MBS PAANUI – NEWS
‘Together we care, we learn, we succeed’
‘Aroha, Ako, Angitu’
Final Newsletter 2025
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Principal’s Final Message
2025
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Kia Ora, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Namaste and warm pacific greetings Parents/Caregivers and MBS Whaanau.
We would like to thank you all for supporting our staff and students this year. A special thank you to our volunteers, parent helpers, PTA and local businesses who have contributed towards Maangere Bridge School. Ngaa mihi
We farewell some of our staff Ms Thompson (Room 14 Teacher) Matua Jim and Matua Alan (Room 4 Teachers) and Whaea Kathy (Part Time Room 8 Teacher) who have been amazing and will be missed. We look forward to keeping connected in the future. We welcome back Whaea Alisa who will be the new teacher in Room 16.
We also acknowledge SKIDS (After school programme) who will no longer be operating at our school. We would like to thank them for their service for our parents and the wider community over the years. Please refer to their final notice in our Community Paanui below for more information.
As we reflect on 2025 we can be proud of our school’s achievements and celebrate the success of student’s progress and learning.
Our Theme for 2025 ‘Ko wai Ahau?’ Who am I? was definitely a highlight and this was reflected in our School Production held at the Maangere Performing Arts Centre which was a first for MBS. The unique talent from our tamariki was outstanding.
Some of the highlights this year have been the Year 6 Camp , Annual Matariki Night Market, Poohutukawa Festival, Poo Whakanui, The School’s Education Review Report which was both positive and encouraging with next steps and recommendations including the Board approving the implementation plan to start the first Pacific Samoan Immersion Unit in 2026. These are just a few of the events celebrated with the support of our community.
We know that our teachers will be developing their knowledge and understanding of the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh ‘Te Mataiaho’ at the start of the year during our Teacher Only Days and as part of Staff Professional Learning. One of the Education objectives is to support every student to attain their highest possible educational achievement and grow a love of lifelong learning in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.
At MBS our Vision ‘Aroha, Ako, Angitu’ ‘Together we care, we learn and we succeed’ is reflected through our school values ‘Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga, Rangatiratanga and Kotahitanga’. We look forward to sharing the strategic and annual goals for 2026 focussing on what is important and matters that will shift and improve student achievement.
We are excited to share with you the Theme for 2026
‘Dare to Dream’
We look forward to sharing the launching of ‘Pou Tuuhono’ (MBS Student Inquiry Framework) ‘Connecting through Curriculum’.
Finally, we would like to farewell our Year 6 graduates and their families as well as other whaanau who are leaving us this year. Thank you for all your support and partnership with Maangere Bridge School. We hope that you will continue to remember our MBS School Values.
May you all have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday with your whaanau and be safe during the festive season. We look forward to 2026.
Ngaa mihi nui, Fa’afetai tele lava, Fakaaue lahi
Fetaia’ioaiga Bernice Mata’utia
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Merry Christmas to our Maangere Bridge School community!
I trust you and your whaanau will take time to rest, relax, reflect, and laugh this holiday season.
In Term 4, we were pleased with the significant gains our school has made in achievement data across Maths, Reading, and Writing. We also celebrated our pupils’ success at the recent school prizegiving and farewelled our Year 6 whānau.
The Board is excited for 2026 and will continue to work hard to support Principal Mata’utia, staff, and our pupils. A significant highlight for 2026 is the commencement of our Samoan Unit, which will offer Level 1 immersion learning.
Alongside this, we will be placing a renewed emphasis on attendance and engagement, and look forward to partnering with whānau to ensure our pupils are present and thriving.
We also want to ensure every whaanau feels safe and welcomed. To that end, we are reviewing our Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) policies and practices to ensure they remain robust and effective for all pupil activities.
We look forward to embracing our 2026 theme, “Dare to Dream”.
Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Justis Kamu, Presiding Member, on behalf of Maangere Bridge School Board.
