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Welcome, nau mai, afio mai, namaste, konnichiwa, nĭ hăo, talofa, komosta, vanakkam, auybowan, ഹലോ
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Newsletter
24 March 2026
Term 1
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As we near the end of a busy and successful Term 1, we pause to celebrate the many opportunities our students have enjoyed, with more exciting events still to come. This term has been marked by a wide range of learning experiences made possible through the dedicated planning and hard work of our entire staff team. We also extend our gratitude to you, our supportive community. Your commitment is invaluable in making St Brendan's a place where our students thrive.
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We acknowledge our wonderful Librarian, Sandra Keane. She is currently recovering from a recent medical event, and we keep her and her family in our prayers and thoughts. We send our heartfelt wishes for a smooth recovery and look forward to welcoming her back to St Brendan's soon. Whaea Vanessa is continuing to make positive progress following her fall and surgery in Term 4; she will be returning to school in Term 2. We continue to keep Vanessa in our thoughts and prayers as she recovers.
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Our School and Our Values - Te Ara O Ngā Uara - Celebrating PB4L
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This week and next, teams will be celebrating the achievements of our students in earning House points to date this term! This is an opportunity to acknowledge the positive behaviours and contributions that make St Brendan's such a vibrant and supportive community.
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We are a PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) school. This means we are dedicated to creating a positive and supportive learning environment for everyone. Our PB4L approach is connected to our school's GRACE values: Gospel, Respect, Aspire, Compassion, and Explore. These values guide our interactions and behaviours each day.
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At St Brendan’s, PB4L looks at behaviour and learning from a whole-school perspective, as well as considering each individual child. It helps us build a culture where positive behaviour and learning are a way of life. By focusing on changing the environment, systems, and practices, we support our students in making positive choices.
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To acknowledge and celebrate these positive choices, we have several systems in place:
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- House cards/points
- GRACE in action cards during break times
- Explorer class tick charts
- Whole school GRACE celebrations
- GRACE awards at school assembly
- GRACE morning tea
- Leadership awards
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These systems, along with our PB4L Restorative Practice, help us to build positive, respectful relationships across our whole school community. We have a system which records repeated minor and major behaviours schoolwide, and we invite students to engage in a restorative reflection and/ or action as appropriate.
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We congratulate our Sacramental Programme candidates who participated in their First Reconciliation on Friday. It was a very special occasion. We will keep these students in our prayers as they continue their journey, preparing to receive their Confirmation and First Holy Communion later this year.
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Welcome to St Brendan's!
We are so happy to welcome new students and families to our school. A special welcome to our new friends, Seraphina and Josiah, in Room 3!
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Next Tuesday, our Navigators will lead The Stations of the Cross schoolwide. This deeply meaningful reflection on Jesus Christ’s journey to Calvary invites us to contemplate His sacrifice and the hope His Resurrection brings. We are grateful to our Navigator students for leading the enactment of the Stations in each classroom, enriching our spiritual journey.
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On Holy Thursday, we invite all families to join us at 9am in the hall for our Liturgy. This service is an opportunity to reflect on the Last Supper and the washing of the feet, marking the end of Lent and the beginning of the three most sacred days of the year, the Paschal Triduum.
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We encourage all families to check the details of the parish Easter timetable and join in the celebrations at Our Lady of the Valleys (OLOV). Should you be away for the holidays, you will always be welcome at other Catholic churches wherever you are.
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Holy Week is the special week before Easter that tells the story of Jesus' last days, including his triumphant entry into Jerusalem - Palm Sunday, his special Last Supper - Thursday, his crucifixion - Good Friday, and his amazing return to life - Easter Sunday.
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Have you been connecting with Hero? On Thursday, 12 March, we shared a Faith Curriculum post with you, and next Thursday, a Maths post will be available. These learning posts, curriculum updates, and goal-setting form our 2026 Reporting to Families. We have also been regularly sharing snapshots of learning with you - an opportunity for you to see some of what goes on at school. If you have issues accessing your Hero account, please contact your child’s class teacher for assistance.
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We hope you can join us on Friday, 24 April for our Anzac Service at 9.10am. Weather permitting, we will gather in the quad for a service that includes readings, reflection, and wreath-laying. Our students have been rehearsing songs to share. Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou. We will remember them.
