Newsletter 11 September 2025

Kia ora TPS whānau                                  Like us

 

 

Principal’s message: 

Science is more than just a list of facts; it’s a way of thinking. Our students are learning the scientific method, a process of discovery that encourages them to ask questions, form a hypothesis, and find answers through hands-on experimentation.

Similarly, in technology, they are applying the engineering design process. This involves defining a problem, brainstorming solutions, creating a prototype, and then testing and refining it. By learning these foundational processes, we are equipping our children to be problem-solvers and innovators who can apply scientific principles to create and build in the world around them. We look forward to Tui learners building on this when they go on their MOTAT trip next week.

 

Curiosity in Motion

The Curiosity in Motion Day was a huge success! Students had a fantastic day dedicated to learning about science and technology.

The day featured two engaging science shows by “Science in a Van”, which explored concepts like push and pull forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion. In addition, students had a blast with a variety of hands-on technology.

A true highlight of the day was the incredible quality of the student projects. The projects showcased their understanding of scientific concepts and their ability to apply the technology design process. What a great day of learning! A huge well done to our teaching team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playground phase 2!

We are thrilled to let you know that Phase 2 of our playground upgrade will happen this year! A huge thanks to our SCG (School Community Group), our School Board as well as our family community who have always supported fundraising events. This is a more ‘senior’ playground building on phase 1 and is an extension to the spider playground. They will begin work in November (all going well) and we’re hopeful our students will have a play before the year finishes.  

 

Seeking video production talent

Are you a whiz with a camera and editing software? We’re looking for a parent volunteer to help us create a short promotional video for the school!

We would love to produce a 2-3 minute video to showcase our wonderful school community on our website. The project would involve filming around the school and editing the footage into a dynamic clip that captures the spirit of our students and staff.

If you have skills in videography or video editing and are willing to donate your time to this project, please get in touch with the school office.

 

School Community Group (SCG)

The SCG is looking for new members to step into the roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer as the current team finishes up. The SCG organises some of the events we all love like Pizza Day, Sushi Fridays, Discos and the Quiz Night. Without new people, some of these may not happen in 2026. Questions welcome – email scg@tps.school.nz

 

School Policies

Each term, the whole school community is invited to review and comment on specific policies and procedures. This feedback is captured using the review button on topics that are under review. The review topics for each term are listed on the Current Review and Review Instructions page.

 

General Feedback 

At any time, members of the school community can send general feedback on a topic to the school by clicking the green feedback button on the top right of the page.

Schooldocs:

Username: takapunaprimary

Password: deedsnotwords

 

Are you ready to make a difference? Train to be a teacher with us in 2026

The Teachers’ Institute’s Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary, School-based) offers you the chance to gain teacher registration in just one year, while learning hands-on at our school every day. This programme is perfect for anyone considering a career change, returning to work after a break, or even after an OE.

Pay no tuition fees for the year. For more information, visit teachersinstitute.org.nz

 

Upcoming Events and Important Dates:

Wheels, pizza & non-uniform: Thursday 18 September

Last day of term 3: Friday 19 September

 

Regards, Devika & the TPS Team

Kyle, who is one of our School Cultural Ambassadors, recently ran a lunch time game that is popular in the Philippines. Her friend, Maia whose family is also from the Philippines helped out. They showed everyone how to jump over and onto the brightly coloured bands. As you get better at the game the band goes higher and higher. Thank you Kyle and Maia, it was lots of fun and a great way to get fit!.

Are you a Facebook and Social Media Expert?

Takapuna Primary School Alumni Network needs your help!

TPS recently launched an alumni group on Facebook. We’re just in the beginning stages and we need someone who can assist with the growth of the group by attracting members. The objectives of the TPS Alumni Network are:

• Build a database of TPS alumni
• Develop connections with TPS’s current staff and students
• Enhance current students’ understanding of TPS’s history
• Offer fundraising opportunities for alumni to invest so TPS can continue its high-quality educational standards
• Promote TPS’s brand in the community
• Host alumni events
• Begin the path towards TPS’s 150th reunion in 2029
• Create an online archive of TPS class photos, memorabilia etc.

Please join the Facebook group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/666338743056767

If you would like to assist by helping us develop the Facebook group, please contact us at alumni@tps.school.nz

The time commitment is approx 1-2 hours per month.

