Rarotonga primary schools are bracing for a busy term three which got underway on Monday.

The second last term of the year will be a short one with only eight weeks of studies.

In a newsletter to parents at the start of this term on Monday, Apii Nikao principal Michael Mokai said “it’s going to be fast and furious”.

However, Mokai said: “We are going to be really focused on getting all the student learning and school events completed during the term.”

He said this term promises to be an exciting one with a number of sporting events including the Prince of Wales Athletics Championship.

There are also a number of cultural and educational opportunities, including the Maori and Literacy weeks, the school will take part in.

“The term will culminate with our big School Enterprise Day on Thursday, September 29. More information will come out in the upcoming weeks regarding these events,” Mokai said in the newsletter.

A spokesperson for Apii Avarua said they were looking forward to the Prince of Wales competition. The school is the defending champions of the annual athletics competition.

She said the turnout in the first week of the term was good.

“We just had a normal week, we had a good turnout from our children and everyone came back freshened up after their two weeks break,” the spokesperson said.

The school has 367 students on roll this year.

Apii Te Uki Ou also had a busy start to the term. On Monday, the teachers and students welcomed four new students and their families, full-time teachers Mary Rodgers and Shana Kamana as well as John Toleafoa and

Marie Repaio who are student teachers joining Te Uki Ou for the term.

They also welcomed a visiting party from the University of Canterbury who have been on the island enjoying all the cultural sites and activities.

The group of nine visitors are a mix of lecturers and teachers studying their Masters and researching the migration of the Vaka.

“This mix of lecturers and masters students enjoyed facilitating activities and games that encouraged our children to use Maori language. It was lovely to share our culture and knowledge with our manu’iri (visitors). A great start to our term!”