MENPS News

Kia ora koutou

This week brings a focus on our work as a Normal School, meeting with delegations from around the country for the annual Normal Schools' Conference in Christchurch.

This is a unique opportunity to share and collaborate with other Normal Schools, Initial Teacher Education Providers, the Teaching Council, Ministry of Education and the Minister on questions of teacher supply, quality and training.

This is part of our core business as a Normal School, and work I have been closely involved with for a number of years, both as a member of the Normal Schools Association Executive and with the Teaching Council on the development and implementation of approval programme requirements for tertiary providers.

Of all the challenges in a system as complex as education, ensuring our workforce attracts, recruits, trains and retains skilled and knowledgable professionals is the single greatest influence on the quality of teaching and learning our tamariki experience throughout their school years.

The reality is that success in this often has far less to do with a particular syllabus, government policy or approach, and much more to do with educators who have passion, energy, enthusiasm and depth of curriculum expertise.

It's a reminder that - despite what we may be led to believe by political cycles and media reports - teaching and learning is ultimately a human endeavour that comes down to committed, dedicated professionals and the learning-focused, high-trust relationship they make possible.

It's one of the enduring impressions left by the disconnections we experienced in schools over the last couple of years, and so I appreciate the opportunity to focus the conversation on how we support and empower our teachers and support staff to focus on doing what they do best, and acknowledge the difference they make to our learning community!

Ka kite anō i a koutou

Alan Jackson

Principal

As you'll be aware, the Ministries of Health and Education gave advice to schools that mask policies in Years 4-6 should be put in place for the first 4 weeks of this term.

This Policy has now been discontinued - masks are, however, strongly recommended at all year levels.

Thursday, 1 September: Zones Netball (Windmill Road)

There are preparations underway for the fair, we need help with a few key roles - this is to help with stalls on the day and in the lead up to the event on November 13th.

We are still looking for help – without you we can’t do it! We need coordinators for the following stalls:

• Face Painting
  Coordinate the helpers before the fair, setting up the stall with equipment.
  
  
• Dunking Machine
  Make sure the machine is in working order before the fair and get it connected to the water supply on fair day. Coordinate helpers before fair day.
  
  
• Mission Impossible
  To contact the supplier and find helpers for the fair.
  
  
• Bouncy Castle coordinator
  To be in contact with the supplier and set up a pricing list to be visible during the fair. Find helpers before the fair
  
  
• Money Golf
  Coordinator on the day with the pricing and material. Find helpers before the fair.
  
  
• Soccer shot
  Collate equipment and find helpers before the fair.
  

Please email us at menpspta@gmail.com for more information.

Following on from the success of March's collection, we will be running another collection in the lead up to Novembers Food & Fun Fair. We welcome all quality items! Simply drive in the MENPS staff car park and onto the Top Courts to drop off any of the following:

• 📚 Books
  

• 🪀 Toys - no soft toys accepted
• 👗Clothing - washed, no underwear or men's clothing/shoes accepted.
• 🐘 Jumble Sale - anything else! - No plugged in electrical items accepted thanks
• 🎁 Sandpit dig prizes - please hunt through your present cupboard, we would gratefully receive any new, unopened, unwanted gifts to give away as prizes in the sandpit dig stall at the fair!
  

Please consider whether you would be happy to pay about $5 for it, and use the clothing bin etc for anything ripped, stained, or broken.

Many thanks in advance for your incredibly generous support of our school community,
The PTA Second-hand Stall teams.

Also, we'd also like to invite you, our community, and all your friends, family, and favourite local business, to get in touch with us if you'd like to be involved in the Food and Fun Fair in any way. We'd love to offer advertising, or support you in any way that we can in exchange for ideas, goods, services, help on the day etc! Please pass this message on to anyone you think may benefit, and email us at menpspta@gmail.com. Many thanks!

The last day for ordering has passed. Many thanks to the parents / caregivers that placed orders - and to our PTA Secretary Jane Cunningham for responding promptly to the various requests for help/lost codes.

Orders will be delivered to students at the end of term 3 before the school holidays.

Thanks to the teachers across the school for encouraging the tamariki to create their masterpieces. And many thanks to Fleur de Vries-Oskamp for coordinating this years efforts.

For any questions please email menpspta@gmail.com.

Last year over 16,000 stickers were collected! The current submissions total is 2,591 - so please remember to save your apple stickers.

The last day to collect stickers is September 27th so we still have a few more months to collect.

For more information this sports equipment promotion is available on the PTA website.

The shop is run by an awesome group of volunteers on the first Friday of the month during term - please note next Friday (2nd September) is the last shop date for Term 3.

Chairperson Aimee Chikunda

Deputy Chairperson Pam Clifford

Secretary Jane Cunningham

Treasurer Diem Vo

Class Coordinator Leader Chantal Brunner

PTA Advisor Scott Optican

Full team listed here

Email menpspta@gmail.com | PTA website

Follow us on Facebook and keep up to date with the PTA on Mount Eden Normal Primary School PTA page.

Support our school by eating a delicious Roast at The Bridgman.

Seems too easy but $10 of every kids meal goes directly to our school funds. All you need to do is book your table and put MENPS into the ‘requests’ box and they will donate the profits of your kids meals back to the school.

Easy right?
Just book here - The Bridgman | Corner of Dominion & Valley Roads | Carefully curated food, drinks & cocktails.

Mike Robson from Ray White Mt Eden is a leading agent in Mt Eden and surrounding areas . In 2021 Team Mike Robson became the Principal Sponsor of MENPS, supporting the school in its fundraising activities including the annual Food & Fun Fair.

Are you thinking about buying or selling?
As part of their sponsorship of MENPS, Team Mike Robson donates $1,000 back to the school for any property sold within the school zone for MENPS families. Feel free to call Mike (021484288) any time you’ve got a real estate query - he’s always happy to have a chat and answer your questions.

Find out more about Team Mike Robson and why they love living and working in Mt Eden.
Website - www.mikerobson.co.nz