Teenaa koutou e te whaanau o Glenbrook School,

As we move towards the end of Term 2, our kura continues to be full of learning, celebration, performance, sport and important opportunities to connect with whaanau. Thank you for the many ways you continue to support our tamariki, staff and school community.

Sports Camp

What a week Team Pouakai have had at  Sports Camp. We are incredibly proud of the way our aakonga represented Glenbrook School with courage, teamwork, persistence and mana. Across the week, our seniors competed in a wide range of events and showed our school values whether they were winning, learning, encouraging others, or having another go. Their mana, ako, manaakitanga and whakawhanaungatanga resulted in winning Best and Fairest overall. 

Check out the photos and updates shared on our facebook which capture the energy, determination and pride of the week. A huge thank you to our staff led by Ms Buchanan, Mr Green, Ms Waitai and Miss Burt, who supported our team and helped make this opportunity possible.

Well done to every student who attended Sports Camp. Opportunities like this are such an important part of growing confident, capable young people. Camps give students the chance to work as a team, step outside their comfort zone, take positive risks, build resilience, and learn that it is okay to feel challenged or uncomfortable when trying something new. These are the experiences that help our aakonga grow as leaders, learners and friends.

Mid Year Reports

Mid-year reports will be sent out on tomorrow, Monday. These reports draw together assessment information, classroom learning, teacher observations, conferencing and work samples to provide a clear picture of your child’s progress, strengths and next learning steps.

Please take time to read and discuss the report with your child before Akonui Hui. These conversations are an important part of helping our tamariki understand themselves as learners and continue to grow with confidence.

Akonui Hui – Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences: Tuesday 23 June

A reminder that Akonui Hui will be held on Tuesday 23 June. School will be closed for instruction on this day, as we do not have teacher aides available to supervise children. There will also be no buses running on Tuesday 23 June.

Parents and caregivers are able to book a face-to-face meeting, phone call, or online Google Meet for their hui.

On Wednesday 24 June, appointments will also be available for some classes. You can which classes when you log on. School will be open as usual on this day, as we are able to secure staffing to cover those classes needing additional appointments.

We are exploring whether Akonui Hui can be accommodated across a day and a half in future. This would help reduce pressure on working parents and caregivers, while still allowing us to adequately staff the school and maintain quality teaching and learning.

Bookings for Akonui Hui are now open. Please book through the School Interviews website:

www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
Booking code: mqmk3

Glenbrook School Speech Finals: Monday 22 June

It is definitely speech season! All classes have been busily preparing for their speeches, and we are looking forward to celebrating our finalists at our annual Glenbrook School Speech Finals.

The Speech Finals will be held on Monday 22 June, beginning promptly at 5.30pm for Years 4–6. We warmly invite all whaanau and friends to attend. Please be seated by 5.15pm for the Team Kereru / Years 4–6 competition, which begins at 5.30pm.

The Team Pouakai, Years 7–8 competition will follow, usually beginning around 6.30pm. Year 7 and 8 finalists are asked to meet in the staffroom from 6.15pm.

Students are asked to present their speech in their school uniform and arrive 15 minutes before their competition begins.

The winner of the Years 7&8 event will go on to represent Glenbrook School at the Waiuku Speech Finals on Wednesday 24 June, and at the Franklin Speech Finals on Tuesday 30 June. The winner of the Years 5&6 event will represent Glenbrook School at the Franklin Finals on Wednesday 1 July.

Public speaking is an important skill for our tamariki to develop. Through preparing and presenting speeches, students learn how to organise their ideas, speak clearly, use expression, connect with an audience and share their thoughts with confidence. These oral language skills support learning across the curriculum and help our aakonga grow as communicators, leaders and active contributors in their communities.

We know that standing in front of others can feel challenging, and that is part of the learning. Speech season gives our students the opportunity to be brave, take positive risks, listen to feedback and celebrate their own voice. We are looking forward to hearing the ideas, confidence and creativity of our aakonga.

Waiuku Matariki Concert: Friday 26 June

Our biennial Waiuku Schools Matariki Concert will be held this Friday, 26 June. Glenbrook School is not due to perform until around 7.00pm-ish.

Students will get changed and prepare for the performance at Glenbrook School. Parents and caregivers will need to transport their child from Glenbrook School to Waiuku College at approximately 6.15pm, and collect them after the concert.

Students who are performing will be able to stay at school. A notice will be sent home with further details tomorrow.

We are very proud of the mahi our tamariki are putting into their performance and look forward to celebrating alongside other kura from our Waiuku community.

Glenbrook Matariki Concert: Friday 3 July

Our tamariki are also working hard in preparation for our own Glenbrook School Matariki celebration. The concert will take place on Friday 3 July at 10.00am. Gold coin donation at the door.

All students will be performing as part of our Arts Curriculum. This is a special opportunity for our school to come together, celebrate te tau hou Maaori, acknowledge learning through the Arts, and share the talents of our tamariki with whaanau.

A sausage sizzle will be available for purchase, kindly led by our wonderful PTA. Orders will be taken by classroom teachers on Friday morning.

If you are able to support your child’s class in any way, please reach out to your child’s teacher. We greatly value your involvement and support.

Students will be able to go home after the concert.

Key Dates

Monday 22 June – Reports sent out; Glenbrook School Speech Finals, 5.30pm start
Tuesday 23 June – Akonui Hui; school closed for instruction; no buses
Wednesday 24 June – Additional Akonui Hui appointments for some classes; school open as usual; Waiuku Speech Finals
Friday 26 June – Waiuku Matariki Concert at Waiuku College
Tuesday 30 June – Franklin Speech Finals, Years 7–8
Wednesday 1 July – Franklin Speech Finals, Years 5–6
Friday 3 July – Glenbrook School Matariki Concert, 10.00am; students may go home after the concert. Last day of term!

As we head into a very full and exciting fortnight, thank you for your continued tautoko. These events reflect the richness of school life at Glenbrook, learning, sport, culture, confidence, creativity and community all woven together.

Naa too rourou, naa taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi. With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive.

Ngaa mihi nui,

Ms Lysandra Stuart