PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Setting Course for the Coming Years
With the introduction of the Education and Training Act 2020, new guidelines and legislation have been established concerning school planning and reporting. A significant number of schools, including ours, have had strategic plans supported by annual implementation plans in place for many years. The new guidelines now require all schools to do this. From 2024, all schools will need to have a new strategic plan in place.
As we prepare this plan, we will be engaging with various community members to gather further perspectives and aspirations for our young people. Earlier this year our community survey captured some broad themes which we have continued to unpack and this will also inform our thinking. If you are contacted in the coming weeks we would encourage you to get involved. New Zealand Schools are very much community schools charged with serving the hopes and aspirations of their local community and as such it is important we hear from you.
We look forward to sharing the outcome of this engagement in Term 4 as we pull together our new strategic plan.
Kyle Brewerton
Principal/APPA President
CROSS COUNTRY
On the 8th of August, the RI cross country event took place. The weather was uncertain on the morning of the event with heavy rain when we were setting up. However, the weather cleared for the actual event, but left a muddy field. Roughly 20 boys and 20 girls participated from each syndicate to battle to be in the top eight for each year level. In the weeks leading up to this event, our classes were training hard during their PE times to prepare themselves. All students competed extremely well and can be commended for their efforts. The top 8 students from each category qualified to represent the school at the central zone cross country held on 24 August 2023 at Waiatarua Reserve.
AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL
Last term 30 RI students attended the Auckland Writers Festival at the Aotea Center. Thousands of students visit the Writers Festival each year, so we all felt very excited and special to be invited.
Our first presenter was New York Times bestseller and winner of many awards, American author Jason Reynolds. He gave us an enthusiastic talk and shared stories of his past, living in America and the struggles he's had. An engaging speaker, Jason talked to us in a way that we could relate to and was a very enjoyable person to meet during the book signing.
Coming next, with an enthusiastic passion for New Zealand Fiction, was author Mary Anne Scott. Stories and characters from her early life, growing up in Hawkes Bay were used as ideas for her novels. Also a talented musician, she had the time to sing us a song, which gave the audience a boost of energy!
Based on a true story, Johanna Emeny & Sarah Laing shared with us the journey of their collaboration on a marvelous picture book about a woman, who had a special connection with birds: Silvia and the Birds. Their story grabbed our attention as they described the way they created and bonded over making this book.
Tama Samoa is a wonderful book shared with us by husband & wife duo Dahlia and Mani Malaeulu. They told us how they were inspired and worked together, writing this epic story that has Samoan cultural values at its heart.
The purpose of the festival is to inspire students’ passion for books and reading and it certainly did that. It was a day that we will always remember.
By Isla Thomson Room 3
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We Welcome the Return of International Students
With borders now fully open, we welcome the return of international students to our school. Most have travelled here from China and Korea. Some have arrived with the intention of staying a year or two, others like this group of students from Korea, are visiting for four weeks during their summer holiday. They have certainly noticed the change in temperature. We hope that they will have a great experience and will go back to Korea with many happy memories. We have some more short-term students arriving in January/February and staying for eight weeks.
If you are interested in hosting one or two students in your home, please contact Robert Rasmussen who will provide you with more details. robertr@remint.school.nz
TOUGH GUY & GAL
On Wednesday 2 August, Mrs Stead took a group of year 8 students to Kumeu Showgrounds in West Auckland to compete in the Tough Guy & Tough Gal Challenge. This is a super fun 3-kilometre race full of mud, mud and more mud. It also involves jumping, wading and climbing over obstacles like walls, ponds, nets and tunnels. You can decide how tough you want the challenge to be. Some parts are a breeze, while others really test you. But no matter what, we all had a blast. We all had big smiles on our faces as we crossed the finish line after tackling every obstacle in the race.
By Reuben Stead Room 4
VISIT TO REMUERA KINDERGARDEN
Each year we take the Kapa Haka to perform for the children at Remuera Kindergarten which is a short walk up the road. Often there are younger siblings attending the kindergarten or some of our group actually went there too. It is important to maintain the connection.
This year we just took the Y7 students and they looked very polished. After the performance, our students had lots of fun playing with the young ones.
MULTIMATERIALS UPDATE
The Multi Materials room continues to be "a buzz with activity" this term. Cycle 2 students have been working hard in Multi Materials on a variety of projects including storage boxes, functional carry trays, puzzling marble mazes and turning unique chess pieces on the lathe. Students are encouraged to problem-solve and incorporate creative ideas while carefully planning and making their creations.
Recently Year 8 students have been designing in TinkerCAD software and 3D printing the tops of their chess pieces.
The two E's EPRO 8 group has been busy making bridges, vehicles, and cable cars as part of their unique extension activity every Friday.
PRIMARY SKI AND SNOWBOARD SNOWPLANET CHAMPS
The team had a great time at Snowplanet. This was a fun event focused on participation and experience. While there is still a competitive atmosphere in the facility and all athletes were looking to do well. The team each had 2 sessions. In the first session, the team completed 2 timed runs in a giant slalom course, all runs combined. In the second session, they took turns through the park, and the judges selected 5-10 Athletes to compete. They all displayed great attitudes and gave their best. Shelly took out first place in the girls’ snowboard jam! Sam, Norah and Cam had some rough results with falls or missed gates resulting in DQs. They all took it in their stride though - smiles all around. A great day was had by all.
TREES FOR SURVIVAL
On Thursday the 3rd of August a group of RI students went to Clevedon to plant trees as part of the Trees for Survival programme. These trees came to us as seedlings in September of 2022 and we have cared for them ever since, and we finally were able to plant them into their forever home!
The trees help our environment in many ways; stopping soil erosion; keeping our waterways clean; adding more oxygen to our air. All the trees were natives as well.
It was a great day and we managed to plant around 700 trees in just under two hours thanks to the hard work and dedication of our students and wonderful parent helpers!
2024 ENROLMENTS
Our 2024 Enrolment is now open. If you have a Year 6 student who will be coming to RI in 2024, we encourage you to start the enrolment process early to ensure we are well prepared for the coming year.
You can now apply online by clicking this link. If you have a query regarding the enrolment process, please contact Ms. Amy McGowan at enrolments@remint.school.nz
Out of Zone Applications Closing: Wednesday 30 August 2023
Ballot for Out of Zone Applications: Wednesday 6 September 2023
In Zone Applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline above to assist with the transition schedules and to determine the spaces available for Out of Zone applications via the ballot.
YEAR 8's 2024 HIGH SCHOOLS ENROLMENT
If you are considering enrolling your child at the following local high schools for 2024, please click on the following schools to begin the enrolment process:
Auckland Grammar School
Epsom Girls Grammar School
Glendowie College
One Tree Hill College
Selwyn College
Out of Zone Applications Closing: Wednesday 30 August 2023
Ballot for Out of Zone Applications: Wednesday 6 September 2023
IMPORTANT DATES
| August | |
| August 15 | Year 7 Water Safety - Room 17 |
| August 16 | ICAS English - Year 7 |
| August 17 | ICAS English - Year 8 CZ Rugby League Girls |
| August 21 | CZ Basketball Girls |
| August 22 | Interzone Netball Boys |
| August 23 | ICAS Science - Year 7 |
| August 24 | ICAS Science - Year 8 CZ Cross Country Year 7 Speech Finals |
| August 25 | Mufti Day - Daffodill Day (Cancer Society) |
| August 28 | CZ Basketball Boys |
| August 30 | ICAS Mathematics - Year 7 2024 Out of Zone Application CLOSED |
| August 31 | ICAS Mathematics - Year 8 |
| September | |
| September 6 | 2024 Out of Zone Enrolment - Ballot Day |
| September 7 | RI Talent Quest |
| September 12 | PTA Meeting |
| September 15 | International Day |
| September 19 | BOT Meeting CZ Volleyball Girls |
| September 22 | Term 3 Ends |
ABSENCE
All absences need to be reported by 8:45 am at the latest. To report an absence please:
Use the 'Report an Absence' link in the top right corner on the school website homepage http://www.remint.school.nz
Use the school app or phone the office on 09 522 9890 Option 1
Please do not email absence notifications to classroom teachers
ABSENCE TEXT NOTIFICATION
Your children’s safety is of paramount importance to us. In order to ensure the safety of all our students, at 9:45 am if your child has not been marked as Present we will send out a text notification to alert you of his/her absence. We are aware many parents are very busy people and forget to notify the school so please respond with a Y and a reason for the absence/lateness. Respond with an N if you have dropped your child at school or know that he/she was coming to school and we can investigate this promptly. Should your mobile number change, please notify the school immediately so that we can update our records accordingly.
PARENT PORTAL
Parents are able to use our portal to pay for their child’s donations and fees. We encourage anyone who has not already signed up to do so. The address is https://parent.edgelearning.co.nz/
REMUERA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL APP
You can download the free SchoolAppsNZ from the App Store or Google Play. It works on both android and Apple phones. It sends important school messages and forms a big part of our school communications.
Features of the App:
- You can subscribe to alert groups of interest to you and your child
- You can complete the absentee form directly from the App
- You can access the school calendar, news and events directly through the App
- We can send out targeted alerts to everyone with the App or to specific groups