Western Heights Primary Rotorua

Kia ora whanau,

Here are the hockey draws for our Winter Sport Field Day happening tomorrow. We are playing at Smallbone Park on Devon Street. Please ensure your children bring sneakers, mouthguard, shin pads and a packed lunch and water. They will also need a warm jacket to pop on between games.

Any issues, please email Whaea Rachael - [email protected]

DISCO POSTPONED!!!! The weather forecast for this week is looking terrible, so we are making the decision early to postpone the disco to Thursday 20th August. Nga mihi

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Kia ora parents and caregivers,

Kaitao Intermediate warmly invites all Year 6 students and their whānau to our Orientation Visit and Open Evening on Thursday 27 August 2026.

The Orientation Visit will give students an opportunity to experience Kaitao Intermediate, become familiar with the school and begin making connections ahead of 2027.

Our Open Evening is a chance for parents, caregivers and students to visit the school, meet our staff and learn more about the opportunities, programmes and support available at Kaitao Intermediate.

Please see the attached poster for more information. We look forward to welcoming you and your whānau.

Ngā mihi
Kaitao Intermediate School

"Up the Wahs!"

Warriors Fans don't miss this one - tomorrow night two of our teachers, Matua Ben and Whaea Billinda, are hosting a free online call with Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban.

They'll talk about what it took to make it to the NRL, their habits, mindset, nutrition, training and what they wish they knew earlier.

Come and hang out from the comfort of your own home and you can even ask questions live!

Sign up free now through the link below and share with friends and whanau who might be interested.

https://www.crowdcast.io/c/8g8gv9cusnpk

Cyber Safety Concerns

It was brought to my attention today that one or more TikTok accounts have been created using photos of students from Western Heights Primary School. Many of the children featured were unaware that their images had been shared. This is incredibly dangerous. Sadly, online there are so many undesirable people. These sites are what they feed on.

We have been in contact with Netsafe and Tik Tok to have the sites taken down. However, this should not be a school problem. Our Network for Learning security at schools means the students cannot access any of these sites while at kura. It happens at home.

Do you know what your children are accessing at home and do you know where they are posting? The cyber world is full of dangers. If you have a standard home internet connection without restrictions, your tamariki can access anything they want. I attended a cyber safety workshop last year and we were informed that 100% of 8-year-olds and older who have a standard home internet connection without restrictions will have accessed objectionable material. That’s 100%. It’s frightening.

You need to ensure you know what your tamariki are accessing, joining and participating in.
I cannot stress enough the dangers our tamariki face if they do not have their internet use monitored by parents in the home. You can contact your supplier and have restrictions added.

Please check to see if your tamariki are involved in posting to these sites and check their history to see what else they may be accessing.

This is really concerning, please act with urgency.

Nga mihi
Brent Griffin

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While Principal's Appreciation Day was officially Wednesday, we're celebrating our incredible principal today!

For the past 24 years, Brent has led Western Heights Primary School with unwavering dedication, compassion and pride. His commitment to our kura and our community is something truly special, and the positive changes and growth our school has experienced under his leadership are a testament to his vision and hard work.

Brent is the kind of principal who always goes above and beyond. Whether it's supporting students to succeed, looking out for the wellbeing of staff, or helping wherever he's needed, he leads with kindness, integrity and genuine care. He knows our tamariki, values our people, and always puts others before himself.

After a recent period of illness, it has been wonderful to have Brent back where he belongs. His return has been warmly welcomed by students, staff and whānau alike, and it's reminded us just how much his presence means to our school.

Brent, thank you for your tireless commitment, your leadership, your humour, and the heart you bring to Western Heights Primary School each and every day. We are incredibly fortunate to have you leading our kura.

From all of us – our students, staff, whānau and Board – thank you for everything you do.

💙 Happy Principal's Appreciation Day! 💙

Our kids are loving the newly astro-turfed gym! Such a fantastic space for play, learning and getting active.
A huge thank you to the team at Bay Decorators for generously touching up the paint free of charge. We really appreciate your support and generosity in helping make our school a great place for our tamariki!