Thank you.
TPS Board of Trustees

 

LOST PROPERTY:

Please ask your child to check this. All remaining unamed items will be discarded at the end of the term.

Students leaving at the end of the year:

If your child is in year 1,2,3,4 or 5 and leaving TPS at the end of the year, please email office@tps.school.nz to let us know. Please include the school they will be attending (if known) and/or the area you are moving to.

Updating Contact Details:

If you have moved to a new address, changed your email or contact phone numbers, it is important to update us 

https://www.tps.school.nz/update-student-details/

SCHOOL DONATIONS – an investment in our students

Our mission at Takapuna Primary School is to deliver a great quality learning environment that supports a quality education. To support this, we are seeking your help.

Your school donations make a very real difference to us as a state-funded public school. Our basic costs are met by the Ministry of Education, but it’s the money we receive from our school community that really allows us to provide opportunities, equipment and teaching beyond what is funded by the government. As an example, we would like to undertake further enhancements including sun shades, and also to enable wet weather use. This funding is therefore so important in providing a high-quality learning environment (both in and out of the classroom).

The school donation for 2025 is $250 per student, or $400 for families with two or more students. We can arrange weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalments via internet banking if this helps spread the cost. Importantly, donations are tax deductible so approximately one third of every donation can be claimed back as a tax credit. That means for a $250 donation you receive $83 back in your wallet. Your actual donation cost is just $167.

To make your donation payments please go to the ‘Hero’ app and click on the ‘Finance’ tab. Alternatively, any payments can also be made directly into the school bank account 12 3026 0792484 00 – if doing so, please ensure you include your child’s name and ‘donation’ as reference on the payment.

We do understand these are uncertain times and managing financial priorities can be difficult for some families. 

Any queries regarding payments can be directed to our accounts team: accounts@tps.school.nz

If you would like to know more about how the School Board operates, and/or would be interested in understanding how else you can help, please contact: takapunaboard@tps.school.nz 

For Takapuna School Board information and meeting dates:

https://www.tps.school.nz/bot/

Thanks so much for helping to support our growing and vibrant community.

Kindest regards

Takapuna Primary School Board 

History of Takapuna Primary School

(since 1879)

This photo was taken in 1979 from above. It is interesting to see how much has changed! 

Can you see the old concrete pool? Can you see the white building in the centre? It looks like the library, but it is in a different place. 

Here is a photo from 1989 of the girls hockey team. 

TPS SPORTS

 

Term 4 Sports Calendar
-TPS Run Club Registrations are open, register HERE

TPS Athletics Carnival at Onewa Domain on Tuesday 4th November. The learners will begin their athletics programme from T4 Week 1 to 4. Block this day out and come and support our tamariki. More details to come next term. If you have any experience with Athletics Club or would like to help on the day please email me sports@tps.school.nz

Cluster Cross Country Results

Well done team for representing TPS so well. It was a tough course but you all finished incredibly exhausted and happy with your achievements. Congratulations to Summer, Ryan, Mila, Noah and Manon for placing in their races. We will celebrate you all at the Week 9 TPS assembly on Friday 12th Setpember at 9:00am.

TPS Team Reflections

 

TPS Basketball–

Takapuna Hawks -have shown a noticeable improvement in their performance this season, both in individual skills and in their teamwork. Great communication, determination, and commitment to training has paid off with a win in Week 8’s game. You all supported one another and stayed focussed right until the final whistle.

TPS Slam Dunkers – had the best game this season as a team. Excellent shooting and defending.

TPS Tigers- The Tigers have had mixed results over the past two weeks. A challenging game against Northcote at Event Finder stadium last week. This week, a great team win with several players away. Great to have a deep bench!

North Harbour Basketball- have gifted TPS a bag of basketballs for our players to use during PE sessions and leisure times. Thank you to NH Basketball for your presence at TPS with the coaching, holding tournaments and resources, we appreciate you.

 

Takapuna Splashes– have made outstanding progress this year, the team played through to the semi finals and won their game 3-0, congratulations.  Amazing team work and dedication displayed throughout, with no subs they were focused on a win and it really paid off. From last place in Term 1 to Finals on Sunday 14th, the team and TPS are so so proud of you all!

