MENPS News

Kia ora koutou

With the Budget announced today, schools and education groups will be taking a look at the fine print of the $131 million investment in hands-on maths equipment, alongside 36 specialist maths teachers nationwide, new digital resources and assessment materials.

Many of the budget initiatives in this year's budget are focused on Secondary Education, but all schools will be interested in the overall baseline funding increase vs inflation (set at 2% in this budget) and particularly in any use of new funding that may positively impact on learning support provision. While the significant investment in learning support included in last year’s Budget was a welcome step in the right direction, there is still a very long way to go from a sector perspective.

To illustrate why this issue matters so much in schools, in our case we will receive around $27,000 in what is termed “Inclusion Funding” as part of our operational funding for 2026.

This funding is intended to — in the words of the Ministry of Education — “help schools to support students with moderate learning support needs, such as learning and behaviour difficulties.”

To put this into perspective, however, $27,000 would fund a single teacher aide in a school like ours for roughly half a year.

In fact, in a 2025 survey of Auckland schools, it was found that schools around the size of ours would, on average, typically expect to work with the following:

• Students with learning needs — 56 students (12% of the roll)
• Students with significant behaviour needs — 15 students (3% of the roll)
• Students requiring 1:1 support — 11 students (2% of the roll)

Even with careful financial management and strategic planning, the reality is that each year schools like ours must set aside as much as they can from already-stretched general operational funding, while also raising their own funds locally (through sources such as the PTA and family contributions). As you'd imagine, this quickly adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for many schools, so any further investment to ease these pressures really can make a meaningful difference.

On a celebratory note, some families are celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid today. This joyful occasion marks a time of prayer, family gathering, and community celebration for Muslims around the world, so I would like to take this opportunity to warmly wish them “Eid Mubarak” on this day of great cultural significance.

Finally, a reminder that Monday is a public holiday for King’s Birthday. Wishing you and your family an enjoyable long weekend!

Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson, Principal

Monday 1st June: Holiday - King's Birthday

Tuesday 2nd June:

• Mid Term Cohort Entry Start

Wednesday 3rd June:

• Year 5 & 6 Cross Country - Auckland Domain (Save Day - Mon 8th)

Friday 5th June:

• PTA Second Hand Uniform Shop - 8:15am - 9:15am

We are getting our MENPS Walking School Bus back up and running and in light of recent petrol prices think this is the right time for it. We have 2 routes that we will be launching. The ‘Henley Route’ and ‘Prospect Route’. Please click on the link below to find out more information about them and to sign your child/ren up for them. Initially they will run in the mornings but we are hoping to extend to the afternoon buses if we can have more parent volunteers.

If you are able to help be a parent supervisor for either of these routes or would like to start one around your area, please email aonel@mteden.school.nz We are looking to expand the routes we have but it all depends on the parent volunteers we can get. Thank you to those who have helped get these walking buses up and running.

Walking School Bus sign up

Mount Eden Normal Primary School’s Matariki, Dragon Boat & Cultural Festival is happening on:

📅 Sunday 21st june

⏰ 12:00pm – 3:00pm

📍 73 Valley Road, Mt Eden

This special event celebrates culture, connection, creativity, and community — and we would love your help to make it truly representative of the amazing diversity within our school.

The PTA is inviting families to come forward with ideas, activities, or contributions from any culture, country, or background. We would love to support you in sharing something meaningful from your heritage or traditions.

We are looking for ideas such as:

🍜 Traditional foods or snacks

🎨 Arts, crafts, or cultural activities

🎲 Traditional games or interactive experiences

🎶 Music, dance, singing, storytelling, or performances

👘 Cultural displays, clothing, decorations, or demonstrations

🛍️ Market stall ideas

✨ Anything else that celebrates your culture and helps bring our community together

Whether your idea is big or small, the PTA can help support with planning, resources, setup, or coordination.

This festival is all about celebrating who we are as a community:

“He iwi tahi tātou — We are all one people.”

If you would like to participate, perform, run an activity, or share an idea, please contact the PTA:

📧 menpspta@gmail.com

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

A HUGE congratulations to our top fundraising classes from the MENPS Colour Run! Your amazing effort, enthusiasm, and community spirit have earned you a Pizza Party next Friday, 5th June! 🍕🌈🥳

🏆 Top Fundraising Classes:

Year 1 – Room 14

Year 2 – Room 23

Year 3 – Room 31

Year 4 – Room 36

Year 5 – Room 6

Year 6 – Room 4

What an incredible effort from all our students, whānau, and teachers — thank you for making the Colour Run such a fun and successful event for our school community! 💛

📧 Dietary Requirements:

If your child has any dietary requirements or allergies, please email the PTA as soon as possible at menpspta@gmail.com so we can make sure everyone is catered for.

🙌 Want to Help?

If you’d like to help deliver pizzas to the winning classrooms on the day, we’d love the extra hands! Please email the PTA at menpspta@gmail.com to volunteer.

Thank you again for your colourful energy, fundraising spirit, and support, MENPS! 🍕🌈✨

As we head toward the end of the year, we are inviting families to donate any good-quality, pre-loved school uniforms. Especially long pants. A donation box will be stationed at the school reception, and students are also welcome to bring donations to the end-of-year assembly — and anytime beyond that.

Donation boxes will be readily available, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. Your support helps ensure that every student in our community has access to the uniforms they need.

Term 2 uniform shop dates as below:

Fri 24/04

Friday 08/05

Friday 15/05

Wednesday 20/05

Wednesday 27/05

Friday 05/06

Friday 19/06

Wednesday 24/06

Wednesday 01/07

Friday 03/07

Thank you for your generosity and kindness!

• Annual Menps Cultural Festival, Matariki and dragon boat Celebration

Our annual festival has become a community staple, whether you’d like to perform, dance, sing, share a craft or food from your country, let us know and we will weave it in to the fabric of the

festival.

When: Sunday 21st June 2026

Where: Mount Eden Normal Primary School

Time: 12PM-3PM

Interested in volunteering your time in any capacity or showcase your culture? Please email the

team on menpspta@gmail.com

Some Yummy apples stickers are worth 2 points

Did you know that some of Yummy apples stickers are worth 2 points? Buy and enjoy these lovely new apple varieties, Lemonade, Ambrosia and Sweet Tango and DOUBLE your points. Stickers from these varieties can be put on the side of the Collection Sheet that has a picture of trees. If you don't have a Collection sheet, head to the office to get one or collect stickers on a blank sheet of paper.

Happy collecting MENPS!

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 Svantje Reiber and Sunny Nathu

Secretary Chantal Brunner

Treasurers Minaxi Chandra and Victoria Couto

PTA Advisor Chantal Brunner

Communications Gina Miao

School Representative Hilary Edwards

Full team of amazing parents/caregivers listed here