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Welcome, nau mai, afio mai, namaste, konnichiwa, nĭ hăo, talofa, komosta, vanakkam, auybowan, ഹലോ
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Newsletter
22 September 2026
Term 3
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As we reach the end of a busy and fulfilling Term 3, I want to thank our wonderful school community for your ongoing support, enthusiasm, and partnership. A big thank you to all our St Brendan’s staff for their dedication and everything they have planned and delivered for our students this term. We are also immensely grateful to our many volunteers. From helping with out-of-school events, managing, coaching, or coordinating sports teams, or sharing your valuable time and talents, your contributions have a significant positive impact.
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Staffing Update
Please join me in congratulating Miss Teresa Millar and Ms Amber Rainey! We are delighted to confirm that both will be returning to St Brendan’s next year. Teresa has been a valuable member of our community for some time, from student teacher to beginning teacher, and after an OE, this year covering Room 4 while Mrs Vanessa Smith-Graham recovered, before joining the Explorer team in Room 2. We are thrilled that she will continue to enrich our teaching team. It has also been a privilege hosting Amber this year as a Masters student; given her deep multi-year connections to our school, parish, and community, and her amazing skills and experience we are excited to officially welcome her to our teaching team next year.
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Bee in the City Art Trail - Now until 8 November
Explore Wellington's free giant public art sculpture trail. You can track down 30 giant artist-transformed bee sculptures and 20 community bees, including our very own St Brendan’s School bee!
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- Download the free Bee in the City Map App (iOS & Android) to locate bees, track your steps, unlock partner rewards, and enter to win a trip to Fiji!
- Printed trail maps and stickers are available at the Trail Hub at The Enormous Crocodile Bike shop.
- At the conclusion of the trail, the giant bee sculptures will be auctioned off to raise vital funds for Life Flight to help keep the Westpac Chopper and Air Ambulance Planes in the air and delivering urgent, lifesaving care.
- We welcome you to make a donation to Life Flight, you can do this directly to the cause, or via our school bank account (12-3140-0356504-00), noting ‘Life Flight’ as the reference. Donation receipts will be issued for donations $5 and over.
- Watch the media segments: Seven Sharp Segment | Breakfast Segment.
- Find out more: www.beeinthecity.org.nz
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Our bee, 'The Navigator', is at the Wellington Museum; the description on display with it:
Co-created by Year 8s and artist Amy Burrell with ideas from all students, our school bee embodies our 'Inspiring Navigators' vision. It reflects our GRACE values and honours St Brendan the explorer, adventurer, and navigator. It features Te Awa Kairangi, the Remutaka Ranges, and the Matariki stars.
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Official Opening and Blessing
Our classes have settled wonderfully into their new learning spaces in Room 6 and Room 7. Thank you to everyone for your adaptability and patience throughout our property project. We warmly invite all families and supporters to join us for the Official Opening and Blessing with Archbishop Paul Martin on Friday, 25 September at 12pm in the school hall, followed by a light lunch. Please RSVP if you will be attending.
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Mahuru Māori & Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
It has been fantastic hearing so much te reo Māori spoken and sung across the school as we celebrate Mahuru Māori. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 theme is "Ake, Ake, Ake – A Forever Language". Commemorating the 1972 Māori Language Petition, this reminds us to honour, uplift, and normalise te reo Māori in our daily lives across four themes: Manaakitanga, Waiata, Te Taiao, and Pūrākau. Learn more: Te Mana o te Reo Māori Timeline | Te Ara and Te Hītori o te Reo Māori on YouTube.
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Mental Health Awareness Week
Next term opens with Mental Health Awareness Week, focusing on this year's theme: ‘Belonging Matters’. Fostering connection and belonging across our school whānau helps us all flourish together. The whakataukī being used this year, Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au - I am you, and you are me, reminds us that when we see one another, value one another, and care for one another, we create an environment where everyone feels they belong. It encourages us to see ourselves in each other, share, and build the connections that help people feel they belong. Read more at mhaw.nz.
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Holiday Blessings
Wishing all our families a safe, restful, and refreshed break over the upcoming school holidays. May God bless you all, and we look forward to seeing everyone back for an exciting and action-packed Term 4!
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Ngā manaakitanga o te Atua,
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GRACE AND GRATITUDE - HE KŌRERO AROHA
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- Thank you to Staglands for vouchers they recently donated.
- Thank you to everyone who helped with transport and/or supervision at the recent Year 7/8 Interzone Swimming sports event.
