MBS Paanui Newsletter Term 4 Week 3 2026

Mangere Bridge

School Newsletter

Together we care we learn we succeed.

MBS PAANUI – NEWS

‘Together we care, we learn, we succeed’

‘Aroha, Ako, Angitu’

Term Four Week 3 Issue 8

Pou Tuuhono Inquiry Theme 2026

Connecting through Curriculum

‘Dare to Dream’

Term 4 Curriculum Area Focus: Social Sciences

Concept: ‘I can celebrate

Term 4

Calendar Dates

Important Updates!

Wednesday 28th October – Cross Country Zones CANCELLED!

Friday 30th October – Niuean Language Celebration Event Whole School Assembly at 2 pm

Monday 2nd November – Board Meeting 5.30 pm

Thursday 5th November – Book Character Parade 10 am

Friday 6th November – PTA Fundraiser ‘Cultural Celebration’ – Non-School Uniform Day!

Monday 9th November – Parent Meeting about Camp in 2027 (Year 5 Parents) 5 pm

Tuesday 10th November – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am (Induction with Parents 9 am)

Thursday 12th November – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am

Thursday 12th November – Diwali Day (Dress up in Traditional Wear)

Friday 13th November – MBS Athletics Day

Friday 13th November – World Kindness Day and Newsletter

Monday 16th November – Poowhiri 9 am

Friday 20th November – Student Leaders Trip to Rainbows End

Monday 23rd November – Tumau le Fa’avae Trip to Rainbows End

Tuesday 1st December – Whole School Prize Giving 9.30 am

Wednesday 2nd December – New Entrant Induction Meeting for Parents 9 am

New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am (NEW DATE)

Thursday 3rd December – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am (NEW DATE)

Thursday 3rd December – Santa Parade

Friday 4th December – Year 6 Graduation 9.15 am

Friday 4th December – Year 6 Graduation Dinner Celebration 5 – 7 pm (At School)

Monday 7th December – End of Year School Reports Go Live

Monday 7th December – Last Board Meeting 5.30 pm

Wednesday 9th December – End of Year Celebrations – Piiwaiwaka and Kea TBC

Wednesday 9th December – Te Hiaroa Poowhakanui TBC

Thursday 10th December – Te Hiaroa EOY Celebration Live Wire

Friday 11th December – Last Day of School FINISH AT 1 PM

Saturday 12th December – School Holidays Start

Important Update!

MOSA Inter-School

Cross Country Zones and Athletics Zones

CANCELLED!

Kia Ora Parents/Caregivers and MBS Whaanau we are writing to provide an important update regarding the MOSA Inter-School Cross Country Zones and Athletics Zones. Regrettably, we must inform you that both these events will not be going ahead this year and are cancelled due to factors beyond our control.

We acknowledge that the dates were listed on our school calendar however the leadership team have only been officially notified of this outcome at the end of last week following the MOSA meeting.

We sincerely apologise for the late notice and for any frustration or disappointment this news may cause. We understand how much this event means to our tamariki, particularly those who trained diligently and placed in our school cross country finals. It is deeply disappointing that our qualifiers will not have the opportunity to represent Maangere Bridge School at the zone level this year.

Please be assured we will still be formally recognising and celebrating all students who participated and placed in our school cross country and Athletics finals. Their hard work, determination, and achievements deserve to be honored.

Thank you very much for your patience, ongoing support, and understanding at this time.

MBS Senior Leadership Team

New Entrant Visits

Term 4 Dates

Please ensure to contact the school office if you are enrolling your child to start school at MBS. It is important for our new entrants to attend the visits to school as part of setting your child up for success! If you are interested in enrolling your child into the Bilingual and Immersion Units ‘Te Hiaroa’ or ‘Tumau le Fa’avae’ please see the school office for more information.

Term 4 New Dates

Tuesday 10th November – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am

Thursday 12th November – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am

Wednesday 2nd December – New Entrant Induction Meeting for Parents 9 am and

New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am (NEW DATE)

Thursday 3rd December – New Entrant Visits 9 – 10.30 am (NEW DATE)

We have moved the dates for the last new entrant visits to school for Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd December due to the last week of school being very busy with end of year celebrations. We appreciate your patience. Ngaa mihi

Expression of Interest in

Samoan Unit

‘Tumau le Fa’avae’

Please contact the school office.

Term 1 2027

Calendar Dates

2027 Term 1 Dates

Monday 1st February – Auckland Anniversary – Public Holiday

Tuesday 2nd February – Teacher Only Day

Wednesday 3rd February – First day of School and Poowhiri 9 am

Monday 8th February – Waitangi Day – School Closed

Thursday 4th March – Parent Information Evening 5.30 pm

Parent Meetings ‘Setting Student Goals’ with your child on

Wednesday 17th March (1.15 – 5.30 pm)

Thursday 18th March (3.15 – 6.30 pm)

Friday 26th March – GOOD FRIDAY – PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Monday 29th March – EASTER MONDAY – PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 30th March – EASTER TUESDAY – SCHOOL CLOSED

School Re-opens on Wednesday 31st March

Friday 9th April – Last day of Term 1 2027

Vagahau Niue

Niue Celebration Week

Whole School Assembly

Friday 30th October at 2 pm

Fakaalofa lahi atu!

