In today’s newsletter we have the following:
● Senior Leadership
● Student Achievement
● Staff
● Upcoming Events
● ANI Community
Kia ora e te whānau,
We are travelling full bore toward the end of the year, and our tauira (students) and staff are working hard to ensure that learning remains at the forefront over these final weeks.
80th Jubilee Celebrations
Firstly, I want to acknowledge the amazing day we had on Friday, 14 November, celebrating 80 years of our kura. It was fantastic to see so many alumni return, reconnect, and share their stories with us. The comparisons between “then and now” were both entertaining and insightful.
Whakapapa is essential in understanding who we are, and it was powerful for our tauira to hear from our Presiding Member, Jason Mackie, about the past and the reasons behind many of our traditions and practices. We hope these stories enriched their learning and strengthened their sense of belonging.
As he identified Whanaungatanga is very much at the centre of what we do.
Following the daytime celebrations, our Community Trivia Night was another wonderful opportunity to come together, catch up with whānau, and enjoy each other’s company. This event will definitely become an annual tradition, and we hope even more of our community can join us next year.
Attached to the jubilee was our school raffle. A huge thank you to everyone who supported ticket sales. We know it is not always easy to ask our community for contributions, but your buy-in has been incredible. It looks like we have raised just over $25,000, which will make a significant difference to the continued development of our library.
2024 School Surveys
Over the past month, we have completed our annual surveys with tauira, staff, and whānau. Thank you all for your time and contribution—your feedback is vital in shaping our direction.
Tauira (Student) Feedback
It was pleasing to see positive movement in several areas. Students identified that challenge is important in their learning, and many recognised the value of setting challenging goals—a key focus for us this year. Our tauira also continue to value service and report feeling safe at school, which we are very proud of.
Staff Feedback
Staff reported greater confidence in building relationships with whānau and in supporting the Te ao Māori culture of our kura. These are very encouraging results as we continue to strengthen our identity and practices.
Whānau Feedback
Whānau noted that there is still work to be done around ensuring students are sufficiently challenged. This is an area we will continue to develop. You also shared the desire for clearer communication and more opportunities to connect with experts who can support your child’s growth and success. We hear this, and it will be a focus going forward.
End-of-Year Excellence Awards & Key Dates
We are not far from our end-of-year celebrations, so please note the following dates:
- Thursday, 11 December
- Year 7 Excellence Awards – 9:00am
- Year 8 Excellence Awards – 11:00am
- Year 7 Excellence Awards – 9:00am
- Friday, 12 December
- Last day of school with an early finish at 12:00pm
- Last day of school with an early finish at 12:00pm
Reflections for the End of the Year
As we reach the business end of the year, we encourage you to take a moment with your child and ask:
- What have you enjoyed most this year?
- What is making you feel anxious about next year?
- How can you use what you’ve learned this year to continue growing?
Our hope is that each day, our tauira take small steps to become more confident, recognise their strengths, celebrate their successes, and not let their weaknesses define them. We want them to know they can uplift others while striving to be their best selves.
Just three more weeks of big effort to finish the year strong.
Ngā mihi nui
Jason Pocock
Tumuaki
Kia ora e te whanau,
I’m pleased to share several exciting updates and highlights from around our school community.
New Accessibility Ramp Completed
A new concrete access ramp to the 10TS building has now been completed. Commissioned by the Ministry of Education to ensure full accessibility and compliance, this upgrade will make a meaningful difference for many of our students and visitors. It’s great to see this important improvement now in place.
Student Leaders at Rainbow’s End
I had the privilege of spending an awesome day at Rainbow’s End with our student leaders and with Kieran Gleeson, who leads this incredible rōpū. Our students represented the school with pride, enthusiasm, and maturity, and it was a real highlight to see them engaging so positively and strengthening their leadership connections.
Pool Season in Full Swing
It has been fantastic to see our swimming pool being used again. Students are absolutely loving their time in the water, and the energy and excitement around the pool area have been wonderful to see.
Jubilee Celebrations a Huge Success
Our recent 80th Jubilee celebrations went extremely well and brought our community together in a meaningful way. I’m thrilled to share that the Jubilee raffle raised over $25,000. This is an outstanding achievement, and I want to offer a huge thank you to all students and parents for their generosity and support.
We have created a new Jubilee walkway (at the end of the Visual Arts room), that leads to Disraeli Street. This enables a new access point to our kura and will feature new planting and student artwork/sculpture. Watch this space!!
Your contributions do make a real difference.
A Personal Thank You to Our PTA
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our PTA for their hard work, commitment, and dedication throughout the year. From organising social events and fundraising initiatives to providing our staff with an amazing morning tea, their support plays a vital role in the life of our school. I am incredibly grateful for everything they do.
