In today’s newsletter we have the following:
Senior Leadership Team
Deputy Principal News
Matariki, Open Day, Auckland Rugby Champs & Rippa Rugby
Kia ora e te whānau,
As we draw near to the end of Term 2, we pause to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead with hope—just as Matariki invites us to do. This special time in the Māori calendar reminds us of the importance of connection, renewal, and gratitude. At Auckland Normal Intermediate, we embrace Matariki as a chance to acknowledge our shared values and the strength of our diverse community.
We began last Thursday with the planting of 4 Kowhai trees in our newly established Matariki Garden, followed by some extremely tasty kumara soup and rolls.
The kumara was grown by our students in our school garden, and we fed over 150 guests in the cafe. A huge thank you to Brooke Tuialii and Ben Christie for spearheading this, along with the staff who all chipped in to make the soup on Wednesday.
In the spirit of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, we were proud to host a Rippa Rugby tournament yesterday, welcoming four other schools to our kura. The day was full of energy, teamwork, tough competition, and it was wonderful to see so many tamariki representing their schools with pride and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, especially Xavier Rice, and some students who ensured the smooth running of the day.
While the Rippa Rugby tournament was underway, we were delighted to welcome so many parents of our future students to our Open Day and School Tour. Our student leaders did a fantastic job, confidently answering questions and providing a genuine insight into life at ANI.
A special mention must go to our 45-55 kg boys rugby team. After having their Zone Day cancelled, they then went straight to the Auckland Champs and came out on top. Congratulations team, an absolutely awesome effort, and a title that ANI has not won for a very, very long time.
As we wrap up the term, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our teaching and support staff. Your commitment to nurturing and challenging our ākonga every day does not go unnoticed—ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa for the mahi you do.
To our students—thank you for your continued effort, focus, and the way you represent ANI with pride. You’ve worked hard this term both inside and outside the classroom, and now it’s time for a well-earned rest.
Enjoy the break with your whānau. Take time to reflect on the year so far, reconnect with those close to you, and set positive intentions for the term ahead.
Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Scott Boniface
Deputy Principal – Community
Learning Programmes, Reports and Student-Led Conferences
As Term 2 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the rich learning experiences our students have engaged in over the past nine weeks.
Our whole school inquired into the theme How We Express Ourselves, exploring how we can use our influence and express ideas effectively. This unit tied into our school-wide speech competition, where every student crafted and delivered a persuasive speech to their class. We were incredibly impressed with the quality of speeches and the confidence shown by our speakers. It was a joy to read through student reflections in their reports, where many shared how proud they were of their efforts—some noting improvement from last year, and others expressing how glad they were to have faced their fears and given it a go. What a fabulous opportunity for growth for our tamariki!
Market Day was a standout moment for our Year 8 learners this term, as part of their How We Organise Ourselves unit of inquiry. Students formed small business groups and took on a variety of roles, including CEO, finance manager, product designer, and marketing lead. Each team worked collaboratively to plan, develop, and run their own small business.
As part of the process, students conducted market research to identify what their peers wanted to buy, then used that data to make informed decisions about their products and pricing. They created advertising and promotional campaigns, managed budgets, and developed their financial literacy through hands-on experience with profit margins, costings, and sales tracking.
Not only did this experience deepen their understanding of how systems support enterprise and innovation, but it also fostered key skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. The true highlight, however, was seeing our Year 8 students put in the hard mahi on Market Day in order to take action and serve their community—with all profits going to charity.
Market Day is a perfect example of authentic, real-world learning that combines academic skills with character development. Ka mau te wehi, Year 8!
There are plenty of exciting things ahead in Term 3, with our Year 8 students beginning their preparation for Exhibition, and our Year 7 students diving into the central idea of How The World Works.
Mid-year reports are now available to view through Hero. These reports provide valuable insights into your child’s progress and reflections on their learning so far this year.
Instructions for printing reports
Here are the instructions and remember that this cannot be done on your phone, only a PC or laptop:
Click into the student on Hero, and their report should be showing – if not, click on the three dots and select Māramatanga – my learning journey.
- Click on ‘View as caregiver’ on the right-hand side of the screen
- Click on the print icon at the top
- Toggle off ‘include author profile image’
- Hit print
- Open the PDF in Preview
From there, you can save it.
A reminder that Student-Led Conferences will be held on Wednesday 16th July, and that school will be closed for instruction on that day. This is a special opportunity for us to work together to set goals and discuss learning. If you haven’t booked a time yet, please take a look at the booking system in Hero. More information about how student led conferences work was sent out earlier this week, so make sure to check back on that if you need more information. Whānau homework sheets for this conference have come out this week, completing this alongside your young person will help to structure the conference conversation.
