Building resilient learners

Wed Sep 02 10:42am

At Shelly Park School, we pride ourselves on being an open, welcoming community. We deeply value the vibrant connection we share with our families, and we know that a strong partnership between home and school is what helps our children truly thrive.

To help us protect teaching time and build essential life skills in our young people, we are asking for your support with a few simple routines at the end of the day.

The end of the school day is a critical time for teachers to wrap up lessons, share key information, and guide students through their end-of-day routines. Lately, we have noticed an increase in parents gathering directly outside classroom doors, chatting, or stepping inside before the final bell rings.

While we love seeing you, these early arrivals create significant distractions. When students see family members outside, their focus instantly shifts away from their teacher. To help us keep learning engaging and smooth right up until the bell, please wait for your children a short distance away from the classroom spaces and doors.

This year, a key focus across our school is empowering students to take personal responsibility and build resilience. You can help us reinforce these habits by encouraging your child to handle their own end-of-day tasks:

-Pack their own bag: Let them take responsibility for their belongings.
-Carry their own gear: Encourage them to wear or carry their bag independently.
-Walk independently: Allow them to take the lead as you head to the gate or car.

When we step back and let children manage these small daily tasks, we build their confidence and show them that we trust their capabilities.

As a reminder, all primary schools operate under a government directive where students are not permitted to use personal phones during the school day. We kindly ask our adult community to help us model this healthy digital boundary.

When waiting for your children, please try to limit your own phone use. Stepping away from screens at pick-up time gives us a wonderful opportunity to connect face-to-face as a community, chat with other parents, and be fully present to greet our children when their day finishes.

When we limit distractions and show our children that independence, manners, and respect are a way of life, we set them up for long-term success. Thank you for your continued partnership—together, we are growing great young humans!

Regards

Ed Roper

Weetbix Tryathlon

Mon Aug 31 03:35pm

Dear Parents and Whānau

Please find the button below for all information regarding the Weetbix Tryathlon.  

If you require more information, please see Mrs Brown in Room 9.

Weetbix Tryathlon Information and EntryPreview

Regards

Ed Roper

Bookarama! (feat. SPS helpers!)

Thu Aug 13 02:33pm

Calling all our amazing Shelly Park School community.

Howick Rotary needs our help sorting books for their annual Bookarama. In return, the Rotary Club will make a donation to our School PTA to support our fundraising initiatives.
If you have any free time over the next few Saturday mornings, please drop me a message or email the PTA.

Book sorting starts this Saturday in Howick at 9 am. Ideally, we need 4 people each Saturday morning, please – you don’t have to sign up to do every Saturday; even one is greatly appreciated!

Regards

Ange (PTA)

Coffee and Chat with the Ministry

Wed Aug 12 11:51am

Dear Parents and Whānau

A reminder that we have a special guest at our coffee morning this week. Pusha Samuel is a Special Education Advisor (SEA) within the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Essentially, an SEA is a specialist who works alongside schools, teachers, whānau and other professionals to help children with additional learning needs participate and succeed in education. Their role is more about specialist expertise + problem solving + building the capability of the people around the child.  

 If you have any questions for Pusha or would like a chat, please join us at 8:30 am on the staffroom deck. 

Kind regards

Ed Roper

 

Practice Lockdown Has Finished

Wed Aug 12 11:00am

Our Practice Lockdown has now finished. 

 

Thank you

Lockdown

Wed Aug 12 10:47am

Shelly Park School is conducting a practice lockdown. This is how you will be notified of a lockdown. Monitor the school app or website for information.

School Disco Going Ahead Tonight

Fri Aug 07 10:09am

Kia ora Shelly Park School whānau,

We wanted to let everyone know that our school disco is going ahead as planned this evening.

Like many schools across Auckland, we have seen a number of students away due to illness this week. However, it has been encouraging to see attendance improving, with many more children back at school towards the end of the week compared with the beginning.

You may also have noticed that today’s assembly has been postponed. This decision was made primarily because a large number of our senior students are representing the school at the Tough Guy & Girl Challenge today, and we wanted to ensure they didn’t miss out.

We look forward to seeing everyone who is well enough to attend at the disco tonight. As always, if your child is unwell, we ask that they stay home to rest and recover.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope everyone has a fantastic evening!

Coram Bradbury

Keen Gardeners Wanted!

Thu Aug 06 03:23pm

Have a couple of spare hours free?

Do you love getting stuck into weeding and making a garden look beautiful?

