Wiki Tuarua (Week 2), Term 4, 2026: Next week’s message from Jason Elder.

Friday 16 October 2026

Kia ora whānau

Whānau can be super proud of how well their tamariki have started the first week back this term. There is definitely a positive learning vibe across the school. All the best to our Linkhorn Cup Year 7-8 Rugby Team, who play in next week’s final. 

Key Reminders for the Term:

  • This term is always very busy, so please keep well informed by staying connected to school messages and newsletters. The Digital Google Calendar is also on the school website. A Community Message is sent home every fortnight on a Friday (odd weeks in Term 4). The School Newsletter will go home every even week in Term 4. Both are sent via the School App. They are also placed on the school website. We do send a hardcopy home to parents who have requested this. 
  • Attendance Matters – We want all our ākonga at school every day, for the whole day unless they are unwell. Whānau, always inform the Office Team before school starts when they are away from school, providing a legitimate reason.
  • Before School Supervision: Tamariki are not permitted on the school grounds before 8:15am due to health and safety requirements.
  • Paper Road Access: The road between the Junior Block and the swimming pool is jointly owned by the school and the Stratford District Council. This road is reserved for council staff, school staff, and whānau who hold a valid car park pass. The Principal issues passes to whānau who require assistance and/or have tamariki with complex needs. All other vehicles are not permitted to use or park on this road.
  • Swimming: Please ensure your tamariki come to school with their togs, towel and goggles. The office will not be ringing home for forgotten items.

Important Information for Whānau – Learning Reports and I.E.P. Reports

Towards the end of Term 4, Learning Reports and Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.) Reports will be sent home. It is important that whānau are aware of the significant changes the Ministry of Education has introduced throughout 2026. There have been many!

As shared earlier in the year, the Ministry of Education has raised achievement expectations for each year level across all primary schools in New Zealand. These higher expectations have resulted in a considerable drop in reported achievement levels at our school, with schools throughout New Zealand also facing the impact of these changes.

It is important to understand that a lower achievement level does not necessarily mean your child has gone backwards in their learning. Rather, the expectations and benchmarks against which their progress is measured have changed significantly.

Adding to this challenge has been the introduction of new curriculum expectations, which have been progressively updated by the Ministry of Education throughout the year. This has created considerable challenges for teachers, who have had to understand, unpack and apply these new expectations within a very short timeframe to ensure they can accurately assess student learning.

The ongoing changes, combined with delays in receiving clear information and guidance from the Ministry of Education, have placed additional pressure and workload on teachers.

Despite these challenges, our teachers have been outstanding. They have worked incredibly hard, supported one another and demonstrated real professionalism in understanding and implementing these changes within their teaching and assessment practices.

This remains an ongoing challenge, and we expect further adjustments and learning throughout 2027 as the new curriculum and assessment expectations continue to be embedded.

The diagram above highlights the changes to achievement expectations in our Term 4 Learning Reports.

Under the new expectations, ākonga must be achieving at the Proficient level to be meeting their expected Year Level standard. Ākonga assessed as Exceeding are achieving above the expectations for their Year Level.

This is a significant change from Term 2, when Consolidating indicated that ākonga were meeting the expectations for their Year Level.

In Term 4, however, Consolidating now indicates that ākonga are working just below the expected achievement level for their Year Level.

It is important for whānau to understand that this change does not necessarily mean their child has gone backwards in their learning. Rather, the achievement expectations and how progress is reported have changed.

We ask whānau to keep these changes in mind when reading their child’s end-of-year report. Our focus remains on recognising the progress each tamaiti has made, celebrating their achievements and identifying their next learning steps.

What is happening in Week 2, Term 4?

  • Monday 19 October: Year 7-8 I.E.P Hui; Swimming Years 5-8; Te Reo Māori Online; Dog Safety – Rooms 19/20; Board Hui from 5pm in the Conference Room. 
  • Tuesday 20 October: Huranga Whānui – Digital Design and Visual Art; Swimming Years 1-4; I.E.P Hui Year 1-6; Dog Safety Rooms 15/18.
  • Wednesday 21 October: Huranga Whānui – Digital Design and Visual Art; I.E.P Hui Year 1-6.
  • Thursday 22 October: Kapa Haka.
  • Friday 23 October: Assembly at 9.15am – all whānau are welcome to attend; Linkhorn Cup Rugby Final from 12pm at S.P.S.

Key Future Dates Term 4

  • Labour Day – Monday 26 October – No school.
  • Puanga Festival – Wednesday 28 October the Teina Roopu perform at 11.30am. Whānau need to arrive at least 30minutes before to gain entry to the Waitara War Memorial Hall. Bring a Gold Coin donation. Friday 30 October the Tuakana Roopu perform at 10.00am. Whānau need to arrive at least 30minutes before to gain entry to the Waitara War Memorial Hall. Bring a Gold Coin donation.
  • Swimming Sports: Friday 4 December – Year 5-8.
  • Senior Social: Thursday 10 December – Year 7-8.
  • Big Day Out – Year 7-8: Monday 14 December.
  • Leavers Assembly: Tuesday 15 December. Be seated in the hall by 12.45pm.
  • Final Assembly: Wednesday 16 December at 11.00am. 
  • Final School Day: Wednesday 16 December at 12.00pm. 

Important Information

Ngā mihi nui


Jason Elder
Principal
Stratford Primary School