Dear Parents/Caregivers and Whānau of Elm Park School
Greetings, Kia ora, Fakaalofa Lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Taloha, Kia orana, Ni hao:
Term 3 - Great start:
Thank you for contributing to a great start to Term 3. The school already feels productive and busy. We welcome Manukau Counties Sport again as they work with our Year 1 and 2 students, focusing on Fundamental Movement Skills and Balance Bikes. This complements our PMP Programme that Mrs Worsfold teaches.
New Staff Members:
I’d also like to welcome Mr Philip Duncan ( Y5 teacher) to Elm Park School. Mr Duncan is an experienced teacher who comes from Bucklands Beach Primary School. Also, a warm welcome to Mrs Dominika Nicholls as a Learning Assistant. Mrs Nicholls is very experienced in working in Special Education, and Miss Emily Kawana, who is our new library/resource assistant. Welcome to Elm Park School, all of you!
Resignation:
Sadly, Mrs Kelly Mucalo has resigned to take a post where she can work remotely at home. We are currently advertising for a new librarian to fill this important role in the school.
Community Health Survey:
We’d also like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has already completed our recent health community survey. We really value your feedback and actively use it to help us reflect and continually improve the way we do things at Elm Park. If you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey yet, there’s still time, and we’d love to hear from you.
This term, we are thrilled to welcome a group of 33 short-term international students to Elm Park School. They will be with us for the next 4 weeks, and we know our school community will make them feel right at home. These students are from Korea. We also have about another 15 international students from China. Welcome to these students.
Reminders:
A quick reminder that students must be collected promptly after the 3 pm bell. Please ensure that your child is not left to play on the playground unsupervised, as our playgrounds are not monitored outside of school hours and therefore, the students must not be left unattended. Thank you for your support in keeping our school safe.
Lastly, we have clear signage now around our ‘no dogs’ on-site policy. This includes big and little dogs that can be carried in. Thanks for your support with this.
Māori | Pasifika Fono: Thursday 7 August | 6.00 pm.
This is an evening to celebrate our Māori and Pasifika whanau who attend and contribute to Elm Park School. Come share some kai, hear Jasmine Tito, our speaker, who is an educator and currently works in Auckland Attendance Services.
Thank you! :
Thank you to those parents who were able to attend our informal evening with Constable Pauline Orpet, who is our local community police liaison. Constable Orpet provided some context and information around our ‘Keeping Ourselves Safe’ Programme, which our Y3 to Y6 students will be undertaking this term. Also, thank you to those of you who attended our Cross-Country annual event, and thank you to the Elm Park team who did a great job organising it all.
Thank you to all of you for supporting the school this week as we absorb the sadness around Mrs Aimee-Rose Yate's passing. We have lived this journey with her for the last 3 years and are richer for it as she demonstrated incredible resilience and positivity in a tumultuous time in her life. We will be holding a service for Aimee-Rose on Saturday, 9 August at 1.00 pm. Thank you to the PTA and other parents who supplied a generous and lovely morning tea this morning. It is appreciated deeply. We have also had amazing support from other local schools and Boards.
We understand that many young people experience periods of worry or anxiety, and having the right tools can make a big difference. We’d like to share some recommended books that some families may find useful: Several of our staff have read 'The Anxious Generation' and recommend it highly. This accessible and practical book offers strategies to help parents understand and manage anxiety in their child's life. It’s designed to be supportive for both students and parents.
📘 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Parents and educators: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (Penguin Press, March 26 2024) offers a thoughtful, accessible look at how rapid changes in childhood—most notably the rise of smartphones, social media, and a decline in independent play—have coincided with a dramatic rise in anxiety, depression, and self‑harm among young people since around 2010
Haidt argues that many children today are growing up in a “phone‑based childhood” instead of the play‑based experiences that build resilience. His social research shows how declines in free play and increased screen time disrupt sleep, social connection, attention, and emotional health—especially for children in their early teens
Importantly, the book doesn’t just sound the alarm—it offers practical ideas: limiting screen access in school, delaying smartphones until high school, delaying social media until around age 16, and restoring more unscheduled play and real‑world interaction for children
A reassuring and engaging read, Haidt provides insights for parents, teachers, and whānau—suggesting collective changes that could help nurture a healthier, happier generation.
Message from AT
Below is a message from AT especially for schools.
Make our schools safer and don't be THAT Karen
Things you can avoid to make school zones safer:
Parking across a driveway
Getting kids to run across the road
Stopping in the middle of the road
Parking on yellow lines
Being rude to AT parking officers
C'mon Auckland, together let's bring a bit more "Nice Karen" to the school run and avoid getting a fine!
Let’s make our roads safer one nice drop-off at a time.
For the safety and wellbeing of all students, we kindly ask that children do not ride bikes or scooters within the school grounds. The school is very crowded during drop off and pick up, and this increases the risk of accidents or injuries. It can be difficult for children to maintain proper control of their bike or scooter when there are a lot of parents and children around. We appreciate your help in ensuring a safe environment for everyone at school.
School uniform presentation
Not only is it an important skill in later life to present well and appropriately for the circumstances, but we also believe that smart presentation helps the students to feel positive about themselves.
