Term 2, Week 2 - 29 April 2026

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome to our first newsletter for Term 2. We have enjoyed a calm and positive start to the term, with students excited to be back learning and playing with their friends.

Welcome Miss Rodgers
This term we welcome Miss Caley Rodgers to Room 11. Miss Rodgers is teaching our eighth New Entrant class. We also welcomed our new 5-year-olds with a whakatau on the first day of term. It was lovely to meet our new students and their parents, and we warmly welcome you to our school community. We hope you have a wonderful Rototuna Primary experience.

ANZAC Memorial
We are also proud to share that two of our student leaders, Tyler and Taytum, represented Rototuna Primary at the Hamilton ANZAC Memorial service, where they laid a wreath on behalf of our kura. Thank you to Miss Porter for organising this meaningful opportunity. Our students also enjoyed learning a little bit about Anzac Day last week and making a poppy for our 'remembrance garden' under the school's flagpole.

Parent Teacher Interviews
Next week we will be holding our Parent Teacher Interviews. We really value these conversations as an important opportunity to connect with whānau, share your child’s learning progress, and work together to support their ongoing learning and success. We look forward to meeting with you and discussing how your child is settling into the term. Please see the post in this newsletter that let's you know how to book an interview time online.

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: