Kia ora Parents and Whānau,

As term 3 draws to a close, it is timely to reflect back on a busy but very positive term.

Reading through the contributions to this Ramaroa/Newsletter, we are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements and the engagement they have shown across all areas of their learning. The success we have seen is a direct result of the Intermediate school philosophy, which is designed to empower our learners and cater to their individual developmental needs. Across the depth and breadth of the curriculum, our students have truly taken up the challenges, explored their strengths, and grown into self-motivated and collaborative learners, ultimately preparing them for their future and the challenges they may face.

Our students have not only excelled in the classroom but have also represented our school with distinction at a number of regional and national events. As mentioned, the New Zealand Intermediate school curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire; our students have truly accepted this challenge!

A huge congratulations to our teams who competed in the Auckland Mathex competition recently. This fast-paced mathematics event is highly competitive and demands quick thinking and problem-solving skills also exceptional teamwork. Our teams showed great focus and determination, applying the skills they’ve honed in the classroom to a high-pressure environment. Their success is a clear indicator of how our students are embracing complex academic challenges with enthusiasm, skill and I hope some fun! We are very proud of their results and the collaborative spirit they displayed. Congratulations to our Year 7 team one members Emily Zhao, Sarah Wei, Allen Bai and Yeonjun Moon who won their event, a fantastic performance against some of the top schools in the Auckland region. Thank you, Mrs Rose Golds and Miss Christina England, for their mentoring and organisation of the Mathex teams.

This year’s annual school Fun Run was again a huge success! Students raised an impressive $70,000 by completing a 3 km course being sponsored for their efforts by family and friends. The money raised will directly contribute to new resources for our school. Money raised from previous runs has contributed to the building of our adventure playground and  the new covered outdoor area, these amenities will certainly benefit our students for many years to come. A huge thank you and acknowledgement to our students, staff, community and sponsors for this outstanding effort

Last week 220 of our students travelled to Tauranga to compete in the Association of Intermediates and Middle Schools (AIMS) Games tournament. This National event showcases 14000 top Intermediate-aged athletes from across New Zealand and the Pacific. Our students were again incredible ambassadors for Northcross. Competing in a range of sports, both individual and team, they displayed remarkable skill, sportsmanship, and perseverance. Their hard work in training paid off, achieving some great results. More importantly, they upheld our school values; when finishing their own competition, they would head off to other events, supporting and cheering on their teammates, brilliant! Congratulations again to all competitors, you certainly represented Northcross with pride.

A huge thank you and acknowledgement of all coaches and managers for your preparation of teams throughout previous terms. Thank-you to Miss Shannon Hale and Mrs Jill Haslam for their organisation and leadership at AIMS.  Also, great to see our many parents at the events, thank you for making the effort to attend.

As we head into the final two weeks of Term 3, we encourage our students to stay focused and finish the term strongly. The upcoming holiday break will be a perfect opportunity to rest and recharge with your child/ren. Term 4 is shaping up to be another busy and exciting one, with a continued focus on preparing our Year 7 and 8 students for their next challenges and celebrating the achievements of all students throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued support of our school and our students. We wish you a safe and restful break.

Ngā mihi

Jonathon Tredray