Farewelling Our Year 8s – A Celebration to Remember
Last night we had the privilege of farewelling our Year 8 students and sending them off in true Puketapu style, surrounded by whānau, staff, and our wider school community.
The evening began with the formal proceedings, expertly led by Mr Lewis. We heard heartfelt and inspiring speeches from Paora Rauputu (Board Chair), Katherine Pascoe (School Principal), Summer Wilkinson (Kai Tiaki Kōtiro), Dylan Bublitz (Kai Tiaki Tama), along with Whaea Molly and Whaea Marina. Each speaker reflected on the growth, achievements, and unique qualities of our Year 8 tamariki, making for a meaningful and memorable start to the night.
Graduation certificates were then presented by Micaela Westrupp (Deputy Principal) and handed out by our Year 8 teachers alongside the School Principal. A special highlight followed, as we shared New Entrant photos and Year 8 photos of our graduates, before enjoying a beautiful slideshow capturing their journey through Puketapu School. There were smiles, laughter, and a few emotional moments as memories from across the years played on screen.
Following the formalities, our tamariki enjoyed kai from the grazing table and celebrated together on the dance floor — a joyful way to mark the end of their primary school journey.
A huge thank you goes to:
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Chelsea for once again creating a stunning balloon display
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Teresa, Charlotte, Sharron, and Kayla from our wharekai team for preparing and setting up the kai
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Kayla Haylock for individually making keepsakes for each Year 8 student, complete with their name and 2025 — these were a huge hit
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Mr Lewis for the significant work behind the scenes to bring the evening together
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Northpoint Church for providing such a wonderful venue
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Home & School for supporting the setup and clean-up
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And to our whānau and staff for coming along to celebrate this special milestone
Events like this are only possible because of our strong, supportive community. We are incredibly proud of our Year 8 students and wish them all the very best as they head into the next chapter of their learning journey. Ka mau te wehi!
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