Thank you to everyone who continues to make our school a vibrant, supportive, and connected community for all.
Ngā mihi nui,
Scott Boniface
Deputy Principal – Community
To our parents, caregivers, and wider ANI community,
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the businesses and services that generously donated such wonderful prizes, and to our students for their fantastic efforts and enthusiasm in selling so many tickets.
Three raffles were held—one for Year 7, one for Year 8, and a special Jubilee raffle. On Monday, 17 November, the draws were conducted by Constable Troy Banbury. The results are linked here.
For all of our lucky winners, please contact the school office on (+64) 09 630 1109 to arrange the collection of your prize.
If you have misplaced your tickets, we will require your name and some form of contact information before prizes can be issued.
We will also be attempting to contact winners by phone over the coming days.
Thank you once again for your support.
Warm regards,
ANI 80th Jubilee Sub-committee
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.
Cultural Festival was a powerful celebration of belonging, culture, and diversity at ANI. Our Cultural Festival on Thursday 30 October brought together everything we value as a community. Ākonga proudly sharing who they are, supporting one another, and celebrating the cultures that make our school such a vibrant place to learn and grow.
From the moment the evening opened with karakia, waiata, and the National Anthem which was performed by both Kapa Haka and Vocal Ensemble, the atmosphere was full of pride and excitement. Our MCs kept the show warm and welcoming, while backstage our student stage managers ran the operation with impressive calm and teamwork. Moxie led the crew with confidence and manaakitanga, making sure every transition felt seamless.
The performances were a true showcase of the richness within our school. We were treated to Kapa Haka, Vocal Ensemble, Orchestra, Chinese Dance, Bollywood Stars, Sri Lankan Dance (traditional and contemporary), Cook Islands Dance, Tongan Dance, Indian Dance, Samoan Dance, a Violin Solo, Band B, Shut the Front Door, The Royals, The Two Tones, and the Highland sword dance. Every act brought its own energy and flavour, and each performer stepped onto the stage with pride in their identity and culture.
It was more than entertainment; it was a reminder of how special it is to see students celebrate one another’s stories, languages, and traditions. Nights like this help our ākonga feel seen, valued, and connected.
We finished the evening with a closing kōrero from Mr Pocock, followed by a final waiata and karakia to bring everyone together.
Thank you to all who attended, supported, organised, ushered, supervised, and helped behind the scenes.
Our performers were incredible, and we are so grateful you were there to share the moment with us.
Ngā mihi nui for helping make the night such a joyful celebration of who we are.
Nicole Astrella
Arts Coordinator
Kia ora koutou,
What a day we had last Thursday! So many excited tamariki and so many incredible sculptures to explore.
Even when the rain arrived, we were still able to enjoy the artworks — and of course, celebrate our prize-winning exhibition in the bunkers!
Before heading home, we had a lovely walk down to the beach, where Rangitoto looked especially impressive — the perfect way to finish such a memorable day
A huge thank you to Scott for all your organising mahi, to Candice and her team, and to our wonderful parent helpers for their support throughout the day.
We also had some lovely feedback about how awesome our kids are, go ANI!
I’ve already got ideas for 2027 — Let’s take the whole school next time!
Ngā mihi nui,
Emma Purchase
Visual Arts Teacher
As ANI’s library is getting a makeover, we decided that we need some new bookmarks too. Check out our winners for each team and our honourable mention winner!
All of these bookmarks will be available for students to grab starting next week.
Miss Olivia
ANI Librarian
On Wednesday 19th November, we took 43 students to Central Zones Athletics.
We started off the day barrelling into a 1500m race and making big strides (!) with some fantastic placings as Kaitlyn B came 2nd, Theo S 2nd, Imogen W 2nd and Luca C bringing home the gold with a 1st place win.
We started the day off as we meant to go on with Kaitlyn B being pipped at the post again in 800m.
Kaitlyn, Theo, Imogen and Felix also brought a 2nd place win back to ANI and Reece C came 1st in the long jump with an absolute stunner of a run up and jump.
Rafa S also brought home the 400m 1st place! Special mention to WIlliam F who participated in more events than we can count!
Many students also made it through the 100m and 200m heats, making their way to the finals…and the relays, we are still waiting for the results on these!
Absolutely fabulous sportsmanship shown by all our young athletes, we are always so proud to take students to represent our kura at these events.
Good luck to all the students heading off to the Auckland Champs!
WE LOVE SPORTS!
Miss Hughes, Miss Lightfoot and Miss Chowdhury
Our counselling programme is available to support ākonga as they navigate the challenges and changes that come with this unique stage of their lives.