 

TPS Run Club – we have run most of Term 3 even on the coldest Wednesday mornings. Thank you to all the guide runners who turn up every Wednesday to support our runners. I hope to see you all next Wednesday at 8:05am by the Collins St gates for our last run of the term. Registrations are open for Term 4 Run Club which will be a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get fitter and stronger for athletics.

Peninsular Football Festival- TPS sent five teams to this festival and all of them played fairly, had fun and scored lots of goals. Thank you to the parents who supported us by being our drivers and managers.

 

 

 

Community Sports notices
The Wellington Phoenix are excited to be hosting a Girls Only Camp in Auckland for players aged 10 to 14 on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September. The camp will be delivered by accredited Phoenix Academy coaches alongside current A-League Women’s players, with a number of special guest appearances across the two days.

Click here to register

 

Applications for the 2026 Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon^TM are now OPEN!

Race day is Sunday 22nd March 2026 at Point England Reserve, Pt England

You can join with your friends or individually. Click  local event to register and find out more about this amazing event.

Yummy Apple Stickers

Please return your completed sheets to the office before the end of the term.

Thank you so much for your contribution to helping our kura.

 

Milford Cruising Club – Term 4 Junior Sailing Program

Our Term 4 classes are now open for bookings!

Fridays in Term 4 from 4:00pm-7:00pm

Program runs for 9 weeks – no sailing on Friday 24th October (Labour weekend).

Learn to Sail – Optimist Program (no experience necessary)

Learn to Race – Feva Program (Sailing experience in the Optimist or Feva program previously)

Please complete the registration form below:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/vRJPcg2V4c

Our programs are designed to build water confidence and resilience, familiarise your child with each craft and have a great time on the water.

Onshore parent support is required, and parents often have an amazing time too.

Children must be 8 years old or over.

The great news is that you don’t need to purchase your own boat as we provide the boats for the sessions, which also saves on storage costs.

A Family Membership is required which is currently $265/year, and the term fee is $300 per child. Please complete a membership form at time of sign up. Membership forms are available from our website. The office can assist with the membership process.

The Milford Cruising Club restaurant is open on Friday nights from 5:30pm so after the sailing it is a great place to go and grab a meal and socialise with the other junior sailing families.

So many friendships have been made this way!

Enquiries – email manager@milfordcruising.co.nz

MATHS CORNER

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday 18 September   Pizza, wheels & non uniform day

Friday 19 September         End of Term 3

Monday 6 October            Beginning of Term 4

Wednesday 8 October      2026 out of zone applications close (yr 1 & 2 ONLY)

Tuesday 2 December        Graduation (Year 6) details to come…

Click here for School Calendar

2025 Term Dates

COMMUNITY NOTICES

 

Family Fun Days 2025

It’s that time again. The Family Fun Days are back with exciting pool parties, movie parties, ten pin bowling and Christmas parties with Santa in attendance. Tickets for the 2025 Family Fun Days are available to be reserved now. This years’ venues and dates are set out below – remember it is one ticket per person. Please reserve your tickets by reply email to tickets@familyfunday.co.nz or click the Reserve Tickets Now link below. If this email does not display properly you can view the event dates online at  www.familyfunday.co.nz

Pumphouse Theatre presents……..

ISPY is a family-friendly spy-tastic musical story about two competing spy associations: the Brave Association of Ridiculous Networks (B.A.R.N.) and the Hateful Association and Rotten Management (H.A.R.M.).

B.A.R.N. is a group of spies led by Beth MacDonald and Mary Fairy, dedicated to protecting the children of Auckland from H.A.R.M.’s evil plans. H.A.R.M. is led by Humpty Dumpty and his dim-witted sidekick Hickory Dickory. They plan to destroy children’s happiness and fun. Beth MacDonald, Mary Fairy and their hidden agent Baa Baa work hard to defeat H.A.R.M.’s evil plot.

A very zany adventure with recognisable nursery rhyme characters transformed into secret agents, reintroducing them to younger audiences. With slapstick, catchy songs that will have you humming for days, and very funny and inviting characters, you won’t want to miss this original play.

https://nz.patronbase.com/_PumpHouse/Productions/ISPY/Performances 

 

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