Kia ora e te whaanau,

As we head towards the halfway point of the term, there is so much to celebrate across our kura. From sporting achievements and academic challenges to exciting adventures like Snow Camp, our tamariki continue to demonstrate resilience, enthusiasm, and a love for ako.

Thank you for the ongoing support you provide, it makes all the difference in helping our learners thrive. We hope you enjoy this week’s updates and join us in acknowledging the successes and milestones of our school community.

Sports

Ka mau te wehi to all our students who represented Glenbrook School at the Franklin Netball event last week! Thank you to the whaanau and staff who organised, managed, and supported our teams on the day.

A huge congratulations also to our students who completed the Tough Guy Tough Gal Challenge. It was a fantastic experience, and our tamariki showed incredible determination and enthusiasm.

Exams

Ngaa mihi nui to all our students who have opted into the ICAS assessments over the coming weeks. This week we begin with Technology and Writing, followed by English, Science, Spelling, and Mathematics.

Students attending Snow Camp who are registered for exams will sit these while at camp, ensuring they don’t miss out on either opportunity.

Staffing Updates

We warmly welcome Mrs Sarah Taylor, who begins her teaching journey with us this week. Mrs Taylor will be based in Parekere, supporting our growing roll. We also welcome back Miss Ashley Kearney, returning to her role as a teacher aide and working across our kura.

We are delighted to congratulate Mrs Jamie Lambert, who is expecting a baby! Mrs Lambert will begin maternity leave in 2026.

We also farewell Mrs Tina Meredith, who will be leaving us at the end of the year as her whaanau relocates to the city, where both of her children will be attending school. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best.

Finally, we are excited to announce the return of Miss Charlotte Buchanan, who has been serving as Acting Principal in a kura in Te Tai Tokerau (the Far North). She will return in Term 4 as Team Leader of Poukai.

Home Learning

We are proud of the many students who consistently engage with their Home Learning and enjoy celebrating their efforts each week. However, there are still a number of students who are not completing their assigned tasks such as STEPs, Mathletics, Action English, and regular reading.

Home Learning is an important part of a child’s education. It nurtures independence, time management, and perseverance. It fosters confidence and resilience, vital life skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

We encourage whaanau to support and praise their children’s efforts. You can track submission of Home Learning through the weekly acknowledgements of who has completed and submitted their Home Learning in our celebrations newsletter. 

Snow Camp

This week I head away to our biannual Snow Camp. A much anticipated and highlight of our students time here at Glenbrook School. At Glenbrook School, we believe that learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Our school camps, and in particular our much anticipated Snow Camp, are a vital part of our holistic education approach. They provide tamariki with powerful opportunities to grow in confidence, independence, and resilience.

Snow Camp offers a rich environment for students to challenge themselves, form deeper friendships, and experience the magic of Aotearoa’s alpine landscape. Whether learning to ski, working as a team during white water rafting and hiking, or supporting one another through new experiences like trout fishing and mountain biking, students build skills that cannot be taught in books alone,  perseverance, empathy, adaptability, and self-belief.

These shared experiences create lifelong memories and strengthen the values we hold dear as a school community, whanaungatanga (connection), ako (reciprocal learning), and manaakitanga (care for others). We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements during Snow Camp and grateful to the whaanau, staff, and community who make these experiences possible.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s learning journey. It is a privilege to lead a school community where our tamariki are encouraged to grow in confidence, character, and curiosity every day. I look forward to sharing with you about our Snow Camp.

Ms Lysandra Stuart

PRINCIPAL Glenbrook SchoolLEAD PRINCIPAL Waiuku Kahui Ako

M.Ed with First Class Honours, B.Ed, Dip.T, P.G Dip. Ed, B.LS