (Karanga a Hape) where he welcomed the waka.

Kia ora whanau.

I hope 2025 brings happiness and aroha. 

It is that time of the year when the call goes out for two coaches this year for our two teams. We are looking at having ONE Year 5/6 Mixed team and a Year 7/8 Mixed team.

Year 5/6 team plays AFTER school on a Monday night anytime from 3.30pm to 7pm. 

Year 7/8 team plays AFTER school on a Wednesday night from 3.30pm to 6pm depending on the number of teams in the grade. 

At this stage, I am only asking for a coach for each team, and if possible – a Manager for each team. 

You must also be required to train your team either on a lunch break or AFTER school on a day according to your availability. That is usually only an hour training from around 3.15pm – 4.15pm. This can be confirmed later.

We are also looking for an umpire for each team to umpire the games. You do get a small payment from each team. You must know the rules of the game or I will enquire if the umpiring classes are still available at Te Pai Netball Centre. Please let me know as soon as possible.

We will begin trials for the students later in the term.

If this opportunity sounds like you or you know of someone who is keen to coach an awesome team of enthusiastic netball players, please contact either myself on email – marciam@birdwood.school.nz or you can leave your contact details with the office ladies who will then pass on to me. 

Hoping to hear from you soon.

 Whaea Marcia – Liaison for Birdwood School Netball.

Be in to win this brand new bike donated by Kiwi Can. 
When you attend a full week of school your name goes in the draw. 
Drawn on Friday 11th April @ Assembly on the last day of Term 1

Wednesday 26th Feb - Year 7 / 8 Tag

Tuesday 4th March - Year 5 / 6 Cluster T-ball

Wednesday 2nd April - Year 7 / 8 @ Polyfest

Friday 11th April - Term 1 ends

Monday 28th April - Term 2 begins 

We are only in our third full week of School and we have gathered up so much lost uniform, shoes and clothes.
We always try and give back named items when they are found, but we encourage our children to follow the Birdwood Values of Responsibility (Haepapa) and Respect (Whakaute) and look after their things.
If your whānau have lost any items of clothing, ask your kids to check the lost property boxes.