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It has been a great year of support from our PTA with lots of fun filled memories. We would like to acknowledge all of our PTA members (friends and the committee) for all their hard work, time and support for our tamariki. Thank you to Jas Hughes the previous PTA Chairperson and Eli Tomic our current PTA Chairperson. If you would like to be part of the PTA please contact the school or you can speak to one of our PTA members. Ngaa mihi
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2026 Calendar Dates
Term 1
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Week 1
Monday 2nd February – First Day of School and Poowhiri 9 am
Friday 6th February – Waitangi Day (Public Holiday) – School Closed
Week 2
Thursday 12th February – Whaanau Picnic 3 – 5 pm
Week 3
Thursday 19th February – Parent Information Evening 5.30 pm
Week 4
Wednesday 25th February – Samoan Fono 3.15 pm
Friday 27th February – Whole School Assembly 2 pm
Week 5
Wednesday 4th March – Maaori Whaanau Community Hui/Meeting
Week 6
Wednesday 11th March – MBS Community Hui/Meeting
Week 7
Tuesday 17th March – PTA Committee Meeting 6 pm
Friday 20th March – Whole School Assembly 2 pm
Week 8
Tuesday 24th March – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am
Thursday 26th March – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am
Friday 27th March – Splash Day – Swimming Sports
Week 9
Tuesday 31st March – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am
Wednesday 1st April – Purple Day – International Awareness Day of Epilepsy
Wednesday 1st April – Last Day of Term 1 Finish 3 pm
Thursday 2nd April – Teacher Only Day! – School Closed for Instruction
Friday 3rd April – GOOD FRIDAY Public Holiday – School Closed for Instruction
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First Day of School 2026
Monday 2nd February
Poowhiri 9 am
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Waitangi Day – Public Holiday
Friday 6th February
School Closed
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Whaanau Picnic
Thursday 19th February
3 – 5 pm
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The purpose of our annual Whaanau picnic is not only a time to connect and eat together but it a way of building relationships with other whaanau as part of Whakawhanaungatanga.
What will the day look like?
Families can come between 3 and 5 pm with food to eat with your whaanau or extended whaanau/family. There will be sports equipment available for our tamariki to play with and we will also open up the swimming pool (weather permitted) and parents will be responsible for their child or children on this day. It is an informal event and an opportunity for getting to know other families as well as meeting the teachers who will be there to say hello to their students and parents for 2026.
Who: It is for our families who attend Maangere Bridge School
Time: After school Between 3 and 5 pm
Where: Outside on the grass areas of the school
Please contact the school office if you have any paatai/questions
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Samoan Immersion Unit
Starts in Term 1 2026
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Talofa lava, we would like to thank all of our families for supporting the Samoan Fono/Meetings this year and being part of the conversations of what we hope to achieve in our first year. If you would like to enrol your child into the Samoan Immersion Unit please email directly Bernicem@mangerebridge.school.nz We will send you the enrolment application forms to complete. If your child is currently attending MBS you will only need to complete the Samoan Unit Enrolment form. The class is for Years 0 – 3 and we will be making contact with each family with a time to discuss more information about the unit and expectations as part of the partnership and commitment from our families. We look forward to you being part of this journey and will ensure to keep you updated with regards to important dates for the opening. Fa’afetai tele lava.
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Haapaitia te ara tika puumau ai te rangatiratanga moo ngaa uri whakatipu
Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations.
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E ngaa whaanau o Maunga Pikitea, kua tae taatou ki te mutunga o te tau. He ngaakau hihiko taaku e mihi ana ki a koutou, ngaa whaanau o eenei piipii paopao, moo too koutou tautoko me too koutou uu ki ngaa kaupapa maha o teenei akomanga. I teenei tau, kua kitea te ngaakau titikaha, te manawanui me te kaha o aa taatou tamariki.
He tino miharo, he tino rerehua ngaa hua kua puta i ngaa wiki kua pahure ake nei. Kua whakanuitia ngaa angituu maha o aa taatou tauira. He waa whakahirahira eenei hei whakamana, hei whakanui i te ekenga panuku o ia tamaiti.
E tino whakawhetai ana au moo te whai waahitanga ki te whakaako, ki te poipoi, ki te maataki hoki i te tipu o eenei tamariki i roto i te tau. He tino honore ki ahau te noho hei kaiako moo Maunga Pikitea, aa, ka noho eenei maharatanga hei taonga moo ake tonu atu.
He aroha whakatoo, he aroha puta mai.
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Ko ngā tino wāhanga whakahirahira mōku ko te haere tahi me ngā tamariki o Te Hiaroa ki Livewire, ki te whakanui, me te whakakapi i tēnei tau
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Te Pane o Mataoho
Whaanau
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Kua too te raa ki runga i teenei tau miiharo rawa atu.
Kua puta te maaramatanga, kua maaneanea hoki te tirohanga atu. Kua whakapau kaha a Te Pane o Mataoho ki te whakatinana i te oohaakii o too taatou arikinui.
Tinorangatiratangatia too reo.
Manamotuhaketia te taiao.
Tinorangatiratangatia to hauora.
Manamotuhaketia too paa harakeke.
Pai maarire.
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THANK YOU for the amazing support during the year in this learning area!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026
These photos show what our plants looks like before they were planted from Raquel who works at Maangere East Family Service alongside our kura.
Fakaaue lahi
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What a wonderful year we’ve had in Room 1! Our tamariki absolutely loved swimming this term and looked forward to it every single week. Bike days were another big highlight, with lots of smiles, confidence, and fun on wheels. In the classroom, we explored patterns in maths and even wrote our very own letters to Santa.
Our class visits for 2026 went smoothly, and it was lovely watching the children show pride and excitement for their next steps. We wrapped up the year with an awesome little concert. Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support us.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From Room 1.
