Kia Ora e te Whaanau,

Can you believe this is our last full week? Yesterday we held our 2026 transition morning and it was so lovely to see the excitement and collaboration across all our classes with their 2026 teacher and 2026 peers. You would have received a welcome newsletter from your child’s 2026 teacher, our 2026 Glenbrook information booklet, update personal details and digital agreements for years 3-8.  Please return your forms before Monday.

Staff vs Students

Today we will play our annual staff vs student Whaanau game. Good luck to all our students and staff Feel free to come along and cheer!

Year 8s

This week is a truly special milestone for our Year 8 rangatahi as they come together to celebrate the end of their primary and intermediate journey. It is a time filled with pride, reflection, and excitement as they look back on the friendships formed, the challenges overcome, and the incredible growth they have achieved during their years at kura. To honour this significant transition, our Year 8s will enjoy a very special Graduating Year 8 dinner on Friday with whaanau and staff. It is a time that acknowledge their leadership, their contribution to our school community, and the bright futures ahead.

As they prepare to take their next steps, our message to them is this: be brave, be kind, and trust in the potential you carry. Your journey so far has shaped you, but it is your courage, your values, and your willingness to dream boldly that will shape what comes next. Haere whakamua with confidence, your future is waiting, and it is bright.

Kapa Haka Celebration- Friday 12th December

Our Kapa Haka roopuu will come together to celebrate a wonderful year of waiata, haka and kotahitanga with a special end-of-year party. All aakonga involved in Kapa Haka are asked to bring their togs, towel, hat, water bottle, and a plate of kai to share as we enjoy time together acknowledging their dedication and passion throughout the year. Students can wear mufti. It is our time to thank Ms Tapsell and Mrs Meredith for their support and help with our group throughout the year. This celebration is a chance for our tamariki to relax, connect, and honour the mahi they have put into strengthening our cultural identity as a kura. Mauri tuu, mauri ora!

End-of-Year Prizegiving: Monday 15th December, 6pm
Our end-of-year prizegiving is a special occasion to celebrate our students’ achievements. All students are expected to attend. If your child cannot make it, please email the office. We do not give whaanau a heads up on who is receiving prizes. It’s all part of the surprise! 

• Students in Years 0–7 are to wear full school uniform.
• Please arrive at 5:45pm for a 6pm start.
• Year 8s are to wear tidy semi-formal dress. They need to meet in Te Rangi at 5.45pm to be formally welcomed into prizegiving. 

We look forward to sharing this memorable evening with you all!

G Challenge: Tuesday 16th December

On Tuesday 16 December we will be completing our school year with our much-loved G Challenge, a swim, run, obstacle course event that brings our whole kura together in the spirit of whanaungatanga and fun. All students are expected to take part. Please ensure your tamariki come prepared with their togs, shorts, a T-shirt in their whānau colour, goggles, a towel and a water bottle. We will gather just after 10.00am to begin the event, starting with our Year 8 students as they celebrate one of their final milestones with us.

There will be a sausage sizzle available on the day, and ice blocks for sale after the challenge. Once students have completed their course and checked in with their teacher, they are welcome to go home. This is a wonderful way to finish the year together, celebrating teamwork, resilience, and the joy of being part of our Glenbrook School community.

Wednesday 17th December: Last Day of School

Just a reminder that we finish at 12pm on Wednesday 17th December.Buses will be running. 

2026 Stationery Costs
The stationery cost for 2025 is $105 per child. The Board of Governors is subsidising part of the cost to keep it at this affordable rate.

• This cost includes essential items such as books, student textbooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, cellotape, colouring markers, outline pens, and other supplies. In years 0-3 it includes the large range of disposable items our junior tamariki use. In years 3-8 it covers access to digital platforms like Education Perfect, STEPs, Writers Toolbox and other resources used both at school and home. These stationery items support a range of learning activities, including STEAM projects that students often bring home.
  
• Both digital platforms and student textbooks are heavily subsidised by the school. To ensure equity for all students, Glenbrook School organises all stationery, and items remain at school until the end of the year. Teachers will label everything, so it’s ready for Day One of Term 1. All you need to do is make the payment!

For Years 7 & 8, there is an additional $75 Technology fee for the programme at View School. This brings the total cost for Years 7 & 8 to $180, which includes stationery and the Technology fee.

Please note: stationery costs do not cover additional activity or sports fees.

Payment Information
Stationery payments can be made at the school office or online. Payments are due by Monday 16th February 2026, but can be made anytime from now.

Payments can be made electronically to:
Glenbrook School Board of Trustees
12 3023 0503093 000
Ref: Student Last Name and Stationery 2025

2026

• First day of school for 2026 will be on Monday 2nd February. 
• School day starts at 8.30am and will finish at 2.40pm. 
• Gates open from 8am
• Teacher Only Day on Monday 9th February
• Term 1 will end on Thursday 2nd April. 

As we come to the end of another full and vibrant year, I encourage all of us to pause and truly enjoy these moments with our tamariki. 2026 will be here soon enough. This stage of their journey is precious. A time where growth is visible in their confidence, their resilience, and the way they step bravely into new challenges. Our children have learned, stumbled, tried again, and achieved so much. Each success, each hurdle, and each spark of curiosity has shaped who they are becoming.

Over the coming days, may we find time to reflect together: to celebrate their progress, acknowledge their effort, and cherish the joy they bring into our lives and our kura. These memories will stay with them and with us. Let’s continue to walk alongside them with aroha, encouragement, and pride as they move into the next chapter of their learning.

Ngaa manaakitanga,

Ms Lysandra Stuart

Tumukai / Principal