In today’s newsletter we have the following:
Senior Leadership Team
Principal News
Dear parents and whānau
He waka eke noa
We are well into the new school year at Auckland Normal Intermediate, and it has been fantastic to see our students settling into their learning and making the most of the many opportunities available to them.
I do want to celebrate the amazing relationships between our teachers and our community, as the whakatauki that I lead with says ‘we are all in the waka together’.
We know that this relationship being strong is the biggest determinant of success for our tamariki (children). I do encourage you to connect with your child’s teacher whenever you have queries or concerns. (email is best as the first port of call and available on the website under, “Our Staff”).
Year 8 Camp – Tui Ridge Adventure!
Our Year 8 students have just returned from camp at Tui Ridge, where they embraced new challenges, built friendships, and developed resilience through activities such as high ropes, mountain biking, and team-building exercises. It was incredible to see our students stepping outside their comfort zones and showing true leadership and teamwork. A huge thank you to the staff and parents who supported this experience!
Central Zones Tennis – Game On!
Our sports season is already underway, with Central Zones Tennis kicking off this week. We are proud of our students who have put in the effort to compete at this level, and we look forward to seeing their skills develop throughout the year. A big shoutout to our coaches and supporters who make these opportunities possible.
Academic Testing – Setting Up for Success
At the moment, our students are undertaking academic testing (E-AsTTle) to help set a strong foundation for learning this year. These assessments provide valuable insights for both students and teachers, allowing us to understand strengths, identify areas for growth, and establish meaningful goals for 2025. This process ensures that every student receives the right support to succeed. The kaupapa that sits behind it does involve engaging a strengths-based approach so that if there are gaps, these are identified and supported to grow, with plans being implemented to support growth. Our aim is to move our tauira (students) up two sub-levels (New Zealand curriculum) each year. This is an aspirational goal that sits slightly higher than what the Ministry of Education sets out as a guideline.
Supporting Our Tauira (Students) – School Donation
A reminder that the school donation plays a vital role in ensuring that our students have access to the best possible learning experiences—whether it’s exciting camps, competitive sports, engaging arts programs, or additional academic resources. Every contribution helps to create an enriching and well-rounded education for our tamariki. Thank you to those who have already contributed, your support truly makes a difference.
We appreciate the ongoing partnership with our whānau and look forward to a fantastic year ahead. As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or want to get involved in school life.
Kia haumaru te noho.
Jason Pocock
Principal ANI
Deputy Principal News
Kia ora koutou,
Getting Prepared for our Student-Led Conferences
As we approach our upcoming student-led conferences, students and teachers have been hard at work collecting initial assessment data to provide a clear snapshot of where each student is at the beginning of the school year. This year, our students have completed e-asTTle assessments in reading, writing and maths, which will serve as a foundation for understanding their current strengths and areas for growth.
A key focus for us this year is on building student agency—empowering students to take ownership of their learning. This focus is deeply linked to our Māramatanga value in our student profile, which states: “I know where I am in my learning, what I need to learn next, and I set goals to get there.”
Over the next two weeks, students will be using their assessment data (with help from their teachers) to identify areas of focus for the next two terms. With this information, each student will create a short presentation to share with their whānau during the upcoming conferences.
We’re excited to see our students taking the lead in reflecting on their learning and sharing their goals with their families. These conferences are not only an opportunity for students to showcase their progress but also to celebrate their growth as independent learners. We look forward to seeing everyone’s hard work and dedication come to life during these special events!
Whānau Homework
As part of the preparation for Student-Led Conferences, we have also sent out a piece of homework for our whānau to complete. It includes 8 key questions that are linked to our school values and will help to give us a better understanding of you and your young person.
This has been handed out to students as a printed one-page template and we would love for you to find a few minutes to sit down and have a conversation with your young person and complete this homework sheet together. The sheet then comes back to school at the conference and is handed to the classroom teacher.
Ashley Triana
Deputy Principal – Curriculum
Kia ora koutou,
Starting as we mean to continue – Connection & Belonging
The term has started with a focus on whanaungatanga: connection & belonging. We are using our values as the foundation for connecting and building relationships in our space. There is currently a competition ongoing within our hubs to construct a treaty/classroom agreement that features our school values and voice from all the tamariki and kaiako in that space! Who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition?? Stay tuned to the newsletter for some updates on these displays!
Celebrating & Acknowledging our tamariki
Keep an eye out for your young person for a few of the following celebrations and acknowledgements from their kaiako. On HERO, you may receive a notification on the Positive Behaviour page from one of our staff members. This page allows us to acknowledge and celebrate some tamariki each week for modelling the school values in class or around the school. Feel free to comment back on the post to show us you have seen it or to add your praise to your young person who also sees these posts!
Another way we celebrate is our new and improved “Living Our Values” classroom certificates. Each week, the kaiako in each homeroom will award two of these certificates for modelling a specific profile statement from our student values profile. These are awarded at the team time assembly run by the teachers in their team. Each certificate is also worth 20 house points for the student’s house. Here are some examples of these certificates awarded to our senior leaders!
