2026 Newsletter - Week 10, Term 3

Kia ora koutou,

Another term is drawing to a close, and we have an incredibly busy week to finish off with. Plenty of sporting and cultural activities to be involved with. Yesterday our Pasifika group gave a tremendous performance at the Polyfest in Hastings, which really is a wonderful event to be part of . Many thanks to Sue Sauia and Amy Tonks for all their work preparing the children for this celebration of Pacific cultures.

Today twenty-four students represented our school in the Hawkes Bay cross-country championships. Nyla Stewart finished in third place for the Year 4 girls event in a great achievement. We also had many students finish in the top ten of their races which is also very creditable.

This evening our senior kapa haka roopu of eighty students will perform in the Ōtātara Kapa Haka festival at PGA. As was the case last year, our group is so large we have to give the Year 3 and 4 students the night off, as we simply would not be able to fit onto the stage if everyone was there! All our teachers who guide and nurture this large number of children have done an immense amount of work preparing for this evening. I know that they will do themselves and the GMS whānau proud!

What else this week? A touch tournament, and we host a rugby game against Porritt School for Year 3 and 4 players. And then there is the Colour Run - guaranteed to bring excitement to all. The weather forecast for Friday looks fine and a little cool.

I want to send my best wishes for a relaxing holiday. Daylight saving is due to start up again, and with the spring feeling being in the air, then the next two weeks will have a restful and uplifting feel! Hoping all have a safe, relaxing and fun break from school before we all return for the final term.

Ngā mihi

Mark Johnson

Principal/Tumuaki

We have had just the one new students start with us in the last two weeks:

A warm welcome to Dylan Bell! Our school roll is now 497

Friday 25th September - GMS PTA Colour Run: last day of school for Term 3

Monday 12th October - Term 4 starts

Friday 16th October - Mihi Whakatau for new students and whānau

Friday 23rd October - Hawkes Bay anniversary day

Monday 26th October - Labour Day

Tuesday 27th October - School closed - Teacher Only Day

Tuesday 15th December - Last day of Term 4

At our recent school board meeting the matter of children's images being put on social media was raised. There was a discussion held about various concerns linked to potential misuse, especially with the increasing possibilities for AI-generated fake imagery in the future that could easily cause harm or upset.

I have included a couple of media links below, concerned with this issue.

If you could take the time and complete the very brief survey below, this will assist the Board with our next discussion. Click on the blue button below to access it.

Our experience from two years ago when we held our first Colour Run made us aware of how much fun this event is!

The day can be treated as a non-uniform day. Kids should come to school in the clothes they would want to do the Colour Run in (light coloured clothing would best show the colours).

If the children take part, they will most likely get wet!!! Some children wore goggles which is fine.

The start of the Colour Run is planned for 1.50pm and it is a fun way to end the school term.

WARNING!!!! Be prepared to have wet, coloured children when picking up at the end of the day.

And some exciting news - we will have a Fire Truck there on the day to help the children get nice and wet before being coloured and completing the course around the school field.

Approximate time frame on the day:

1.30pm - Bell rings for children to return to class.

Tidy class, pack bags and take-home lost property and surplus clothing.

1.45pm Teachers will lock classrooms. Carry bags out to field and then deposit them as a class lot in an accessible area – not requiring walking through He Kapua.

From this time on, the only toilets for use are the toilet block behind Room 3.

1.50pm Assemble in an area on the grass as a school. Have the course explained.

The activity will be run in house groups – one at a time.

Those who choose not to participate can watch. You cannot do the colour run in your school uniform.

You can choose to do the run without getting the paint put on you – we will divide each house group into two ... and the ‘to be coloured’ lot goes first, followed by the kids who are happy getting wet but not painted.

2.00pm. First house group starts. Go in an order that will be determined on the day.

If time permits (and it should), groups can go more than once.

2.25pm

Last loop commences.

2.45pm.

Finish – collect bags and depart for holidays

If you have a child who is going to turn five at any stage this year or next year, and they are going to attend Greenmeadows School, please let us know as soon as possible.

This also applies to any relatives, neighbours or friends you may have who live in our zone and wish for their children to come to our wonderful school.

Even if you think we may already know, there is no harm in telling us (again).

You can either phone the school or email Sara at saraa@gms.school.nz

Many thanks for your help.

Bellyful Hawkes Bay is partaking in Bellyful NZ's national campaign - "Spaghetti September".

Bellyful cooks and delivers free, nutritious, family-friendly meals to whānau with babies or young children who need extra support.

The branch is seeking packets of spaghetti pasta to use at their monthly cookathon.

Greenmeadows School is one of the drop-off points for this campaign. The campaign runs for the month of September and you can drop off your donations to the school office up until Friday this week.

Once again we are running the Hell Pizza Challenge. This is open to all students in the school. Collect a sheet from the library, read 7 books from school, home, or a library, fill it in, and return it to the library. A voucher will be given for a free 333 kids' pizza from Hell Pizza. There is no limit on how many wheels a student can earn. Vouchers expire 31st January 2027.

Time to stock up the coffee supplies? You can choose between 250g, 500g, or 1kg sized coffee beans or plunger style grounds. The coffee is available in strong, medium, mild or decaffeinated blends.

Sales from the Greenmeadows School coffee will go towards funding sport and athletic related activities/equipment at our school. For a large 1kg bag, which sells for $52.50, the school will receive around $15.00 back.

Ordering is open so head to our purchase page to get your bag delivered tomorrow! Please EITHER scan the QR code or click on the link below to order. Orders will arrive at the school reception office and can be collected or sent home with students. Please select ‘Pick Up’ at checkout for this option. Delivery is also available via the shipping option.

Email: admin@gms.school.nz
Website: http://www.gms.school.nz/
Location: Greenmeadows School 45 Osier Road, Greenmeadows, Napier, New Zealand
Phone: +64 06-844 7024
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmsnapier