Bethlehem School

✨ Nau mai, haere mai! Kia ora everyone! ✨
What an incredible day of celebration we had at our kura today! We kicked things off this morning with a spectacular, vibrant Parade of Outfits! It was amazing to see our students proudly wearing and sharing the beautiful, colorful traditional clothing of their cultures to start the day. 👘👗
🥟🍱 In classes, students tasted treats from around the world, much to the delight of their tastebuds.
🌿🎶 Te Paeroa: Opened our afternoon performances beautifully with two waiata, featuring the pūmoana, traditional tī rākau, kōhatu, and the ukulele!
☘️🇮🇪 Irish Dance Crew: Brought the house down with a fantastic, high-energy traditional set!
A massive thank you to all of our performers, to everyone who shared their cultural outfits and joined the parade, and to our whānau who came in support. It is so great to celebrate all the unique cultures that make our kura so special.
Kia pai tō rā—have a wonderful day! 🌟

It is coming soon...more info is on its way via email and Seesaw.🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Our BS Stars Year 1 & 2 basketball team are off to a great start for their season.

Special moments at Hangarau Marae 👣

Our Te Paeroa and Wiremu ākonga had the absolute privilege of visiting our local marae, Hangarau, this week. It was more than just a school trip; it was an opportunity to strengthen connections and deepen our understanding of our local iwi, their history, their land and the people.

It enabled our students to experience a pōhiri in its rightful traditional setting, after learning about the tikanga or protocols in 2025.

From the traditional pōwhiri to the shared kōrero within and around the wharenui about the pou haki of Kingi Mahuta, whakairo carvings and poutama patterns, our students listened with respect and curiosity growing their understanding and appreciation of the tikanga and stories of this special place.

He mihi nui, a massive thank you to the whānau of Hangarau marae for warmly opening your doors and sharing your knowledge of history and manaakitang with us. We return to our kura with a richer and deeper connection to the whenua and people around us.

Today was a very special day as the Kohu whānau came to carefully dismantle our Waharoa, taking it into their care for restoration.
This carving holds immense significance and for the Kohu whānau hold a deeply personal connection to this taonga; their Great-Grandfather, Anaru Kohu (Ngāti Ranginui), was the master carver. It was an honor to have three generations of the Kohu whānau present to awhi this event.
Led by Taiahiahi Kohu-Makarauri (a former Bethlehem School student), the whānau will restore the waharoa’s carvings with aroha over the coming months.
Ngā mihi nui, Kohu whānau, for your ongoing care, support and your enduring connection to our kura.

Kia ora e te whānau

The medical incident involving a community member outside of our kura has now been resolved and the roads are clear around school. Our school day is up and running as usual and thank you for your support around drop-off this morning.

Kia ora e te whānau.

There is a blockage at the Carmichael Rd roundabout this morning.

Please beware you may need to adjust your travel plans.

Ngā mihi nui

What an inspiring day at our kura! 🌿We were honored to host world class athlete and NZ Olympian, Connor Bell. Connor shared his incredible journey of perseverance—from finding his identity through discus during tough school years to overcoming injury and missing out on Tokyo 2020. His message on resilience was powerful: "a tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind". Thank you, Connor, for inspiring our rangatahi to stay grounded and keep chasing their goals! 🇳🇿

Yesterday, we came together as a school community to honour a deeply respected kaumātua, Nanny Dene, whose legacy continues to shape who we are.
As a devoted Junior Teaching Assistant and valued staff member, she was recognised with National Education Service and Project Awards for her outstanding contributions to education. As a guiding presence, she gave so much to our kura — not only through her knowledge and leadership, but through the strength of her character, her values, and her unwavering commitment to our people. Her connection to our school lives on through her whakapapa, with generations of her whānau still walking these grounds today.
To acknowledge her enduring influence, we planted a native tree that stands as a powerful symbol of strength, resilience, and leadership. Just as the tree grows tall and steadfast, so too does her legacy remain firmly rooted within our kura and community.

This planting is more than a gesture; it is a living reminder of the impact one person can have across generations. May this tree continue to stand as a connection between past, present, and future — a reflection of the values she instilled and the path she helped pave for those who follow. She always sang “ I think to myself, what a wonderful world, oh yeah!” 🎶
We honour her, we remember her, and we carry her legacy forward.