Term 1, Week 6 - 11 March 2026

Kia ora Koutou
Welcome to our newsletter for Week 6. It was so wonderful to see many whānau at our picnic last week!

Ramadan Mubarak! 🌙✨
Wishing all our families observing Ramadan a blessed and peaceful month. May this be a time of reflection, kindness, and togetherness for you and your whānau.

We are looking forward to the following events this term:

Year 3-6 Tabloid Sports: Thursday 12 March from 11am -12.30pm
Year 5 and 6 Camp Parent Help Hui: Thursday 12 March @ 6pm in the staffroom
Teacher Only Day (School Closed for Instruction): Friday 13 March
Interschool Swimming Sports for selected students: Thursday 19 March
PTA Colour Run: Friday 20 March from 1.30pm - 3.00pm
Year 5 and 6 School Camp: Year 6 - Monday 23 March to Wednesday 25 March; Year 5 - Wednesday 25 March to Friday 27 March
Junior (Year 1 and 2) Fun Run: Tuesday 31 March @ 1.30pm
Whole School Manaaki Celebration: Thursday 2 April @ 11am

Safe Driving In School Zone
Please take extra care when driving in and around the school area, particularly during drop-off and pick-up times. We ask that all drivers reduce their speed, remain alert for children crossing, and follow all road safety guidelines. The safety of our students, families, and staff is our highest priority. Your cooperation in helping maintain a safe environment for everyone is greatly appreciated.

There is lots of information in this edition of our newsletter! I hope you find some time to read it and stay up-to-date with all of the Rototuna news.

Ngā mihi
Kylie

The Ministry of Education has recently updated the national expectations around assessment and reporting, and we want to ensure you feel well-informed about what this means for you and your child as it means some changes to the way we assess and report.

As from 2026, all New Zealand primary and intermediate schools are moving to a nationally consistent way of assessing and reporting progress in Reading, Writing, and Maths. Instead of the old curriculum levels, you will see your child’s progress measured against five new descriptors: Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, and Exceeding. This change ensures that no matter which school your child attends, the information you receive is clear and comparable.

What to expect in your child's report:

Progress Descriptors: A clear rating (from Emerging to Exceeding) for reading, writing and maths.
Twice-Yearly Standardised Assessments : For Years 3–8, we will use standardised tools like the new SMART tool, or PATs to track student progress. While these new tools provide the data, our teachers' professional judgment and daily observations remain the most vital part of understanding who your child is as a learner.
Visual Progress Graphs: A simple way to see how your child is tracking over time.
Next-Step Guidance: A comment from the teacher explaining why a descriptor was chosen and how you can support their next learning steps at home.
Attendance Data: A transparent record of your child’s time in class, acknowledging that consistent attendance is the foundation of steady progress.

Frequently Asked Questions: Assessment & Reporting

Q: Why are things changing? The Ministry of Education is standardising assessment across New Zealand to ensure that a "proficient" rating in one school means the same thing in another. This move toward consistency helps teachers, parents, and students have a shared understanding of what success looks like in Reading, Writing, and Maths.

Q: What do the new descriptors (Emerging to Exceeding) actually mean? Think of these as milestones on a path.

Emerging/Developing: Your child is currently building the foundational skills for their year level.
Consolidating: Your child is becoming steady and reliable with the foundational skills for their year level.
Proficient: Your child is meeting the expected level for their year level.
Exceeding: Your child is working consistently above the expected level for their year level.

Q: Will I still see a written comment from the teacher? Yes! You will also still receive personalised feedback regarding your child’s social development and learning effort.

Q: How often will I receive these updates? Under the new requirements, you will receive formal progress reports twice a year (at the end of Term 2 and Term 4). These will include the standardised assessment data (like SMART or PAT results) and a summary of where your child sits against the national benchmarks.

Since the move to the five descriptors is a significant shift from the old Curriculum Levels, the table below provides a handy guide for you: