MENPS News
Te Whare Akoranga o Maungawhau, July 31, 2025
Absences
Term 3 can be a particularly challenging one for illnesses, and we understand it can be tricky sometimes to determine if your child is well enough for school when they’ve been sick.
It’s a balancing act, but as a general rule of thumb, children should always be kept home if they experience vomiting, have a temperature or a cough that is likely to spread around their classmates.
Sniffles, feeling a little ‘under the weather’ and other minor ailments are generally fine for school, but - challenging as it is for working parents - if your child is not well enough, they must be kept home in the interests of their own and others’ wellbeing.
In a busy school environment, this time of year can also, of course, mean higher levels of staff illness too. We aim to cover classes and minimise disruption to the children’s learning, but the fact is that, despite some very welcome workforce policy initiatives in this area in recent years, the relief teacher shortage continues to be a major issue for all schools (particularly in Auckland). Basic principles of supply and demand apply, meaning that many schools are frequently unable to book any relievers, particularly at short notice.
This isn’t something we take lightly, and we appreciate it is not ideal, but you can be assured that we do everything we can to find solutions and go to great lengths to avoid splitting children to other classes (which is very much an exception for our school).
So, at this time, we appreciate for your patience and understanding as we juggle the logistical challenges brought by the colder months. Naturally, continuity of learning is our core business, so please know we continue to make every effort to maintain this.
Ka kite anõ i a koutou
Alan Jackson, Principal
Celebrating MENPS Alumni
Congratulations to former students Paddy Walsh for selection in the 2025 Para Athletics Championship, and also Laura Bayfield for her Black Ferns World Cup selection!
Go MENPS!
Lock in the babysitter and get ready to glow! You’re invited to our much-anticipated parent social event: Neon Nights – an evening of music, laughs, and community connection.
🗓 Saturday 11 October
📍 Rocky Nook Avenue, Morningside
Dress in your brightest neon and join us for a fun night out with fellow MENPS parents and beats by bingo! It’s the perfect excuse to dust off your dancing shoes and enjoy an electric evening!
Visit www.menpspta.co.nz for more info.
We can’t wait to see you there!
We have an exciting fundraiser for you! In term 3 you will be able to view your child’s picture and order products:
Go to www.kidsartworks.com
In the Entrance Code field type in the code on the form sent home with your child.
Follow the further instructions on the screen to order.
Payment can be made via the website using a credit card or directly from your bank account
Keep collecting YUMMY apple stickers to help our school earn a share of $200,000 worth of sports gear!
-The more stickers we collect, the more gear we receive!
So keep munching those apples and collecting those stickers!
Thank you for supporting our school!
- 8.15 - 9.15am (Friday, 1st Aug/Wednsday 6 Aug)
- In the PTA Room: follow signs from Valley Rd gates OR
- Order by emailing Jane at menpspta@gmail.com.
- Pay via Cash or Bank transfer.
We appreciate your donation if you have spare uniforms which are no need any more.
You can put them in the box at the front reception desk or drop off in the uniform shop during shop hours.
Co-Chairs Pam Clifford & Svantje Reiber
Secretary April Alsari
Treasurers Paula Tran & Minaxi Chandra
PTA Advisor Chantal Brunner
Communications Gina Miao
School Representative Hilary Edwards
Upcoming planned rail closures
Getting ready for CRL’s opening in 2026 requires a complete upgrade of Auckland’s rail network, in addition to fitting out the new stations, and testing and commissioning of new systems.
Throughout late-July and August, there will be some weekend closures that will impact the Southern Line and the Western Line.
Following this closure, during the September school holidays there will be temporary changes to the timetables on most lines and on the Southern Line, buses will replace trains between Puhinui and Pukekohe Stations.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July
Western Line: full closure
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August
Western Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket and New Lynn and Swanson
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August
Western Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket and New Lynn and Swanson
Southern Line: partially closed between Waitemata (Britomart) and Newmarket
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August
Western Line: trains are running at a reduced frequency between Swanson and Henderson station.
Thank you for your patience as we get ready for the faster, more frequent trains the City Rail Link will bring.