Epsom Girls Grammar School Newsletter - Term 1, Issue 1

Newsletter

Term 1, Issue 1

Principal's Message

Greetings Parents and Caregivers,

The start of a new school year is always a moment of energy, optimism, and connection, and 2026 has begun in just that spirit at Epsom Girls Grammar School. It has been a pleasure to welcome students and whānau back onto the campus through both our pōwhiri and the recent evening for new parents, both of which reflected the strength of our community and our shared commitment to our girls and their learning.

Already, the School is alive with activity. Our co-curricular programmes are underway, and it has been wonderful to see students reconnecting with familiar interests as well as confidently stepping into new opportunities across sport, arts, culture, service, and special interest groups. These experiences play an important role in school life, supporting students to grow in confidence, capability, and connection beyond the classroom.

We also begin the year with much to celebrate academically. Our 2025 Scholarship results are the strongest we have seen since 2019, with particularly outstanding outcomes in Visual Arts (Painting and Photography) and Technology (DVC). These achievements reflect the talent, perseverance, and ambition of our students, as well as the expertise, generosity, and commitment of our staff, whose mahi and aroha continue to make a profound difference.

As we look ahead, we do so with pride in what has already been achieved and excitement for the year to come. I look forward to sharing the many successes, stories, and milestones of our students and staff with you throughout 2026.

Sincerely,

Brenda McNaughton
Principal

Upcoming Events:

17 February — Athletics Heats (competitors only)
20 February — Athletics Finals (whole school)
3 March — NCEA Evening for Parents and Students
3 March — Cambridge Evening for current students only
6 March — Teacher Only Day
12 March — Swim Sports (competitors only)
14 March — Fia Fia Night
18 – 21 March — Polyfest
23 – 27 March — Summer Tournament Week
30 March – 2 April — Polyfest Māori Stage

For a full list of upcoming events, see the calendar page on SchoolBridge.

Scholars Assembly

Yesterday, we celebrated the outstanding achievements of our top academic students at the 2026 Scholars Assembly. Our 2025 Scholarship results were the strongest since 2019, with particularly exceptional outcomes in Visual Arts (Painting and Photography) and Technology (DVC).

Students were recognised for their talent, perseverance, and ambition, and we acknowledged the dedication and support of our staff, whose expertise and commitment continue to make a profound difference in student learning.

Congratulations to all our scholars — your hard work and determination are an inspiration to the whole school community.

Introducing Our 2026 Head Prefect Team

We are delighted to introduce our 2026 Head Prefect Team. These outstanding students will lead our school with integrity, empathy, and a strong commitment to service in the year ahead.

Head Prefect: Telisa Ongoloka
Deputy Head Prefects: Matafua Daniel, Shriya Ganti, Emily Hammond, and Honey Schaumkel

Together, they will represent the student body, work closely with staff, and help foster a positive and inclusive culture across our school. We look forward to the leadership, energy, and initiative they will bring to the role.

We are also pleased to introduce the wider 2026 Student Leadership Team. These students have accepted key portfolios and responsibilities across the school, supporting events, student wellbeing, academic initiatives, cultural activities, sport, service, and community engagement.

Their leadership will play an important role in strengthening connections within our school and continuing to build a vibrant, inclusive environment for all students.

A full list of our 2026 Student Leadership Team and their responsibilities is below.

Sport Highlights

Coaching News

We are thrilled to announce that Peta Toeava will join our Premier Netball programme as Assistant Coach in 2026. A representative for both the Northern Mystics and the Silver Ferns, Peta is renowned for her vision, decision-making, and dynamic playmaking ability.

Peta will work alongside Head Coach Fale Malifa and Premier 2 Coach Kath Krone as the team builds on last year’s impressive Top 4 finish. With Premier trials beginning next week, we look forward to an exciting season ahead.

Athletics Day 2026

Athletics Day is coming up next week. Heats: Tuesday 17 February, 9am–3pm. Finals: Friday 20 February, 9am–3pm. Students entered in three or more events will be excused from class on Tuesday to compete in heats; all other students will attend their regular timetabled classes.