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As we look forward to the holidays, may you and your family receive the grace and peace of the Easter blessing. We pray that the joy of Christ's Resurrection fills your hearts.
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Thank you again for your ongoing support. We wish everyone a restful and safe break, and we look forward to welcoming our students back safely for Term 2 on Monday, 20 April.
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SCHOOL NEWS - NGĀ MAHI O TE KURA
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Term 2: Monday, 20 April - Friday, 3 July
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Monday 27 April - ANZAC Day observed
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Friday 8 May - Teacher Only Curriculum Day - School closed
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Monday 1 June - King’s Birthday
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Term 3: Monday, 20 July - Friday, 25 September
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Friday 21 August - Teacher Only Curriculum Day - School closed
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Term 4: Monday, 12 October - Tuesday, 15 December
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Friday 23 October - Upper Hutt Education Network Teacher Only Day - School closed
Monday 26 October - Labour Day
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All Curriculum Days/Teacher Only Days scheduled in the 2026 school calendar have been approved by the Ministry of Education. St Brendan’s will be open for the required number of school days across the year, ensuring our students receive the full educational entitlement.
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The Explorers (Years 0-3) have just completed eight days of swimming and water safety at H2O Xtream Swimming Pool.
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For many children, it was their first time having lessons through school.
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Water safety included: how to float while wearing a life jacket, calling for help, huddling in a group for warmth and keeping safe together and jumping safely into the pool with the life jacket on.
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A BIG THANK YOU to all the parent helpers who assisted us during this time.
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The Adventurers have been enjoying sessions with Coach Min from Badminton Hutt Valley, who has been teaching them the fundamentals of the game.
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The tamariki (children) are having a wonderful time mastering the specific grips required to handle a badminton racket and practising the coordination needed to hit the shuttlecock.
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UPPER HUTT STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
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Last Wednesday, our House Leaders and Year 6 Student Councillors joined over 300 student leaders from across the region for the Upper Hutt Student Leadership Conference. Held at Upper Hutt College, the event brought together students from local primary schools, intermediates, and colleges under the theme of "Celebrating and Growing Leaders in Upper Hutt". This is the third time the Upper Hutt cluster school Deputy Principals have organised this event, following its massive success in 2024. It continues to be a highlight for our burgeoning student leaders!
Following an address by Mayor Peri Zee, the day was packed with high-energy rotations designed to push our students out of their comfort zones. The conference was supported by a range of local organisations, all working together (in the words of one of our Navigator participants) "to learn new and important skills and gain more understanding of how to use them."
A major focus of the day was on cooperation, communication, and empathy. Our students enjoyed cooperative games and activities. Some of those were physically challenging in terms of stamina. Others included deliberately choreographed communication barriers and forced participants to recognise and navigate different disadvantages, teaching them that true leadership is about ensuring everyone can contribute.
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The kids were buzzing by the end of the day, and we are so proud of how our St Brendan’s representatives engaged! We look forward to seeing them bring these new skills and fresh perspectives back to enrich our own school life throughout the year.
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NAVIGATORS TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF TE WHITI RISER
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On Thursday, the Navigators went on a 12 km walk at Te Whiti Riser. We started at the bottom, looking up at the tall hill, and then began walking up the very rocky track.
As we got higher, we looked down at the beautiful views, even though some classmates were too short to see over the branches. By the 5 km mark, some of my classmates were getting as tired as sloths!
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Finally, we reached the top of the hill and got to eat our yummy lunches. Then some people noticed that Sky’s dad, Iwan, had brought a drone with him to take photos, so we all waved to it as it flew higher and higher.
On the way down, we saw a children’s park, so before heading to the train station, we got to play for a little while. At the end of the day, we sat on the train, tired but happy after such a fun and exciting day.
I would love to do it again!
Sasha M-S (Room 5)
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Well done to everyone who has been participating in Movin’ March!
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On Friday, we handed out prize packs to 16 students from across the school—great effort all around. There’s still a week and a half to go, with plenty more prize packs up for grabs.
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Remember, even if you live further away, you can still take part by parking a street or two away and walking the rest of the way to school with your child.
