Newsletters 10/09/2025

In today’s newsletter we have the following:

● Senior Leadership
● Student Achievement
● ANI Community

Senior Leadership Team

Principal News

Kia ora e te whānau

What a busy term! Many of our community have just returned from an incredible week in Tauranga at the AIMS Games 2025!

With over 14,000 participants competing across 27 different sports (making it bigger than the Olympics!), our school was proud to be represented in more than half of them.

Individual & Special Achievements

🧗 Rock Climbing – Yume F, 1st Place
🏸 Mixed Badminton – Jayden J & Catherine L, 3rd Place
🤸 Open Gymnastics (Level 1–4) – Hermia L, 1st Overall
🤸 Open Gymnastics (Level 5–7) – Chloe S, 1st Place Beam
🏃 Y8 Boys Cross Country Team – Luca C, Felix P & Harrison H, 3rd Place

Team Results

⚽ Football Girls – 17th
⚽ Football Boys – 26th
🏑 Hockey – 31st
🏐 Netball – 43rd
🏉 Rippa – 11th
🥅 Futsal Boys – 19th
🥅 Futsal Girls – 10th
🏀 Basketball – 53rd
💃 Hip Hop – 8th

Beyond the Placings

While the results speak for themselves, one of the biggest positives of the week was the spirit of whanaungatanga – the connections our tauira (students) built with one another, with students from other schools across Aotearoa, and even with some international competitors. From coaches and teachers to whānau and officials, everyone played a part in creating an atmosphere of learning, growth, and community.

Our tauira not only tested their skills against some of the best but also learned to navigate both success and setbacks – experiences that will stay with them for years to come.

Back at School

While many were away, students and staff at ANI continued their learning journey with inquiry activities and electives, providing rich opportunities to explore passions and deepen connections.

We also reflected on our 18-month journey with Mitey, a programme designed to help NZ children build the skills and understanding they need to support their emotional wellbeing and that of others. The reflection confirmed what we’ve seen every day – our tauira are becoming more resilient, more self-aware, and more connected to our school values.

Looking Ahead

As we close out Term 3, we encourage whānau to celebrate personal growth alongside team and individual achievements. Try asking your child questions such as:

What have you been proud of at school this term?
What new learning have you been excited by?
What opportunities have you had to connect with new people?
How do you think you are a better learner now?

These reflections help remind our tauira just how valuable they are to our community.

Next week, we also celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, with many special events planned. A highlight will be our hikoi up Maungawhau with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, learning about the significance of the maunga to Auckland and to our community.

Ngā mihi to everyone who made AIMS Games 2025 and Term 3 such a success – we are so proud of our ANI whānau!

Kia haumaru te noho

Jason Pocock

Deputy Principal News

AIMS, Scooter Racks & Community Consultation

Kia ora whānau,

Last week, I was fortunate to spend a quality week at the AIMS Games with our ANI hockey team. They showed outstanding sportsmanship, resilience, and lived our school values throughout the tournament. The team experienced a mix of wins and losses, but what stood out to me most was their determination and the way they supported not only each other but also our wider group of ANI athletes. It was a fantastic week of competition, connection, and demonstrating the pride of our kura.

Back at school, we have recently completed the installation of security fencing around our bike and scooter racks. These gates are locked each morning and opened again at the end of the school day, giving students peace of mind that their property is safe and secure while they are learning.

I’d also like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who completed our property community consultation. Your input is invaluable as we look ahead to the future development of ANI. I will be collating the responses and sharing a summary of the feedback and preferences with you next week.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,
Scott Boniface

Deputy Principal

Important Reminders:

ANI 80th Jubilee

We are excited to share that Auckland Normal Intermediate (ANI) is turning 80 this year!

Back in 1945, Auckland Normal School officially became Auckland Normal Intermediate, beginning with a roll of 438 students. Fast forward to today, and we proudly serve 739 wonderful learners.