We opened our celebrations for ‘Niue Celebration Week’ with a Flag Raising Ceremony and a blessing Karakia/Prayer by one of our Parents President Oscar Utai. His children are Scarlett, Shayla and LJay who are of Niuean and Samoan heritage. He shared about the theme for 2026 ‘Gahua auloa ke fakaako fakamalolō e Vagahau Niue – Working together to diligently teach and strengthen Vagahau Niue’ and how it aligns with our school values Kotahitanga. They also enjoyed singing the song ‘The Ants go marching one by one’ understanding the importance of working together to achieve successfully. Our lovely Room 7 students sang the Niue National Anthem waving the Niue Flag with such pride. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our staff Whaea Luana, Whaea Kui, Whaea Sam and Whaea Hala who have been supporting our students during lunch time practices, preparing their costumes and teaching Niue waiata in preparation for the Whole school assembly on Friday 30th October at 2 pm. We look forward to you joining us as part of our Niue Celebrations Week.

Fakaaue lahi

YEAR 6 CAMP 2026!

Thank you to all of our Parent Helpers

Ngaa mihi nui

On behalf of the MBS Board and Camp Staff we would like to thank all of our parent helpers who attended and supported our Year 6 Camp. Our tamariki had an amazing experience as part of EOTC Education Outside the Classroom and it was a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities held at CYC Camp Waipa which were not only challenging but lots of fun. We would also like to thank and acknowledge the Lale family who donated the fruit (bananas and oranges) for our students and adults to enjoy at camp. We look forward to seeing more photos of the 2026 Year 6 Camp in our next newsletter. Ngaa mihi

Swimming Pool

Celebration Launch!

Details coming soon!

We are thrilled to share an exciting milestone with our MBS community! Throughout the year, our dedicated Swimming Pool Sub-Committee, alongside staff, board members, and parent volunteers, have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to plan and deliver the refurbishment of our school swimming pool.

Our school pool has been a cherished heart of our community for over 60 years. We are delighted to see our tamariki back in the water, enjoying the pool as a central gathering space for learning, fitness, and connection.

This major enhancement would not have been possible without the collective effort and generosity of our wider community. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to making this vision a reality:

Jamie Archibald from Aktive and Boaz Moala from Māngere -Ōtāhuhu Local Board : For their valuable grant funding and ongoing support toward local sports and physical activity facilities.

PTA Fundraising Committee: For their passionate leadership, organisation, and tireless efforts running community fundraisers throughout the year.

School Fun Run 2026: To all our students, whaanau, and sponsors who helped raise funds to support our pool refurbishment.

Our Caretaker: A special shout-out to Matua Bo for overseeing repairs and maintenance, setting up the pool space, keeping it tidy and organised for our students.

Sub-Committee: We also would like to give a special thanks and acknowledgement to our Swimming Pool Sub-committee (Nicola O, Danielle S, Ellie T, Candace N, Jasmine H, Mark S and Matua Bo) who have been meeting, planning and working on this project plan throughout the year alongside the Board which has involved time and commitment. Ngaa mihi nui

The pool refurbishment works, including emptying, concrete plastering, sanding, and repainting, are complete. Our Tamariki are enjoying the pool and dates and details for the official Community Celebration Launch will be announced soon.

We are so grateful to have a vibrant, well-maintained facility for our children to enjoy now and for generations to come. Keep an eye out for upcoming Hero posts and notices with further details regarding our official Swimming Pool Celebration Launch.

Ngaa mihi nui, Fa’afetai tele lava,

Important Reminder:

Be Sun Smart!

‘Wear a sunhat’ in Term 4

Library Paanui/Notice

Reminders!

Book Week is coming to Maangere Bridge School

November 2-6, 2026!

Books and connection are at the heart of our library and Book Week helps us celebrate and encourage a life-long love of reading. We’ve got a week of fun activities planned along with an author visit for our Kea students and the ever-popular book character parade on Thursday, 5th November at 10am.

We are excited to share that we are running the Scholastic Book Club this term; a fantastic way to encourage your child’s love of reading! There’s some amazing deals for Christmas and every order helps earn rewards we can use to purchase books and resources for our school. Ordering is easy online or for more information please see the post on Hero. Orders close 30/10/26.

Book Character Parade

Thursday 5th November

@ 10 am

Our students are welcome to be creative and dress up as one of their favourite book characters. It is optional to participate and look forward to seeing some creative costumes.

PTA Paanui/Notice

‘Non-Unform Day!’

Friday 6th November

‘Christmas Hamper Raffle’

Kia ora MBS Whaanau,

The Maangere Bridge School PTA is getting ready for our Christmas Hamper Raffle, raising funds to support our school! To help fill our Christmas hampers with lots of lovely treats and goodies, we’re holding a Non-Uniform Day on Friday 6 November.

We’re asking each child to bring one donated item from their classroom’s assigned category in exchange for wearing non-uniform clothes.

Donations can be brought into classrooms any day from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November.

Non-Uniform Day is Friday 6 November only.

What should your child bring?

Each classroom has been allocated a category to help us create a lovely mix of Christmas hampers. Please see poster requesting items from each classroom.

A few things to remember

● All donated items must be unopened, in date (including over Christmas) and in their original packaging.

● Please choose non-perishable items only — no homemade food or items needing refrigeration.

● There’s no need to spend lots — every contribution is appreciated!

All donated goodies will be used to create Christmas hampers, which will be raffled off later this term. All funds raised will go back towards supporting our school and tamariki.

Ngaa mihi, Maangere Bridge School PTA

YEAR 6 CAMP 2027

Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th March 2027

SAVE THE DATE!

Important Reminder:

Parent Meeting for next year’s Camp

Monday 9th November 5 pm 2026

Kia Ora Year 5 Parents, please ensure to attend the Camp meeting for your child held on Monday 9th November at 5 pm in the auditorium There are only 4 – 5 months before your child attends the Year 6 camp in 2027. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

MBS Athletics Day

Friday 13th November