Macleans Primary School Newsletter

Kia Ora Koutou Parents and Macleans Primary Whānau

Well here we are in the last week of February..where does the time go! We will be beginning PP1 soon, the first Planning Period of 2026. The focus of the Inquiry and learning for PP1 is the Social Studies and History Curriculum: Famous New Zealanders/Tangata Rongonui

Extra-curricula events are a plenty at Macleans Primary and there has been much going on at Macleans Primary recently, from sports to the Junior School Breakfast. The local community has also been very busy as they are offering many activities to involve yourself in, from sports to drama. You can read all about the activities and offerings in this and previous newsletters and notices.

The Board meeting scheduled for earlier this week has been postponed until Monday 2 March. There will be the usual focus on finance and property, but at this time of the year there is also focus on the Macleans Primary Annual & Strategic plan for 2026. On the NEW Macleans Primary School website will be the Board minutes from previous meetings, another way in which we endeavour to foster a meaningful and strong home-school partnership. BoT minutes will be published on the website a few weeks after the meeting to allow time for official 'approval' of the minutes.

Please remember to check your personal kindo accounts, and if you do not have a kindo account you can see instructions below in this newsletter on how to set one up.

Thanks to the PTA who managed the Friday after-school swim last week. More Friday swims coming, so watch this space for details.

On Tuesday 17 March you will have the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher through a 'Hauora/Well-being 10 minute check-in. See details below and stay tuned for the online booking information coming soon. Please note that the school will close at 1pm on Tuesday 17 March to allow for the conferences to finish before 6pm.

Can you sing? Lead a school choir? Work with children a couple of lunchtimes a week? If this is you, please get in contact with me here at Macleans Primary School.

On a final note, we love to celebrate the success and values achievements of Macleans Primary Children at school. We know that there are many Macleans Primary children achieving great things outside of school too, whether in sports, the arts, at clubs and groups. Please share these with me (m.cooke@macleansprimary.school.nz) so we can highlight in the newsletter. There are a couple to share in this newsletter.

Regards - Matthew Cooke

Principal

m.cooke@macleansprimary.school.nz

PS - Remember that at the end of this newsletter in your email you may get the note that the Message is Clipped and you may need to click on View Entire Message

Next Newsletter and Notices:

•Wednesday 11 March 2026

•MPS Notices and update at anytime

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Cash or eftpos at the school office or bank payment to 12-3089-0444444-00. Reference YRBK. and Child's name and room number.

There are many ways in which events and activities, both curriculum and extra-curriculum, are advertised and promoted. These include:

- Seesaw communication from your child's classrooms (download the seesaw app)

- Seesaw communication from the school

- Website (www.macleansprimary.school.nz)

- Skool Loop (download the skoolloop app.)

- email notices

- email newsletter

- Paper copies of some notices (always check your child's bag)

The website (see pic. below) at www.macleansprimary.school.nz is a great source of information.

There are four terms in the New Zealand School Year, with each term being 9, 10 or 11 weeks, totalling 40 weeks of school between when we open and when we close. We opened 2 February and will be closing Friday 11 December.

At Macleans Primary we have 3 planning periods, or PPs. These PPs run across and into the terms. PP1 begins mid.March and finishes mid. June; PP2 begins mid. June and finishes mid. September and PP3 begins mid. September and finishes early December.

We have structured the three PPs so that we can focus on 'getting to know the Macleans Learner for the first few weeks of the school year with a conclusion at the end of the year.

The school-wide PP1 focus this year is Famous People'/Tangata Rongonui

The school-wide PP2 focus for this year is Changes in Food/Cooking-Kitchen Science

The school-wide PP3 focus for this year is Space & Planets

Teachers have developed a comprehensive School-wide Overview for all of the PP topics, with an emphasis on Science and Social Studies - the Macleans Learner Inquiry Model (see pic below)

The core Curriculum areas - Maths, Reading & Writing - are set from day 1, timetabled and also integrated in and across all aspects of the school day where possible.