We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating your child’s learning together!
Kia ora e te whānau,
Have a wonderful holiday break.
Ashley Triana
Deputy Principal – Curriculum
Our values focus: A reflection & a term 3 plan
This term, our focus has been on unpacking what it means to live the value of Manaakitanga: Taking care of ourselves and others. As Jason said recently, his focus in our Learning 2 Live programme with the Y7’s was on being empathetic and kind. His lessons have unpacked what it means to truly be kind vs being nice and how, for us at ANI, being kind means being an upstander – someone who speaks up, supports others, and maintains the mana of all people, even when opinions differ. It’s about respectful disagreement, listening with empathy, and acting with integrity.
In Y8, I have been unpacking what it means to celebrate achievements & practise gratitude. These lessons have focused on the explicit science behind gratitude, what it can do for us and culminated in a gratitude letter writing task. The challenge for these students has been to deliver their letter of gratitude to their chosen person (face-to-face) if possible, and they have until the end of the upcoming holidays to do this. I can’t wait to connect with the Y8 students to find out how this went.
Next term, we focus on Rangatiratanga: To lead & grow ourselves and others. This is a lovely natural progression from Mr Pocock’s lessons on empathy, as we will unpack how empathy is the key driver to move from being a bystander to an upstander. The Y7
Deans, Kayleigh Hughes & Denisse Bello will be unpacking the statement – I am an upstander who lives our values – with all the year 7 classes across the term. Our Y8 Deans, Sarah O’Dea & Nick Houston, will unpack the statement – I am a good communicator – looking at the powerful skill of communication and how it connects to leadership and the growth of ourselves and others.
In line with our focus on Rangatiratanga, next term, the process begins for choosing the 2026 Student Leadership Council. Y7 students will be invited to apply for leadership and attend some information sessions on what that entails as the term progresses. A very exciting time for many keen leaders. Watch this space!
Kieran Gleeson
Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing
Important Reminders:
Attendance
As we approach the end of term 2 and look ahead to a fresh term, I would like to remind our community about the importance of attendance.
Regular attendance is essential for your child’s learning and progress. The Ministry of Education classifies student absences into three categories based on the number of days missed in a single term. Each level of absence has different implications for a student’s ability to keep up with their studies.
Levels of Absence
1. Worrying Absence: 5–10 days per term
Students with worrying absences are at a higher risk of falling behind compared to their peers.
2. Concerning Absence: 10–15 days per term
Students with concerning absences find it difficult to make regular progress in their learning.
3. Seriously Concerning Absence: More than 15 days per term
Students in this category struggle significantly to keep up and make progress.
What Can You Do?
- Notify the School: Let us know as soon as possible if your child will be away, along with a clear reason for the absence.
- Communicate Non-Sickness Reasons: If there are reasons other than sickness affecting your child’s attendance, please inform us. We may be able to support you and your child.
- Encourage Good Attendance Habits: Talk with your child about the importance of regular attendance.
What Will the School Do?
- Keep You Updated: We will keep you informed about your child’s attendance and discuss any concerns as they arise.
- Provide a Safe, Inclusive Environment: We strive to create classrooms where every student feels welcome and safe.
- Report to the Ministry and Attendance Services: We are required to report attendance to the Ministry of Education and the Auckland Attendance Services (ACES).
What the Ministry of Education Will Do?
- Monitor Attendance: The Ministry oversees school attendance and the processes schools use to support it.
- Analyse Attendance Data: National and regional attendance trends are reported to help identify areas for improvement.
- Support Schools: The Ministry works with schools to ensure they are safe, inclusive, and supportive of regular attendance.
Encouraging Good Attendance Habits
Encouraging good attendance habits is about creating a routine and positive mindset around attending school regularly. Here are some practical ways for parents to support good attendance habits in their children:
- Set a Consistent Routine:
- Establish a regular bedtime and wake-up time to help your child get enough rest and start the day fresh.
- Prepare school items (like backpacks, uniforms, and lunches) the night before to make mornings smoother.
- Talk About the Importance of School:
- Discuss why school attendance matters for learning, friendships, and future success.
- Help your child understand that showing up to school regularly is part of developing responsibility.
- Limit Non-Urgent Appointments During School Hours:
- Schedule doctor, dentist, or other appointments outside school hours whenever possible to avoid missing classes.
- If an appointment during school time is unavoidable, aim to attend only part of the day rather than missing the whole day.
- Reinforce Positive Attendance:
- Praise your child when they go to school without complaints or make an effort to get ready on time.
- Celebrate good attendance (e.g., reward a month with no absences with a fun family activity).
