MENPS News

Kia ora koutou

There has been some quite confusing public messaging around assessment/testing and what/when to expect this. In our context, the baseline phonics testing introduced last year through Better Start Literacy continues. Years 4-6 will complete standardised literacy and numeracy testing twice a year as usual.

From next year, a national ‘Phonics Check’ test is set to be introduced nationally in Years 1 and 2. Standardised Literacy Numeracy testing will also be extended to include Year 3 (2026). The requirements for exactly how and when this data will be reported are currently in development with the Ministry of Education (as are some of the tests), and so we hope to have further information in the coming months.

In the meantime, our task is to continue supporting and enhancing our successful teaching and learning programmes while undertaking any further professional development that may be required.

As with any change process, the key is to take the time to implement things in a thoughtful and knowledgeable way. In doing this, we can ensure that we continue to maintain our high expectations for every child and deliver our vision for students who are ‘Wide-Eyed and Enthusiastic About Learning’

Finally, next week we hope to see as many families as possible down on the school field for the PTA Welcome Picnic - a great opportunity to connect with other families and enjoy some relaxed time on the school site with the family!

Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson

Principal

Friday 21st February:

• PTA Secondhand Uniform Shop open 8:15am - 9:15am

Monday 24th February:

• PTA Welcome Picnic - MENPS Field 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tuesday 25th February:

• MENPS Swimming Sports - Year 5 & 6 - Dio Pool - all day

Wednesday 26th February:

• Mid Term 1 New Entrant Cohort Visit 1 - 9:00am - 10:00am
• Second hand uniform shop open - 8:15am - 9:15am

Thursday 27th February:

• Zone Swimming Sports - Dio Pool - all day

A reminder that phones are banned at school. Please do not send them in school bags. Please note that watches with communication (text/call/email) functions are also not allowed.

Calling all young food explorers!

Book Now!

Join us for Flavour Detectives and discover the secrets of your favorite cuisines!

Feb 19 – Italian
Feb 26 – Indian
March 5 – Mexican

Your little chef will chop, mix, and taste their way through delicious recipes while learning essential cooking skills.

Limited spots available - Book Now!

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.

• PTA Welcome Picnic, Monday 24th February, 5pm- 7pm - MENPS field. This is an informal event to come along and meet other families - bring the whole family and a picnic dinner.

• PTA AGM – Tuesday 11th March, 7pm - MENPS Staffroom

• COLOUR RUN - Friday 21st March (in school hours) – details to follow soon!

• See this PTA section of the weekly Newsletter for all updates and event information.
• Event specific information will be sent via HERO
• Check out our website – menpspta.co.nz
• Any questions or feedback – email us: menpspta@gmail.com

• Our Uniform Shop and Ice-Block team would love more helpers on their rosters - please email menpspta@gmail.com to get involved.
• We always need extra hands to help run the events - we will appeal for help to run individual events in the lead up to them (see newsletter), or if you would like to help organise any event then we encourage you to get in touch!
• Cultural Festival – would you like to showcase your culture as part of our Cultural Festival in Term 2? We would love to hear from you – email us on: menpspta@gmail.com.
• We welcome everyone to attend the PTA Meetings (2nd Tuesday of each term)
• We are looking for a Communications Officer for 2025 - details below.

Each year, the Yummy Fruit Company runs a sticker promotion for primary and intermediate schools in the North Island. Schools collect stickers and cut out labels from Yummy Fruit, which can later be redeemed for a share of $200,000 worth of sports equipment. Last year, MENPS collected a total of 10,164 points, earning us $1,345 worth of sports equipment. This equipment will be used by MENPS students during both P.E. lessons and at lunchtime. The equipment from 2024 has been ordered and we will share a photo of it when it arrives.

Again this year, we are asking MENPS families who purchase Yummy Fruit from supermarkets and fruit shops to collect the stickers and labels. A copy of the collection sheet will be sent home next week with the eldest or only child in each family (please check your child’s bag), or it can be downloaded from the Yummy Fruit website at www.yummyfruit.co.nz. Collection sheets are also available in the office.

Yummy fruit sold individually comes with a Yummy sticker. As long as the sticker on your fruit says YUMMY, it can be used. Mostly this will be from apples but other fruit from the YUMMY Fruit company also count eg nectarines and peaches.

Most of these stickers are worth 1 point, but stickers from the Lemonade, Ambrosia, and SweetTango apple varieties are worth 2 points. These 2-point stickers can be placed on the tree pictures found on one side of the collection sheet. The 1-point stickers should be attached to the side of the sheet with the 100 square grid.

If you buy a bag of Yummy apples, you can collect the cut-out label, and if the label is missing, the barcode from the plastic bag can be used instead. Please glue these cut-out labels or barcodes onto a blank sheet of paper. Each cut-out is worth 10 points.

Completed sheets can be dropped back to your class teacher at any time until Friday 5th of Sept 2025.

• 8.15 - 9.15am
• In the PTA Room: follow signs from Valley Rd gates OR
• Order online by emailing Jane at menpspta@gmail.com.
• Pay via Cash or Bank transfer.

We need a Communications Officer to support the PTA in 2025! This role includes working with the event planning teams to assist with comms for upcoming PTA events/initiatives, and includes writing the PTA section of the weekly school newsletter. No experience required, it is a fun and easy role to support MENPS and the PTA! Any questions - email menpspta@gmail.com

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