Newsletter 14 - Term 3
Principal’s Message
Dear Parents and Whānau,
If I had to choose a single word to summarise the past few weeks, it would be pride.
Seeing our students work tirelessly all term and proudly represent our school across so many fields has been incredible. From the athletic skill shown in gymnastics and netball, to the sharp critical thinking at Mathex and the Literacy Quiz, to the beautiful voices at the Kids Sing choir festival our students have shone brightly. We would like to wish our Chinese speech finalists, Anotina and Alisha, all the very best for their competition tomorrow. Representing Pigeon Mountain Primary School is a privilege, and our students have done so with remarkable dedication.
Our sense of pride extended even further recently as we held the long-awaited ground-breaking ceremony for our new administration building. This marks an exciting new chapter for our school facilities, and we cannot wait to see the project take shape.
None of these successes would be possible without our extraordinary team. I want to express my immense gratitude to our staff. They have worked exceptionally hard this term, preparing and delivering high-quality learning programs, showcasing creativity to guide students to create our wonderful Art Exhibition, and putting in countless extra hours to coach teams and lead extracurricular events.
This week, we celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week). A timeless whakataukī (proverb) that perfectly captures the spirit of our school this term is:
“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata,” which translates to “What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.”
We are truly fortunate to have such incredible staff, students, and whānau making up the heart of Pigeon Mountain Primary School. Thank you all for a magnificent term.
Warm regards,
Ngā mihi nui,
Phebe Rossiter
Principal
Pigeon Mountain Primary School
Student Achievement and Celebration
Gymnastics:
Congratulations to our year 4 girls Ava Meng, Emma Hu, Queenie Chen and Antonia Qu who represented the school proudly at the Champion of Champions Gymnastics competition at Tri Star on Thursday 11 September. The girls did an amazing job and placed 5th team out of 17 teams overall.
Mathex:
Congratulations to Hayden, Ethan, Leo and Kayley who represented the school at our HPPA Mathex competition held at Sunnyhills School on Tuesday 15 September. The team placed 2nd overall. This is a huge achievement and we are so proud of the hard work they have put into our maths extension programme this year.
Kids Sing Choir:
On Monday, 8 September, 21 of our senior students proudly represented Pigeon Mountain Primary School at the prestigious Kids Sing 2026 choir festival, held at the Auckland Town Hall. It was a spectacular evening and an unforgettable performance experience for our young musicians on a grand stage.
A massive thank you to our incredibly talented music teacher, Mrs. Lynnette Leggett, for her extraordinary leadership, dedication, and beautiful piano accompaniment throughout the event. We are so proud of our choir’s fantastic achievement!
Literacy Quiz:
Eight students proudly represented Pigeon Mountain Primary School at the HPPA Literacy Quiz, held at Baverstock Oaks Primary School.The students read 10 books by New Zealand authors and put their reading comprehension and knowledge to the test as they answered questions and competed alongside students from a number of other local schools. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading, challenge themselves and represent our school.
School News and Announcements
Boston Bun Fundraiser:
Our next Boston Bun Fundraiser will be on Friday 18 September. Please purchase on KINDO before Thursday 17 September. All monies raised will go towards new playground equipment. A huge thank you to Bakers Delight in Howick who have kindly supported us with this fundraising.
Morning Tea Milo:
Our final morning tea milo will be on Thursday 24 September. Please order via KINDO.
Year 6 Graduation: Remember to order your graduation Bear before Thursday 22 October.
Yearbook: Our annual yearbook is the ultimate keepsake, capturing the energy, achievements, and unforgettable moments of the past school year. Inside, you’ll find dedicated pages for every class, along with special features spotlighting our sports teams, cultural clubs, and Prize Giving award winners. Copies are available to order now via KINDO before Friday 20 November.
