In today’s newsletter we have the following:
Senior Leadership Team
Principal News
Kia ora e te whānau,
Nau mai, haere mai! A warm welcome to all our students, whānau, and staff as we begin another exciting school year at Auckland Normal Intermediate (Te Ipu kura o Mataaho).
We hope you have had a restful and enjoyable summer break and are ready for a year of learning, growth, and connection.
Mihi Whakatau – Welcoming Our New Whānau
We officially welcomed our new ākonga (students), and staff, with a mihi whakatau on Thursday in the MPS.
As always it was a special opportunity to acknowledge and embrace those joining our kura (school) community. It was great to hear a korero from Sian Stephens, one of our new kaiako (teachers) who spoke on behalf of manuhiri (visitors) and spoke about supporting the values and people of ANI to help continue to build an amazing kura.
Community Open Day – Connecting Together
It was also exciting to hold our Community Open Day which took place on Tuesday afternoon. It was great to have our community in our kura, to share some kai, have a swim and connect. I hope it gave whānau an opportunity to see what we are trying to do to support a great education for our community.
Looking Ahead
This year, we remain committed to fostering a culture of connection, belonging, and excellence from a strengths base. We look forward to working in partnership with you to support our tamariki in reaching their full potential. Keep an eye on our school website and newsletters for key updates and upcoming events.
See below a copy of the ANI strategic plan 2025 – 2027. It has been great working with our board and community in developing this over the last 6 months and we believe that it supports the kaupapa (philosophy/culture) that our community wants from our school.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s make 2025 a fantastic year!
Kia haumaru te noho
Jason Pocock
Principal (Tumuaki) ANI
Deputy Principal’s News
Kia ora koutou
MAC (Māori Achievement Collaborative) – Teacher Only Day Session
Last week, during our teacher-only days, our staff engaged in some incredible professional learning and development led by George Ihimaera from MAC. The focus was on deepening our understanding and practice of karakia, mihi, and pepeha, while also exploring how the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi can guide us in creating meaningful class treaties and agreements. It was a powerful experience for our teaching team, with everyone either refining their pepeha or beginning the process from scratch. A special shout-out to a few of our new staff members who are new to both Aotearoa and Te Reo Māori — they embraced this learning with enthusiasm and commitment. We’re excited to share that our staff pepeha will soon be displayed in the library, so be sure to pop in and get to know us better. Moving forward, our kaiako are focused on empowering our akonga to create their own pepeha and lead mihi whakatau in their classrooms, fostering a deeper connection to culture and identity for all.
Start of the year Assessments
Over the next six weeks, our students will be sitting e-asTTle assessments in writing, reading, and maths. We understand that assessments can often feel stressful, so we encourage you to check in with your child and have a supportive conversation to help them feel prepared and confident. The assessment results will be available for students to share with you at home, and will also play an important role in our teachers designing their teaching and learning programmes whilst helping our students to set meaningful goals for our student-led conferences in Week 6.
Key Things to Look forward to in Term 1!
Get your calendars, planners and diaries out because you’re going to want to make a note of these key dates and upcoming events in term 1.
- Sports Information Evening – Week 2
With so many sporting opportunities available at ANI, our amazing sports coordinator (Xavier Rice) will be hosting a sports infor evening on Monday 3rd of February. A great meeting to come along to in order to find out all the key details for ANI Sports 2025! - Hui/Fono Evening – Week 2
We host a Hui/Fono evening once a term and our first one for 2025 is scheduled for Tuesday 4th February. Information and invites have been sent out, so save the date and keep an eye out for more information. If you have not received an invitation please email Brooke Tuialii: btuialii@ani.school.nz - Y8 Camp
Matai in week 3 & Rimu in week 4 – so just around the corner! Make sure you’re all up to date with the details. Further information can be found from your classroom teacher and if you’re interested in helping out, please reach out to Scott Boniface sboniface@ani.school.nz - School Photos
Picture day is coming up on the 25th February – that’s that Tuesday of Week 5, - Book week coming up in Week 6
We kick this week off with a book day on Monday where we DRESS UP, staff and students alike. We also have a scholastic book fair happening onsite during this week. It will be set up in the library and accessible across the week. More information will be coming out soon so keep an eye out for that. - Student Led Conferences – Week 6
We’re excited to have our first round of conferences booked in for Wednesday 5th March. We’ll be sending out information about booking in for these in the coming weeks so watch this space. We hope these conferences will allow an opportunity for our Teachers, Students and Whānau to meet together, discuss how the year has started and set some meaningful goals for the year ahead. We look forward to seeing you then! - Kapa Kāhui – Kapa Haka Festival Term 1 finishes on a real high note this year with our Kapa Kāhui kapa haka festival happening in week 11 on Thursday 10th April. This year the festival is being hosted by Cornwall Park District School. Again, more information to come!