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Term 4 was a very busy one, with a range of student assessments taking place, including e-asTTle writing, BSLA, and JAM testing. The students thoroughly enjoyed their weekly biking and swimming sessions. In Week 9, we had new entrants visits for students who will be joining us in 2026. We also completed the end-of-year reports, which were sent home in week 10. Week 10 brought plenty of excitement as well as the entire Piiwaiwaka whaanau who took part in FUN DAY, enjoying a variety of activities and a shared lunch outside Rooms 3 and 4. We finished the year by farewelling two amazing teachers, who will be dearly missed by our kura.
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CELEBRATING MILESTONES
A highlight of the year has been the whaungatanga around sharing and celebrating important dates and events. Pacific language weeks. Happy birthday Freddie.
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Cross country, Fun Day, Athletics Day. We do like sunny days.
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MBS Production. Term 3. So proud of the kotahitanga with Piiwaiwaka team.
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Fakaalofa lahi atu
This term, Ruma Rima has enjoyed a number of special highlights. We have taken every opportunity to celebrate together, from learning in the classroom and outside, birthdays and cultural events such as fireworks, to strengthening Kotahitanga through shared experiences.
We concluded the year with a special celebration in which our kaiako served the students, creating a memorable and meaningful end to the term. Mere Kerihimete everyone from Ruma Rima! Our favourite quote… “STAY COOL AND BE SAFE” Blessings in 2026 🙂
Fakaaue lahi
Whaea Hala and Whaea Jenny
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Hello from the MiGHTY Room 7!
Wow! What an awesome year we’ve had in 2025! We learned lots of new things, made great friends, and practiced being kind, brave, and helpful every day. Our classroom was full of smiles, laughter, and big learning moments! We made it to the end of the year safe and sound, and now we are very excited for our holidays! Thank you to our amazing teachers and whaanau for cheering us on, helping us learn, and looking after us all year long. We wish everyone a super Merry Christmas and a happy, safe New Year. See you in 2026! Ready for more fun and learning! From The Mighty Room 7.
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The highlight of the term (if not year) for Room 8 was planning, practicing, and performing in the Week 6 School Assembly. They were phenomenal! Room 8 has been especially engaged in learning activities during Term 4. They have enjoyed the library reopening, reading chapter books in class (Ninja Kid), putting on plays, learning new songs and dances, diving into the world of fractions, drumming lessons, swimming, bikes, skipping, and belly breathing. What a fabulous end to the year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
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Thank you for an another amazing year in the library. Keep up your reading over the holidays with a free reading challenge through the Auckland Council Libraries (please see details below). Whaea Rose can’t wait to have more reading adventures in 2026 with you all. Sign up your tamariki for Raumati Reads and get the whole whaanau involved to celebrate reading!
Raumati Reads is a free, fun summer reading challenge designed for primary school-aged children to help them maintain their reading levels over the summer break, ready for the new school year.
You can register in person at your local branch of Auckland Council Libraries, collect your challenge pack and get started on a summer of reading adventures!
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Ruma Tekau maa Tahi
Room 11
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Kia Ora, It has been a wonderful final last weeks of learning in Room 11. We completed our assessments for the term in Reading, Writing, BSLA and Maths. Some students from our room who were student leaders and librarians also had a chance to go to Rainbows End and they were delighted to be there.
In Week 9 we had our MBS Prize Giving Day and the recipients were very happy for the awards they received. We also had the privilege of attending the Year 6 graduation and this motivated our Year 5’s to do better next year to receive special awards. Kea also had their End of Year celebration which was Top Town and the students enjoyed the activities.
To the students and families of Room 11, your support and understanding has been invaluable in making this year a memorable one and a big Vinakavakalevu to everyone. From Room 11 and Matua Selvin, we wish all of our family and friends at Maangere Bridge School a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Enjoy!!!
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Ruma Tekau maa Rua
Room 12
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A Year of Learning and Fun
This year in Room 12 it has been an incredible journey, full of exciting learning experiences and memorable moments. Students explored new ideas through maths, reading, writing, inquiry, and online learning on Google Classroom, building skills for the year ahead. Highlights included Culture Day, sports, music and dance, art projects, and our assembly performance, all of which made us proud of our achievements. A special thank you to Annelise’s mum, who visited last week and led a fantastic paper craft activity with the children. End-of-year celebrations, rewards, and fun activities brought lots of joy, and we are grateful to all the whaanau for their support and aroha throughout the year.
Ngaa mihi moo too koutou tautoko i teenei tau!
Wishing everyone a happy, restful holiday and an inspiring New Year ahead.
Aroha nui (much love), Miss Lingam
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Ruma Tekau maa Toru
Room 13
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“Ka pii te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi”
Warm Summer Greetings to all our Room 13 Whanau.
