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Welcome, nau mai, afio mai, namaste, konnichiwa, nĭ hăo, talofa, komosta, vanakkam, auybowan, ഹലോ
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Newsletter
9 June 2026
Term 2
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It has been a busy and exciting few weeks at St Brendan’s. We have enjoyed many opportunities for learning, community connection, and celebration.
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Life Education Visit
We recently hosted the Life Education team, who for over 35 years have provided health and wellbeing programmes across New Zealand. Their specialised lessons align with the New Zealand Curriculum and the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy, offering a whole-of-school approach that supports teachers to integrate key learning points into the classroom after the lessons. Featuring the memorable Harold, these interactive and engaging learning experiences, supported by unique technology and resources, had a hugely positive impact on our students.
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Adventurers: House of Bricks
Our Adventurer team recently hosted a House of Bricks 'Full Day of Creative Learning.' This action-packed experience was designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, engaging our students across four rotational activities. Each station focused on a different learning area: engineering, art, wellbeing, and open-ended creativity. As they built, explored, and reflected, students were able to develop key competencies like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. It was a memorable and meaningful opportunity for our students, leaving them inspired and proud of their unique creations.
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Navigators: Open Afternoon and Education Outside the Classroom
Our Navigators held a wonderful Open Afternoon, where our student leaders proudly showcased their learning as Year 7 and 8 students. It was fantastic to see the effort they put into planning and preparing the displays. If you missed this opportunity, or if you have any questions, please feel free to connect with one of our team members for information.
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The Navigators have been on the move! On Friday they visited Whirinaki Whare Taonga and the Upper Hutt Library. Today they travelled into Wellington for a rare opportunity to visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Thorndon to view a relic of St Carlo Acutis. Known as the "Patron Saint of the Internet" and the first Millennial Saint, Carlo was an Italian teenager whose life was shaped by his profound belief that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. Through his digital skills, he documented Eucharistic miracles, famously teaching us that "We don’t need superpowers to be saints, we just need to love." Afterwards, the team were unfortunately not able to enjoy a planned scenic walk along the new Te Ara Tupua path as it was closed due to today's adverse weather conditions. They concluded their trip with a train ride back to school, arriving back in time for lunch.
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Community Connections
We’ve also been busy building community connections. We were delighted that a group of students joined the local Catholic Women’s League to celebrate their birthday last Wednesday. Our students shared their talents through singing, piano, and violin performances, and we were thrilled to receive such warm compliments about their musical ability and the respectful way they interacted with league members. A special thank you to our Navigators, who contributed some delicious baking to the afternoon tea table.
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We also celebrated Samoan Language Week, embracing the rich culture and language of our school whānau. This year’s theme, 'E afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le nu'u – From the high mountains are the blessings of the village’, has been a wonderful focus for us. The library featured a fabulous display, and our Pasifika group has been working hard in preparation for upcoming events. It was a pleasure to welcome families in on Friday, and we also recently held a Fono for our families, providing a lovely opportunity to connect and celebrate together.
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Staff Update
We are delighted to welcome Mrs Yvonne McElwain back to the team this week. We extend a sincere thank you to Mrs Ange Puki and Mrs Rachel Thompson for their fantastic work in Room 8 during her absence.
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St Brendan’s 65th Birthday Celebration: Save the Date!
To celebrate our 65th birthday, each class is exploring a decade that has shaped our history. This learning will culminate in an exciting school production. Due to ongoing refurbishments in our school hall, our production will be held at Lane Park Church. Please save the following dates in your diaries Wednesday, 1 July and Thursday, 2 July. This includes one rehearsal, two evening performances, and one matinee. Further details to follow.
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Welcome New Students
We extend a warm welcome to our new student Ivan, who has recently joined our Room 3 learning team.
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Reporting
As we navigate the implementation of the new New Zealand Curriculum in 2026, you will see changes in how your child’s progress and achievement are reported compared to previous years. These adjustments are part of a nationwide shift in teaching and assessment, reflecting updated curriculum expectations for each year level.
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To ensure consistency, all school reports will now include specific common components for Reading, Writing, and Maths. Central to this is the use of new Progress Descriptors, which provide an indication of how your child is tracking towards end-of-year proficiency.
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Teachers will choose a Progress Descriptor for each element or strand of the learning area taught to date. These overall teacher judgements are informed by classroom observations, daily tasks, and specific assessment data. The Descriptors:
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- Emerging: Students require support to meet curriculum expectations for their year level and/or personal learning goals.
- Developing: Students are making some progress towards curriculum expectations for their year level.
- Consolidating: Students are meeting many curriculum expectations and are steadily strengthening their understanding.
- Proficient: Students are meeting curriculum expectations for their year level.
- Exceeding: Students are exceeding curriculum expectations for their year level.
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Your child’s mid-year report will feature these descriptors, a teacher narrative, next learning steps, and ideas to support learning at home. These reports complement the learning posts and classroom snapshots we share throughout the year. We look forward to sharing this information with you at the end of the term and will invite you to our Partnership Hui at the beginning of Term 3.
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Thank you for your ongoing support.
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TE WAKA WHAKAPONO - NAVIGATING WITH CHRIST
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19 JUNE SUZANNE AUBERT’S BIRTHDAY
Suzanne Aubert, better known as Sister Mary Joseph and Mother Aubert, was a trail blazer in New Zealand, devoting her life to looking after our sick and poor at a time when social services didn’t exist. This year is a special year, as we commemorate the centenary (100 years) of the death of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert and celebrate 125 years of the Compassion Soup Kitchen in Wellington, that was founded by Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert.