To celebrate this milestone, we are hosting a special Jubilee Day on Friday, 14th November, followed by a fun-filled Trivial Pursuit Night that evening.

As part of the evening event, we will also be holding a raffle, with tickets being sent home in mid-October. Since we’ve moved away from our traditional chocolate fundraiser in support of healthy living, the raffle will serve as an important initiative to raise funds for improvements not covered by the Ministry—starting with a much-needed library upgrade.

To make these events a real success, we need your help.

If you are able to be hands-on help for the Jubilee Day, the Trivial Pursuits night or the Raffle, please pop your name down on the lists linked below.

Jubilee Day helpers linked here.

Trivial Pursuits night helpers linked here.

Raffle fundraiser help linked here.

Trivial Pursuit Night Details:

Date: Friday, 14th November
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: The MPS
Tables: 15 tables of 8 (get in quick!)
Tickets: $30 per person (includes a cheese platter and a mystery bag for your table)
Extras: Pizza served at mid way through the night, cash bar available, games, spot prizes and a silent auction throughout the evening
Prizes: for the winning table

To make the night a success, we would greatly appreciate your support. If you are able to contribute in any way, be it goods, services, prizes, or accommodation (such as a weekend at a beach house), for our silent auction, we would be incredibly grateful. If you have any items to donate, please contact Mandy Tomlins our Alumni Ambassador: mtomlins@ani.school.nz

Let’s make ANI’s 80th a celebration to remember!

More information will become available soon in regard to invitations to the Jubilee Day and tickets for the Triv night.

Please pop onto your calendar the date and start asking friends and family if they have the brains to compete in the Triv night!

ANI Jubilee Logo

Ruby R from room 8 designed our Jubilee logo. Ruby did a fantastic job of incorporating modern themes while honouring the past. Well done Ruby :O)

Safety First: Drop-Off Reminder for Parents & Caregivers

For the safety of all our students, we kindly ask that you do not drop your children off directly in the school carparks. These areas are busy with staff vehicles and are not designed for student drop-offs, making them a potential hazard.

Instead, please drop your children off next to the school gates, where it is safe and easy for them to enter the grounds.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our tamariki safe!

ANI Facebook Page

Just a reminder that events such as sports, chess and any other competitive activities will be reported on the ANI Facebook page linked here.

Please check out the wonderful achievements of our exceptional students.

Important Information for Year 8’s

Year 8 students are soon heading into their final term in Intermediate School. There are lots of exciting learning experiences, events and opportunities in term 4 and part of our focus includes preparing them for High School in 2025.

Our Y8 Deans and Whaea Candice, as SENCo, work closely with all High Schools to ensure important information is passed on. This includes organising High School visits and transition meetings.

Below is some information around what the school is doing to prepare students for High School and some recommendations for whānau at home.

To prepare students for High School ANI is:

Throughout the term, teachers are discussing their new High Schools with students, including what opportunities there are at High Schools, what their timetables, learning and environments may look like.
In Weeks 3 and 4 we are focusing on Exam Preparation for High School Exams, which take place in Term 4 2025 or Term 1 2026.
In Week 3, we are having a High School Experience Day for Year 8s, where students will go around different spaces in the school with their equipment in changing class groups.
In Week 4, Y8 Students will be completing Mock High School Preparation exams. These are paper exams completed in silence in the MPS to prepare students for the experience and environment of High School Entrance exams. These are solely for the experience of sitting this style of exam and do not contribute towards reports or teacher judgements.

Recommendations for families to prepare for High School:

Ensure your young person is enrolled in a High School for 2026.
Check the communication from the High School and the High School websites to ensure your young person attends Open Evening/Day, testing or trials.
Look at the website of the High School or information sent home, such as prospectuses. You can look together for potential classes, clubs and opportunities at their new school.
Watch videos on the new High School’s YouTube or website to see what the new school is like, especially extracurricular activities.
Support your young person to get ready for High School independently! This could include packing their bag in the morning for equipment they will need during the day, helping them start a diary or planner to keep track of their work, and discussions around how to meet new people and make the most of their time at their new school.
If possible, make the journey to their new High School, whether that is walking, by car or by public transport. Discuss with them an alternative method or route if something goes wrong.
If possible, go for a walk around the High School to get the lay of the land.