Kia haumaru te noho
Ashley Triana
Deputy Principal – Curriculum
Kia ora koutou
This week contains a brief property update from me. During the holidays, there has been a huge amount of work completed around the school. 7 classroom blocks have been re-roofed and new gutters installed, with hot water cylinders put into 3 classroom toilet blocks. The performing arts block has had a new wall installed to create 2 specialist teaching areas and the 10TS (10 teaching space) has had an interior soundproof glass divider installed.
The interior painting is now complete in the library and this space will be remodelled into a modern information centre over the coming months.
Our school pool is open and being used by students, who are enjoying a refreshing swim in the hot weather. A special thank you to Bruce Banbury, our school caretaker, for ensuring that the water remained balanced and clean over the summer period so we could utilise this awesome facility.
*PTA* – As we begin the new year, it is timely to reach out and ask for your support to help us with our PTA. This provides the school with valuable monetary resources, which we use to benefit our students. The PTA run our school fundraisers, termly discos and the odd sausage sizzle here and there to raise funds that support our kura and tamariki. If you are able to give some of your time to help us by becoming part of our special team, please do contact me – sboniface@ani.school.nz, or mobile 027 319 0745.
Year 8’s head off to camp in just over a week, venturing off to Tui Ridge in Rotorua for a challenging, yet fun time with their peers, teachers and adults. A huge thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered and given up their time to attend with us. We certainly couldn’t do it without their support and it is really appreciated. I am sure you will all have a good time and hopefully the weather decides to play ball and is kind to us.
Enjoy your weekend and I look forward to seeing you around our kura at some stage before the end of the term. Take care and enjoy your weekend
Kia haumaru te noho
Scott Boniface
Deputy Principal – Property & Community
News from 2024
We thought our parents would like to see some of the wonderful achievements and events that took place in the last incredibly busy weeks of school for 2024.
Spark Christmas Art Competition update
After winning the Spark Christmas Art Competition, Yi-Ling C was lucky enough to receive a one-on-one mentorship session with Blue-Monty Hamel!
She is also enjoying her Samsung Galaxy Tab S9FE tablet and stylus that she won as part of the competition.
Her winning design were showcased on selected billboards in Auckland and near her home, and the artwork was featured in Spark’s Christmas cards that were available in Spark stores during December.
We love seeing the amazing extra-curricular activities of our students, well done Yi-Ling! This is a really cool achievement!
Yi-Ling’s winning entry is pictured above.
EPRO8
During week 8, ANI hosted the EPRO8 Auckland Semi-Finals and Grand Final.
We had 2 teams in the semi-final, unfortunately with some very stiff competition we were unable to make it to the finals.
It was a great couple of evenings with schools from all around Auckland competing in the engineering competition.
A perfect way to show off the MPS and our campus.
Jacob Markham
Teacher in Charge of EPRO8
Amazing Race
On Wednesday 11 December 2024, Year 8 students took part in an ANI Tradition, The Amazing Race!
Students had to run around the school taking part in challenges and activities, groups also impressed us with their team chant, poses and costumes!
This was a great way to spend some time together having fun before heading off to High School.
Alice O’Sullivan
Teacher in Charge of The Amazing Race
High School Experience Day
On Thursday 12 December 2024, we put our students to the test and turned into Auckland Normal High School!
Each student was given a unique timetable and the equipment they would need for each period. Students moved around the school taking part in a variety of topics including geography, anthropology, media studies, psychology and ethics.
We were impressed with the student’s positive attitude and resilience when tackling this new system and are sure they are all feeling a little more prepared for 2025!
Alice O’Sullivan
Teacher in Charge of The Amazing Race
Graduation
It’s always a bittersweet feeling when we say goodbye to our Year 8 students! We enjoyed celebrating their two years with us at Graduation on Thursday night, 12 December 2024.
Students and staff had a great time at the certificate ceremony, disco and coming together for the final performance. Thank you to all whānau who were able to join us on the night.
Though we’re sad to say goodbye to the Year 8 students, we have no doubt we’ll be hearing about their amazing achievements in the near future.
Alice O’Sullivan
Teacher in Charge of Graduation
Y7 Haka for departing Y8 Students
On Wednesday 11 December 2024, our Year 7 students came together to perform a heartfelt haka to farewell the Year 8 students on their last day at ANI.
They’ve spent a lot of time in class learning and perfecting this, showing incredible dedication and teamwork along the way.
It was a special moment, full of respect and gratitude as they honoured the Year 8’s leadership and contributions. The haka also marked an exciting step for our Year 7s as they get ready to take on their new roles as school leaders and as Year 8 students in 2025.
