Welcome to a new term filled with exciting learning opportunities for our tamariki.

As a school, we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals, guided by the principles of the IB learner attributes. These attributes – encourage our students to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, and so forth – are woven into the fabric of our teaching and learning.

We firmly believe in the power of teamwork, both amongst our staff and in partnership with you, our Milford whānau. This term, we hope that together, we can continue to nurture a supportive and collaborative environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential. Just as this whakatauki expresses, "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini" – success is not the work of one, but the work of many.

Welcome to Milford  

This term, we are delighted to welcome;

• Yeajin Ro will be teaching the new Y0 class. Yeajin has most recently taught at Kauri Park and Greenhithe Kindergartens and brings a wealth of knowledge in teaching our youngest tamariki.

• Susan Butters will be joining us to teach in Room 10 on Mondays and Fridays. Susan is an experienced educator, most recently having taught at Forrest Hill school and brings a rich knowledge, particularly of mathematics. I am sure Room 10 will enjoy her enthusiasm and energy.  

• Morgan McKeen will be returning to Milford and will teach in a variety of classes throughout the school. We are delighted to welcome Morgan back to Milford and look forward to her innovative and forward-thinking approach. 

• Mina Park has a passion for STEM and will be the specialist teacher for Term 2. I am sure your children will be excited to experience some hands-on learning and develop their science, technology and mathematical skills and knowledge.

Specialist Teaching
We are fortunate to have a team of specialist teachers, funded by the Board, who offer our tamariki a range of exciting learning opportunities.

For the remainder of the year, the specialist lessons will be as follows:

Term 2

• PE - Louise Lavulo

• Visual Art - Genevieve Thomas and Grant Arendse

• STEM – Mina Park

Term 3 and 4

• PE - Louise Lavulo

• Visual Art - Genevieve Thomas and Grant Arendse

• STEM - Morgan McKeen

We understand that many of our families will be disappointed that we are currently unable to offer music lessons at this time. We recognise the high value our students place on these opportunities. Please be assured that developing the specialist program and securing a qualified music teacher are priorities for 2026.

Students Honour ANZAC Day

Our school proudly participated in the Takapuna ANZAC Parade, with William and Miriam laying a wreath on our behalf.

Melissa Powell, MC of the service and Chair of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, commended William's leadership, noting, "It takes bravery to walk up there and place a wreath with thousands of people watching. He has shown leadership skills beyond his years."

William demonstrated being a risk-taker and brave! Mimi, equally courageous and principled, joined him in this act of remembrance, making us very proud.

Thank you to Jane Coxhead for organising our attendance and to William and Miriam for their representation of our school.

Friends of Milford School (FOMS) Reignited!

At the end of last term, FOMS held their annual AGM. We were thrilled to see a large number of attendees and enthusiasm to re-ignite our PTA. We are pleased to announce that the following parents were elected into key roles:

• FOMS Chair - Jane Coxhead and Ashleigh Heather

• Secretary - Carla O’Neil

• Treasurer - Deborah Cachopa

In addition, the following parents have joined the FOMS Executive Team:

• Stephanie Ray

• Penny Sutcliffe

• Eric Chapuy

• Megan Lapwood

We would like to acknowledge Sam Gilchrist for her many years of service as FOMS Treasurer. Sam has done an outstanding job of managing FOMS funds and has been an integral part of the FOMS team, always going above and beyond to ensure events run smoothly. Thank you Sam!

The key role of FOMS is to create a strong sense of tūrangawaewae (belonging) and whānauatanga (relationships/connections) for our tamariki and the wider Milford community, and, of course, to raise much-needed funds along the way.  

FOMS plays a vital role in enriching the school experience for our tamariki. Over the coming weeks, FOMS will share details about the exciting events planned for the year and outline ways you can contribute your time and talents. Whether you're a long-standing member of our whānau or a new parent to Milford, getting involved with FOMS is an opportunity to connect with other parents, build friendships, and directly support our school's initiatives. Click here to join the FOMS Facebook group to stay connected. We truly value your participation and look forward to seeing you at FOMS events!

Teacher Only Days

There are two teacher-only days planned this year, which are government-mandated days for teachers to unpack the refreshed curriculum requirements:

• Friday, 30 May - Our staff will be attending the Pupuke Kāhui Ako Colab Day at Westlake Boys' School. The day will focus on "Bridging the Gap – Literacy for Real-World Success." In addition to keynote speakers Alana Madgewick and Derek Wenmoth, Colab offers an opportunity for staff to exchange and discuss literacy best practices in our local context.

• Monday 14 July (Please note that this is the first day of term 3)

  Our staff will be spending the day with Mārie Hurst, a Maths Facilitator who has been working with Milford for the past two years. Together, we will explore and refine best practices for teaching mathematics in light of the updated curriculum.

It has been wonderful to see our tamariki back at school this week, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure a successful and enriching learning journey for every child.

As always, please reach out if you have any pānui or wonderings.

Noho ora mai

Lucy Naylor
Tumuaki