Kia ora koutou

I hope everyone is managing with the usual flurry of events in the lead-up to Christmas. We're certainly not slowing down here at school, but this is a great way of keeping the children as learning-focused as possible at a time of year when energy levels can start to flag!

Tomorrow is the 'official' farewell to our departing Year 6 students at the 2024 Leavers' Assembly.

This is an opportunity to take time to reflect and acknowledge this important step for the children and families as they look ahead to Intermediate. I'd like to thank the Year 6 teaching team and parent helpers for their organisation of this special event, which is always something of a bittersweet time for us as a staff and as a community.

Huge thanks as always to our PTA team for coordinating the Term 4 family picnic once again. It was a beautiful day, and it was evident how much the children and families enjoyed the chance to share such a strong sense of whanaungatanga as the children played.

This week, our Year 5 Road Patrollers have taken over from our Year 6 Road Patrollers for the rest of the year. We would like to thank all the Year 6 students and parent volunteers who took up this very important role this year. Through the rain and cold days, you were there to make sure that everyone crossed the road safely. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!

This term, we have also trained up a very keen group of Year 5 students to become our MENPS Peer Mediators.

Through the training, they have learnt how to help others talk through any minor lunchtime issues that might arise and come up with a collaborative and positive solution. During their time mediating, they will be supporting our duty teachers in helping others have an enjoyable lunch time, so we would like to acknowledge all those children who have volunteered, which is an amazing example of our touchstones in action!

Finally, for all those busy working parents out there, I would like to pass on a podcast tip and recommend a particularly insightful series from a very talented ex-parent and dedicated ex- MENPS Board member, Emma McLean.

Emma now works in coaching and shares her experiences and reflections on how to overcome the challenges that face the many people juggling careers and families (particularly for working mothers). I hope this may be useful for any parent who can relate at this busy time of year!

Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson

Principal

Thursday 5th December:

• Year 6 Celebration Dance - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Friday 6th December:

• Yr 6 Leavers Assembly - 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Tuesday 10th December:

• Year 0-2 Athletics - parents welcome - 9:30am - 12:10pm (school field) - Save day Thurs 12th

Wednesday 11th December:

• Board Meeting - staffroom - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

On Wednesday, a group of Year 2 and 3 students walked up to the village, and spent the morning at Arvida Mt Eden Gardens, a retirement village. After being invited to help the residents decorate their Christmas tree, students spent the last month making decorations and personalised cards for each resident.

The students took turns helping the residents put the ornaments on the tree, and it was very clear to see that this activity was truly special for everyone involved. We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Mt Eden Gardens next year.

Special thanks to Zoe Murphy, who supported the students making the decorations, and Amanda Griffin, Kirsten Swart, who joined the children and residents for the morning. -

Associate Principal, Hilary Edwards

We are full steam ahead planning for our school’s Cultural Festival in Term 2 2025, and we need your help to make it a memorable event! Whether you have creative ideas, artistic talents, or just a passion for organizing, we welcome all contributions.

If you’d like to assist with planning, set-up, performances, decorations, or have suggestions for themes or activities, we’d love to hear from you! Together, we can create an exciting celebration of diverse cultures and talents. So far we have New Zealand, German, Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankan teams on board. Join us in making next year’s festival truly special!

To get in touch and/or join our team, please email menpspta@gmail.com

We have important PTA roles that we need to fill for 2025 - can you help?? Email us: menpspta@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in these roles. Thank you!

Can you write this PTA section of the weekly MENPS newsletter? This is an easy role to assist the PTA and get to know the full range of PTA events/initiatives. This role could be job-shared if you want to partner with one or more people. Time commitment is approx. 15-30 minutes per week to collate and write the weekly PTA section of this newsletter. Any questions - email menpspta@gmail.com

Yummy Apple has now updated their School Sticker Promotion to include any fruit that has a YUMMY sticker on it. When biting into your Yummy nectarines or Yummy peaches this summer please save the sticker if it is a Yummy sticker. Yummy stickers can be stuck to any piece of paper in rows of 10. Yummy Fruit collections can be brought into school to the office next year.

Thank you to everyone who attended the picnic on Monday! And a huge thank you to sKids for their generous sponsorship for the event, and for putting on the games and colouring activities!

Thank you to Mel Woollard and her lil helpers for running the thriving tuck shop at the picnic!!

On the last day of Term (Friday 20 December) we will have a school wide Non-Uniform Day! Students can wear their own clothes to school that day.

Do you have old uniforms you no longer need?? If you have any second hand uniforms that your child no longer fits or needs (and are still in good condition!) then please donate these to the MENPS PTA Second Hand Uniform Shop to be sold to our community in 2025.

A donation box will be outside the school office on Friday 20 December for any uniforms that you no longer need. Thank you for your support!

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 Chelsea Chen

Treasurer Linda Waddington-Miller & Paula Tran

PTA Advisor Chantal Brunner

School Representative Hilary Edwards

Full team of amazing parents/caregivers listed here