Principal’s Message

Kia ora Parents and Whanau

I hope this newsletter finds you well. A big thank you for working with our staff over the last weeks, helping to promote learning from home during lock down level 4, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Please find our latest NX Beacon/Ramaroa highlighting the many positive achievements of our students during this term, I hope maybe some light relief in your bubbles! Thanks to Murray Toohill for his work in compiling this edition.

Massive appreciation to all our students and community members who contributed to our last, ‘Fun Run’. Your response has been amazing, we usually raise around $34000, with the money supporting our academic, sporting and cultural programmes by providing equipment and helping upgrade facilities. The Fun Run has become an important part of our yearly calendar, definitely promoting wellbeing, fun and collegiality within our school. This year an incredible $61000 was raised, I don’t think, as a principal, I have ever experienced such a successful fundraiser.

The monies raised will certainly benefit a major Board of Trustees development, the 40 metre x 40 metre structure covering our basketball/netball courts to the right of the astro turfed area when entering the school. The ‘Dome’ will cover the courts, providing another dimension to our facilities, allowing for sporting and cultural events, such as concerts to progress, despite inclement weather and the time of day. The Dome will be floodlit, have a speaker system and an astro grass base with markings for netball, basketball, indoor hockey and football, thus providing a multi-purpose area for our students, coaches and staff.

Thank you again for your wonderful contributions and a special acknowledgement of Shannon Hale, Director of Sport, for her effort and organisation in running such a successful and enjoyable ‘Fun Run’ fundraiser.

Our current school student learning science concept is researching the possible colonization on Mars. Students have to research what is needed to set up a viable compound to live in on the planet. Atmospheric conditions, providing water and edible vegetation are just some of the areas that have been explored. I have been impressed when speaking to students regarding their compounds in how much knowledge and insight they have gleaned from carrying out their investigations. They have designed and built mini compounds for the planet which are well thought out and very creative. If you do get a moment maybe have a discussion with your child on what they have designed for this science concept.

Just as we a very proud of the accomplishments of our current students it is always exciting to hear of the successes of past Northcross students. We would like to acknowledge some of our ex-basketball players who have excelled on the court recently. A number of ex Northcross players were in the Harbour U15A boys which won the U15 national title: congratulations to Troy Supple, Bart Jackowski, Mwilwa Chituta, Troy Wentworth and to Josh Davies who coached the team, Troy Supple was named MVP. Draun Forbes and Jaz Zanders were in the Harbour U15A girls team that came second in the girls competition. Northcross was heralded by the commentators on the live stream a number of times.

Another ex NX Basketballer, Tall Fern Ella Fotu, was recognised recently in the media for her achievements in a number of fields, not just sport. Ella is working as a firefighter while playing top level basketball and working towards an environmental science degree. An incredible role model and amazing young woman. You can read more about Ella’s journey in the following Stuff article; Tall Fern Ella Fotu does it all!