Newsletter 5 March 2026

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Principal’s Message

 

Parent Information and Meetings: LOCK IN THESE DATES FAMILIES 

We are entering an exciting season at TPS. With our teachers now deep into their training for the 2026 Curriculum updates, we want to share with you. We have three key opportunities coming up for you to connect with our team, and better understand these changes and how your children are progressing.

Parent Information Evening:

When: Week 7, Wednesday 18 March at 6:00 pm Join us for a relaxed but informative evening where we will share Ministry of Education curriculum changes. We will point out where you can learn more about how to help your children at home.

1:1 Whānau Conferences with teachers:

When: March 24th & 25th (afternoon & evening bookings available) Our 10-minute 1:1 meetings are a vital “check-in” point. Bookings will open soon.

Mathematics with Marie Hirst: A Term 2 Special

We are thrilled to announce a dedicated Mathematics evening in Term 2 with Marie Hirst. Marie is a nationally recognised expert currently leading our staff through Maths training.

Why attend? Marie has a gift for making modern Maths “click” for parents. She will show you exactly how we are teaching “Maths through Connections” at TPS.

Filming on school grounds:

At TPS, we are constantly talking to our students about taking initiative and being proactive rather than reactive. We apply the same lens to our school safety.

If you ever see someone filming on our school grounds, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, we encourage you to use your initiative: please feel free to approach them politely to find out more, or head straight to the office to let us know. We value a community that looks out for one another and acts promptly to ensure our school remains a safe, focused environment for all our learners.

Registrations for our first TPS Tryathlon are OPEN now:

We are so excited that Valerie (our fabulous sports coordinator) is leading this for the first time at TPS. We can’t wait to TRY it out!

Details below and on Hero 

Key dates for Term 1:

Monday 16 – 20 March – Culture Week (one week)

Wednesday 18 March – Parent Curriculum Information Evening 6:00pm

Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 March – Whānau 1:1 Conferences with teachers

Sunday 29 March – Shore to Shore event

Friday 27 March – TPS Tryathlon

Monday 30 March – Board Meeting 6:00pm

Thursday 2 April – Teacher Only Day (No school)

Friday 3 April – Easter Friday (No school) & end of term 1

Please feel free to contact your child’s teachers or any of the leadership team if you have any further questions.

Regards, Devika & the TPS Team

TPS Sports

Link to school website here:  click here

Term 1 Sports Calendar

TPS Run Club Registrations are open, register HERE

Swimming Clusters 2026 team  

Congratulations Cindy, Iris, David, Leo, Arjun, Oliver, Clara, Emerson, Emmeline, Ivanka, Stella, Daibao, Finn and Allen.

This team will represent TPS at the Swimming Clusters at TPS on Week 7, Friday 20th March.

TPS TRYathlon 
You can register here

If you have any questions email sports@tps.school.nz

Race Day is Week 8: Friday 27th March 2026

Location is Takapuna Primary School – it is FREE!                                                          

 

Swim
Year 1/2- width of TPS swimming pool (allowed to use a swimming aide like a noodle, flipper board)
Year 3/4 – One length of TPS swimming pool
Year 5/6- Two lengths of TPS swimming pool

Bike
Year 1-4 around the court and one loop of the bike track
Year 5-6 longer court course and one loop of the bike track

Run
Year 1-4 around the courts and onto the school field to the finish line
Year 5-6 one loop around Collins Street, The Terrace, Killarney Street, Anzac Street and back into school to the finish line on the school field.

Course details will be posted with your class teacher next week.

You can enter as an individual athlete or as a team of three and each member must complete one of the disciplines.

It is important that ALL participants register for an entry into TPS TRYathlon.

 

Shore to Shore 5km Fun Run&Walk on Sunday 29th March. Homie the Gnome came toTPS  assembly on Friday, he reckons we should all enter. Register here. And run with your TPS friends. After the run, come to tent site 12 for ice blocks and sausages.

Remember, with every entry, your child gets to vote on two colours that they would like to see TPS Staff to run/walk in!

Yummy Sticker charts here. Or ask your classroom teacher for a hard copy and please keep collecting as many yummy stickers as you can and raise money for TPS sports gear.

 

North Harbour Basketball 
TPS has registered five basketball teams for Semester One 2026, which begins Week 7, 17th March (Tuesday comp) and 18th March (Wednesday comp). All players need to be registered in their team if they are to play their first game, register  here

Girls got Game Basketball
Great to see so many happy faces giving basketball a go with Coach Amy.

 

Netball 2026

Registrations are open until Friday 20th March, register here

Playground games at TPS

 

Community Notices
Junior Tough Guy and Gal is a popular series of New Zealand muddy obstacle course runs designed for various ages, featuring 6km or 12km, 3km (family), or school-aged courses.

Participants navigate swamps, tunnels, wire crawls, and climbing frames, focusing on fun, teamwork, and, most importantly, mud.  The two venues in Auckland are Pukekohe and Kumeu.

Click here for more information and to register your child as an individual or as a team.

 

In Kiwi team, we have been exploring Cubism inspired by Pablo Picasso

We learned how Cubist artists break pictures into shapes and show different viewpoints all at once.

The students created their own bold portraits using bright colours, strong lines, and geometric shapes. We talked about how art does not always have to look “real” — it can be creative and imaginative!

We are so proud of the confidence and creativity our young artists have shown.

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

 

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 2026 is $260 per student, or $420 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 $260 donation you receive $86 back in your wallet. Your actual donation cost is just $174.

To make your donation payments please go to the ‘Hero’ app and click on ‘Student Billing’. 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 

IMPORTANT

Please make sure that if your child is LATE arriving to school, OR RETURNING to school after an appointment offsite, they MUST sign in at the office BEFORE going to their classroom.

Swimming Days

Please help your child to remember their togs/towel on designated swimming days.

History of Takapuna Primary School

(since 1879)

From 1946, TPS had a one of a kind initiative that ran for 15 years, for no profit. 

The students ate fruit and raw veg and one slice of whole meal bread for lunch for free. Super healthy!

I wonder if the students liked the lunch? 

MATHS CORNER

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday 11 March – Puberty Yr 6 Parent Zoom Meeting 6:00pm (link on Hero)

Monday 16 March – Culture Week 

Sunday 29 March – Shore to Shore event

Wednesday 1 April – Last day of Term 1

Thursday 2 April – Teacher Only Day (no school)

Monday 20 April – Start of Term 2

Monday 23 April – Maths Parent Evening (hall) 6:00pm-7:00pm

Click here for School Calendar

COMMUNITY NOTICES

 

Tired of Constant Battles at Home? Join Vanessa Coultas (BSc Hons Psychology) for a practical workshop on Thursday 19 March at 8:00pm.

Learn why behaviors repeat and get the tools to move from reactive parenting to effective, proactive strategies.

Scan the QR code on the attached flyer or visit https://events.humanitix.com/parenthelp to book your ticket.