5. Identify and Address Barriers:
- If your child is reluctant to go to school, talk with them to understand any worries or struggles. Some common issues include academic challenges, friendship issues, or anxiety.
- Reach out to the school if these barriers seem overwhelming, as they may have resources or support to help your child feel more comfortable.
6. Model Commitment:
- Show your child that you value commitments, including school. Sharing stories about work, projects, or other responsibilities can demonstrate how attendance and commitment benefit their future.
Thank you for your proactive work on attendance to support success for your young person!
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.
Student Achievement
Principal Awards
ANI Champions - Māori and Pasifika Math Challenge
Kia ora koutou,
Mānawatia a Matariki!
Last Thursday, we took 10 awesome tauira to the first Māori and Pasifika Math Challenge for Central Schools at the University of Auckland Tai Tonga campus and came away with a WIN!
It was a very intense 20 minutes of problem solving, SPRINTING and collaboration. These clever tauria did not give up! They even sprinted for a new question in the last 10 seconds!
Every student received Westfield vouchers as a reward for their efforts. Teachers and whānau were also treated to some very cool hoodies. It was such a positive, uplifting event—full of fun, pride, and teamwork.
A huge shout-out to our tamariki for representing ANI so beautifully! I was so proud of them.
Ngā mihi nui Whaea Candice, Val and Lisa for driving us to the event and supporting us the entire morning!
Renee Dale
TOI Wearable Arts
2025 ATTA Central Zone Table Tennis
Kia ora all,
The CZ table tennis students had a super day – small games, big fun!
A special thank you to: Libby for transporting the girls; ST Tiger for assisting with the coaching sessions, Xavier for many little things along the way…
Congratulations to Disen and Mandy for their achievements today:
Disen was 3rd in the Boys’ Singles and Mandy was 2nd in the Girls’ Singles!
All players played hard, and they totally deserve a holiday from school!
Mr Shay
Teacher in Charge of Table Tennis
The Most Improved Sailor of the Year Award!!!
Ben’s dedication and focus on sailing has really paid off. He has received an award from the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
This is what they said:
Academy Most Improved – Ben R
Ben progressed from Green to White after the Sir Peter Blake regatta and finished up his season finishing 34th in the White Fleet at Opti Nationals but scoring himself a 4th place finish on the final day to end his season with a bang as well as scoring a top-10 finish in the Open Fleet at the recent AWSS series.
Well done Ben, that is an awesome result!!!
Manaaki Monitors - Operation Tidy Kura
We have a group of students who have stepped up to be role models, displaying our school value ‘Manaakitanga’. These students form a group called Manaaki Monitors. The monitors are helping make our kura a tidy place for everyone and showing that every little bit of picking up rubbish helps. Ka pai Manaaki Monitors, your hard work is paying off!
Miss Hughes and Mrs Rampersad
End of term awards
End of term futsal update
On Saturday, we had the final futsal games for term 2.
Kahurangi, our newest team, managed to finish runner-up in their A5 division. They started midway through the first term comp so this is their first full term.
Please see the photos of them with their runner-up medals after the final, which was a close match with them just losing 1-2.
One team member, Caiden, is missing from the photos as he was at a football tournament and so unfortunately missed the last game.
Emily Drake
A Wonderful Parent in Charge of Lots of Futsal Teams.
Auckland Performing Arts Academy production of Oliver!!!
Ethan P has been cast in the APAA production of Oliver and will be appearing as Oliver at the Bruce Mason Centre on 5 & 6 July.
The leads are double cast and Ethan is Oliver Twist (in Cast Bullseye) in the performances below:
Saturday 5 July at 2pm – Cast Bullseye
Sunday 6 July at 6.30pm – Cast Bullseye
Please go along and support Ethan if you can, and tickets are now online at Ticketmaster.
Market Day Success!
Kia ora e te whānau,
Firstly, ngā mihi nui for all of the support shown across our kura for our Year 8 Market Day!
Mā tini, mā mano, ka rapa te whai.
Many hands make light work. Unity is strength!
Year 8 kaiako worked hard for weeks to bring the market to life and ensure success for our tauira. Year 7 kaiako, thank you for being in the right places, supporting stalls, and even making some EPIC worksheets for the year 7 tauira to complete throughout the day! SENCo/TA/Tui team, thank you for the extra support and care for certain students with the big, overwhelming day too!
Special shout out to the teachers who had water balloons thrown at them, Mr Pocock looked freezing… lol could not be me!
The collaboration, innovation and hard work shown by the Year 8 tauira was fantastic to see in a final product last week. We also had a fantastic community turnout this year, and the year 7’s came to spend!!
For those that don’t know, we give groups back the money that they spent to design and create their product (as long as they kept receipts and made enough money). We also give back the profits to the highest-earning group in each team!
