Term 4 brings mixed emotions for our students. Year 8s are excited about the next steps in their education but sad to leave the intermediate. Year 7s are looking forward to be the new leaders in the school but will miss their year 8 friends.

As the end of the year approaches, we are working on our 2024 class lists. This is a very deliberate task as we look at each student, try to align temperaments with both teacher and students, and include one or two strong friendship connections where possible. From a school-wide perspective we must also consider class numbers, the balance between year 8s and year 7s and the gender mix.

We have reached our highest student numbers in the school’s history – 545! We are a little squashed in some rooms but with the help of a little fine weather, a few outings, and a sustained focus on learning we are coping well. Sometimes I wonder if our students even notice!

We are losing and gaining a couple of teachers next year.

Dan Miller is leaving us to take up a leadership position at South Wellington Intermediate.

Of course, most of you will know by now that Lena Meinders is retiring from her DP role at the end of the year. I am very happy to announce that Louise Moncrieff has been appointed as our new DP.

Charissa Potgieter is going on maternity leave for the first part of next year and we are looking for a replacement teacher for this class.

Paul Burke and Carly Smith are joining the teaching staff in 2024.

There will be shifts of teaching staff across the syndicates as we balance these changes.

The last few weeks have seen us participate in a variety of sporting and cultural events. The Poly Club and our Kapa Haka performed at inter-intermediate festivals. Our students absolutely loved these opportunities and they performed with pride and skill.

We have also had a busy term of sport. No top finishes but a lot of fun and a great sporting spirit from our school at all events.

Our staff are beginning the end of year reflections which will be shared with you via Seesaw by the end of week 9.

Unlike primary schools, students at intermediates work across multiple levels of the curriculum. These curriculum levels overlap. Here is a link to a graphic that shows this. Teachers use a variety of information sources to determine the level students are working at. These sources include class work and assessments, end of year testing, teacher observations and discussions with students.

Some students may be working towards, working within, and working above expectations.

We have recently hosted groups of principals from all over the North Island. In previous years, this would have been an opportunity to showcase our school’s modern learning environment, which after 11 years is still a great model for teaching and learning and totally fit for purpose. The school with its cladding and window projects underway, looked a little forlorn to be honest and many principals were filled with admiration that we continue to flourish and function in the ‘chaos’. The projects are back on track after many council-instigated delays, and we expect the school to be looking so much better by the start of year in 2024.

Please check out the calendar for the important events and dates until the end of the year. We have booked Newlands College Hall for our end of year assembly so we can include more parents. Our last prizegiving assembly will be at 11am on Wednesday 13th.

Important Dates and Events

Year 6 Orientation Day #1

Friday November 17th

9am -12.15pm

Production

Tuesday November 21st 6.30pm

Wednesday November 22nd 6.30pm

Inter-intermediate Softball

Wednesday November 22nd

Tawa Sport and Cultural Exchange

Friday November 24th

We are hosting this year

Music Centre Concert

Tuesday November 28th 7pm

Year 6 Orientation Day #2

Thursday November 30th

9am – 12.15pm

Regional Athletics

Tuesday December 5th

Year 8 Leavers Dinner and Dance

Thursday December 7th

Tickets on sale soon.

End of Year Assembly

Wednesday December 13th

11am – 12.20pm

Last Day of School

Thursday December 14th 12.20pm