Kia ora Parents and Whanau
The New Zealand Curriculum recognises the Intermediate and middle schooling pathway as a distinctly different learning experience to traditional primary and secondary school pathways.
These pathways are backed by researchers who have identified a taxonomy of seven core developmental needs for our students/emerging adolescents, each of which is further divided into an academic and social aspect. The seven needs distinguish emerging adolescence from other developmental stages and include;
- a sense of competency as a developing adult.
- self-exploration and definition.
- supportive social interaction with peers and adults
- challenging and rewarding physical activity.
- meaningful participation in school and community
- routine, limits and structure and
- diversity of experience.
As learners in an Intermediate/middle school our students are constantly re enforcing how they have adapted to these developmental stages.
An excellent example of students promoting these core developmental values is the success of our recent Hip Hop Team who won the National Dance Challenge, Intermediate Division, last week.
The team was coached by two year 8 Northcross students Carys Archer and Hayley Stirling. The 11 team members started training in early May. Carys and Hayley negotiated a training time with their teacher working hard to perfect a challenging and exciting dance routine with the team. Their hard work, and ability nurture and build trusting relationships with their peers certainly paid off; they took top honors at the competition. A wonderful example of students taking responsibility for their own learning!
This week, Northcross hosted the Junior Mathex competition, our Northcross Year 7 and 8 Mathex and the North Shore Mathex – over two days, we had almost 1000 students from across the North Shore competing in Maths Problem Solving – thanks to Deputy Principal Christina England and Head of Mathematics Katrina Starrs for this academic event.
Lastly, I had the privilege of attending the Northern Bays Cluster Arts Festival at the Bruce Mason Centre. Our Head Girl, Zoe Oram, was selected to MC this event – well done, Zoe! A special congratulations to the Kapa Haka and Mark Jensen who performed, and as always, represented Northcross with pride.
Nga mihi nui
Jonathon Tredray