In Term 4, there are also lots of amazing learning and other opportunities! These include:

The ANI Amazing Race! This is an awesome day for students to enjoy being with each other in their last week at ANI. Students will make teams to take part in various activities to win points and potentially, prizes! Dressing up is strongly encouraged! Wednesday 10th December.
Graduation. Get your tissues ready! Our Graduation consists of a ceremony for whānau, followed by a disco for students and a final performance. Thursday 11th December.
Opportunities to buy personalised Leavers Jackets (more info to come next term)
An Education Outside the Classroom Day Trip! (more info to come next term)

More information and details to follow on all aspects shared above. Please reach out to Renée Dale, Matai Team Leader, if you need any further information.

Ngā mihi nui,

Renée Dale

Student Achievement

Principal Awards

AIMS 2025 - from ANI Guild Reporters

Just as dawn approached on Saturday, 30th August, AIMS Boys Futsal and AIMS Hip Hop started their 3-hour journey down to Tauranga (with Girls Futsal leaving the day earlier), where they would soon compete with other schools from around Australasia to become the best of the best. After 10 long hours in the rehearsal studio, ANI were called up onto the stage, where each team member danced their hearts out. All the lunchtimes spent preparing, perfecting and performing were worth it in the end as the ANI’s AIMS team ended up coming 8th place overall!

Early next morning, traffic struck the roads all over as the other sports teams made the long journey down to Tauranga to play their very first games. Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favour and most of the athletes were soaked already after the first 10 minutes of arrival. The night coming alive signalled the official start of the AIMS Games. Over 14,000 athletes and 431 schools all crammed into Baypark Stadium, unbeknownst to all the fun that they would have and the special guests they would meet at the end of the ceremony.

The next 5 days would go by in a flash. Every morning, students would be awoken at times that most people would’ve usually still have been asleep and would’ve stayed in bed if given the opportunity to. That wasn’t the case for the athletes staying in Pacific Lodge. Students dragged themselves through to the dining hall and were presented with cereal, toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and occasionally spaghetti and baked beans for breakfast. Afterwards, all the teams would set off to their designated destinations and play their hardest, while also playing fairly, even/especially when games were tough and didn’t turn out the way expected.

Before all the athletes headed to bed for the last time at AIMS, the ANI AIMS rōpu had a prizegiving for all the teams, resulting in lots of cheers and congratulations. Even though everyone had so much fun and will dearly miss being at AIMS, I’m sure a lot of us (especially teachers) are excited to head back home and get proper rest for the rest of the school term.

By: Chloe L

Incredible Achievement

At the TOM event on Saturday 23 August Yume F’s team came 3rd, and in the Languages and Literatures challenge she received a Spirit of TOM award for leading and performing so well.

Immediately after the event, she drove to Wellington with her parents and on Sunday 24 August, Yume won the U15 Women’s National Indoor Bouldering Wellington event, and took out the overall NIBS series title for all four events over the past year.

The bouldering comp was really tough as there were many slab-type problems and her rival has been improving.

Yume, having struggled to complete the most difficult problem in the gym, and having watched her rival complete it, dug really deep and found the skill and balance needed to come back and complete those climbs, which resulted in a first equal tie.

Well done Yumi, you’re a champion!!!

Bandquest 2025

Mōrena rockers, moshers & punkers,

Bandquest 2025 took place on Wednesday 27 August in the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna. A day that began at 1pm ended at 10pm with smiles, a minor loss of hearing, and an all-around increase in street cred.

Scott and I had the privilege of being the band managers on yesterday’s trip, but the very first acknowledgement needs to go to the Rock Band tutor: Tim Stewart from Supergroove. Tim coaches 3 of our bands every Monday and has imparted so much of his rockstar experience and skills on these musicians and they represented the school with pride. Thank you Tim, I hope you enjoyed the results!

