Newsletter Term 2 Week 4

Newsletter Term Two Week FOUR 2026

Kindness is a Verb

Standing Tall, Standing Together, and Wearing Pink

Kia ora koutou katoa,,

This Friday, our school grounds will look a little different as we trade our usual colors for a sea of pink. Pink Shirt Day is a day I hold very close to my heart. It’s more than just a dress-up day; it’s a powerful, visual promise that we make to one another: Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

Living Our PRIDE Values

At Bulls School, our PRIDE values aren’t just posters on the wall; they are the heartbeat of our school. We see them in the way our seniors help the juniors at lunchtime and the way our staff go the extra mile.

But our values don’t stop at the school gate. Whether we are:

• Cheering from the sidelines at Saturday morning netball or rugby,
• Walking through the township in our uniform,
• Or engaging with one another in our digital communities…

We are all ambassadors of our school culture. As your Principal, I believe our tamariki deserve to feel safe and respected every single moment they are under our care. This means that we, the adults, must be the ultimate role models.

It is important for our community to know that the standard for behavior is not just a school expectation—it is a legal one. Recent updates to New Zealand’s Stalking and Harassment laws (as of May 1st) have strengthened protections for individuals. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying behaviors—including those directed by adults toward children or staff—carry serious legal weight.

Put simply: Bullying of any kind has no home here. We are a school that prides itself on being a “caring whānau.” To keep it that way, I’m asking every one of us—staff, parents, and caregivers—to hold ourselves to the highest standard of kindness.

• Reflect before we react: Are my words building this person up or tearing them down?
• Lead with empathy: How can I solve this problem while keeping the other person’s mana intact?
• Stand tall: If we see something that isn’t right, let’s have the courage to address it with grace and firmness.

Let’s make this Friday a celebration of the incredible, supportive community we are. I can’t wait to see you all in your pink gear, showing our kids that we don’t just talk about kindness—we live it.

Arohanui,

Megan Syme

PRINCIPAL / TUMUAKI 

A New Way of Measuring Progress

As we continue to strive for “continuous improvement”—not just for our students, but for ourselves as educators. We are currently in a period of significant change across the New Zealand education landscape, and I want to share some important updates regarding how we track and report on your child’s learning.

New Expectations

The Ministry of Education has refreshed the English and Mathematics curriculum to ensure every child in Aotearoa is held to a high, nationally consistent standard. This means that the way we describe your child’s achievement is changing.

In the past, we talked about “Curriculum Levels.” Moving forward, we will be using Progress Descriptors that show exactly where your child sits in relation to the expectations for their specific year level.

What you need to know: The “bar” has been raised. Because the expectations are now more specific and rigorous, you might see a shift in the descriptors for your child. Please know that this doesn’t mean your child has “slid back”—it simply means we are using a brand-new, more detailed measure of their growth.

Our Incredible Kaiako / Kaimahi / Kaiawhina

I want to take a moment to acknowledge our staff. Our teachers and teacher aides are working incredibly hard to navigate these changes. They are learning the new systems and expectations and adapting their teaching to ensure every learner thrives.   While the “goalposts” have moved, our teachers’ commitment to your children remains consistent . They are not just teaching to a test; they are working tirelessly to ensure every learner at Bulls School has the skills they need to succeed.

What the New Descriptors Mean

When you receive reports later in this term, you will see five key terms used for Reading, Writing, and Maths:

• Emerging: Starting to grasp the foundations; needing extra support to meet the year-level goal.
• Developing: Making solid progress and moving toward the expected standard.
• Consolidating: Meeting many expectations and strengthening their understanding.
• Proficient: Successfully meeting the high expectations for their year level.
• Exceeding: Working above and beyond the expected year-level standard.

Partnerships over Paperwork

While these data points are important, they will never tell the whole story of your child—their kindness, their determination on the sports field, or their leadership in our school whānau.

We are in this together. Later in the term we will be hosting a whānau information evening to give us all the opportunity to ask questions and gain understanding of these changes and the implications of them.  Let’s keep the focus on growth, keep our expectations high, and continue to support our tamariki as they climb their own mountains.