MENPS News

Kia ora koutou

You may recall that work began last year on a proposed upgrade to the current Year 3/4 Playground (by the field). This work is a priority for Board investment (more detail of this will be included in the Board's Strategic Plan soon), with the goal of delivering the project later this school year.

We have a number of exciting preliminary concept designs, based on child-centred workshops (led by play consultant Harko Brown). In the coming weeks, he will be refining this further with input from the children and staff as we look to the formal scope and design phase.

As Primary Schools receive no government funding for play areas, playgrounds, sports facilities and/or outdoor spaces, this is a major capital investment that depends entirely on local fundraising. For this reason, we're extremely fortunate that the MENPS PTA worked so hard to donate significant funds towards the project last year, and that they have more exciting projects ahead.

Top of the PTA fundraising initiatives is the upcoming 'Colour Run', which promises to be another very popular event with the children, and we'd like to thank the many families who have already signed up to this fundraiser to join the effort.

Every dollar raised will help us deliver an exciting new playscape for the children, so please make sure you follow the instructions (in the PTA section below) to sign up if you haven't already done so - the days are counting down to the big event...

If you're unfamiliar with what's involved, see below for a video of the 2024 Colour Run in action!

To avoid scheduling issues with music lessons, moving forward, our Y1-3, Y4-6 Assemblies are changing from Fridays to Tuesdays (from 2.15pm). These assemblies are always open to parents any time if they happen to be free on the day - dates can be found on the school calendar.

Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson, Principal

Tuesday 18th March:

• Zone cricket - Cornwall Cricket Club - Cornwall Park (save day Thurs 20th)

Wednesday 19th March:

• BOT Meeting - 6:00pm - 9:30pm

Friday 21st March:

• Colour Run - School field - 1:30pm - 3:00pm
• PTA Second Hand Uniform Shop - 8:15am - 9:15am

Year 4, 5 and 6 MENPS Netball

Our Netball programme information and player registration forms have been sent out on Hero. If your child is in Year 4, 5 or 6 and would like to play netball this season for MENPS please fill in the form by Friday 14th March.

Here’s how it works:

• Every parent who orders an ezlunch goes into a weekly draw to win $100 Kindo Credit for themselves AND $100 for your school. Starts Monday 10 February 2025 and runs through to Friday 11 April 2025.
• Plus, all orders automatically enter the Grand Prize Draw for a $1,000 JB Hi-Fi Voucher + $500 for their school!

Thank you to JB Hi-Fi for making our Grand Prize rewards possible!

JB Hi-Fi has partnered with Kindo in 2025 to streamline BYOD for schools, and we appreciate their generous support.

Sign up HERE to fundraise! https://menpsptacolourrun.raiseit.co.nz/

Every dollar you raise directly supports our school—let’s make it count!

• Exciting news! This year, we’re introducing a brand-new ‘Whānau Run’...we already have 36 families qualify for this exclusive run - there is still time to be able to have your whanau also qualify! See https://www.menpspta.co.nz/colour-run for all event details.

• Calling all volunteers! We need your help to make this event a success! Sign up HERE or email menpspta@gmail.com to let us know how you can help. We still have lots of colour throwing spots to fill - come and join the fun!

We will be running a second hand clothing sale in Term 2, with all funds raised going to MENPS. We are accepting donations of good quality, clean kids clothes - you can drop these off to the Second Hand Uniform Shop during opening hours only (next open Friday 21 March in the PTA Room) OR we will announce further collection dates next week. Thanks to Mel for coordinating this initiative!

Please ensure all donations are washed and in good condition - kids clothes only please.

Thanks to all who attended the PTA AGM on Tuesday night. A copy of the 2025 PTA AGM Report can be read HERE. Minutes from the AGM available to read HERE.

Each year the PTA run a Parent Social Fundraiser in Term 3 - it is a lot of fun and a chance to get to know other parents in the school community. Last year we had Beats by Bingo + Auction, previously we have run Casino Night and Quiz Nights. We would love to run another event this year, but we need your help - can you lead a parent social night fundraiser this year? The type of event is open for discussion - would love to hear your ideas. If you are interested, or would like to discuss, please email: menpspta@gmail.com.

Did you know the MENPS students use Sports Gear from the Yummy Apples collection everyday? The Yummy Apples Sports gear is used in PE lessons and can be picked up by students from the PE Shed during lunch times! Collect stickers from Yummy Apples and stick them to the Yummy Apple collection sheets or cut out labels (or bar codes) from Yummy Apple bags and glue them on a blank sheet of paper. Completed sheets can be dropped back to your class teacher or the office at any time.Thank you for collecting MENPS!

Are your kids keen to enter the Central East Auckland Weet-Bix TRYathlon on Sunday 30 March?

MENPS has set up a dedicated group and will have a MENPS Tent at the event on the day that you are welcome to come and hang out at. Please come and join the fun at the MENPS tent even if you have already registered!

For further details, and if you would like to join the MENPS team - you can do so here:

https://raceroster.com/registration/004a8eec-851a-4b44-9dcc-2bdf7658e433/entry?team=778008

Follow this link to the registration page. You'll need to set up an account if you don't already have one with Race Roster to register your kids for the event (email + password). Once you've entered your details you will be automatically allocated to the MENPs school group.

Note that no supervision is offered on the day, parents will need to be onsite and supervising their kids for the duration. This is NOT a fundraiser for MENPS - donations are entirely optional and note that it is fundraising for the Weet-Bix charities and not for MENPS.

Email menpspta@gmail.com I Follow us on Facebook

Refer to the PTA website for information on the various fundraising and community activities

Co-Chairs Pam Clifford & Svantje Reiber

Secretary April Alsari

Treasurers Paula Tran & Minaxi Chandra

PTA Advisor Chantal Brunner

Communications Get in touch if you are interested!

School Representative Hilary Edwards

Full team of amazing parents/caregivers listed here