Our fourth band – Shut The Front Door – was coached by Alan Z’s dad, Huan, outside of school.

16 bands performed in last night’s competition.

ANI had 4 bands:

Shut the Front Door – William T, Alan Z, Wilfred Y, Samuel H & Wendy J

Anonymous – Selene Q, Ruth T, Miles C, Ben R & Stephen Y

The Royals – Abishai A, Harrison H, Esther M & Maddox P-O’B

The Two Tones – Charlie C, Aishani R, Zoe M, Abhi G, Isaac Z & Ryan F

Scott recorded each and every performance, and we got some pre-gig interviews too. Take the time to watch these videos, linked here; you will not be disappointed.

Ok, results time:

ANI took home 4 prestigious awards as follows:

Coming in third place, our band, the ROYALS!!!

Specialist instrument award – Charlie C on the trumpet

Top guitarist award – Alan Z

Top vocalist award – Aishani R

Super proud of these rockstars, and we will make sure they are performing at some upcoming ANI events. Thank you again Tim and Huan.

Kieran Gleeson & Scott Boniface

ANI Deputy Principals

ANI Cultural Festival 2025

Our ākonga are getting ready to shine at this year’s Cultural Festival – an evening celebrating the talents and diverse cultures of our kura. Expect an exciting line-up of performances including music, dance, rock bands, and more, alongside delicious kai stalls.

Date: Thursday 23rd October (Term 4, Week 3)

Doors Open: 5:30pm | Performances Begin: 6:00pm

Location: Auckland Normal Intermediate, MPS

Whānau and friends are warmly invited to join us for one of ANI’s biggest celebrations of the year.

More details to follow…

Tickets will go on sale in Week 10.

ANI PTA Carnival Social

The ANI PTA held the Carnival Social and the students had a fantastic time as the pics below show.

Natalie Cassidy

ANI PTA Chairperson

Reception Reminders:

As we move into cough and flu season, we kindly remind parents and caregivers of the following:

Keeping Sick Children at Home:
To help prevent the spread of illness, please keep your child at home if they are showing any signs of being unwell (e.g. coughing, fever, sore throat). This helps protect other students and staff.

Medical Certificates for Extended Absences:
If your child is sick for more than three consecutive school days, a doctor’s note is required. Without it, any further absence will be recorded as an explained but unjustified absence.

More Information:
For full details on our absence and sickness policies, please visit our website: ANI Code of Conduct – Absences and Sickness

Thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe and healthy.

Pads and Tampons:

A quick reminder that pads and tampons are available in the reception bathroom for students who may need them during the school day. They’re welcome to collect these at any time—no need to ask.

Please feel free to let your child know this support is there for them if needed.

Lost Property:

Just a quick reminder that lost property is kept at reception for any students who may have misplaced items. Please encourage your child to check regularly, as the lost property is cleared out at the end of each term.

Thanks for your support!

Ngā mihi,

Cait and Gabi

ANI Community

Upcoming Events for Week 10, Term 3, 2025

Notices from our community partners

Need something to do these school holidays? Create and enter your very own LEGO creation inspired by our Auckland Brick Show theme ‘CELEBRATION’ and enter the competition to win a $100 Toyworld voucher foryou and LEGO your classroom teacher!

But that’s not all, finalists will win a family pass and have the opportunity to feature their creations at the Auckland Brick Show 2025 September 27-28 at Auckland Netball Centre in St Johns.
Special 20% off Early Bird ticket prices are available on Eventbrite till September 19. Door sales will be available on the day.
Head to www.aucklug.co.nz for competition details and to submit your entry. Entries close Sunday 21st September.

Need something to do these school holidays? Create and enter your very own LEGO creation inspired by our Auckland Brick Show theme ‘CELEBRATION’ and enter the competition to win a $100 Toyworld voucher for you and your LEGO classroom teacher!