We will be speaking to students about personal presentation at our assemblies.
For safety reasons no jewellery is to be worn. Students are reminded that hair over the collar or longer needs to be tied back, with a small hair tie that matches the uniform, and only one plain gold or silver stud worn in each ear lobe.
It is important that Year 4, 5 and 6 children have their PE gear every day.
ALL clothing needs to be named. Students are reminded that the school hat must be worn when they are outside, during terms one and four.
We want to maintain the high standards we have set and appreciate your support in ensuring your child is appropriately dressed when they set out for school in the morning.
Are you details up to date?
We kindly ask you that you keep your contact information and your child's medical details up to date with the office. This ensures that we can reach you in case of an emergency. Please notify us via our email office@elmpark.school.nz of any changes as soon as possible to help us maintain accurate records.
Early pick up from school
We understand that sometimes circumstances arise, but we kindly ask that you avoid picking up your child early from school unless absolutely necessary. When children leave early it can disrupt their learning and may cause your child to miss out on important lessons or activities. However, if you do need to collect your child for an appointment during the school day please contact the office on 09 577 0070 or email office@elmpark.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 at 10.30am until 11.00am, lunch from 1pm until 1.50pm.
Parking at School
For the safety of our children and the entire school community, we kindly ask that you park your vehicle safely and drive with caution when dropping off or picking up your child. We know that parking is sometimes limited but please don’t park on the yellow lines. A reminder that the boom gate on the driveway is locked in the mornings at 8:30 am / opened again at 9:15 am and in the afternoons locked at 2:30 pm and opened at 3:15 pm.
Please use the pedestrian crossings at all times and remain on the footpaths. This is especially important in the afternoon in front of the school as there is a high volume of traffic at this time. We know it can be tempting to cross the road at the wrong place, but it is all about the example we are setting for our children.
When driving near the school, slow down, stay alert, and be mindful of students walking or biking close to the school especially around the pedestrian crossing immediately outside our school gate and the traffic lights on Gossamer Drive. Your ongoing support will help ensure that our school remains a safe environment for everyone. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our children safe!
Dollar for Schools
At Elm Park School we use the Dollar for Schools lunch ordering system. You can order your child's lunch via their website. Lunches are delivered to school and distributed by our lunch monitors. School lunches are available to order Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays - orders need to be received before 9am.
You will need to create an account, confirm your email address and order lunches from the Dollar for Schools website: www.dollarforschools.co.nz.
Elm Park School - 2025 Term Dates
Whooping Cough
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING Influenza Immunisation Programme starts today
Health New Zealand recommends getting immunised against the flu for everyone aged 6 months and over. The vaccine is free for those who have a health condition that may mean they are at risk of getting very sick from a flu infection. This includes pregnant people and those aged over 65 years.
The flu vaccine is available from 1 April from your local pharmacy, doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. Read more and book at:
Book a vaccine – Health NZ Influenza Immunisation Programme – Immunisation Advisory Centre
Pertussis (whooping cough) update
Te Whatu Ora | Heath New Zealand has reported an increasing number of confirmed pertussis (whooping cough) cases. It is highly contagious and particularly serious for pēpi, tamariki and older adults – it can be fatal in some cases. Vaccination provides the best protection against pertussis and is free for children under 18.
Staff are encouraged to stay up to date with immunisations – in particular pertussis and measles. Health New Zealand are recommending the free Boostrix vaccination for pregnant people.
Not enough New Zealanders are immunised against measles, which means there is a very high risk of an outbreak. The best protection against measles is two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – free for all young people aged 18 and under in New Zealand and all adults over the age of 18 who are eligible for free New Zealand healthcare. The first symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore red eyes, followed by a red or dark pink rash typically starting on the face or behind the ears three days after the first symptoms before moving down the body. If you observe these symptoms, encourage parents and/or caregivers to contact their healthcare provider or Healthline on 0800 611 116 immediately. If in doubt that your child is immunised or not - please contact your GP or health provider.
Away for the Day - Student Cell Phones
Parental Controls
Please find the link to - A guide to the tools that are available to keep your whānau safe when viewing entertainment online in Aotearoa New Zealand.
At Elm Park School, we strongly encourage students to have litter free lunch boxes to reduce litter and waste at school. Please encourage your child to return any wrappings and packaging that they may have, to their lunch box, to be disposed of at home.
Some ideas for litter free lunches include:
Sandwiches/rolls in reusable plastic containers
water in a reusable drink bottle brought to school daily
whole fruits
snacks in reusable containers
Please do not use cling wrap or pack in muesli bars in wrappers, chip packets, juice boxes or yoghurt squeeze packs.
If your child purchases their lunch from the our lunch supplier, please ensure that the wrappers are packed into their lunch box and disposed of at home.
Each term, the school community (Board, Staff, Parents/Whānau) is invited to review and comment on specific policies and procedures. This term the following are to be reviewed: The Elm Park School Policy and Guidelines documents inform and guide our school practices. The documents can be viewed here through the SchoolDocs website. Please search for Elm Park School and enter: Username: 1269 Password: Elm1269
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