Newsletter 5 - Term 2
Principal’s Message
Kia ora koutou katoa,
Dear Parents and Whānau,
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you and your family enjoyed a restful break and are ready for another busy and exciting term of learning.
It is a true privilege to lead Pigeon Mountain Primary School. In fact, it was exactly one year ago that I was welcomed into the school grounds with a pōwhiri. Reflecting on that day, I am reminded of the vision I shared during my interview—a vision centered on our students, staff, community, and learning spaces. My goal was to see empowered staff, thriving students, and an actively engaged community.
One year on, I am thrilled to see that vision coming to life:
In the Classroom: Our learning environments are more vibrant than ever. With solid learning programmes, high-quality student work on display, and beautiful artwork in every space, the energy is inspiring.
Our Incredible Team: We are fully staffed with an amazing team, including three additional Teacher Aides we have employed to ensure high-quality, inclusive learning for all students.
Our Environment: Our junior classes are enjoying the benefits of single-cell classrooms, and our grounds are looking fantastic.
Looking Ahead: The transformation continues this year with plans for a new roof across all classrooms, a brand-new administration building, and the installation of our new basketball hoops.
We are also continuing our "fresh look" following the launch of our new website last year, with rebranding rolling out slowly across the school. Most importantly, we have planned numerous opportunities throughout the year for you to come into school and be part of our journey.
I was recently asked, "What makes you smile?" My answer was simple. It was standing out on road patrol when one of our lovely junior students rushed up to give me an impromptu hug and told me they’d had "the best day." It is moments like these that make me so proud to be the Principal of Pigeon Mountain Primary School. I look forward to many more years at this amazing school and to working alongside you all this term.
Ngā mihi nui,
Phebe Rossiter
Principal
Pigeon Mountain Primary School
Student Achievement and Celebration
Three way conferences: A heartfelt thank you to all our families and whānau who braved the wild weather at the end of last term to join us for our Three-Way Conferences. Despite the rain, the turnout was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see our classrooms buzzing with kōrero.
These conferences are a vital part of our school year. They provide a unique opportunity to sit down together and focus on your child’s progress, celebrating their successes and identifying the next steps in their growth.
Three-way conferences transform traditional reporting into a collaborative partnership. By involving everyone, the student builds agency through self-reflection, the teacher provides professional academic insight, and whānau contribute vital home perspectives. This teamwork ensures consistent support and a shared vision for every child’s success.
We truly value your commitment to this journey. When school and home are aligned, our students feel more supported, confident, and motivated to succeed.
Basketball: We are thrilled to announce that PMPS Beyond are the official champions of the Underdog Basketball League (Term 1, 2026), taking out the Y3/4 Tiny Titans Grade.
Throughout the season, our players displayed exceptional commitment, honing their skills in training and translating them into seamless teamwork on the court. Beyond the scoreboard, we are incredibly proud of the sportsmanship and character they showed in every game. Watching their confidence soar week by week has been the true highlight of the term.
This success was a true team effort, made possible by our wonderful parent community. We extend a huge thank you to the many volunteers who stepped up this season—your support was the backbone of our success. Congratulations, Tiny Titans!
House colours: At the end of last term, our school was a sea of vibrant colours as we celebrated House Colours Day. This event was all about building team spirit while raising funds for our new school basketball hoops.
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised nearly $1,000! It was fantastic to see the teachers debuting their new house shirts and our students wearing their house colours with such pride.
The highlight of the day was the midday gathering, where our House Captains led their teams in a series of spirited house chants. The roar of excitement echoing across the school was a wonderful testament to our school culture. Thank you for supporting such a fun and successful day!
Reporting: At the end of Term 2, you will receive a formal report detailing your child’s learning progress. We are adopting the Ministry of Education template, with a few tailored "Pigeon Mountain" enhancements—most notably, the inclusion of an effort rating, as we know how much our parents and teachers value seeing a student’s dedication to their studies.
