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Welcome!
Our innovative, country school is one of the best little schools in NZ and we are incredibly proud of it. We are nestled in the picturesque Ahuroa Valley, just a 15 minute drive from Puhoi or Warkworth.
We offer a learning focused, and peaceful environment where learning programmes are developed with differing needs in mind. We have high expectations for, and of, our students and expect to see them graduate from Ahuroa with a sense of pride and belonging as well as an engaged and motivating will to continue learning. Families are recognised as being vital and active partners in students' daily learning, and the entire community is recognised as the learning environment. Our PTFA support this ethos and provide various opportunities to facilitate this throughout the year.
Catering for students from Year 1 through to 8, and whilst promoting academic excellence, we do believe that learning should not be constrained to the four walls of the classroom. We are extremely fortunate to have an exciting environment on our doorstep. This provides our students with many opportunities for real life learning experiences outside of the classroom.
One of the first things that strikes visitors to our school is the welcoming and positive atmosphere. Students are strongly encouraged to acknowledge and celebrate each other’s differences, and support each other’s weaknesses. We have an open door policy; parents and families are welcomed and encouraged to visit and share in their child’s learning at any time.
Give us a call or pop in - we’d love to meet you.
E TIPUTAHI ANA TATOU. TOGETHER WE GROW.
Recent Updates and News
29th April 2024
Nau mai hoki mai ki te wahanga tuarua-Welcome back to Term 2.
I trust that you have all had some quality time with whānau and friends. Typically, these holidays transition us from summer to winter with the weather beginning to change. Cooler starts and darker evenings will be the norm as we begin back next week.
This also means that the winter sporting codes start back up and I look forward to visiting our players at their respective grounds. Please forward me a copy of their draws once you have them and I’ll try and get to at least one game.
The term is shaping up to be very busy, particularly with extra curricula activities. You will notice from the calendar that we have a run of sports events. This will mainly include year 5 up, but we will try and include younger students where possible, if they are excelling in their code.
We are also heading out to plant the young trees we have been growing as part of the Trees for Survival programme. We will take our year 4s and seniors in May and you are welcome to join us. Further details will be sent out by the class teachers.
We also have two public holidays and a compulsory teacher only day to factor in so please keep a close note of the diary.
Kei te titiro whakamua ahau ki te kite i a koutou katoa i nga wiki e haere ake nei. I’m looking forward to seeing you all in the coming weeks.
Terry Taylor.
28th February 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa,
At the weekend the school PTFA and Ahuroa Hall Committee held the annual horse trek fundraiser. It was an exceptional community event with 60 riders and others joining in for the evening supper on Sunday.
There were so many hard working volunteers who made this happen and our outstanding PTFA and parents were amongst it. This meant early starts and late finishes on top of the many hours that had already occurred.
Thank you so much for your hard work and contributions, we really appreciate it. It was also good to meet so many new people from the local area.
We have a really active PTFA. Please support them in any way that you can-many hands make light work.
Curriculum News: Within the first few weeks of school the classroom focus across the whole school is establishing routines, appropriate learning habits and positive working relationships-kura kaupapa. This is an essential part of the school year as it sets the right tone for the school.
The next focus for the school is a science and technology unit of learning around waste. We will be monitoring this very carefully to see how we can reduce the quantity of waste we collect. Last year we spent $600 on orange bags alone, and feel that money would be better spent elsewhere.
Our teaching organisation this year is such that we have Whaea Susan able to provide additional science, technology and art lessons with small classes. This has begun already and will give our tamariki a variety of additional learning experiences from a teacher who is passionate in those areas. Please keep your eye out for requests for various things to support this programme.
Homework: If you have a child in Room 4 you will have noticed the development of a homework routine and book. We are introducing this gradually with the aim of making this a regular part of their weekly routine between weeks 3 and 8. I do not want this to be an onerous task as there are often widely varying opinions about the effect of homework. My rationale is to establish study habits in preparation for their move to college. I still expect children to be children, and to enjoy their free time fully.
There will be a few regular tasks around reading, spelling and maths and a weekly task which involves an aspect of something they are currently learning at school. The intention of this latter part is to create a link between home and school and allow you to see practical examples of learning. If you feel strongly about not having homework, I will respect that decision. Please let your child’s teacher know. We will not be enforcing or negatively punishing children if they do not return their homework. You should be seeing regular readers and spelling coming home with the other two classes-this constitutes their homework.
