MENPS News

Te Whare Akoranga o Maungawhau, March 7, 2024

From The Principal

Kia ora koutou

Zones Touch

It was great to see a spirited performance today from all our Touch Teams at Zones. While they didn't place in the top three, they put in an amazing effort, including both our competitive and 'friendly' grades - most importantly, they had an amazing day!

PTA Colour Run Friday 22nd March

We have some classes well in the lead for fundraising so far, with just a couple of weeks to go before our inaugural MENPS PTA Colour Run gets underway. Get ready for some organised chaos on the day - all in the name of fun and support for some of the exciting outdoor work we hope to achieve in the near future for the children here at school!

If you would like to get involved in sponsorship for your child in the event, please click the link below to get started.

MENPS PTA Colour Run

Help support our school

menpsptacolourrun.raiseit.co.nz

2024 Donations

As a high socio-economic school, you'll be aware that we receive the lowest funding per student of any NZ schools. As a result, we rely on PTA fundraising (such as the Colour Run), along with voluntary family contributions. This income is crucial to the school, making it possible for us to deliver many of those aspects we all want for every learner here at MENPS, including (but not limited to)...

Board-funded teaching staff to allow us to significantly reduce class sizes
Support staff not funded by the government (such as library, teacher aide personnel)
Devices to support learning in class (such as ipads, chromebooks)
Enhanced curriculum resources (such as our library stock, and many of the engaging materials we use in topics across the school)
Most class trips and activities (either paid for in full by the donation, or substantially subsidised for non-curriculum trips, such as camp)
Special Board projects (such as our canopy and upcoming 2nd turf installation)

The bottom line is that an excellent education costs significantly more than the state funds us for, unfortunately, so you can be assured that your contribution as a member of our learning community directly benefits all children at our school.

As with most aspects of life in these inflationary times (which affect the school every bit as much they do everyone's household budget), the Board has increased donations this year to help close the gap and meet the school's spiralling running costs as follows:

1st and 2nd child: $520 each child
3rd and subsequent child: $120

With no increase during the COVID years (since 2019, in fact), this amount is still less than an inflationary increase from 2023 alone, and represents genuinely-needed funds for our school. Please see the Finance app on HERO for a convenient record of any voluntary or required costs.

Financial Hardship

For those families who may wish to donate, but are currently unable to pay the full amount (or who may be experiencing significant financial hardship at this time) please speak with or email me directly in complete confidence.

Cost should never be a barrier to any child's education or participation in school events and activities.

Whatever the circumstances, we may be able to make arrangements (such as instalments, part payments, or writing off the donation amount entirely in some circumstances) and/ or provide support with the cost of some trips/school-related supplies, so please let us know if we can be of any assistance in this regard.

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Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson

Principal

Events & Reminders

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Friday 8th March:

Second Hand Uniform Shop open (8:15am - 9:15am)
PTA ice block sales ($2)

Monday 11th March:

Mid Term 1 Cohort Entry start
Y5 Camp (until Wed 13th March)
Room 33 - Y4 Boat Trip

Wednesday 13th March:

Room 36 - Y4 Boat Trip
School Board Meeting (Staffroom 6:00pm - 9:00pm)

Friday 15th March:

Y1-3 Junior Assembly

REMINDER - Update Medication

If your child requires medication such as asthma inhalers, antihistamine, epipens etc please can you bring up to date medication to the school office if you haven't already done so. As all medication was sent home at the end of last year.

If your child ever requires short term administering of medicine such as antibiotics this needs to be brought to the office and a permission form signed.

Thank you

PTA News

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FRIDAY 22nd MARCH (during school hours) @ MENPS

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Get ready for the most colourful day in the MENPS 2024 Calendar!!! We are proud to present the MENPS Colour Run - an event to encourage our students to get active, have fun and help raise important funds for MENPS outdoor spaces.

Fundraising is underway....

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Students seek online sponsorship for their participation in the Colour Run. Easily create a fundraising profile now on https://menpsptacolourrun.raiseit.co.nz that you can send out to collect online sponsorship from friends and family, anywhere!!

..with lots of cool prizes up for grabs

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Create your fundraising profile by 10am Monday 11 March to go in the draw to win these wireless earbuds!!

CONGRATULATIONS to our spot prize winners from last week! They are: Maddie Eason Rm 7, Jackson Rm17, William Watts Rm3, Justin Kirby Rm33, Harris Rm30, Lleyton Lucas Rm24, Thomas Rm32. (The office will announce when the winners can collect prizes soon!)

Lots more great prizes to be won AND the top 5 classes that raise the most funds will win

a Big Ben Pie Lunch at school!!