In today’s ANI Guild we have the following:
● HPV vaccinations
● ANI Roadshow
● Our Rainbow School!!
● Handmade goods… Original Ideas… Market Day!
● Ruled By The Students
● Lost in the Woods
● Shredding Slopes
● Let Them Eat Cake!
● Stars Above The World So High!
● Cook Islands Language Week
● Let it Rip!
● A Week of Fun and Excitement
● Brains, Grit, and ICAS Glory
● When your finger betrays you…
● Hikoi up the Maunga (Mt Eden)
● HappANIngs
HPV vaccinations
On the 19th of May, students were lining up , waiting to get their HPV vaccinations. Not only were the students waiting in line, they were also feeling worried and nervous as they saw other students with a needle being carefully injected into their arms. The feeling of standing in the line brought back memories for some of the Year 8s, as for the Year 7s, it was their first time.
Sitting in the chair was nerve-wracking. As you handed in your HPV forms, your parents filled in and signed for you the week before, you could see the needles and all the other equipment that would soon be poked into your arm. The nurses were amazing, they were kind and had all the right supplies for if you fainted or felt nauseous. After the vaccination was done, it felt like they had a heavy arm that would droop down if you walked, and your arm felt sore for a while. Well done to all the brave students who got the vaccine.
Getting the HPV vaccination is really important; it can help prevent all kinds of viruses. The HPV vaccine is crucial for protecting against a common virus, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause various cancers, such as cervical, vaginal, vulval, anal, penile, and mouth/throat (oropharyngeal) cancer. To be fully protected from the HPV virus, you need two vaccinations, you have to wait six months after your first to be able to safely get the second vaccine. Until next time.
Written by: Libby T & Renee T
ANI Roadshow
Welcome to the ANI Roadshow. An event that happens once a year, in which students from our fine school visit other primary schools on a recruitment mission. This year, we took the student leaders, the Kapa Haka group, the Cook Islands Dance Group, and lastly the Chamber Trio. All the students had a great time, and helped the school gain fame within the primary community.
The Roadshows spanned 3 main days, with a few one-off events like the ANI Staff Roadshow and the Three Kings Roadshow. The main structure of the Roadshow would follow thus. The Roadshow began with a greeting from the student leaders, followed by an excellent opening performance by Kapa Haka. Then the student leaders proceed to talk about life at ANI, groups and music. After completing the section on music, the Chamber Trio commence their performance – The Rain by Joe Hisaishi – and the leaders discuss the IB Specialist Program along with sport opportunities. After the final performance by the Cook Islands Dance Group the leaders wrap it up and head into the Q&A section. This is where the children can ask questions, and earn ANI stationery.
The ANI Roadshow is an excellent opportunity for students to work on presentation skills and confidence with the benefit of attracting more children to join the Year 7 cohort. Many of the students conducting the Roadshow had experienced one before, it may have been the show itself that brought them here. Who knows, maybe one of those eager pupils will be a member of the Student Leadership Council one day!
An article on the ANI Roadshow would not be complete without a huge thanks to those who organised it. Countless thanks go to all the staff and students who made this opportunity possible. With the Roadshow complete, we “wish for a fruitful Year 7 harvest in 2026!”
Written by Callum T
Edited by Leo S
Our Rainbow School!!
Week 7 of ANI was a week of celebrating diversity: Pride Week. This particular celebration is not only celebrated at ANI, but is also celebrated around the world. It’s a time for everyone to support each other and celebrate each other’s differences for ANI. That meant wearing odd socks on Wednesday.
Pride week is filled with colour and joy as we support our diverse and unique qualities that we share. The students were highly encouraged to show that they supported Pride Week by wearing rainbow face paint and odd socks, drawing the pride flag all over the bleachers with chalk, and sharing Pride stickers around the school.
This made a colourful connection between the students and teachers ,which created a diverse community. All of this was possible because of a wonderful staff member, Whaea Candice. She was the one who bought the face paint and chalk, bought the stickers, and made our environment full of colour. Thanks to her everyone had a fun time supporting each other.
Thank you Whaea Candice.
Written by: Yume, Renee, Tejbir
Edited by: Soleil, Scarlett
Handmade goods… Original Ideas… Market Day!
