2026 Newsletter - Week 5, Term 1

Kia ora koutou,

We have passed the halfway point of this term!!! Unbelievable, really ...

Many thanks to everyone who attended the parent-teacher interviews earlier this week. We had our best turnout of families in the eighteen years I have been here. I am wondering whether our HERO app helping to get messages out is the reason. It was so useful for everyone to have so many coming along to talk about the children and their hopes for 2026.

We are hosting four candidate teachers from EIT this year. They are in their final year of study and we are thrilled to have them at GMS. You may have encountered one or more of them already - Ross Dighton, Brittany Matenga, Petra Goodhue-Morrison and Emilie White. All four are currently on a five week class placement within our school. And in 2026 we also have Jayne Edwards with us - who is also completing a year of study to be a teacher. We had her in school for a lot of last year, and it is wonderful to have her back in 2026. Jayne is based in Room 16b with Mrs. Kinsey. A warm welcome to you all.

Ngā mihi

Mark Johnson

Principal/Tumuaki

We have had the following students start with us since the last newsletter:-

Leo Nicholas, Mienke & Iewan Botha and Anna Currie.

A very warm welcome to you all!

Our school roll is currently sitting at 459.

Thursday 12th March - Weebix Tryathlon

Friday 27th March - McCain Boys Netball & Girls Rippa Rugby Gala Day

Thursday 2nd April - Last day of term

Friday 3rd April - Good Friday - School closed

Monday 20th April - First day of term 2

Monday 27th April - Anzac Day - school closed

These past few weeks Mr Holloway has been taking the opportunity to see how many tamariki knew the name of the figure represented at the top of our waharoa. Last week in assembly, Lochie Still correctly identified 'Tāne-te-wānanga-a-rangi' or "Tāne-te-wananga' as the wheku atop the waharoa. Ka pai Lochie!

Not everyone will know that we have a worm farm at GMS. THe worms are getting really hungry at this time of year, so if anyone wants tomake a contribution from home please feel free to do so.

Their feeding routine includes a balanced diet of organic waste, such as:

• Fruits (worms love banana peels!)
• Vegetables and veggie waste

• Shredded paper or shredded cardboard (keeps your grocery paper bags from going to waste!)
• Squash and pumpkin
• Eggshells
• Coffee
• Bread
• Pasta (without the sauce!)

Many thanks in advance.

As you will all be aware by now, our school has switched to a new way of sharing information with our community. Along with a number of other local schools, we have made the switch to HERO.

If you haven't already done so, we have included below the instructions to download the App.

With school absences, we ask that you use the HERO app rather than the old GMS school app. The old school app will soon become inactive.

McCain, Hawkes Bay Netball and Hawke’s Bay Rugby are excited to be again hosting the Junior Gala day on Friday 27th March, 9:30am – 2pm at the Mitre 10 Sports Park.

This tournament encourages kids to have a go and try something different, where Year 5/6 boys all play netball against other all boys teams, and Year 3/4 and 5/6 girls all play rippa rugby against other all girls teams.

We encourage as many keen children as possible to come along and have some fun – apart from the actual games there is music, goodies and spot prizes, special guests attending and food trucks and coffee carts available. This will be a fantastic day out – and a great chance for boys and girls to participate in a sport that they perhaps haven’t tried before.

Registrations for the day are all made online via Kindo. This can be accessed from our Greenmeadows School website, www.gms.school.nz along with full information for the day; just follow the links under the sports tab. Registrations close on Sunday 15th March. There is no cost to enter, come along and have some fun!

The PTA held their annual meeting last night. We had a great turn out for the meeting and welcomed a large number of motivated and keen new members - exciting!

We have also been very fortunate to have the same officer holders from the past two years re-elected:

Chairperson - Vanessa Whaanga

Secretary - Kellie Harkness

Treasurer - Kourtnee Bolton

These very hardworking and dedicated PTA members lead a great team. Many thanks for being available one more year.

Activities being planned:

Friday 27 March - School Disco under He Kapua from late afternoon

Coming in Term 3 - the return of the GMS Colour Run!!!!! Getting wet, sliming teachers, prizes galore ... here it comes!

Bellyful Hawkes Bay is partaking in Bellyful NZ's national campaign - "Macaroni March".

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 macaroni 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 March and you can drop off your donations to the school office.

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.

Issue one closes Friday 6th March at 3pm. All orders must be through the LOOP app. No cash will be accepted.

Or there is Taradale Rugby Club - junior rugby registrations are open for 2026.

Junior rugby is kicking off 1st May.

Rippa Rugby: aged 3, Year 1, Year 2

Tackle Rugby: Year 3 - 8

If anyone is interested in finding out more they can contact us via club e-mail address - this is taradalerugbyclub@gmail.com

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