If you answered yes, you’re in luck—we have some gardens that would love your help!

With all the recent rain, our gardens are sprouting winter weeds faster than we can pull them. If you have some free time and would like to do a good turn, please don’t hesitate to pop in to see Coram at the SPS school office or send an email to coramb@shellypark.school.nz.

Thank you 

Coffee and Chat

Wed Aug 05 12:43pm

Dear Parents,

Please note that there will be no Coffee and Chat this Friday, as I will be away attending a course.

However, please mark your calendars for next Friday, 14th August! We will be joined by a guest speaker from the Ministry of Education whose role focuses on Learning Support and Funding streams.

If you would like to gain insight into Ministry processes, understand how learning support funding works, or simply have questions, we would love for you to attend. Having parent input and discussion is invaluable.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Kind regards,

Ed

Sickness

Tue Aug 04 02:09pm

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are currently seeing an increase in student illnesses across the school, particularly within Years 3 and 4.

Many of these cases begin with a headache and low energy before developing into full cold or flu symptoms.

To help us stop the spread and keep everyone healthy, please monitor your child closely. If they show any signs of being unwell, please keep them at home until they have fully recovered.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support and help in keeping our school community safe.

Warm regards,

Ed Roper

Cones

Mon Jul 27 09:19am

Dear Parents,

If you drove into Sunnyview Ave and John Gill today, you probably noticed we have somehow acquired a small nation’s supply of traffic cones. I’m not entirely sure what kind of ritual or secret construction project is taking place, but rest assured: the orange sea has not consumed us yet.

The signs state “No Parking between 18:00 and 6:00 AM.” So, unless you’re planning an overnight camping trip on the curb, standard drop-off and pick-up are completely safe. Drive safely through the obstacle course!

Have a great day

Ed

Ooshies from Woolworths

Fri Jul 24 12:55pm

Dear Parents and whānau

We have noticed that many students are bringing Ooshies from Woolworths to school. These are proving to be distracting in class, and we are mindful of the possibility that they may get lost. Please remind students that all toys, including Ooshies, are to remain at home.

Thank you for your help with this.

 

Quiz Night Update

Thu Jul 23 01:20pm

Dear Parents

Firstly, I apologise for sending this email to everyone. For those who are not attending the quiz night, please ignore this message. However, if you’re still on the fence and would like to attend, we still have some tables available. Please contact Brooke in the office if you would like to attend. (brooket@shellypark.school.nz)

For those who are attending, please see a few reminders and updates below:

1. Bar & Drinks Update (No BYO)

To ensure we comply with legal requirements, we have secured an official liquor licence and hired a certified bar manager for the evening. Under the conditions of this licence, BYO alcohol is strictly prohibited on school grounds.

To keep things affordable, the Board is providing drinks at cost price rather than as a fundraiser:

Alcoholic drinks (Beer, Wine, Cider, RTDs): $3.00
Non-alcoholic drinks: $2.00
 Please remind your table to bring cash for the bar!

2. Food & Catering

You are still very welcome to bring your own food and nibbles for your table! In addition, the Board will be providing pizzas and snacks for each table to enjoy throughout the night.

3. Event Highlights

Everything else you love about Quiz Night remains the same! Get ready for our trivia quiz, Mingo (Music Bingo), the photobooth, and a few fun mini-games.

Regards

The Shelly Park Board of Trustees

Coffee and Chat

Wed Jul 22 03:36pm

Join me outside the staffroom on the deck from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. Whether you just need a quick coffee on your way to work or want to stay a while and catch up, I’d love to see you there!

In today’s newsletter, I shared a couple of draft goals we are developing as part of our new school strategic plan. I’d love the opportunity to hear your thoughts and get your feedback during our catch-up.

Goal A: To strengthen our connected community through high-trust partnerships

Initiatives: 

-Transform school-home communication into authentic partnerships, moving beyond ‘reporting to parents’.
-Expand opportunities for student voice, ensuring our environment is safe and inclusive
-Improve attendance rates for our tamariki

Goal B: Words that elevate – inspiring excellence daily

Initiatives:

-Train staff in using language that doesn’t just praise the child, but explicitly targets their cognitive effort, strategies, and path to their personal best.
-Systematically refine our student reporting processes to ensure they clearly communicate high expectations, demonstrate fair and growth-minded engagement, and maintain school-wide consistency.
-Introduce staff to professional inquiry and coaching models that shift discussions from ‘problem-analysis’ to ‘solution-generation.’