Room 13 crossed the finish line in style, taking their Term 4 Inquiry to the next level. The students had to put on their Gordan Ramsey and Jamie Oliver aprons on to plan, organise, create and share a Healthy Kai (dish) for our Ka Ora, Ka Ako Kai Day. Thank You Whanau for your support. The kai was yummy and the evidence (videos) were professionally made. Then Room 13 had to research and inquire information on Promoting Health and Preventing Illness. All the projects looked amazing and stunning. We wrapped up our Human Biology mahi with learning about the Respiratory System – Lungs, The Kidneys, The Skeletal System & The Muscular System. That’s a lot of systems. Then we completed our Fitness Training (1 Minute Challenges) for 7 weeks, gearing up towards our Post Fitness Testing (Beep Test, Bronco, Agility & 40 Meter Sprint Tests). What a proud moment to see our class build resilience, confidence and personal growth. Nga Mihi. We even had the Kea Whaanau Fun Day full of land and water activities. Whole School Prize Giving and Yr 6 Graduation plus Yr 6 Dinner 2025. So much in so little time.
To our Room 13 Year 6 students, Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. All the best for 2026 and for your next learning journeys. Kia Kaha.
Now a message to our returning Year 5 students, Enjoy your holidays and I look forward to seeing you in 2026.
Nga Mihi to all Akomanga 13 whaanau through all this time I’ve been at MBS for your endless support towards your child’s learning in our class. May you all have a colourful Christmas and a Promising New Year.
Signing off, for the last time for 2025
Matua Peter and Whaanau.
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Eva M, Jay Leigh I, Laurianne N, Harper M, Devine T, Nalisha K, Rachel S, Denver H, Joe K, Charlie R, Blake T & Tj W (L – R: Back)
Elisabeth M, Ruby G, Zoe C, Sean T & Karlo J (Front)
David F & A’isha S (Absent)
Our Room 13 Yr 6’s 2025
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Ruma Tekau maa Whaa
Room 14
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As we come to the end of the 2025 school year, Room 14 and I would like to thank all of our whaanau for your support, encouragement, and amazing effort with attendance and our learning journey.
Over the past few weeks, we have completed our student inquiry “Ko Wai Ahau? – Healthy Me”, celebrated Thanksgiving with our buddy class in Room 1, and have written letters to our future selves. Below are some very wise student quotes from those letters; encouragement for us all.
Have a safe and wonderful summer break!
Mā te Atua hei manaaki,
Miss Thompson
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Ruma Tekau maa Rima
Room 15
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Time truly flies when you’re having fun with the best class ever! It is a privilege to teach, guide, and watch my tamariki grow in Room 15. They surprise me every single day. What a journey it has been. As a teacher, your heart multiplies by the second.
Let’s dive into what we have been doing in Room 15.
This term, we embraced the excitement of Year 6 camp, an unforgettable experience filled with adventure and growth. We explored Te Whare Tapa Whaa, diving deep into the cornerstones of our health and well-being, and even created our own whare that shared the activities and ideas that bring us peace, happiness, and joy. Athletics Day was another highlight. It was such a fun and energetic day! We got to learn new skills, cheer each other on, and celebrate each small win. A few of our classmates even made it through to our athletics team to represent our kura, and we couldn’t be more proud of them. Alongside this, we strengthened our persuasive writing skill, learning how to organise, unpack, and express our ideas clearly and confidently. We enjoyed an awesome day with the Top Town team, learning the true meaning of teamwork as we collaborated with our friends in Kea and lived out our school values. We also had the privilege of witnessing our tuakana graduate, A proud and inspiring moment for us all.
As we close this year together, we do so with love in our hearts, stepping proudly into the new year and the opportunities waiting for each of us. To my amazing tamariki in Room 15: It has been an honour watching you grow into the incredible beings that you are today. I am so proud of your hard work, and I wish you all the very best for 2026.
That’s Whaea Princess and Room 15 signing out for 2025. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Ruma Tekau maa Ono
Room 16
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As we approach the end of the school year, our class has been finishing with a bang!.
In Mathematics, Room 16 has been learning about the area of rectangles and exploring introductory algebra concepts.
In Reading, we proudly completed our class novel, Wonder, engaging in rich discussions about kindness, empathy, and perspective.
For our Inquiry – Ko wai ahau? (Who am I?), students investigated how the body processes food and the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, and good sportsmanship. They discovered how these habits not only strengthen our bodies but also help keep our minds sharp and focused.
As we prepare to farewell our Year 6 students, we wish them all the very best as they move on to new schools and new adventures. We are proud of each and every one of them and look forward to seeing the amazing things they will achieve.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE
CLOSING OF SKIDS AT MBS
Last day 19th December 2025
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If you have any questions for the Skids MBS Team please email hello@skids.co.nz or call 0800 274 172.
Ngaa mihi nui
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