In the end, we raised $2,783 to donate to charity. and Rimu’s chosen charity is the Cancer Society.
Lee Smith & Renee Dale
Y8 Team Leaders
Matariki Celebrations
It was a beautiful morning last Thursday as we celebrated Matariki with our ANI community.
Ben Christie & Nicole Rowland began by explaining the process the students had been part of to grow the kumara for our soup.
From learning how to propagate sprouts in science class last year to planting and harvesting the kumara this year.
Our students in the sustainability club helped to prepare the kumara for the soup, which we shared back in the MPS.
We then had a full school assembly where we sang waiata/songs and each ILE shared the whetu/star of Matariki; their ILE was given as the theme for their Matariki window display.
It was a special time to meet families within our community and to see our students engage in planting and socialising while sharing soup and buns. Thank you to all who came to join us.
Mānawatia a Matariki – Happy Māori New Year!
Brooke Tuialii
Teacher in Charge of Matariki
Sustainability
The Sustainability Club has been super busy this term, working hard to grow our school’s green spaces and deepen our connection to the environment.
We are thrilled to have received a generous donation from Bunnings, which included four large planter boxes, nutrient-rich soil, handy garden tools, and a variety of delicious winter vegetables that are now thriving in our garden.
In addition to this, we were fortunate to receive extra planter boxes from Auckland Council’s Sustainable Schools programme, helping us expand our growing area even further.
We are so grateful for this support and excited to keep building a more sustainable school together!
Nicola Redshaw and Ben Christie
Teachers In Charge of Sustainability
Celebrating Pride Week at ANI
This term, we proudly celebrated Pride Week at ANI — a time to recognise and honour the diversity that makes our school community so special.
Throughout the week, students took part in class-based activities exploring themes of inclusion, identity, and acceptance. Many classes engaged in thoughtful discussions and creative tasks that helped build understanding and empathy.
Odd Socks Day – A Celebration of Uniqueness
One of the highlights was Odd Socks Day. Students and staff came to school proudly wearing mismatched socks as a symbol of what makes each of us unique. The day was a vibrant reminder that it’s okay to stand out and that our differences should be celebrated.
To add even more colour to the day, we offered rainbow face paint, and the courtyard was transformed by students who filled the space with positive chalk messages and drawings. From rainbows and love hearts to affirmations like “Be Kind” and “You Belong Here,” the messages were a joyful expression of unity and pride.
A Message of Belonging
Pride Week at ANI was more than just a celebration—it was a chance to strengthen our commitment to creating a school where every student feels safe, accepted, and valued. Thank you to all the students, staff, and whānau who helped make this week meaningful and inclusive.
Ngā mihi nui,
Candice Etzine
SENCo
Staff
ANI Year 8 Deans – High School Reminder
Greetings all,
Another friendly reminder from the Deans for year 8 students. Out-of-zone applications for high schools opened last week. It is really important that you get onto applying for these and scouting out potential high schools. The ballots for these applications close in early September, so it pays to be organised. Also, you would have received your child’s report. The mid-year report is what the high schools require for admissions.
Nick Houston & Sarah O’Dea
Year 8 Deans
In Zone Enrolments – High School Reminder
Free Period Products:
As part of a government-funded initiative, we’re offering free pads and tampons for our young ākonga | students in the reception bathroom!
We understand it can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if it’s a student’s first time getting their period, and we want to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible.
Please let your student know they can access these products at any time, and they’re welcome to take some home if needed!
If you have any questions, please speak to Gabi or Cait in reception!
Cait and Gabi
ANI Community
80th Jubilee Raffle
ANI Athon Fundraiser
The knowledge-athon has finished, and we were able to raise almost $5,000 towards our new library and information centre. We have celebrated everyone’s efforts at a special assembly held on Friday 27 June, where we acknowledged the top fundraisers, the winning House for the Knowledgeathon, and announced the overall House term award.
We have been raising funds to refurbish our school library, with a goal of $40,000. These funds will cover new shelving, Autex wall coverings, updated seating, and modern technology, creating a vibrant and inspiring space where our tamariki can learn and grow. Your support in helping us bring this vision to life is truly appreciated.
PTA fundraisers for term 3 include a social, mufti day and sausage sizzle. We’re looking to welcome new members, as we currently have a small committee of about 6 and would love to increase this. The commitment is two short meetings each term and helping with one of our fundraisers each term.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 15th July at 7pm in the ANI Staffroom, top floor of the admin block, so please come along and meet the team :O)
Ngā mihi
Natalie Cassidy
Chairperson ANI PTA
Upcoming Events for Week 1, Term 3, 2025
Notices from our community partners
Table Tennis Competition