Kieran Gleeson
Deputy Principal – Wellbeing
Kia ora koutou,
Year 8 Camp
Last week I was fortunate to go down to Rotorua and spend a day with our wonderful Y8 students, teachers and parents at camp. Tui Ridge is such an awesome place for our tamariki to experience and enjoy everything that there is in the outdoors. I spent time with groups working on team building and then challenging themselves on the huge Giant Swing. There were lots of laughs and fun being had by the Matai team and they arrived home on Friday exhausted, but happy. A special thank you to all of our parents who were brave enough to venture down and support our teachers, we couldnt do it without your help.
Property
On the property front, we have had our prestart meeting for the installation of Autex, which will be in all classrooms. Not only does it provide soundproofing, it also doubles as display space for kaiako to exhibit and showcase our tamariki’s work. This will complete the refurbishment of our learning spaces and we hope to have this completed by the end of the school holidays. Work has also been completed with the installation of a new drain that will solve our ponding issue on our concrete court area. The swimming pool is proving to be a huge success, especially with the hot weather and classes continue to make the most of their time in there.
PTA
We are looking for parents and caregivers to form our PTA. If you are able to offer a few hours of your time to help us organise and run various events and fundraising activities, please do get in touch. We are holding a soirée in the MPS cafe on Monday 3 March from 6.00 – 7.30pm. We will have wine, cheese and nibbles and outline what our plan is for the year. We would love to see you there – please RSVP to Lynley lsheweiry@ani.school.nz.
Wishing you all a happy weekend and hopefully the weather stays nice and warm.
Ka kite
Scott Boniface
Deputy Principal – Community
ANI's Science Teacher - Natalie Cassidy
At the beginning of this year, the teacher we had employed to teach science was unable to take the position and that is when one of our ANI parents stepped in to help.
Natalie Cassidy was a teacher at ANI between 2011 and 2016 and actually taught one of our current teachers, Jaimee Lightfoot when Jaimee was a student in year 8.
Natalie has provided some amazing science lessons in the short time she has been here and put planning in place until the end of this term. You can see from the photos below how engaged her students have been.
We are very sad that Natalie is unavailable for the rest of this term but incredibly lucky and grateful to have her teaching expertise for as long as we have.
Many thanks Natalie from your ANI Whanau.
Kia ora koutou, I am Natalie Cassidy.
My teaching journey began nearly 20 years ago and I continue to enjoy working with our ākonga everyday. I have a wonderful husband and three super cool kids. We are a busy family who love the outdoors, playing sports and going on adventures near and far.
I value forming positive relationships and connections with my students and their whānau. I love to create a safe and fun learning environment that inspires curiosity and allows ākonga to take agency over their learning.
I am grateful to have had the wonderful opportunity to step in and inspire students in science these past few weeks. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the students engage in their learning about some of the brilliant things our bodies do.
Student Achievement
Principal Awards
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.
Staff
Welcoming New Staff
We would like to welcome the following staff to ANI in 2025:
Janine Noble – Year 7 Teacher – Totara Team – Room 16
Greetings! Or as they say in IsiZulu, “Sawubona,” which means “I see you”.
My name is Janine Noble and I am from the beautiful east coast of South Africa, with golden beaches leading into the warm Indian Ocean. I have a brilliant older sister in Edinburgh and a wonderful younger brother here in Auckland – and yes, being the middle child provided an excellent grounding in cooperation and mediation.
I love learning almost as much as I love teaching and am a dedicated bookworm – sadly an increasingly endangered species, but I hope to do my part to ensure its continued survival and flourishing.
The intermediate school years are an exciting period of growing independence and self-discovery while navigating increasingly important peer relationships. In addition to content knowledge and skills, my goal is to support students’ character development and their ability to successfully manage themselves, navigate friendship challenges, and safeguard their own well-being. It is inspiring to see the unique strengths each child brings to the learning environment and to be continually challenged by their curiosity and intelligent questions.
When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy walking (especially in nature) and swimming (when the water isn’t too cold).
Lei Shi – Year 7 Teacher – Totara Team – Room 14
Nicole Astrella – Arts Coordinator – Year 7 Teacher – Kauri Team – Room 6
Jaimee Lightfoot – Year 8 Teacher – Matai Team – Room 7
My name is Jaimee Lightfoot, and I am thrilled to be returning to Auckland Normal Intermediate, where my teaching journey first began.
Shivani Rampersad – Year 8 Teacher – Matai Team – Room 10
Sian Stephens – Netball Coordinator – Year 8 Teacher – Rimu Team – Room 18
Kia ora, my name is Sian, and I am looking forward to joining the ANI team in 2025!
I am from the deep south, a little farm just south of Balclutha. After graduating from the University of Otago in 2022, I moved up to Auckland to start my teaching journey.