For our Year 3–6 families, you may have heard about the new SMART tool; while this won’t appear directly on the report, it serves as a vital piece of evidence to help teachers form accurate judgements against the new progress indicators. We understand that reporting changes can bring questions, so we will soon be hosting an information session here at school to walk you through our reporting process. Stay tuned for dates!
ANZAC non-uniform day and celebration: On Wednesday, 22 April, we will gather as a school community to commemorate ANZAC Day. This is a special time for us to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served, and to share our learning about this important part of our history.
Students are encouraged to wear red clothing on the day as a symbol of remembrance. If you would like to contribute, donations can be made easily via KINDO. Your support is greatly appreciated.
We invite all parents, families, and whānau to join us for a commemorative assembly at 2:15 pm in the school hall. Our students will be sharing their insights and reflections as we take a moment together to remember.
Year 5 camp: Excitement is building as our Year 5 students head off to Willow Park Camp at Eastern Beach this week for their overnight stay!
This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to build independence, strengthen friendships, and challenge themselves with new outdoor experiences. We wish them all the very best for their adventure and can’t wait to hear all the stories and highlights when they return.
School News and Announcements
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L): This week students are reviewing classroom expectations. We are discussing what our classroom looks like, sounds like and feels like when everyone is learning and showing positive behaviour.
Hot cross Bun fundraiser: This was a very tasty, successful fundraiser. Thank you to everyone who purchased a Hot Cross Bun, we were able to raise close to $400 towards our new basketball hoops.
Monday Morning Milos: This is our new Term 2 and 3 fundraiser. Students can purchase a hot Milo (chocolate milk) with marshmallows on KINDO for $3.00 and collect from the hall kitchen at morning tea. This is only available on a Monday. All money raised will go towards our new basketball hoops.
School Library: We are currently missing a large number of school library books. All books have the school stamp, often on the top of the books and are covered and stickered. Many of the missing books should have only light wear. We'd love to have the books back and they can be returned anytime via the library returns slot.
Thank you for helping keep our school library well stocked for everyone.
Out-of-Zone placements: Just a reminder that our Out of Zone ballot for Term 3 places closes on Wednesday 22 April. Email enrolment@pmps.school.nz if you have any questions.
Property
Room 13 toilets: Over the holidays we had new lino installed in the room 13 toilets, making them look clean and inviting for our new students.
Admin building: We are currently working with a team at the Ministry of Education on a new Admin building which should be ready for us to move into in 2027. Our current admin building is leaking and will be demolished after construction of the new building. Once we have confirmed plans and location we will share these with you.
Attendance Information
A huge thank you to our parents and caregivers for ensuring our students arrive at school on time each day. Consistent attendance and punctuality truly enhance a student’s learning experience and overall enjoyment of school life.
We are thrilled to announce that we have exceeded our goal of 80% regular attendance, reaching a fantastic 85% this term!
As part of our Attendance Management Plan and Ministry of Education requirements, you will receive an email at the end of each term detailing your child’s attendance category.
Please note that if a student misses 10 or more days in a term, we will reach out via email or phone. Our goal is always to see how we can best support you and your child in maintaining a positive attendance record.
Important Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
Term 1: Tuesday 3rd February - Thursday 2nd April
Waitangi Day Holiday - Friday 6th February
Term 2: Monday 20th April - Friday 3rd July
ANZAC Day Public Holiday - Monday 27th April
King’s Birthday - Monday 1st June
Curriculum day (Teacher Only Day) 29th May
Term 3: Monday 20th July - Friday 25th September
Term 4: Monday 12th October - Tuesday 15 December
Curriculum Day (Teacher Only Day) Friday 23rd October
Labour Day – Monday 26th October
Important event dates at Pigeon Mountain Primary School:
Please check our school website which has a link to our Pigeon Mountain Community Calendar
Community Notices
Art with Janet
PMPS Wednesday after school art class
Art class: drawing. painting. oil pastels drawing
Day: Wednesday
Time: 3.15pm-4.15pm
Fee: $17 per hour
Classroom: Room 15
Please phone: 027-6555574 Janet
Email: janeto@xtra.co.nz