Saasha Jolley
Y7 Dean, 2024
Sports
Auckland Grammar School – Mountain Biking
Please see below information from Jon Hasler at AGS regarding cycling opportunities for ANI students.
As well as FIVE XC races and one XCR (relay – teams) race various Auckland Mountain Bike Clubs have worked together to put on THREE Enduro Races (‘Shredder Series) and one Down Hill race aimed at students Year 7 to Year 13.
There could be more Enduro and another Downhill in Term 4.
Please see the details below:
Auckland Schools Mountain Biking (AMBC) Cross Country (XC) Series:
Race | Event Date | Venue |
1 XCO | Sunday 30 March | Hunua Regional Park |
2 XCO | Sunday 11 May | Waitawa Regional Park |
3 XCO | Sunday 15 June | Slater Road (South Head – private farm) |
4 XCO | Sunday 17 August | Totara Park
|
5 XCO | Sunday 7 September | Riverhead Forest (Barlow Road)
|
5XCR
| Sunday 7 September [Relay – Teams Event] | Riverhead Forest (Barlow Road) |
See Series information linked here:
See Flyer (poster) here:
See EOTC (RAMs) – a generic Risk Assessment and Mitigation document, linked here:
[Course/race specific Health and Safety Documents will be published for each race]
Tamaki Makaurau Shredder Series 2025 (Enduro)
Pohutukawa Coast Bike Club, JafaKids MTB Academy (WCRC Riverhead), & FourForty Mountain Bike Park are partnering up to bring our local Youth an epic Funduro series, which purpose is to promote the sport and provide a supporting and fun environment for kids to give racing a go.
Each club will run its own event and have placings for each event, riders can choose to do 1, 2 or all 3 of the rounds. There will be overall placings for the series.
Saturday 8 February Tamaki Makarau Shredder Series (Enduro) Race 1, PCBC, Maraetai
Sunday 16 February Shredder Series (Enduro) Race 2 Jafakids / WCRC, Riverhead
Sunday 2 March Shredder Series (Enduro) Race 3, 440 Mountain Bike Park
Please find information linked here:
Here is the link to the video Jafakids Enduro 2025 – Trail Preview
(This is an unlisted video, so it can be accessed by anyone with the link. There are also timestamps on YouTube, which help people know which track is being ridden).
Auckland Schools Downhill Champs – hosted by AKDH, at Dome Valley
Saturday 5th April
Information (e.g. flyer) to come.
Please keep an eye on our Facebook Page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/akmtb/
And the other clubs Facebook pages and websites.
There is a lot of relevant information on the Auckland Mountain Bike Club website, under schools: https://aucklandmtb.co.nz/schools/
Jon Hasler
Auckland Schools Mountain Biking (ASMB) 2025
Auckland Mountain Bike Club
Staff
Reception Reminders
IKURA PERIOD PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS’ INITIATIVE:
We’re proud to support the Ikura – Period Products in Schools initiative, ensuring that all our young students have access to free pads and tampons whenever they need them. These essential products are available in the bathroom in reception, helping our students feel comfortable and confident throughout their day.
We understand that the intermediate years are a time of transition, and we want everyone to feel supported. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to visit Gabi or Cait in reception—we’re here to help!
ADMIN OFFICE REMINDERS:
We’re your Front of House Team, here to assist you in reception. As we begin the new year, we have a few friendly reminders and appreciate your support in keeping things running smoothly.
1. Students should only enter reception when necessary and should not use it as a place to socialise or avoid class.
2. Parents must report to reception when signing out students or arranging pick-ups during school hours. To avoid delays, please plan pick-ups outside of break times or coordinate in advance, as classrooms and device cabinets are often locked during breaks. When you arrive, please provide your child’s name and room number, and remember to sign them out for health and safety reasons.
3. Late arrivals must sign in at reception before heading to class.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our reception area professional and efficient. We appreciate your support and look forward to a great year ahead!
Front of House Team, Gabi & Cait
Children’s After School Music and Arts Classes
Welcome to our Children’s After School Music and Arts classes which are administered by Auckland Normal Intermediate School.
These classes offer your children a wealth of enjoyable, educational and challenging activities for after-school participation.
The program is aimed at 6 –13-year-old primary school students from our local community.
It is subsidised by the Ministry of Education and follows the New Zealand curriculum guidelines.
To enrol your child online simply browse our after school classes in our Kindo Shop and add items to your shopping cart linked here.
ANI Community
ANI PTA
The ANI PTA are an active and awesome group that supports the school in a number of ways from helping out at events to hosting parent information evenings and the odd bit of fundraising.
If you would like to join our group please email me: sboniface@ani.school.nz
Ngā mihi nui,
Upcoming Events for Week 2, Term 1, 2025
Notices from our community partners