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POPE LEO’S PRAYER INTENTION
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Pope Leo’s prayer intention for June is for the values of sports.
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Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
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SCHOOL NEWS - NGĀ MAHI O TE KURA
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LEGO DAY - by Elizabeth, Year 6, Room 10
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On Lego day, we did four stations: mazes in Room 10, mathematical mosaics in Room 11, vehicles in Room 12 and creativity in Room 9.
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In Room 10 (my class), I learnt that mazes can be made with more than 1 person. I enjoyed that we could make many designs, even on the walls of the maze! On this activity, I worked with Grace.
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In Room 11, we worked by ourselves. We did some mosaics on black base plates close to the size of my hand. I made a picture duplicating the sun by using only warm colours and doing the background by using only cool colours. This was one of my favourites.
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In Room 12, I worked with Grace again. We had to make a vehicle that could go at least one and a half metres. We didn't make it to the finish line.
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In Room 9, it was creativity time! Emma, Yuthu and I made an element island (my idea!) We got so many leaves for Earth and so many rings for ice and air. This was my favourite station because we got to build whatever we wanted and go beyond our imagination.
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LEGO DAY - by Eliyah, Year 4, Room 9
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On Brick day, we played with Lego. I really liked playing in Room 9. We got to choose what we wanted to make. I made a beautiful garden. The teacher really liked mine and my friends'. The most challenging one for me was making the cars, which we did in Room 12. After we built them, everyone sat in a circle and raced the cars and I got the 3rd place. The second thing I liked was the mosaics. I made a rainbow, then I did a cotton candy pattern. When we spun it, it looked beautiful. Then we did the marble run. We had to make it ourselves. Everyone who tried mine said it was so hard because you had to collect 5 things, and after you collected everything, you only had 10 seconds to go out to the finish line!
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LEGO DAY - by Angel, Year 4, Room 11
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Lego day was the best day ever! We did a lot of creations. It was really fun. In Room 11 we made a mosaic. I really liked my mosaic. In Room 12 we did a car race. Now I know that the longer it is the further it would go. We had a lot of fun with that. In Room 9 we made a garden. I really liked my tree. It has little flowers which were really pretty and cute.
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What a beautiful day we had for this event at Harcourt Park last Sunday. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect as our runners took to the track.
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We were proud to have 27 enthusiastic participants lace up their sneakers and represent our community with determination and sportsmanship. A massive thank you to all parents, caregivers, and other supporters who took their children along!
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Two of our students placed in the Top 10 and now have the opportunity to represent our school in the Regionals: Leon came 8th (Year 5 Boys) and Jessa came 4th (Year 6 Girls). Congratulations!
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Check out some of the wonderful highlights from the day below!
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GRACE AND GRATITUDE - HE KŌRERO AROHA
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- Thank you to the Brinfield and Lorenc-Lafoe families for their recent donations to our library.
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TE ARA O NGĀ UARA - LIVING OUR VALUES THROUGH PB4L
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NGĀ WHAKAARO A TE POARI - BOARD NEWS
Wow 6 months into the year already! Winter has well and truly arrived and with winter, the usual seasonal bugs are starting to circulate. We want to encourage everyone to look after their health and the health of those around them. If children are unwell, keeping them home helps everyone stay well and keeps classrooms running smoothly. Thank you to parents for your vigilance, and to staff for the extra care you take during this time of year.
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On behalf of the Board, I thank our Principal, teachers, and support staff for the dedication you show each day, often while juggling your own families and winter illnesses. Thank you also to our volunteers and families for the support you give the school in so many ways.
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May God bless you and your families as we move into the colder months.
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j.mcclure@stbrendans.school.nz
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COMMUNITY NEWS - NGĀ PITO KŌRERO O TE HAPORI
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Upper Hutt Rembuden Karate Club is running a June promotion.
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10 classes of Karate for $10:00
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PRIDE LANDS FUN HOLIDAY ADVENTURES
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Winter School Holidays at Hutt Valley Pride: 9 Dyer Street School, Epuni, Lower Hutt
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6th – 17th JULY 2026 from 7.00am-6pm daily from 7.00am-6pm daily. Age range is 4 – 17 years with overnight sleepover activities provided with Interactive Activities and NO TV or Video Games.
Kai Cubs Cooking, and Life Skills Programme creating healthy Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Teas. One-on-one care and shuttle services available.
Daily $85.04/cub per session or $144.75 for two siblings per session; Weekly: $340.16 per cub/week or $578.27 for two siblings/week
. MSD Approved & WINZ subsidies are available for eligible families.
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Qualified 1st Aid Trained Activities Coordinators and Youth Mentors
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One-on-One Care: Available for cub(s) if extra support is needed
at $15/hr
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ACTION (Home support 1-on-1) Mentors is also available if needed at $37/hr per mentor.
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Here To Support All Tamariki & Rangatahi (Neurotypical and Neurodivergent)
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At Pride Lands, we welcome neurotypical and neurodivergent children and youths with on-on-one support available to those that need it in our communities.
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56 Palmer Crescent, Heretaunga, Upper Hutt 5019
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office@stbrendans.school.nz
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