All students will attend Finals Day on Friday, regardless of qualification. For the full schedule, field map, and event instructions, please check the Athletics Day tile and Sports Notice Board on SchoolBridge.

Check out more sports news and announcements on our website.

Pasifika Leaders 2026

We are proud to introduce our Pasifika Leadership Team for 2026 — a group of young leaders who bring cultural pride, service, and community to the heart of our school. Representing Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and Aotearoa, each member stands firmly in her heritage and village connections. Together, they are committed to uplifting and serving our Pasifika students and strengthening cultural identity within the School.

Les Misérables

Rehearsals for this year’s much-anticipated musical began at the end of last year, with students from Auckland Grammar School and Epsom Girls Grammar School meeting three times a week as a combined cast, orchestra, and crew.

This term has focused on mastering the large choral numbers under the guidance of choreographer Rebekkah Schoonbeck-Berridge, an EGGS Old Girl and now a professional dancer, actor, and singer. Rebekkah has choreographed several previous EGGS/AGS productions and brings extensive performance experience to the role.

Ms Druitt and Ms Le Cren are enjoying working with an impressive company of 56 actors, 14 musicians, and 90 crew members, spanning Years 9 to 13.

Tickets will be available soon — we look forward to sharing further details shortly.

Fia Fia Night

We are looking forward to this year’s Fia Fia Night, to be held on Saturday, 14 March. Fia Fia Night is a vibrant celebration of culture, identity, and performance, bringing our school community together in a spirit of pride and joy.

The evening will begin with food stalls, before our cultural groups take to the stage to showcase the results of months of dedication and hard work. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience these outstanding performances before our students head to Polyfest later this term.

SchoolBridge

It is great to see so many members of our community using SchoolBridge. Thank you for staying connected.

SchoolBridge is the central hub for all school communication, including calendar updates, assessment information, Daily Notices, attendance reporting, tuck shop ordering, and access to reports and financial information. This is where key updates will be shared.

If you have not yet logged in, please download the SchoolBridge app or visit eggs.bridge.school.nz, using your usual KAMAR parent portal login details. Please ensure notifications are enabled. If you need assistance, contact office@eggs.school.nz.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for your child’s success. There is a strong connection between attending school consistently and achieving well in the classroom. Ensuring students attend and engage in learning is a shared responsibility, and parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting daily attendance.

If your child is absent for any reason, please notify us as soon as possible by emailing attendance@eggs.school.nz with your child’s name, class, and the reason for absence. Alternatively, you can report an absence via the SchoolBridge app by selecting the Report an Absence tile.

We understand that there are genuine reasons for occasional absences. However, regular or extended absences can affect progress. If attendance becomes a concern, we will contact you to discuss how we can provide support.

If you are experiencing difficulty getting your child to school, please contact your child’s Dean. We are committed to working alongside you to address any barriers to regular attendance.

More information about attendance expectations is available on the Ministry of Education website.

Student Safety

At Epsom Girls Grammar School, student safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities. We remind all students that the School Rules and our shared values apply not only on campus, but also when travelling to and from school, particularly on public transport, and when representing EGGS in the wider community.

Students are expected to act with integrity, respect, and responsibility at all times. This includes wearing the correct uniform appropriately, behaving courteously in public spaces, and making safe choices when using public transport, local shops, and surrounding streets.

Our students are ambassadors for the School. The way they conduct themselves reflects on our entire community. We appreciate the support of parents and caregivers in reinforcing these expectations. By working together, we can ensure that all students feel safe, respected, and proud to represent Epsom Girls Grammar School.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The Epsom Girls Grammar School PTA is a forum for parents and caregivers to engage with the School, support students, provide feedback, and contribute to the wider community. Recently re-formed, the PTA is looking for more parents to get involved in strengthening school spirit, community connections, and fundraising. Meetings are held twice each term, usually online with occasional in-person gatherings.

If you’d like to get involved, please complete this form, and a member of the PTA will get back to you with further details.