From the Acting Principal
新年快乐
Happy New Year! Whether you celebrated on 1st January, the Lunar New Year on 29th January, or both, the start of a new year is always a wonderful time for fresh beginnings.
On Friday, we welcomed new families, students, and staff to Pigeon Mountain Primary School with a traditional whakatau (a simplified version of a pōwhiri). This rite of passage symbolises that you are now part of our school whānau—this is your school home.
Our new students may still be finding their way around, but before long, they will feel at home—confident, comfortable, and ready to help others. It’s a joy to see our 35 new students settling in so quickly, already exemplifying our school values in their conversations, dress, and play.
We are also privileged to welcome some outstanding new teachers to our team in 2025. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for their introductions!
Teaching and Learning (Akoranga)
Restorative Practices
Teachers and staff were in on Tuesday 28th January to learn about Restorative Practices (RP). These practices are the natural next step for our school which has used the Positive Behaviour For Learning (PB4L) model for 5 years.
Restorative Practice is a relational approach to managing school life grounded in beliefs about equality, dignity, mana and the potential of all people.
The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Restorative Practice model focuses on building and maintaining positive, respectful relationships across the school community and offers school staff best-practice tools and techniques to maintain and restore relationships. By building and maintaining positive, respectful relationships within a school, staff to staff, staff to student and student to student, issues are more easily managed.
(From the Ministry of Education)
Class Matrix – PB4L Values
Every class in the school has been talking about how our students can show the school values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence and Resilience in and out of the classroom. We encourage you to ask your child about this as it will give you a good sense of their growing understanding of the routines and expectations of their new class.
Classroom Release Time – Specialist Programme
We began our classroom release time for teachers today, providing students with engaging learning experiences. I had the pleasure of joining Room 11 in Mrs Barker’s class, where students participated in play-based learning activities. This approach fosters creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. All of our junior classes will have the opportunity to explore this hands-on, student-centered method as part of their learning journey.
Safer Internet Day – 11th February
Safer Internet Day is a global day of action that takes place annually in February to promote collaborative efforts to build a safer online world. This year’s theme is“Too good to be true”. Check out ‘Hector’s World’ – Episode 5 titled ‘A Searabbit Hole’ which is about misinformation online and the importance of critical thinking, and is a great introduction to digital literacy and a crucial skills required to spot scams online.
Extra Curricular
Sports Calendar – Keep an eye out for the sports this term and encourage your child to sign up for these opportunities. Giving new sports a go is a demonstration of our school values of Resilience and Excellence.
- Cricket – 5, 19 and 28th March
- Rotary Fun Run – Sunday 16th March
- Swimming – Friday 21st March
School Community Events
Meet the Teacher – Tuesday 4th February
Thank you to all who attended our Meet the Teacher evening. It was wonderful to engage with you and set the year off right with an understanding of what the priorities are for your child in their new year level and new classroom.
Whānau picnic – Thursday 13th February
We welcome you to join us for a more casual event on Thursday 13th February. This is our whānau picnic. Bring your own food, blanket and sports equipment and enjoy the time to catch up with new and old friends and families. We kick things off at 5pm on the school field.
Policies and Procedures
Attendance Target – 80% of students regular attendance
Regular attendance at school helps build and maintain a child’s learning and positive daily habits and routines, as well as promoting their wellbeing by connecting them to their peers and learning new things.
Plan trips away during the holidays to ensure that you do not disrupt your child’s learning.
Biking policy
This year we will supply bike riding licences to and from school. Only children that have these licences will be able to ride their bike. I will meet with students tomorrow that are interested.
Uniform
Student uniforms are looking great so far! One thing I’ve noticed is that many children leave their shirts untucked, which can look untidy. This week, I’ll be handing out Responsibility value hearts to students who take pride in their appearance and wear their uniform neatly. Please encourage your child to tuck in their shirt when walking to and from school.
School Grounds at the end of the day
We have a policy that our playground is not allowed to be used after school until 4pm. We stipulate this time as it gives children enough time to go home, have a snack and return with adult supervision to play. A reminder that all students should be off site by 3:15pm unless they are in BizzyBodz.
2025 School Donations
Dates for your Diary
Tuesday 11 February – Safer Internet Day
Thursday 13 February – School Tour 9.30am
Thursday 13 February – Family Picnic 5pm
@school parent app
Please ensure that you have downloaded the @school parent app. The @school parent app is our preferred method of reporting absences, accessing student reports, receiving newsletters and school notices. When setting up your app please make sure that you enter yes to notifications – this will mean that you will get an alert each time a notice/newsletter is available. Please contact the office if you are unable to access the @school app.
Absences from School
Please use the @school parent app to report an absence or the school website
Collecting Students during the school day
If you need to collect your child for an appointment during the school day please contact the office 09 534 9765 or email general@pmps.school.nz to arrange. If possible please arrange to collect your child before or after the morning tea and lunch breaks, as it is difficult to find children during these times. Morning tea is 10.50am until 11.15am, lunch from 12.45pm until 1.45pm.
Community Notices
Guitar lessons with Ben
Art Classes with Janet
