As this is our first newsletter of the year it is a big one with lots of information, so sorry for the novel but please do read it carefully as there is a lot to know about the first term.

Looking ahead to this year we have a strong focus on relationships and community. We look forward to a very full and varied calendar with plenty of opportunities ahead of us. We want our young people to experience a balance between academic success, positive social interactions and full involvement in sports, cultural activities and the arts. We also want them to have as much fun as they can along the way.  

As far as growth in learning is concerned, we can assure you that every student will be fully involved in the decision making about their progress including areas that require development or support from the class teacher. One thing we are very proud of here at ANI is the active role and responsibility our students take in their own learning, having the opportunity to choose the best pathway for themselves and also sharing the progress they are able to make. You’ll be amazed at what your young people are capable of as they journey through these intermediate years with us. 

The old saying “you only get out of something what you put into it” certainly epitomises the intermediate schooling years and the vital role school plays in all our lives. At ANI our teachers are well equipped to get the best out of your young person – they are highly trained with deep pedagogical content knowledge, skilled in motivating and engaging this age group and very talented in dealing with boredom, distractions and, dare we say it, mood swings that may surface on the odd occasion! 

What can you expect from this year? 

For some young people they might be in a completely new school environment with a lot of new people – classmates and teachers. What will your young person need to know? 

They will go to different classes in different rooms with different teachers at various times throughout the week;

They will be responsible for knowing their timetable, being in the right place at the right time and having the correct books and equipment with them;

They will be learning new subjects such as a languages, specialisation and science subjects;

They will have different options for sports, arts and other school activities;

The school day may be longer for them;

They will have more homework;

There could be practical changes like different transport to and from school;

They may be doing different activities before or after school, for example, we have a distance squad that runs twice a week starting at 7.30am and trainings/games for Water Polo, Basketball and Netball after school; 

They will need to listen carefully to the daily notices, so they know when and where to turn up for an activity or sign up for an event;

They will be encouraged to get involved in the many extra curricular activities that the school offers such as sporting teams, dance/drama, music, tech club, eco warriors, the school cultural festival and more;

They will be expected to attend school regularly and not be late for school;

They can expect to work hard, make progress but most of all have fun!

Who is who and who can we talk to?

The Class Teacher 

Class teachers are with the class for the whole school year and should be your first point of contact. They take the roll twice a day and read the daily notices every morning. The teacher will be the person you talk to if your child has any problems or issues they need help with. The class teacher also teaches core subjects such as reading, writing and maths (there is no cross grouping – every teacher has their own class for these very important learning areas).

Specialist teachers

The specialist teachers offer a programme that students will attend one day a week. The programme includes;

Science, Hard materials, Foods and Soft materials, Sports, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama, STEAM and Digital Technologies (coding etc). 

The specialist teachers are there to help and support your young person learn new skills in these areas and develop knowledge as some of these subjects may be new to them. Where possible the learning content will be aligned to the learning programme in the classroom  to enable students to understand that themes can be connected and integrated in different contexts not stand alone.

Team Leaders

Each team (Matai, Rimu, Totara, Kauri, and Kowhai) has a team leader who leads the team in planning, assessment, behaviour management of students, parent interactions and learning.  While they are still a classroom teacher, their job is to lead and manage the team – whether it be team meetings or team events such as EOTC, CAMP or class trips. They also deal with any matters that the classroom teacher requires support with. 

The Year 7 and Year 8 Deans 

Our Deans provide support and academic guidance to both teachers and students. The dean is a good person to talk to if you have questions or concerns about your teenager that can’t be addressed by the team leader or class teacher.

English Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (ESOL) 

Our ESOL teacher is here to support students for whom English is not their first language.  

This teacher provides the necessary support and guidance to ensure each student is making progress in their learning in an English speaking environment. The teacher develops appropriate learning approaches to meet a group or individual students’ learning needs.  Once the students have been assessed and in the first two weeks of school the teacher will then determine, using a MOE matrix, if each student meets that criteria and therefore joins the programme.

Learning Support Teachers

Our Learning Support Teachers support students with learning difficulties or special abilities.

They may be attached to each team to support a variety of students in different classes, to a group of students or sometimes they work beside specific individuals.  

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) 

Our SENCO’s connect students with the necessary support and guidance to ensure they are making progress in their learning. This support may include a tailored learning programme, internal or external support, or a teacher aide. Our SENCO will develop the best learning approach to meet each student’s individual learning needs in conjunction with the classroom teacher and parents (in some cases).

Whanau Connections

Children learn best when home and school work together and we encourage parents to discuss learning activities with your young person on a regular basis. What matters most is parents showing they are interested, allowing for errors and mistakes as an opportunity to learn (try not to become learning police) and having quality family time. With busy schedules, remember it’s what you do in the time you have with them that really matters, although some students may not want you to get involved the school does encourage it.

This year, more so than any other year, is the time to support, encourage and work alongside your child as a learning partner and keep their spirits high.

We welcome parent contact and we look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, especially at the first parent evening which is Meet the Teacher on 13th February (4 -pm – 6 pm)– details enclosed in today’s newsletter. 

Police Vetting Parents for School Trips Offsite

If you are thinking of offering any parent help throughout the year, whether it is for school camp, EOTC, AIMS Games, day trips or helping any of our sports teams, we now require Police Vetting for any volunteers. This is a confidential and simple process that the school takes care of and will cover the applicant for a full 3 years. It does take time for the authorities to process, so please request a Police Vetting form from our SLT Executive Assistant, lsheweiry@ani.school.nz early in the year to avoid disappointment, as no parent help will be accepted without a police clearance.

We are all very excited about the year ahead – bring it on! 

Kia ngatahi ai te tu

E pakari ai te tuara

Together we are Strong

Shane Devery (Acting Principal) & Bryce Mills (Deputy Principal).