ERO’s research centre wants to hear from parents and whānau about your experience at the school, as part of a project about supporting schools across the country. Here is the link to a 3-minute survey: Parent and whānau survey_School supports

This year we are introducing a 'Hauora/Well-Being Check-in'. This is an OPTIONAL check-in that will be 10 minutes in length. The focus is on your child's Hauora/well-being. The check-ins will take place on 17 March beginning at 1.30 and will be 7-10 minutes in length. Booking details through our online booking system coming very soon. The school will close at 1pm on Tuesday 17 March to allow for enough time for a finish before 6pm.

I hope you are well. I wanted to take a moment to report and celebrate a recent sporting achievement involving several of your students.

A number of students from the school were part of the Pinoy Mavs A (9U) basketball team, who were crowned Division 1 Champions in the Kiddos League. The team completed the season unbeaten.

The students involved are:

• Romeo Garcia (Room 22) – Season MVP

• Leo Garcia (Room 10)

• Stephen Lyn (Room 16)

• Jimmy Cui (Room 22)

I had the privilege of coaching the team throughout the season and was incredibly proud of the boys’ teamwork, sportsmanship, and commitment both on and off the court - Raven Garcia

Eli Huang achieved outstanding success at the International Robot Olympiad 2025, winning the Silver Medal in the Creative Tech Category (https://iroc.org/iro2025), held on the Gold Coast, Australia, in January 2026. The International Robot Olympiad is one of the most historic and prestigious robot competitions in the world, and participation itself is a significant achievement. Only selected students from the New Zealand Robot Olympiad 2025, held in July at the University of Auckland, were invited to represent Team NZ 2025. This remarkable accomplishment reflects the student’s dedication, creativity, and technical excellence. We kindly invite you to recognise and celebrate this outstanding achievement within your school community. - NZ Robot Olympiad Association

Friday 3 July (Last Day of Term will be Thursday 2 July)

Friday 23 October (Friday of Labour Day Weekend)

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More information will be coming home soon about the Y5 and Y6 Pubertal Change Sessions with Nest (www.nestconsulting.nz). A F2F parents session is being held at Macleans Primary School in the staffroom at 6pm on Wednesday 11 March. Please see two information sheets below.

The new deck has been built and is being enjoyed by all the kids:). The deck is being used for learning, play and for lunch eating, under the shade of the mature trees that we included in the build. A HUGE Thanks to the Lion Foundation and Pub Charity who granted us enough money to fund 1/3 of the build.

Fun piano lesson by a registered teacher in Bucklands Beach. Beginners welcome. Phone Joy on 0211627922 or email joysmusictuition@gmail.com

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Fun wellbeing activities to support whānau to look after their wellbeing and feel good. Go to www.sparklers.org.nz. Sparklers is really simple. Here's our best tips to Sparklers success! Honestly, just give it a go and see! Start with an activity that appeals to you, or one your teacher has recommended. End the activity on a high note (sometimes literally)! Be prepared to be 'in this together' with your child – sometimes it's uncomfortable to try new things, but hey, you're a great role-model because here you are!

Please collect and send in your yummy apple stickers. Collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers and Macleans Primary School can get free sports gear. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more we collect, the more sports gear we can get so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now. With each yummy apple sticker brought in, children get a House Counter! The sticker sheets are available for pick up from the office. They can also be downloaded below.

Wednesday 25 February - HPPA Cricket Day 1

Friday 27 February - House Colour Spirit Cazh Day

Friday 6 March - Sr.School Y4-Y6 Swimming Sports

Wednesday 11 March - Y5/Y6 Parents Pubertal change Info. Evening

Thursday 12 March - HPPA Cricket

Friday 13 March - Jr. School Swimming Sports

Tuesday 17 March - Hauora/Well-Being Check-ins. 1.30 start. School closes at 1pm.

Friday 20 March - Emergency Planning & Practice

Thursday 26 March - HPPA Cricket

Friday 28 March - HPPA Swimming

Thursday 2 April - Last Day of Term 1 2026

Monday 20 April - First Day of term 2 2026

Monday 27 April - School Closed (ANZAC DAY from Saturday 25 April

Copyright © 2026 Macleans Primary School, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:

Macleans Primary School

10 Wycherley Drive

Bucklands Beach

New Zealand

Email: admin@macleansprimary.school.nz
Website: www.macleansprimary.school.nz
Location: Macleans Primary School Wycherley Drive, Bucklands Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: (09)534-591
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Macleans-Primary-School-and-PTA-194780747573611