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SCHOOL NEWS - NGĀ MAHI O TE KURA
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NEW CLASSROOMS FOR ROOMS 6 AND 7
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Today Room 7 moved back into our new and improved CLASSROOM! When I first walked in, I felt WOWED! It also felt really different as well! We also need to keep the class really clean otherwise it will stink! - Evelyn R
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Room 7 was in Room 2 for a long long time and while the builders worked hard. But the builders finally finished Room 7 and Room 6. I think it cost around $100,000 - $200,000. We always have to clean up after ourselves, and if you draw something on accident then tell the teacher. - Dylan
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Our new classroom is good and neat. My favourite part is the sound proofing and pencil pots. We also have a quiet room and Room 6 is bigger too. There is also a new TV. - Julio
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New Room 6 is…umm kind of small but kind of cool and I like the way it looks. I like the quiet room and we get sound proof walls and the place we put our bags and I am learning much better. - Hevin
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We are in our new class room. It is a little different than before because we have a quiet room to read or draw. The doors are actually sound proof. - Leanne
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Rooms 7 and 6 got new classrooms. In Room 6 there's lots of cool stuff like our new TV. We also have a quiet room. The quiet room is my favourite place to talk to my friends or to read. - Samuel
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Today Room 7 is in our new class. I’m so excited and today Mrs Sawers will hopefully tell us how much it cost to build. I love our new class room. I bet my friends would like it. We need to do our jobs and we do not want to get pen on the walls. - Alaya
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UPPER HUTT TIGERS JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE
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St Brendan’s students were recognised at the Upper Hutt Tigers Junior Rugby League prize-giving earlier this month.
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A huge congratulations to the four St Brendan’s students who received awards:
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- Cadence, Room 4 – Most Valuable Player
- Fotu, Room 5 – Most Improved Player
- Journey, Room 10 – Best Defence / Overall Junior Club Ironman of the Year
- Sasha, Room 5 – Best Attack
All four girls were also selected to represent the Upper Hutt Tigers in the Hutt Valley Junior Rugby League Reps 2026.
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Well done, girls! We are so proud of all your hard work, dedication and achievements, and we can’t wait to see where to from here.
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WELLINGTON ICE HOCKEY REPRESENTATIVE
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Recently Sky was selected to represent the Wellington team at the National Under-14 Ice Hockey Tournament, being held in Auckland. Sky competed in the first round of this tournament in Dunedin in July.
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Auckland was the second round and soon Sky will travel to Dunedin to complete the final round, which runs over four days starting 26th September.
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We're are all so very proud of Sky's achievement in being selected to represent Wellington at a national level! You are amazing Sky!
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TE ARA O NGĀ UARA - LIVING OUR VALUES THROUGH PB4L
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The PB4L focus for the rest of the term is our GRACE Value of Explore. This value teaches students to give things a go, make safe choices and seek help when needed. These skills are valuable for students to be courageous with their learning in the classroom, but also for their interactions with others in the playground.
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Using the 'Stop Walk Talk' model, students will be learning that reporting to an adult is about getting help, not getting someone in trouble. The focus is on making safe choices rather than retaliation. Please talk to your child about how they can be an upstander.
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NGĀ WHAKAARO A TE POARI - BOARD NEWS
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Kia ora to our wonderful community,
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I hope everyone is enjoying some slightly warmer spring weather and the beautiful blossoms that have arrived.
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We have had another busy period which has seen the completion of our new learning space for Rooms 6 and 7. Thank you again to all of the team for their support throughout the project. We are looking forward to celebrating the official opening and blessing with Archbishop Paul Martin on Friday, 25 September.
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Mahuru Māori has been a focus with lots of opportunities to engage in learning te reo. I did not have such integrated learning of Māori when I was at school, as I am sure many parents of a similar age experienced. It is lovely to learn more alongside my son. We are all at different places in our learning journey so I would encourage everyone to have a go!
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I wish you all an enjoyable last few days to the end of Term 3, and a restful and safe holiday break ahead.
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On behalf of the School Board
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COMMUNITY NEWS - NGĀ PITO KŌRERO O TE HAPORI
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VAIASO O TE 'GANA TUVALU – TUVALU LANGUAGE WEEK
Celebrate: 27 September - 3 October 2026
The 2026 theme for Tuvalu Language Week is "Tuvalu, alofa ki tou fakavae, kae teugina tou iloga i tau kete fai malaga." - Tuvalu, cherish your foundation, and carry your identity along your journey.
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Get ready for the return of the Kāpiti Half Marathon 2026 on Sunday, 8th November!
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Ready to jump in and lend a hand?
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FYA FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT SERIES is really excited to invite young athletes, parents and coaches from across New Zealand to a FREE three-part Football Development Series in the lead-up to this year’s Weir Rose Bowl.
You don’t need to be attending Weir Rose to take part – the series is open nationwide.
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SCOTS COLLEGE HOCKEY HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
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If you have any keen hockey players looking for something to do! Join the Scots College Hockey Club these school holidays for two days of hockey, skill development, games, and fun. We would love for you to forward this on 😊
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Open to Year 5–8 students from all Wellington schools, this camp is perfect for players looking to improve their game in a supportive and enjoyable environment.
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Location: National Hockey Stadium (Turf 1)
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Bring your lunch, drink, hockey gear, and enthusiasm. Equipment can be provided if needed. No experience required as we cater for all levels.
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A special thank you to PAK'nSAVE Kilbirnie for supporting our Hockey Holiday Programme.
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56 Palmer Crescent, Heretaunga, Upper Hutt 5019
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office@stbrendans.school.nz
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