As we wind down for the year and timetables get busy, our Year 7 ākonga and their whānau are welcome to connect with me if they’re interested in accessing counselling next year.
Year 8 students will also have the opportunity to engage with counsellors at their new schools, and I’m happy to help guide them through this transition and answer any questions they may have along the way.
This time of year can feel overwhelming, especially for those getting ready to move on to high school. It’s completely normal for excitement, nerves, and uncertainty to all show up at the same time. We can support our tamariki by giving them space to share their feelings in ways that feel right for them and by recognising and celebrating their successes, no matter how small.
Below are some pictures of River, the beautiful therapy dog that visits ANI:
The intermediate years are a significant time of growth, change, and opportunity for our tamariki.
This journey is marked by three key transitions: moving in, moving within, and moving out. These changes are exciting, but they can also bring feelings of uncertainty. A strong partnership between home and school is the best way to support our students.
Here are some ways you can help make these transitions smooth and positive.
Moving In: The Leap to Year 7
Coming from primary school to intermediate is often the biggest jump. Students are managing a new campus, different teachers for different subjects, timetables, and a new level of independence.
How you can help:
- Talk Positively:Frame the change as an exciting new adventure. Focus on the opportunities, like new subjects, sports, and making new friends.
- Get Organised Together:Help them organize their stationery, learn to read their timetable, and pack their bag the night before. A visual checklist by the door can be a great help.
- Practice the Routine:If they are walking or catching a bus, do a few practice runs before day one.
- Validate Feelings:Reassure them that it’s completely normal to feel nervous or overwhelmed. Everyone is in the same boat!
Moving Within: The Step-Up to Year 8
The transition from Year 7 to Year 8 is often overlooked, but it’s just as important. Expectations increase as they become the senior students of the school. There’s a greater focus on leadership, responsibility, and preparing for the year ahead.
How you can help:
- Encourage Responsibility:Talk about opportunities to be a leader, whether it’s as a house leader, a librarian, a peer mediator, or simply a role model for the new Year 7s.
- Reflect and Refine:Chat about what systems worked well in Year 7 (like a study routine or homework space) and what could be improved for Year 8.
- Keep Routines Strong:Don’t let the good habits of Year 7 slip. Consistent routines for homework, sleep, and screen time provide stability.
Moving Out: Preparing for College (Year 9)
This is the big one! Preparing to leave ANI for high school involves thinking about new environments (often much larger), subject choices, and managing increased academic and social demands.
How you can help:
- Focus on Self-Advocacy:This is a key skill for high school. Practice ways they can respectfully ask a teacher for help, clarify instructions, or manage their workload.
- Break It Down:The idea of “college” can be overwhelming. Break it down into small steps: “This term, let’s just focus on visiting the schools,” “Next term, let’s look at the subject options.”
- Stay Connected:Year 8 can be a very busy and social year. Keep the lines of communication open so they feel comfortable talking to you about their excitements and their worries.
Tips for All Transitions
No matter which transition your child is facing, these core strategies provide strong support:
- Listen Actively:Ask open-ended questions like, “What was the most interesting part of your day?” or “What are you most looking forward to about…?” This often works better than “How was school?”
- Prioritise Well-being:Change is tiring! Ensure they are getting enough sleep, eating well, and having time for activities they enjoy outside of school. Downtime is essential for processing change.
- Maintain Home Base:A predictable, stable, and supportive home environment is the anchor they need when everything else feels new.
- Stay in Touch:We are your partners in this. If you notice your child is struggling, please reach out to their teacher or our pastoral care team early. Together, we can provide the best support for your child.
Transitions are a journey, not a single event. By working together, we can ensure every learner feels secure, confident, and ready for the next step.
Ngā mihi,
Candice
ANI SENCO
Thank you to our small but dedicated PTA team for an incredibly successful year (finding our way).
I truly appreciate the way everyone has shared the load, supported one another, and worked together to problem-solve whatever came our way.
Your commitment, teamwork, and positivity have made a real difference, and I’m grateful to each of you for the energy and heart you bring to our PTA. I could not have done this without you.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,
Natalie Cassidy
ANI PTA Chair
p.s. All of the staff would like to thank the PTA for the beautiful and yummy morning tea on Monday. It was truly appreciated :O)
Many in our community will already know the work of Oliver Li, ANI’s dedicated photographer since 2014. He’s the one who captures all our promotional photos—including the top-viewed images on Google Maps that have over 837,000 views!
Oliver specialises in capturing the true, candid emotion of any event, from large weddings and parties to intimate family celebrations.
He is now extending a special offer to the wider ANI community, making his professional photography services available at an affordable price that represents the best value for money.
Instgram is www.instagram.com/cyberomeo