New Bus Stop: If you are visiting school regularly you will have noticed the new bus stop and adjacent pathway. This is proving a lot safer for both arriving and getting children on the bus. Please do not park in the bus stop between the following times - 7.45 to 8.30am and 2.15 & 2.45pm.
Winter Sports
It is that time of year when the winter codes are taking registrations. Please see below and visit their websites for registration details:
Mahurangi Rugby club provides a safe,
and a fun environment for our junior rugby stars.
We offer playing opportunities for all kids from 4 year olds right through to under 13’s
Our little nippers learn the basics of rugby, by playing contact free ripper games on a Thursday afternoon alongside our other grades who are enjoying a training session with their team and learning the ‘Mahu Way’.
Game days are Saturday mornings when our grade J8 and J7 participate in a ripper rugby tournament with Silverdale Rugby Club. From J6 ( First year of tackle rugby) games are held at various grounds on the North Shore.
We hold tackle workshops to help with the transition from Rippa to Tackle, our ‘Mahu way’ ethos teaches the kids respect, sportsmanship and team spirit and we are renowned for our club hospitality on home game days when our families provide visiting teams with ‘after game’ morning tea.
https://www.sporty.co.nz/mahurangirfcjunior/junior-rugby/junior-rugby
Welcome to Warkworth FC!
Based at Shoesmith Domain in Warkworth, Auckland, our club is a community based club run by amazing volunteers who provide football for all ages and ability all year round.
https://www.sporty.co.nz/warkworthfc/
If you belong to a sports club and would like to promote it in our regular newsletter, please email principal@ahuroa.school.nz
A reminder of the dates of our Inter School Sporting Events. Swimming is first at the Mahurangi College Pool. Training will begin this week.
Swimming - Kaipara Flats (14 March)
Tabloids - Ahuroa (Wednesday 27 November)
Ripper Tournament - Nth Harbour Rugby (Wednesday 22 May)
Netball - Horizon. (Wednesday 15 May)
Hockey - Leigh. (Wednesday 31 July)
Soccer - Snells Beach. (Wednesday 29 May)
Cross Country - Matakana (Wednesday 28 August)
Athletics - Warkworth. (Wednesday 13 November)
Ngā mihi nui,
Terry.
NGĀKAUNUI
PASSIONATE
One of the first things we noticed, and have grown to love, about Ahuroa School is the openness and friendliness of the staff and children. There really is a feeling of family and being looked after by the whole school....we have found Ahuroa School to have a huge heart with so much to offer our children in becoming well-rounded individuals and enjoying their childhood in such a happy, secure, and nurturing environment."
...When quizzed on what the best bits of Ahuroa School were, our children said 'it wasn't like any other school, the teachers would have conversations with the children and become quite good friends with them, AND you were allowed to climb trees!' In response to the school's approach to learning; 'we were actually learning and not being force-fed dead facts. A lot of that was down to the teachers'. On being questioned what they from being at Ahuroa School, they replied variously, 'I learnt how to make friends', 'I learnt how to be patient and understanding with little kids', and 'I discovered that school can be fun, interesting, and a bit flexible without compromising our acquisition of knowledge and skills'..."
TŪTURU
AUTHENTIC
MANAWAROA
RESILIENT
Since coming to Ahuroa School, my children have been given the opportunity to grow both socially and educationally. The teachers are so approachable, I feel I can always talk to them and find out how my children are doing and, due to the size of the school and classes, I know that they are always aware of my children as individuals instead of just part of a class. Its small size and unique setting create and ideal environment for children to feel safe and secure in. My children have been supported to find solutions to problems and have been given the tools to deal with situations on their own, and I feel that this has provided an important skill set that my children may not have otherwise learnt..."
...What a fabulous choice it has been. We love watching our son grow in confidence, curiosity, and ability - all of which are undoubtedly supported and encouraged by the wonderful staff and vast experiences provided by Ahuroa School. We truely value how Ahuroa School stretches his thinking and abilities, but also allows him the freedom to just be a child. As for our second child, the Four Year Old Friday visits - we don't know of any other school that does this - have been invaluable in making her already feel very much part of the school, which of course will make the transition to full-time schooling so much easier. The way we see it, teachers that can manage to make their pupils look forward to a day at school are blessed with a true gift, how fortunate for us to have that gift right here in our community."