I would love your thoughts around these goals, or any other goals you think are important for our school.

I hope to see you on Friday. 

Regards

Ed

Shelly Park School Board – Casual Vacancy

Wed Jul 22 03:28pm

Shelly Park School Board
Casual vacancy for a parent representative

A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative. Fabian Purcell has had to resign from the Board as he and his family are moving back to Germany to be closer to family. We would like to thank Fabian for the work he has done on our Board, and the guidance he has provided. We wish the Purcell family safe travels and all the best for their next adventure together. 

The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.

If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.

Request for a by-election should be sent to:

Sue Richards – Election Officer

Email – suer@shellypark.school.nz

By: 19 August, 2026

Jammies for June

Thu Jul 02 06:58pm

This is a gentle reminder that tomorrow is the final day to drop off any pyjama donations for the Middlemore Foundation.

Thank you so much to our wonderful community for your incredible generosity and support for this amazing cause!

View Image

Reminder: School Finishes at 12pm today

Wed Jul 01 12:10pm

Good morning,

Just a friendly reminder that due to Parent-Teacher Conferences, school finishes at 12:00 PM today.

Thank you

SPS Admin

 

No Coffee and Chat

Thu Jun 25 07:23pm

Dear Parents

I am out of school tomorrow morning, so there will be no Coffee and Chat. See you next week for the last Friday of the term. 

Kind regards

Ed

A Big Thank You to our Road Patrollers

Wed Jun 24 03:27pm

Good afternoon everyone,

Today’s weather has really only been good for the ducks! 🦆

That being said, the rain has given our AMAZING Road Patrollers the opportunity to shine. The attached photo captures the effort, commitment, and resilience it sometimes takes to help keep our community safe — even when the weather is not on our side.

A huge thank you as well to all our parents and caregivers for driving carefully, parking sensibly, and showing patience around the school today. We really appreciate your support in keeping everyone safe.

Thank you,

Senior Management

View PDF

Playground after school

Thu Jun 18 04:32pm

Dear Parents and Whānau,

It is wonderful to see our school playground being used and enjoyed so much after hours, and we love having this vibrant community energy at the end of the day.

However, your children’s safety is our absolute priority, so we would like to remind you of a few important guidelines:

Playground Supervision: If your child is playing on the playground after school, they must be directly supervised by a parent or caregiver.

Staff Availability: Our teaching staff has meetings and preparation work immediately after school, meaning they are unavailable to supervise students after 3:15 PM.

Pickup Times: Please ensure your child is collected by 3:15 PM each day.

We completely understand that traffic or unexpected delays happen. If you are running late, please call the school office as early as possible so we can pass a message on to your child’s teacher.

Thank you for your support and cooperation in keeping our tamariki safe.

Kind regards,

Ed Roper 

亲爱的家长和家属们（Whānau）：

很高兴看到我们的校园游乐场在放学后能得到大家的喜爱和充分利用，我们也非常喜欢傍晚时分社区展现出的这种活力。

然而，孩子的安全是我们的重中之重，因此我们想在此提醒您几项重要的安全指引：

游乐场监督： 如果您的孩子放学后留下来在游乐场玩耍，必须由家长或看护人员在场直接监督。
教职工安排： 我们的教学团队在放学后会立即进行会议和备课工作，这意味着下午3点15分之后，老师们将无法负责监督学生。
接送时间： 请务必确保您的孩子每天在下午3点15分前被接走。
我们完全理解有时会遇到堵车或突发延误。如果您某天可能会迟到，请尽早致电学校办公室，以便我们及时将信息转达给孩子的班级老师。

感谢您在守护我们孩子们（tamariki）安全方面给予的支持与配合。

顺祝商祺，

Ed Roper 校长

 

Coffee and Chat

Thu Jun 18 01:31pm

Dear Parents

It will be great to see you tomorrow morning for a coffee on the staffroom deck at 8:30 am. I do have a classroom observation I need to attend at 9:15 am, so our time will need to be cut slightly short. 

I hope to see you there

Ed

Three Way Conferences

Wed Jun 17 10:20am

Dear Parents

I do apologise as the school interview website had the incorrect dates. 

I have reset this now with the correct dates.

If you have previously booked a time slot, you will need to rebook. 

Head to – www.schoolinterviews.co.nz

The new code – 65uzx

Again, I apologise for the confusion.

Ed