That's a Wrap on Term 3!
Today, our school came alive with the magic of books as we held our Book Character Dress Up Day. There were so many enthusiastic tamariki in their favorite book character costumes, bringing the world of literature to life within our school walls.
The day began on a high note with a special visit from the Taranaki Bulls Rugby Team, who generously joined our Breakfast Club and took the time to sign autographs on paper, posters, and yes, even some crocs! 
Our tamariki were treated with Subway for lunch, it was a hit and gave our chefs a chance to deep clean the kitchen before the holiday break.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday, October 9th, for the start of Term 4.
#Term3WrapUp#BookCharacterDay#SchoolCommunity#SeeYouInTerm4
Wig Wednesday / Wacky Hair Day @ Puketapu School 2023!
We raised just over $200 for Child Cancer Foundation.
Ka pai tamariki
We have the whānau points counted and the winning whānau group for 2023 Cross Country was Kākāpō!
1st- Kākāpō
3rd- Tuī
4th- Pīwakawaka
A BIG THANK YOU to Bell Block Community Police for our sausage sizzle and Bell Block Rotary Club for marshalling our course. Also thank you to Jenny Read for the wonderful photos you took and to all the teachers, parents and supporters.
Check out the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings below:
5 YEAR GIRLS
1st: Halo Makiri-Watson
2nd: Aaliyah-May Hunt-Tuakana
3rd: Aria Marshall
5 YEAR BOYS
1st: Blake Kenny
2nd: Hayze Hall
3rd: Lucian Clement
6 YEAR GIRLS
1st: Sarah Jenkins
2nd: Ahkira Takerei-Holswich
3rd: Ruchita Medasetti
6 YEAR BOYS
1st: Billy Prestney
2nd: Xavier Leaf
3rd: Harry Perkinson
7 YEAR GIRLS
1st: Vidyasri Vathada
2nd: Bethany Thomson
3rd: Cooper Murray
7 YEAR BOYS
1st: Leon Corin
2nd: Kyan Hoskin
3rd: Ollie Hardy
8 YEAR GIRLS
1st: Sophie McGovern
2nd: Summer Greenfield
3rd: Erika Asai
8 YEAR BOYS
1st: Tyler Kenny
2nd: Zane Wilkinson
3rd: Oscar Nicholas
9 YEAR GIRLS - FIELD
1st: Kendall Perrett
2nd: Likhitha Medasetti
3rd: Sophie Engels
9 YEAR BOYS - FIELD
1st: Liam Wilson
2nd: Carlos Zenovich
3rd: Kupa Brider
9 YEAR GIRLS - BEACH
1st: Sophie Morrison
2nd: Briar Walthew
9 YEAR BOYS - BEACH
1st: Kaydince Brill
10 YEAR GIRLS - FIELD
1st: Alexis Gorrie
2nd: Tylah Taitoko
3rd: Whakairi Rangi
10 YEAR BOYS - FIELD
1st: Chayse Hodson
2nd: Goo Pham
3rd: Harlee Ruwhiu
10 YEAR GIRLS - BEACH
1st: Summer Wilkinson
2nd: Naia Patten
3rd: Etta Patten
10 YEAR BOYS - BEACH
1st: Hamu Adams
2nd: Ari Marlow
3rd: Carlos Macioce = Keanu Tango
11 YEAR BOYS
1st: Kayden Lucinsky
2nd: Billy MacRae
3rd: Kyzahn Brill
11 YEAR GIRLS
1st: Audraea O’Brien
2nd = : Lily La-Rue & Te Waiaurere Mahinekura
12+ YEAR GIRLS
1st: Natalie Corin
2nd: Ella Rauputu
3rd: Erin Sowman
12+ YEAR BOYS
1st: Ethan Cross
2nd: Khan Barnard-Perry
3rd: Alex Morrison
Enrolment at our school is governed by an enrolment scheme, details of which are available from the school office.
In 2024 there will be three enrolment periods, one in each of the first three terms. Information for enrolments within each of those periods will be advertised part way through the previous term.
As our school operates a Cohort Entry policy for new entrants which means that new entrants start school in groups through the year rather than on their fifth birthday, at specified points in the year: either on the first day of term or at a mid-point of a term after they turn five. More information is at https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/your-child-at-school/cohort-entry/
For the first enrolment period, the school has determined that up to 3 places for Year 1 (new entrant) students are likely to be available for out-of-zone students to start at the beginning of Term 1 2024 (Wednesday 31 January). The exact number of places will depend on the number of applications received from students who live within the school’s home zone.
