MENPS News

Kia ora koutou

Zones Touch Next Week

We’re looking forward to Zones Touch next week, cheering the children on at Carlton Juniors. This is always an energetic tournament, with a strong emphasis on fun and promoting participation in this very accessible sport that the children always enjoy. Congratulations to all those who made the team!

Term 1 Conferences

Our Term 1 Conferences are an opportunity to check in with your child’s teacher, learn more about how your child has settled in and get an update on initial progress and achievement across the curriculum covered to date.

Our approach to assessment includes standardised tests, but it’s important to be aware that this only tells one small part of a much bigger story. As teachers work alongside children, there is a great deal of ongoing formative assessment taking place 'in situ', focused on what each child knows and can actually apply independently in a range of contexts, all of which informs the next teaching and learning steps.

With the refreshed curriculum implementation, new reporting language is also being introduced nationally this year, which will be included in the Term 2 Reports. The key terms being introduced are 'Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient and Exceeding'. This is actually a similar concept to the MENPS wording and progress charts we have used for many years in written reports, albeit aligned with the newly-finalised curriculum benchmarks.

These 'Progress Descriptors' are intended to give an indication of progress towards year level specific indicators (in the same way we usually report achievement at MENPS). An outline of how this is broken down is included below.

Please also see below for a link to advice for parents on how to prepare for Parent Conferences from the Ministry of Education, with an emphasis on conversations focused on progress, strengths, areas for improvement and ways to support learning at home.

From our perspective, a central goal of the Conferences is for us to also continue building relationships and our understanding of each child. This helps us to ensure we can support them to fulfil their potential in partnership with whanau, so we encourage you to use the opportunity to share any relevant information and perspectives with your child’s teacher.

Early Pick-up Next Week

A reminder that pick-up is slightly earlier on the Conference Days, so please ensure you have made alternative arrangements for a 2pm pick-up (both days). SKiDs after-school care is available if needed. Please note that children are not allowed to wait to be picked up later or play on the playground unsupervised after this time.

PTA Picnic

Finally, huge thanks to the PTA for arranging the picnic earlier this week. It's always great to see families relaxing together while the children run off some extra energy and the sense of community this creates. Thanks to all who were able to come along on the day!

A reminder also that the Colour Run is coming up fast, so make sure you sign up now if you haven't already done so - see below for further information.

Ka kite anõ i a koutou

Alan Jackson, Principal

🌈 MENPS Colour Run is Back – Sign Up Now! 🌈

Get ready for the most colourful day of the year! The MENPS PTA Colour Run is happening Friday 20 March, 1.30–3.00pm (Family Run at 2.30pm) and all students are welcome to take part.

This is a fun, high-energy fundraiser where students walk, jog or run through clouds of bright, non-toxic colour — all while raising vital funds for our school.

To participate, students must be signed up online.

Each child needs their own fundraising page to collect sponsorship from friends and family (near or far!). Signing up is quick and easy through our fundraising hub:

👉 menpscolourrun.raiseit.co.nz

🎁 Sign-up incentives:

* Sign up by 4 March to go in the draw to win a wireless microphone

* Sign up by 11 March and receive at least one donation to go in the draw for a portable game player

* Raise $150 and your whole family can run together (donations cannot be combined)

There will also be spot prizes on the day and chances to win whānau runs and pizza parties!

👕 On the day, students should wear light-coloured clothes that can get stained — or come dressed in a fun costume!

We need everyone involved to make this event a success — please sign up as soon as possible so your child can take part!

Let’s get moving, get colourful, and support our school together!

Monday 9th March:

Midterm Cohort Entry starts

Tuesday 10th March:

Zone Touch Rugby - Carlton Junior Rugby Football Club (Save day Thurs 12th)

Wednesday 11th March:

Early Finish - 2:00pm for conferences
Term 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 2:15pm - 6:30pm - Book via HERO app

Thursday 12th March:

Early Finish - 2:00pm for conferences
Term 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences - 2:15pm - 6:30pm - Book via HERO app
Zone Touch Rugby save day

Netball Registration Form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHrelsmlHAXW1rAD3dhQmo8dZWY7JHEnTVZoVRjxf8rxvFPg/viewform

The Central East Auckland Weet‑Bix TRYathlon is back on Sunday 22 March 2026, and MENPS will have a school tent on site for families to meet, relax, and cheer on our tamariki. All MENPS kids are welcome to stop by the tent — even if they registered separately or under a different team. If your child would like to join the MENPS team, you can register here:

https://raceroster.com/registration/4fc6077c-9fb7-4b68-95c4-f59430adba9c/entry?team=859892

A Race Roster login (email + password) is required, and children will be automatically linked to the MENPS group.

Please note:

Parents must remain onsite and supervise their children throughout the event.

This is not a school fundraiser — any optional donations go directly to Weet‑Bix charities.

Annual Menps Cultural Festival& Matariki 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: TBC

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

team on menpspta@gmail.com

[Kapa Kahui food coordinator& volunteers. ] Menps is hosting this years Kapa Kahui for the Auckland Central School’s Kapa Haka showcases! It’s a big honour for Menps to host and a great opportunity for the pta to feed the expected crowds.

📅 Date: 2nd Apr 2026

📅 Time: afternoon to evening

Would you like to get involved? Please reach out to: menpspta@gmail.com

Join us for the Annual MENPS PTA AGM as we come together to reflect, connect, and plan for the year ahead.

📅 Tuesday, 10 March

🕖 7:00pm

📍 MENPS Staffroom

Our PTA plays a vital role in supporting our school community — and we’d love for you to be part of the conversation. Whether you’re curious, keen to get involved, or simply want to stay informed, everyone is welcome.

Let’s keep brewing bright futures, one conversation at a time.

We hope to see you there!

PTA Secretary - The PTA meet once a term(second Tuesday of every term).The PTA secretary's role involves: 1. Sending out a meeting agenda and meeting invite one week prior to each PTA meeting. 2. Recording meeting minutes and distributing after the meeting. 3. Maintaining a contact list of PTA members and making sure they are notified of regular PTA meetings. Time commitment is approx. 1 hour per mouth. No experience required - any questions,please email: menpspta@gmail.com