Principals Message

As we conclude the first term at GEIS for 2024 I am delighted by the positive and energetic start by both our Year 7 and Year 8 tamariki. 

Congratulations to our Year 7 students who have smoothly transitioned into the GEIS environment. They have certainly embraced our School Vision of ‘An engaging environment full of opportunities and choice’, by being involved in the many academic, sporting and cultural opportunities offered outside the traditional classroom setting. 

A huge thank you to our returning Year 8’s who have stepped up as leaders, fostering a supportive environment for their younger peers. They’ve also seamlessly begun their own learning journeys, demonstrating continued academic and personal growth.

Both year groups are actively engaged in their classrooms learning. The term one curriculum focus is promoted through the school values and our students are demonstrating these at school and hopefully in the community.  

In the media recently you my have seen a report from the Education Review Office reporting on disruptive classroom behaviour being a growing problem in Aotearoa which impacts on student achievement and attendance. 

This year we have  implemented a new curriculum and with the goal of reducing disruptive classroom behaviour.  One of the highlights is the focus on school values, the use of classroom treaties and in particular the use of a formalised process school wide to embed this into learning for the first term and beyond. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) system is also getting a refresh. 

Intermediate/middle schools were developed to ensure that the our children have the right tools in place while transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Our GEIS team are committed to ensuring that our children get the opportunities to try as many different things as possible while having a safe place to explore ideas and philosophies that they will use moving forward in their senior education and further as adults. This will mean at times that they will make unwise decisions, and in turn they will have the opportunities to learn from their mistakes. Our focus is to ensure that this can occur in a way that other children's learning is not disrupted and it is a safe place for everyone. As a school we really do appreciate the support from our parents and whānau by helping our teachers and wider school by ensuring our messages around behaviour expectations and values are reinforced at home.  

At GEIS we have a strong Learning Support Team led by Deputy Principal Jan Peach and this team supports all tamariki who need learning support in many different ways. Through this support we have a safe place for students and staff here at GEIS. 

We have come to the end of our Term 1 Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) days, and our tamariki have returned to school excited and exhausted! EOTC days are an excellent way for our learners to be risk-takers and push themselves outside of their comfort zones in a safe and measured way. These days also give our tamariki some experiences they have never had and will always remember. 

I would to thank our families and whānau for their support on our EOTC days and without you coming along on these days, these days can not happen.

Also a BIG thank you to our teachers and staff for their time and energy in leading and organising these days.

A BIG congratulations also to our Tongariro Tramp group who successfully conquered climbing Tongariro. What an awesome effort! (see photo above)

Glen Eden Intermediate School is great kura made up of good people and a good curriculum and I am proud to be the Acting Principal of this school. 

Have a great and safe school holiday. 

Ngā mihi nui

Acting Principal

Jacob Prisk