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- Join us for our Mihi Whakatau on Tuesday, 21 April at 10.30am to welcome our new children and their families to our school community.
- Please remember to name your child/ren's uniform. We get so many items coming into the office, and much of it is unnamed, so we can not give it back!
- School finishes at 2.55pm. Of course, things do happen, we understand this, but it is regularly the same children waiting. Please be mindful and try to collect your children as close to this time as possible. About Kidz Oscar is available straight after school. Their website is: https://afterschoolcarewellington.co.nz/
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GRACE AND GRATITUDE - HE KŌRERO AROHA
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Thank you for your support of the BBQ at Mitre 10 on Saturday, 14 March. $406.65 was raised!
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Thank you in anticipation of your support of this week's non-uniform day. All funds raised will support our 2026 Navigator camp.
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Thank you for your generous support of our Lenten can drive for the Upper Hutt Foodbank. Our donations make a real difference in the lives of those in need in our community. Below is an email we received from the Upper Foodbank thanking you all.
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Kia ora staff and children of St Brendan’s School,
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How wonderful it was to receive those baskets of food for the Foodbank this morning.
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Some of our shelves were looking quite empty, so the timing was perfect. You can be assured that there will be many grateful families benefiting from your generosity. Please pass on our sincere thanks to all the donors, organisers, collectors, and the deliverer.
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The Upper Hutt Foodbank team
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Bella is a member of the U13 Glennette Marching Team, which recently competed in the NZ National Marching Championships held in Porirua this March.
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The event featured over 18 teams competing across four grades, with representatives travelling from as far south as Hokonui and as far north as the Waikato. This Upper Hutt team truly punched above their weight, achieving incredible results in their grade:
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They are also 1st North Island Champions! Well done, Bella and the Glennette Marching Team! We are so proud of you!
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Last week, every member of the Kererū team scored a try during their touch game. Each player earned a POD certificate for their efforts—well done, Team Kererū!
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NGĀ WHAKAARO A TE POARI - BOARD NEWS
Tēnā koutou to our St Brendan’s whanau
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It’s always a pleasure to walk into our school grounds – from our cheerful Year 6's manning the road patrol lollipops, to those stamping Movin’ March cards, to friends welcoming those arriving, to teachers in their classrooms, to parents and family members doing drop-off.
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It really shows what a special community we have, that you all play a part of.
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It has also been my privilege to come along as a parent helper at our recent Explorer swimming sessions at H20. I was very impressed to see how well our tamariki conducted themselves on the bus (I enjoyed the singing!) and at the pool. And how fabulous they get to experience water safety skills – such as wearing life jackets in the “deep” end – to help them feel more prepared and safer around water. We know how important that is, especially for our families who may not have grown up around the water.
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I also wanted to share what a massive amount of work goes on behind the scenes to provide the best environment for our children to learn and thrive – organising property improvements, booking buses for outings, training in the new curriculum, staff development, working out how we can get the most funding for ‘extras that are really essentials’ like our fabulous teacher aides, planning liturgies, giving care in the medical room, and so much more.
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Our leadership team, led by Mrs Sawyers, all the teachers and support staff, the Board, and the PTF all do so much and we thank you. If you can find it in your budget to pay your school donation, or even part of it, it really makes a difference to the extras we can afford for our tamariki. We really appreciate your support.
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God bless us for our final 2 weeks of the term.
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On the 23rd of February, the St Brendan's Board notified the community of our intent to fill a casual vacancy by selection.
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We warmly welcome Lisa Marshall to the Board. We are grateful for Lisa's willingness to share her skills and experience in the governance setting.
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PTF - ST BRENDAN'S PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS
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COMMUNITY NEWS - NGĀ PITO KŌRERO O TE HAPORI
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PREFERENCE FORM SIGNINGS AT OUR LADY OF GRACE
Father Maleko will be continuing to do Preference form signings at the Presbytery, 5 Palmer Crescent, Heretaunga behind Our Lady of Grace Church, on Tuesday afternoons between 3-4pm.
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56 Palmer Crescent, Heretaunga, Upper Hutt 5019
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office@stbrendans.school.nz
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