CULTURAL & ENVIRONMENT

INTERNATIONAL DAY

One of the strengths of RI is the diverse cultural backgrounds of our students.  Each year we hold an International Day to celebrate this diversity.

Class Involvement

All students are encouraged to bring an outfit to School that represents their cultural background.  They also bring a plate of food for a syndicate shared lunch that provides the opportunity for all students to experience food from other cultures.

International Day Assembly

Parents, caregivers and whanau are invited to the International Day Assembly that provides an opportunity for groups and individuals of all cultural backgrounds to perform for the School and our community.  The School Kapa Haka Group opens the Assembly which incorporates a wide array of song and dance.

Performance groups are formed in the weeks leading up to International Day.  Practices are usually held at lunchtimes under the guidance of teachers and parents.  We encourage parents and caregivers to become involved in guiding a group.

International Day Contact

Robin Gatfield robing@remint.school.nz​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

KAPA HAKA

The Kapa Haka group is open to all Year 7 and Year 8 students. The group is lead by Whaea Odie and meets in the Hall after assembly every Monday.

Performances

The Kapa Haka group plays an important part in a number of performances and official “Welcome Ceremonies” throughout the year, including the International concert.

Kapa Haka Leader

Odie Johnson  odiej@remint.school.nz

Robin Gatfeild robing@remint.school.nz

ENVIRO SQUAD

The Enviro Squad focuses on promoting sustainability principles through effective use of resources.  Waste audits are done to measure how effectively we are minimising our waste.

Students are encouraged to do the following:

  • Use the correct bins to minimise waste going to the land fill.We have a Worm farm and Hungry bins to compost food scraps and we use Green bins/buckets to collect the food scraps.Blue recycling bins should be used only for Recyclable plastic, glass and metal.Red bins are to be used for Landfill rubbish – all chip packets and general rubbish.

  • Reduce the use of plastic by using reusable containers.

  • Minimise food waste – bringing healthy food enough to eat. At the moment about 20 kg of food waste is being generated per day.  Food Waste should be only fruit waste and inedible waste.

  • Using paper effectively – writing on both sides of the paper.

  • Being respectful and inclusive of other cultures.

  • Turning off computers and lights in classrooms when not needed.

  • Ensure that the school is tidy – no littering.

Travelwise

Travelwise is a programme run by Auckland Transport in partnership with local Councils and Schools.  

Our students take 640 car trips each day.  These trips add to traffic congestion, parking hassles, air pollution and risk of crashes. Congestion around the School is of particular concern.  Drop off/pick up points at the Ascot Avenue and St Vincents Avenue gates have become increasingly dangerous especially if students fail to cross at pedestrian crossings.  

The Travelwise team has identified a number of drop off/pick up areas that are within a ten minute walk of the School – see map.  Parents and caregivers are encouraged to utilise these points where possible.

VALUES & SOCIAL CHANGENCY GROUP

Values based education is an integral part of our School.  We believe that young adolescents benefit greatly from discussion about and enactment of core values.

Our values programme follows the timetable below with new values introduced to students via formal School and year group assemblies. 

Student Social Changency Group

An active globally-minded group that lead school wide initiatives promoting these values. They are concerned about the important issues of today and align themselves with the values program of the school and endeavour to make a difference to our school and our community. They will organise special days throughout the year to build awareness of global issues such as the environment and peace. They will concentrate on service and being of benefit to others. Their time to change the world is at Friday lunchtime meetings with Mr Zemke in the Multimedia Room.

Click here to go to their Socially Conscious Blog encouraging others to make a difference and work to better society around us. Trying to make the world a better place.

TREES FOR SURVIVAL

The Trees for Survival programme has been in operation at Remuera Intermediate School since 2003. Downtown Rotary sponsored the original Plant Growing Unit and also provide ongoing support funding potting mix, seedlings and supplies. Over the past 12 years RI students have planted more than 8000 native trees on ‘at risk’ land in the Auckland Region to help prevent erosion and improve water quality.

Remuera Intermediate received a Kowhai Award 2013 and in 2014 tied for second place in the nationwide Holyoake Award. In 2014 we also had the top student in the country, Juliette McDonald who received the Ross McKay Award for her dedication and hard work towards the programme.

A particular class usually has responsibility for growing and nurturing between 800 and 1000 plants in a given year. The class picks out new seedlings to plant into root trainers then, when they have grown, pots them in to larger bags. This is done cyclically each year, the previous year group preparing the plants for the next year’s planting day.

Every year the chosen class has a planting day during which they travel to an Auckland planting site by bus, sponsored by the Downtown Rotary Club. The planting site is chosen by Auckland Council for a variety of reasons. It may be to prevent erosion or to provide a filter to improve water quality of nearby streams and waterways.

The students and parent volunteers usually plant around 1000 trees throughout the course of the day. After the physical work and fresh air, the farmer then provides a hearty lunch for all the students and volunteers. It is a very satisfying day.

The Trees for Survival programme gives students hands on learning, introducing them to gardening and educates them about New Zealand native plants, the role trees play in our environment and how we can, and should, look after our environment so future generations can appreciate the natural beauty New Zealand has to offer.