On a bright and buzzing morning in Block 2, from 11:00 to 12:30, the classrooms of Auckland Normal Intermediate were transformed into lively marketplaces full of energy, creativity, and generosity. Market Day had arrived – and with it came colourful stalls, homemade treats, handcrafted treasures, and an inspiring sense of purpose.
But this impressive day didn’t come together overnight. Planning began all the way back in Week 4 – with students brainstorming business ideas, forming teams, and learning what it takes to run a successful stall. There were logo designs to sketch, budgets to balance, supplies to gather, and product testing to perfect. With the support of their teachers, each group developed a business plan that covered everything from pricing to customer service — real-world skills being put into action.
On the morning of Market Day, excitement was in the air well before the first customers arrived. Students arrived early to set up their classrooms, transforming them into mini shops with decorations, posters, displays, and carefully arranged products. Team members hustled to get everything in place – one group taping up signs, another setting out cupcakes, keychains, or handmade crafts. The energy was electric, and the sense of teamwork was just as strong as the smell of popcorn in the air.
Each learning team brought their own flair and passion, all in the name of giving back – with profits donated to charities chosen by the students themselves.
Matai students voted to support Make-A-Wish New Zealand, a charity that grants unforgettable experiences to children living with critical illnesses. Their choice reflected a desire to bring joy and hope to those who need it most, and their stalls were filled with products made with heart.
Rimu students chose the Cancer Society, recognising the vital work it does for patients and families affected by cancer across the country. Their decision showed deep empathy for others and care for people who have to go through such pain. Their Market day stalls represented care for everyone, including those we don’t know.
Market Day wasn’t just about selling – it was about solidarity, kindness, and the difference young people can make when they come together. Congratulations to every student, teacher, and supporter who helped make it happen. You didn’t just raise funds – you raised spirits, too.
Written by: Lucja, Aariya
Edited by: Ms Chowdhury
Ruled By The Students
The tense atmosphere, smiles on point, and anxious students waiting with their parents. This was the one and only… student-led conferences!
On the 16th of July, ANI held the student-led conferences. But this term it was not like any other. Every student proudly showed their parents their brand new He Waka Eke Noa book, also known as their gratitude book. Every student has their own booklet, in which they practise gratitude and set smart goals. Writing gratitude has been scientifically proven to be highly beneficial for you. The students are becoming better at acknowledging the small things that make them happy, which has proven to help sleep and also reduce the chance of anxiety.
But what exactly are the student-led conferences? On the first Wednesday of every second term, all students attend the student-led conferences. This ten-minute talk is led by the students, who share their progress in school and work with their parents to set a SMART goal. Each year, the students set a goal that they would want to achieve throughout the term. This year, we showed our parents our He Waka Eke Noa book and planned a SMART goal with our teachers, which we would be looking to achieve throughout the term.
Even though it was a (somewhat) nerve-racking experience for some students, everyone did their best, showcasing their work, gratitude and goals with their whanau!
Written by: Ethan P
Edited by: Saanvi R and Leo S
Lost in the Woods
On the 17th of June, a group of Mr Pocock’s beloved students, also known as the William Pike Challenge group, went out to Totara Park to learn some bush skills and first aid lessons. We had 2 amazing instructors from Bigfoot Adventures to guide us through the challenge. The itinerary included stream crossing, first aid skills, bivouac assembling (a temporary camp) and outdoor cooking.
A chaotic car ride later, we finally arrived at Totara Park. After a briefing was made, we played some icebreaker games that resulted in getting wet and muddy. Little did we know that this was a trap, and it would be the last time we would be together as one whole group. The instructors told us to get into pairs, knowing we would pick our friends. Tragedy struck as we slowly realised they would separate us into 2 different groups. Groans chorused throughout the park as they proudly announced that these would be our groups for the rest of the day.
The groups set off into the wilderness filled with excitement but also longing, as they knew they wouldn’t see their friends again for the rest of the day. Even though we were slightly disappointed with the groups, the William Pike Challenge group pushed through and forged new connections. Through these connections, the groups “Dung Beetles” and “Hot Raros” were formed. Interesting yet creatively impressive names!