Parents of students who live within the home zone and intend enrolling their child at any time during the next year should notify the school by Friday 6 October 2023 to assist the school to plan appropriately for next year.
Applications are made online at https://enrolments.linc-ed.com/apply/NZ/2223
If the number of out of zone applications exceeds the number of places available, students will be selected by ballot. If a ballot for out-of-zone places is required, it will be held on Monday 16 October 2023. Parents will be informed of the outcome of the ballot within three school days of the ballot being held.
Details relating to the next enrolment period will be published in 2024.
On Thursday 24 August, 40 year 7 & 8 students headed to Hāwera to participate in Intercschool Rugby, Football and Netball.
Rugby finished in 2nd place and Football 4th place.
Netball made it into the final against Mangorei School which was played at Mangorei School on Friday last week.
Our netball girls showed all four of our school values on and off the court during the final, helping them secure the win 29-24 and the Burkhart Cup for 2023. 
2023 Netball Team: Ella Rauputu, Erin Sowman, Jahlia Manukonga-Te Uira, Kallana Bradnock, Katie MacRae, Lydia Walthew, Mallory Leaf, Natalie Corin and Onaleah Zandbergen.
Well done to all our tamariki involved and thank you to the teachers, parents and supporters.
Duffy Stars 
Congratulations to some of our Duffy Award winners from the last couple of weeks.
And a BIG SHOUT OUT to Jahlia Manukonga-Te Uira & Brianna O-Keeffe-Wano for sorting through our Duffy books 
Each year we ask students to design a cover for our Learning @ Home books for the following year.
This year we asked our students to design a cover about OUR SCHOOL VALUES.
Congratulations Ella Rauputu and Iona Den-McKay for winning our Learning @ Home Book Cover Competition. We couldn’t pick from these two amazing designs so we are getting half the books printed with Ella’s design and half with Iona’s design.
There were also 10 other entires that received a special award for their amazing art work - Tess Balsom, Rangi Tau Brider, Skye Ramsay, Lucy Nicholas, Madie Cadman, Parker Smith, Nixon Gadsby, Harlee Ruwhiu, Tylah Taitoko and Sapphire Kuchler.
Pai tamariki 
This term's learning is all about my magnificent machine - my body: how it works, how to keep it healthy, what it needs to fuel itself and how do I compare to other living things?
Here is what some of our tamariki have learnt so far 
Rosie Wilson, 5 years: We have a rib cage to protect our lungs 
Aria Marshall, 5 years: We have a bone at the front of our head to protect our brain 
Isla Johnson, 10 years: The heart pumps and produces oxygen rich blood 
Parker Smith, 9 years: This is the cranium and it protects your brain 
Sapphire Kuchler, 10 years: The Femur is the biggest bone in your body, it is your upper leg bone 
Madie Cadman, 10 years: Your brain is like an engine, it is the engine for your body 
Ella Rauputu, 12 years: We have been learning about the human body and how it functions. I can name over 100 bones in the body 
Vinnie & Leo Luke, 12 years & 10 years : Everyones body has the same parts but all bodies are different. Most people breathe through their mouth and nose and it goes down to their lungs. Vinnie can't breath through his mouth or nose so he breathes through the tracky in his throat 
Lachie Waldron, 12 years: Look after your body because it is your machine. Then you can enjoy things like playing basketball 
Pippa Perkinson, 8 years: When you break a bone it swells and you need an xray to see where the break is. I fell off the monkey bars yesterday and had to have an xray on my bones 
Romie Marlow, 7 years: I learned about the digestive system and where the food goes. When you eat it goes down your esophagus to your liver then stomach, after that it passes through your large intestine, then your small intestine, before it comes out in the toilet 
Lucian Hoskin, 13 years: I have learnt that you need to protect your brain, like wear a helmet when on a bike or wheels. If you do not protect your brain and have an accident then it will impair your motor control meaning you would not be able to climb and swing from trees like this 
Kingston Benton, 12 years: Falangies are the bones in our fingers, they are connected by joints and ligaments. These help me play my guitar 
DAFFODIL DAY
This year we raised just under $200 for Daffodil day, to be donated to The Cancer Society.
The school's Strategic & Annual Plan for 2023
[gview file="https://puketapu.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/Puketapu-School-2023-Strategic-Annual-Plan-1.pdf"]