Kia ora e te whānau

We are officially on the home stretch! With just two weeks left of the school year, learning communities are beginning to buzz with a mix of excitement, anticipation and festive energy. From finishing up final projects to preparing for end-of-year celebrations, there is no slowing down just yet. As we countdown these final 10 school days, let’s encourage our students to finish strong, stay focused, and enjoy these special moments with their classmates before the summer break begins.

Classes for 2026

One of our most important end-of-year tasks is constructing the classes for next year, and we want you to know how much care goes into this process. Our teachers invest hours collaborating and sharing insights about each student’s specific needs, friendships, and learning styles. We don't just look at data; we look at the whole child.

While it is a complex task to balance the needs of hundreds of students, our goal remains simple: to create diverse, supportive classroom communities where your child feels safe, seen, and challenged to do their best.

To support this transition, students will be moving into their new class groupings this coming Friday for the first block and Monday for the second and third block . This is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet their new teacher, see their new learning space, and start making connections with their peers. We find that having this time to acclimatise gives students a huge confidence boost, allowing them to rest easy over the holidays and return to school feeling prepared and eager to start. Parents will receive a letter home with their new teachers details on Friday.

In 2026 the Learning Communities are as follows.

Whakawhanaungatanga Day - Monday 2 February

At the beginning of next year, we will have further opportunities for your whanau to meet the teacher before school starts. These hui will be able to be booked shortly. We will email out further instructions in the coming week.

Sheppard & Cooper Joint Assembly

On Wednesday 10 September Sheppard and Cooper are hosting assembly. 9am in the MPS. Everyone welcome.

Melanie Taylor

Principal/ Tumuaki

NEW School Instagram page

We're trying to create new ways to communicate with our school community, so if Insta is your thing please follow our new school page - https://www.instagram.com/goldensandsschool/

Other ways we communicate:

Newsletter - emailed fortnightly, primary method of communication to our families
Website - school calendar updated regularly, Parent Portal page, general info
School App - student absences, reminders, general info
Facebook closed group (request to join) - reminders, sports events, general info
Instagram page - reminders, general info
Sports Info - sports calendar & website page or email sport@goldensands.school.nz

Facebook (Click here to join our GSS Facebook group)

If you have not joined our Facebook group, please search for it and request to join. This is a closed group so you will be asked who the children you are connected to are. We share lots of real-time information here with photos and updates included.

School App (Click here to download our School App)

You can also download our school app. When there is anything new to know about you will get notifications if you have enabled them.

Spotta Crack

https://www.windscreenz.com/school

Do you have a cracked windscreen or know someone who does?

If so, refer to Windscreenz and get some CASH for our school.