An awesome way to end the day was some hot chocolate and hot raro; the weather was cold, so the luxurious warmth filled our mouths with a splash of sweetness. “Give things a go! Just like how I gave hot raro a chance.”- Chloe L.
Written by: Chloe Li
Edited by: Selene
Shredding Slopes
For the past few months, a group of eager students has been heading down to Snow Planet to learn how to ski and snowboard. They head down every two weeks with Mr Boniface, but this isn’t just for fun. These students are training hard for a massive competition on August 5th. They went head-to-head with other schools all around Auckland in time trial races, also known as gate races, to compete for the fastest time. If they were up for a challenge, they could sign up for the freestyle or park tournament. This would include rails, jumps, butter boxes, and pipes.
They would be judged based on what they did, how clean and smooth they executed the skill, and once they had finished the trick or combo, the judges would rate them on a scale from 1 to 100. If they got the most points out of all of the other competitors, they would win that specific competition.
When the freestyle results came out for the boys league, ANI had 2 students in the top 3. All other students in the freestyle division placed in the top 10. The girls’ team had only two students, Oreana Yang and Emma Tang. Their combined score was 130, with Oreana scoring 70 and Emma scoring 60.
In the end, the boys’ snowboarding team won the Auckland championship title. These impressive athletes were Lucien Zhang, Alfie Ming, Euan Park, and Charlie Prideaux. Congratulations to the boys for their results. Oreana and Emma, competing independently, won the Girls Auckland Champs, Girls Division.
Your dedication and determination are a source of pride for the school. ANI proudly celebrates your achievements and is excited to see you reach new heights in snowsports.
Written by: Arie, Charlie
Edited by: Selene
Let Them Eat Cake!
Our incredible, talented AIMS teams have currently been hosting bake sales throughout this term, selling yummy treats like cookies, brownies, cupcakes and other baked goods. All of the bake sale money has gone to sponsoring the AIMS teams. Going to AIMS can be really expensive. All of the money raised goes to supporting our amazing athletes.
AIMS is a nationwide tournament for all intermediates who love sport. The tournament is held from August 30th to September 5th. All kinds of sports are welcome, and the best players of each intermediate go for around a week, depending on your sport. AIMS is a great opportunity to try new sports and make new friends. You get to compete against the best of the best, challenging you physically and mentally.
The actual bake sale is student-led led meaning that they have to organise when and where the bake sale will happen, two or more teams bake and sell the yummy treats together, making more money in less time. The prices vary depending on what the treats are.
Not only do the AIMS teams do bake sales, but the individual AIMS competitors are going to be doing their own upcoming bake sales for the next few weeks!
Written by: Charlotte, Rona, Soleil, Scarlett and Riya
Photos taken by: Ms. Chowdhury
Stars Above The World So High!
Last term, ANI had its annual Matariki celebration. Every ILE made their own displays and showed off their artistic skills on their elected star.
There are nine stars in the Matariki cluster. Including: Waiti, Waita, Waipuna Rangi, Tapuaenuku, Tupu A Rangi, Ururangi, Hiwa I Te Rangi, Pohutukawa and the star of the show, Matariki. The story of Matariki consists of six sons, all of them gods and entities like Tane, Tangaroa and Tawhirimatea and their parents, Papatuanuku and Ranginui. Papatuanuku and Ranginui were deeply in love, to the point where they were in a strong, never-ending embrace. Their sons were stuck in between their bodies, trapped in the shrouds of darkness, longing to finally see the light of day and their own personal space. One day, they came up with a plan to separate their parents. The brothers used their powerful legs to push Ranginui up to the sky, splitting up their parents and giving them space. But one brother, who was against the separation, ripped his eyes out and threw them into the sky, making the stars of Matariki.
Each ILE made their own displays of all nine stars, using paper, cardboard, paint and many other materials. The end result was dazzling, bright and beautiful window displays.
Written by: Libby, Saanvi M, Erin
Edited by: Saanvi R
Cook Islands Language Week
This week at ANI has been pretty special because it is… Cook Islands Language Week! The Cook Islands are islands in Polynesia with a beautiful and rich history that deserves to be showcased. ANI has decided to celebrate the rich heritage of our islander students by showcasing a Cook Islands Dance.