This is my third year teaching and first year at an intermediate level, and I am very excited about this new adventure.
I am passionate about building strong relationships with students, colleagues, and whānau and creating positive, inclusive classroom environments that foster kindness, respect, and a love for learning.
Outside of teaching, I love hanging out with my friends, going to the gym and for walks, and treating myself to sweet treats and coffee. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Bryoney Minton – Year 8 Teacher – Rimu Team – Room 20
Kia ora! My name is Bry Minton, and this is my first year teaching at Auckland Normal Intermediate.
In 2024, I taught Year 8 and have also spent three years working in learning support. I’m passionate about creating an engaging, inquiry-based learning environment where students can explore, question and grow.
I grew up in both Hawkes Bay and Wellington and moved up to Auckland with my family 10 years ago.
Outside of teaching, I’m a proud mum of three and enjoy spending my time gardening, swimming, at the beach, or working on a variety of crafts.
I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the Year 8 students this year and supporting them in their learning journey. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
John Macnaughtan – Digi-Tech/STEAM Teacher – Kōwhai Team
Kia ora koutou, my name is John Macnaughtan.
I have the pleasure of being the Digital Technologies/STEAM Teacher at ANI. Throughout my career, I have developed a passion for teaching students the practical applications of technology and the importance of problem-solving skills. I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm for Coding, Robotics, Tinkercad, 3D printing, and other areas of STEAM education to the ANI whanau.
I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with fellow educators to create engaging, hands-on Steam/Digital experiences that inspire students to pursue their interests and develop their skills.
In my spare time, you will find me Mountain Biking, playing tennis and supporting Liverpool FC and of more recent times Auckland FC. While not doing these activities I will be planning the next family adventure overseas. As a family, we have a passion for travel, and our recent adventures have taken us to vibrant destinations like Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, and India. Each trip has allowed us to immerse ourselves in diverse cultures, savour delicious cuisines, and create unforgettable memories together. I look forward to meeting everyone involved in the ANI family in the coming year.
Anna MacLeod – School Counsellor- Kiwi Team
Tēnā koutou, ko Anna MacLeod tōku ingoa.
I’m delighted to start my second year as a counsellor at ANI in 2025. Before moving to counselling, I worked as a teacher, completing the Grad Dip Teaching in 2012 at the Epsom campus next door! I am a currently registered teacher and am now completing my Master of Counselling at Auckland University.
In my counselling practice, I work in a strengths-based and client-centred way, tailoring my approach to each student’s individual needs.
Originally from Dunedin, I spent two years overseas and seven years in Wellington before settling in Auckland 15 years ago. While I love visiting the South Island with my family, I think I have to call Auckland home now.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my children and family and enjoying walks with our dog up the local maunga. I also enjoy getting outdoors to exercise, seeing live music, and cooking. I’m looking forward to meeting both new and familiar faces this year. I will be at school on Wednesdays—feel free to pop in and say hi!
Reception Reminders
Dear Parents,
We kindly request your assistance in reminding your children that our office is a professional environment and must be treated with the utmost respect at all times. It is essential that all students maintain their best behaviour while in this space.
Students should not enter the reception area during school hours unless necessary and must not use it as a place to socialise or skip class. Additionally, we ask that parents report to reception when signing out students or arranging pick-ups during school hours.
Please plan pickups outside of break times or coordinate with the school in advance to avoid any delays. Classrooms and device cabinets are often locked during breaks, so this helps us ensure your child can retrieve their belongings promptly. When you arrive at reception, provide your child’s name and room number so we can arrange for them to be brought to you. Additionally, please remember to sign your child out of school, as it is crucial for health and safety to know which students have left during the day.
We also want to please remind you that if a student is late to school, they must sign in at reception.
We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the respect and appropriateness of this space.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Front of House Team
Let’s Talk Periods!
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!
Front of House Team
ANI Community
ANI PTA
We are looking for parents and caregivers to form our PTA. If you are able to offer a few hours of your time to help us organise and run various events and fundraising activities, please do get in touch.
We are holding a soirée in the MPS cafe on Monday 3 March from 6.00 – 7.30pm.
We will have wine, cheese and nibbles and outline what our plan is for the year.
We would love to see you there – please RSVP to Lynley lsheweiry@ani.school.nz.
Upcoming Events for Week 5, Term 1, 2025
Notices from our community partners
Tahatu Brownie Unit in Mt Eden currently has space to take more girls aged 7 – 9.5 years keen to join in on the fun that GirlGuiding NZ has to offer.
We offer a non-competitive learning environment that is open-minded and values-based. It’s a supportive place to grow confident, adventurous girls who are ready to be tomorrow’s leaders.
We offer a programme where the girls themselves have a say in the activities they get to participate in and offer experiences like camps, crafts, and real-life experiences, rewarding them with badges as they learn new skills.
To register your interest and find out more about our rewarding programme, complete the form found here:
Register Your Interest – GirlGuiding New Zealand – You be the Guide!
