Carncot Independent School

We were delighted to welcome our Community Police Constable Nikita to Carncot School yesterday. She visited every class, sharing more about her role in our community and taking the time to get to know our students.
Our students had some fantastic questions and enjoyed learning more about the important work she does to support our school and wider community.
A big thank you to Nikita for spending time with us!

Today, our Year 5, 6, 7 and 8 Mathex teams did us proud as they took on teams from other Manawatu schools. Our teams have worked exceptionally hard over the past weeks in preparation of today’s competition and would like to thank our Specialist Mathematics Teacher Mrs Inman, supported by Ms Mutch, who coached the students through their preparation.
The results were incredibly exciting! Our Year 8 team claimed first place after a nail-biting tie-breaker with the second- and third-placed teams. Our Year 7 team finished in 4th place, while our Year 6 team won their tie-breaker to claim 1st place. Our Year 5 team also achieved an excellent result, finishing 3rd equal.
What an amazing achievement for all four teams! We are incredibly proud of the hard work, determination and teamwork shown by our students. Well done, Mathex teams!

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome Tim and Harold from Life Education Trust to our school!
Our students took part in some fantastic learning and conversations tailored to each year level, exploring important skills and understandings that help us grow as confident, kind and responsible members of our community.
Our students explored a range of important topics including kindness, positive friendships, managing big emotions, digital citizenship, reputation and identity, leadership and understanding why we may react and respond differently to the world and those around us.
A huge thank you to Tim and Harold for another wonderful visit and for helping our students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to navigate the world around them.

What a fantastic day for our annual Year 7 & 8 Sports Exchange with Hadlow School!
Despite a cold and frosty start, the beautiful sunshine soon made an appearance, and it wasn't long before everyone had warmed up with games of football, netball and dodgeball.
It was wonderful to see our students displaying outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and encouragement throughout the day. The positive attitudes and friendly competition made for a memorable event and it was great to reconnect with our friends from Hadlow School.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success. We look forward to doing it all again next year!

Meet Charlotte Jones (Carncot 2004–2006)
Charlotte has fond memories of her time at Carncot, including presenting Lynn Gregg with her farewell bouquet on stage at the Regent Theatre and dressing up to represent Canada during the school's themed Olympics. She also remembers teachers Anthea Nash, Megan Murphy, and Maria De Razza McCarthy, who were part of her early learning journey.
After finishing primary and secondary schooling, Charlotte joined the RNZAF, where she trained as a medic. She is now a qualified paramedic based in Feilding, providing vital care to her community. Alongside her career, Charlotte has a passion for music, dressmaking, and crafts. It was at Carncot that she first began learning the piano, sparking a lifelong love of music.
Charlotte believes the strong foundation she received at Carncot helped shape her future, saying: "Although it was a long time ago, I believe the solid foundation and education I received at Carncot—combined with the right work attitude—helped me achieve where I am today."
We're so proud of everything you've achieved, Charlotte, and thank you for the important work you do every day. 💙

Meet Isaac Chin (Carncot 2021 - 2024)

This week we're catching up with Isaac Chin, who is now living in Singapore!
Isaac attended Carncot before moving overseas and is now a student at Anderson Secondary School. While his current school has around 3000 students, he still fondly remembers the close-knit feel of Carncot, a much smaller school.
One of Isaac's favourite memories is the positive environment at Carncot. He remembers how friendly everyone was and how everyone knew one another, making school feel like a real community. He also enjoyed serving as a Library Leader, a role that gave him the opportunity to help others and contribute to school life.
Now 14 years old (and turning 15 in December!), Isaac especially enjoys Design and Technology, with woodwork being one of his favourite subjects. Looking ahead, he hopes to attend university one day, although he's keeping an open mind about what he would like to study—there's plenty of time to decide!
Isaac is also giving back to his own school community as a Class Leader, where he has responsibility for supporting the pastoral care of his classmates. The leadership skills and confidence he developed at Carncot have continued to grow, and it's wonderful to see him making a positive difference in his new school.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Isaac. We love hearing how our former students are thriving around the world!

What an incredible week celebrating our school production, Poseidon's Tale of the Deep Blue Sea!
Our students amazed us with their talent, confidence, and dedication. From the performers on stage to those working behind the scenes, every single person should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. The effort, determination, and teamwork shown throughout the entire process made this production truly special.
A huge thank you to Patrice from Gobsmacked for your guidance, expertise, and support in helping us bring this wonderful show to life. We couldn't have done it without you!
Thank you also to our amazing staff, who gave so much of their time and energy to make the production such a success. Your commitment and willingness to go above and beyond is greatly appreciated.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent helpers. Your support behind the scenes, with costumes, props, backstage assistance, and so much more, made all the difference. We are so grateful for your generosity and encouragement.
Congratulations to everyone involved. You should all be incredibly proud of an unforgettable production!

The amazing smells of our hāngī filled the school today, and what a delicious feast it was!
A huge thank you to New World Aokautere for generously donating all things hāngī and making this special day possible. We are also incredibly grateful to Wati and Aroha Edmonds and the Lamb family for all the time and effort they put into preparing the fire pit, getting the kai ready, and cooking the hāngī.
We are so grateful for the support of our wonderful school community. Ngā mihi nui to everyone who helped make today such a memorable and tasty occasion!

Meet Patrice Patel (Carncot 1999–2000)
Patrice fondly remembers learning the clarinet with Mrs Heather de Ridder, being inspired by her favourite teacher Miss Robyn Peters, and discovering her love of drama during her time at Carncot.
After training as a primary teacher, Patrice taught in London before becoming a musical director in Cairo, creating original musicals for students. She later founded Gobsmacked Productions, a business that brings musicals to schools, combining her passion for performing arts and education.
Now living in Tauranga with her husband Nathan and a baby due in September, Patrice has just celebrated her 70th school musical. She is currently directing her third show at Carncot, where the students will perform ‘Poseidon’s Tale of the Deep Blue Sea’ - the first musical she ever wrote.
Patrice says Carncot played a huge role in shaping who she is today: "It was the first place I discovered my love for the performing arts." We love working with you and we're so proud of all you've achieved, Patrice! 💙

A special visit from some familiar faces!
Former students from the Classes of 2015 and 2018 recently stopped by with some of our future students in tow.
It's always lovely to see our past pupils and hear what they've been up to since leaving school.
Do you remember them? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments below!

Left to right
Claudia Kinloch Leaving Class of 2015: Nursing
Ashley Dufresne Leaving Class of 2018: Early Childhood Teacher
Alyanna Dufresne Leaving Class of 2015: Studying Bachelor of Environmental Policies and Planning minoring in Māori studies