The dancers have been working incredibly hard to memorise the beautiful choreography created by Lola’s mum, who was actually born on Rarotonga (the largest island out of the 15 islands that make up the Cook Islands). We were lucky enough to have Mrs Tuali’i and Lola’s mum making this group possible. One of our special performances includes Hui Whanu. Dancers were dressed in blue dresses, with flower crowns (Ei Katu) and Lei, while traditionally you would wear coconuts and hula skirts (pareu kiri’au)
Everybody loved the delicious food, well deserved to the dancers who had put in such amazing effort and commitment. We had to make after-school practices and turned up to precious lunch time practices, it was tough because we didn’t have much time to prepare and had to make a few changes right before the performance.
Even though there was a couple of set backs, everybody compromised and it was amazingly successful, we have gratitude to the dancers (Lola, Keira, Grayson, Princess, Rona, Roshni, Kamya, Amiah and Subi) We can’t wait to perform once again our amazing dance with the help of Lola’s mum and Mrs T, for our Cook Island Language Week Assembly!
Written by: Rona and Subranitha,
Edited by: Soleil and Scarlett.
Let it Rip!
It was a fine, bright winter morning with a clear sky. The shouts of children as they ran around the field intermingled with the muted chatter of the spectators. The whistle shrilled, and ANIs very own Rippa Rugby team dashed down the dew-laden field to shouts of encouragement and earnest advice. The cold winter breeze swept through the grounds, adding to the tension already present. Rising cheers of the bystanders rose into the crisp Thursday air as the ball sailed into the arms of an ANI player, scoring the opening try to the delight of the team.
The first game of host ANIs friendly pre-AIMS Rippa tournament was well underway, and among the competitors were St Heliers, Marina View, Helensville Intermediate, Somerville Intermediate, and of course, ANI. This article covers some highlights of the tournament as well as the results.
A player from Helensville Intermediate barely missed a catch as the ball rolled into their teammate’s hands. Then a long throw was intercepted by ANI and passed straight through the opposition’s defence. After a short sprint, a try was scored. Another highlight was during the ANI – Somerville game when ANI managed an excellent try. ANI was pushing Somerville into defence when a player from ANI dropped the ball. Then, it was a head-to-head between a player from both teams. ANI barely got there in time to snatch the ball and toss it into the air. The sun glistened off the reflective surface as it descended back towards the players. As it plummeted downwards, ANI regained possession and drove forward to score. The final highlight to be recounted in this article originated from the final game. Marina View Intermediate players swarmed the field, overwhelming the players from ANI. As the home team formed a final line, a Marina View player broke through with a fake pass and dashed for a try. Until they came to a stop via the rip of their tags. A player from ANI had dived and removed their tags with precision.
The results of this mini tournament were excellent. It gave teams a chance to exercise their playing skills, introduced them to the playing conditions that they would face at AIMS, and gave the players a great excuse to play Rippa. On the ranking side of things, ANI came away having won the tournament after beating competitor Marina View Intermediate. Altogether, the tournament was massively successful for the players, the teams, the schools, and everyone involved. The players almost certainly wanted to do another.
Thanks to our awesome media team, we’ve been able to create a video and a comic strip of the events at this tournament.
A Week of Fun and Excitement
Week 5 is a whole week of excitement, a week of struggle and a week of math! On Monday, 11th August, students from across ANI will participate in various mathematical activities/games to learn how to enjoy maths and highlight the creativity of learning it.
Math week is an amazing opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and engagement in maths and to learn from their peers. It’s also a great opportunity to give teachers resources that they can use in the classroom. We don’t acknowledge how important basic maths is when it comes to success in everyday life, especially in the kitchen. There is a lot of science and maths involved in cooking, and you can’t possibly ignore that!
This year’s math week theme is ‘Connection or Coincidence?’. Connection refers to relating or associating different mathematical objects, concepts, or ideas within the context of geometry or an algebraic structure. And coincidence means just that– a coincidence of two similar outcomes. So all in all, next week is going to be a week full of pure brain pilates and educational inspiration! So get ready to put on your Mathematician hats and show your inner Albert Einstein. The school is excited and can’t wait to start!
