Principal’s Message
Dear Parents and Whānau,
What a vibrant and inspiring couple of weeks we have had at our school. From deep mathematical inquiry to the creative joy of reading, our students continue to demonstrate our core value of Excellence by consistently giving their absolute best every day.
On Friday 23 October, our teaching staff completed our third and final professional development session with our Maths facilitator. It was an exciting and collaborative day focused on problem-solving, statistics, and designing impactful extension and enrichment opportunities for our learners.
While many of our students achieve excellent academic results, our goal is to ensure that our capable learners are continually challenged. True extension isn't simply about giving students more work, it is about providing rich, complex mathematical problems that deepen conceptual understanding. We want our learners to actively engage, articulate their strategies, collaborate on ideas, and justify their mathematical reasoning.
Speaking of mathematical excellence, we have some fantastic news to share! Hayden M (Year 6) was recently invited to participate in the prestigious Final Challenge competition through the Otago Problem Challenge. Competing alongside 855 talented students across Years 6 to 8, Hayden placed 2nd overall in Year 6. This is an outstanding achievement, and we are incredibly proud of his hard work and mathematical brilliance.
We also wrapped up an incredible Book Week last week. We clearly have some extraordinarily talented students and families, as evidenced by the phenomenal costumes on display during our Book Parade. Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who put so much effort into helping create those memorable outfits.
Throughout the week, students were immersed in a dynamic range of reading activities, including the "Where’s Wally?" School-Wide Challenge, Stop, Drop, and Read and Buddy Reading.
Thank you all for your ongoing support in making our school a place where academic achievement, creativity, and enthusiasm thrive side by side.
Warm regards,
Ngā mihi nui,
Phebe Rossiter
Principal
Pigeon Mountain Primary School
Student Achievement and Celebration
Strategic Planning: We are required by the Ministry of Education to review and update our Strategic Plan for 2027-2028. We value your feedback and would appreciate it if you could complete this survey by Friday 30 October.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/MoZtPu3V43ZWHdgU7
School News and Announcements
PB4L: This week our PB4L focus is on our school value of Respect and positive communication across the school. Our junior students are exploring how kind words affect feelings, practicing everyday manners like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and filling classroom kindness jars when they spot positive choices. Meanwhile, our senior students are learning the difference between jokes and hurtful comments. They are learning the gold standard rule, that the listener decides if a joke is hurtful and practicing how to be active upstanders.
Action required! If you have a child turning 5 at any time in 2027 please ensure that you have completed the enrolment form so we know how many out-of-zone places are available. It is really easy to complete an in-zone enrolment and you complete the form online via our website.
Literacy Open Morning: Come along to our Literacy Open Morning this Friday 30 October. Meet in the hall 9.00 - 9.45am to hear about our programme and then spend time in classrooms 9.45 - 10.30am engaging in literacy activities.
Friday Freeze: This term our Friday Freeze will be up and running. You can purchase tickets on KINDO and then on Friday your child will be able to pick up an iceblock from the tiger turf. This new fundraiser is to raise money to enhance our playground areas.
Classes for 2027: We will be starting the process for organising our classes for 2027 very shortly. You should have received our optional student placement form. This is your opportunity to share crucial information regarding your child’s needs, such as ongoing social challenges or specific learning and behavioural considerations. Please keep in mind that we cannot accept requests for specific teachers or friends, but we value your insight into factors that will support your child’s success.
World Teachers Day: On Friday, 30 October, our school community will be celebrating World Teachers' Day! This special day is a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on and appreciate the incredible passion, dedication, and care our teaching staff bring to our school every day.
If you would like to join in the celebrations, we encourage you to support your child in making a hand-made card or writing a note of appreciation for their teacher. A small message of thanks means the world to our educators and brightens the
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.
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.
Attendance Information
Just a reminder that right up until the last day of school we have lots of important events and learning happening. Please try to send your child every day in Term 4.
Key dates for your diary:
9-11 December - Prizegiving and Graduation
14 December - Meet your new class and teacher for 2027 and Yearbooks given out
15 December - Our final day of school, finishing at 12.30pm.
Litter Free: A reminder that our school is litter free. Please make sure that all litter goes home with your child. There is a concerning amount of litter appearing on our site including walkways to our school. Let’s all make our environment tidier.
Property
The construction of our Admin building is on time and it's exciting to see this space change each day.
Important Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
Term 4: Monday 12th October - Tuesday 15 December
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