Hats for Term 4: As we head into Term 4, please remember that sun-smart habits are back in full swing. All students will be required to wear their school hats during outdoor activities, morning tea, and lunchtime. With a hot summer on the horizon, hats, sunscreen, and daily water bottles will be essential for keeping everyone safe and hydrated. Please take some time over the upcoming break to hunt down your child’s hat and make sure it is clearly labeled with their name.
PB4L: This week our PB4L focus centres on our value of Respect with a specific focus on ‘I can speak kindly to others’. Students are exploring kindness and understanding how words they choose directly affect the feelings and energy of those around them. Students will practice using polite phrases, reflecting on others’ feelings and sharing stories of kind moments with one another.
After school routine: A friendly reminder to all families that students must leave the school grounds by 3:15 PM unless they are directly supervised by an adult.
If you are staying to enjoy the playground after hours, you are more than welcome—we just ask that you remain with your child to ensure their safety. For students who need care after 3:15 PM, BizzyBodz offers on-site supervision every afternoon until 6:00 PM. Please reach out to them directly to arrange a placement.
Enrolment - Important: If you have a child in Year 6 please ensure that you have enrolled either in-zone or out-of-zone for intermediate school. In zone enrolments help the school to know how many out of zone places may be available.
If you have a younger child turning 5 in 2027 please can you complete an enrolment form for them so that we can start planning staff and classrooms.
We have some out-of-zone places (see below) available at Pigeon Mountain Primary School for 2027. Please email enrolment@pmps.school.nz to obtain your link to register for the upcoming ballot, before Wednesday 14 October.
Year 0: 50 places
Year 1: 18 places
Year 2: 15 places
Year 3: 9 places
Year 4: 13 places
Year 5: 8 places
Year 6: No places available.
Afterschool: We are thrilled to see our playground being enjoyed after hours under our new policy! Just a friendly reminder that students are welcome to use the play equipment after the bell only if a parent or caregiver is actively supervising them on site. If you are unable to be on school grounds to watch your child, please ensure they leave the property promptly by 3:15 PM. Teachers are not on duty after this time, and the school office is closed. If you require dedicated after-school supervision, we highly recommend our on-site care partner, BizzyBodz. You can reach out to them directly at eastakl@bizzybodz.co.nz to arrange care.
Property
Whakawatea/ Groundbreaking ceremony: Under the quiet cover of dawn at 5:45am on Monday, September 8, staff, students, and special guests gathered at Pigeon Mountain Primary School to mark a long-awaited community milestone, a whakawātea ground-breaking ceremony for a brand-new administration building.
By 6:00am, the crowd moved silently onto the site of the upcoming construction. Parent and Board member Chris Reed opened the morning with a blessing in te reo Māori, setting a peaceful, reverent, and exciting tone for the day ahead.
The turning of the first sod was led by Presiding Board Member Mark Eades, who was joined by Pakuranga MP Hon. Simeon Brown, current Principal Phebe Rossiter, former principals Ginty Bigwood and Dylan Marshall, and Ministry of Education Property Advisor Jessica Edmondson, alongside staff and student representatives.
Following the outdoor ceremony, guests gathered in the school hall for formal speeches, concluding with a spirited performance by the school’s kapa haka rōpū before sharing hot coffee, tea, and breakfast together.
You will be able to see that the builders are making good progress and working quickly. At this stage, only a few weeks in, we are on schedule which is a positive start.
If you are here on the weekend or after school please supervise your children near this area. There is safety fencing but please ensure that your child does not try to climb under the fence to retrieve any items.
Attendance Information
Attending school every day keeps your child fully engaged in their learning and ensures they don't miss out on important classroom moments, key concepts, and fun activities with friends. Every day builds a foundation for their success.
At the end of the term, an email is sent to all parents of students whose attendance falls in the ‘worrying’ category which is up to 10 days absence in a term.
Important Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
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
Curriculum Day (Teacher Only Day) Friday 6 November
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 23
Please phone: 027-6555574 Janet
Email: janeto@xtra.co.nz