Written by: Saanvi.R, Libby, Sumaiya, Riya, Lucja and Christian
Brains, Grit, and ICAS Glory
“Aaand… time!” The ICAS exam is finally over. A sigh of relief echoes through the room.
But what is ICAS? ICAS, or the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools, is an international exam that provides students with the opportunity to experience a proper exam without the stakes. It has been attended by over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries since 1981.
Students can choose subjects that include Digital Technologies, Writing, English, Mathematics, and Science. ANI offers tests for both Years 7 and 8; however, ICAS offers exams from Year 3 to Year 13.
Although ICAS is designed to be a low-stakes exam with minimal consequences that do not impact the student’s future, there is still a grading system. However, the system isn’t like other exams. Your grade is based on your performance relative to others, so if one year’s test is harder than the previous one, your chance at a good grade is the same. The grading system is as follows:
– High distinction (Top 1% of students)
– Distinction (next 10%)
– Credit (next 25%)
– Merit (next 10%)
– Participation (all remaining students)
But that’s not all. Superstar students have one more goal to aim for. The highest score in the region will receive a medal for their efforts, a huge achievement for those students to be proud of.
ICAS is all over for this year, but learning never stops! Good luck with the results of the participating students, and for those Year 7’s who didn’t take the test this year, consider next year – ICAS is an incredible opportunity to be a part of!
Written by Griffin, Leo and Tejbir
Edited by Soleil and Griffin.
When your finger betrays you…
Sitting on the hard floor in isolation, I stared at my finger, all taped up and swollen. It happened right after the semi-finals yesterday, on the moon board: a cluster of small holds on a 40 degree wall. I had pulled on a small hold for too long, put all my weight on my fingers, and now, I was facing the consequences. I looked around and saw the other finalists warming up, a determined look on their faces; they all wanted a place on the podium. I would’ve been doing the same by now if I hadn’t been so reckless. It was my fault, and so, this was the punishment: I was going to lose today.
As I sighed and hugged my knees, I heard someone call my name. “It’s time for observation,” she said. It was the isolation monitor. She looked at my finger and frowned. Is it ok? She asked. “I wish it was,” I replied as I slowly stood up. I had done everything I could to quickly heal my finger: Icing it, taping it, and taking some Panadol. Nothing seemed to make it any better. As I walked down the stairs with the others and into the roar of the crowd, I started to realise that I was going to embarrass myself on the wall; I could barely hold on for 10 seconds! People believed in me. They thought I was going to win. Staring at the crowd, I noticed beaming smiles on everyone’s face. I tried to smile back, but for some reason, I couldn’t.
Finally, the observation was over. Normally, I enjoyed observation time. I loved talking about strategies with my friends and working the moves out, playing it all out in my head. Today was different. Instead of joy and excitement, I felt sadness and frustration as I knew I wouldn’t be able to climb as high as my usual self. Then it was time. Once again, my name was called, but instead of going down to stare at the climbs, I was going to climb them.
Walking out of isolation, I gave myself a quick pep-talk, though I knew it made no difference. The judge smiled at me as he clipped me into the rope. “When you’re ready,” he said. I took a deep breath, chalked up, and stared at the climb. Once I touched the first hold, I knew I wasn’t going home without a medal.
The 3 disciplines I had to do were Top-rope (rope climbing), Bouldering (Climbing with a mat underneath), and speed climbing (Racing on a wall).
I climbed each one slowly and smoothly, making every move count. Unexpectedly, I reached the top of the green top-rope climb, topped the 1st boulder in a single attempt, and did the same with boulder number 2, but took 2 attempts and managed a time of 4.85 on the speed wall. I had done really wel,l and I was super proud of myself.
“And your AIMS Games 2025 champion for rock climbing…Yume Fookes!” The crowd erupted with claps and cheers as I proudly stepped up on the wooden podium. I had done it. I had actually done it. Julian David, Olympic finalist in speed climbing, walked over and hung my gold medal on my neck. Then, I smiled.
Written by: Yume Fookes
Edited by: Griffen Clement
Hikoi up the Maunga (Mt Eden)
HappANIngs
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