Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Northcross now possesses another outstanding piece of artwork. Last week a large mural was completed on what use to be a bland brick wall. We take immense pride in acknowledging the artistic talents of Matilda Cross for her creativity and dedication in designing this magnificent mural which not only adds vibrancy and beauty to our environment but also reflects who we are as a school. A commercial artist was contracted to transpose Matilda’s art onto the wall. Thank you also to Rourke, Lara and Jessie for their support during the painting of this mural.
With the term coming to a close I would also very much like to both acknowledge and celebrate the many successes of our students throughout term two. Not only have they excelled academically but have also showcased their skills and dedication in the many cultural and sporting activities offered at Northcross. We firmly believe that such accomplishments are a testament to the overall excellence of our school and the exceptional potential that lies within each and every one of our students.
We are immensely proud to announce that both our school’s Future Problem Solving (FPS) teams, Junior and Middle, were victorious, winning the prestigious World Future Problem Solving Competition held at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. The team’s critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving skills have led them to this remarkable triumph. I would like to extend our congratulations to the Junior Team; Harini Nellipudi, Karry Gong, Samantha Ridgley and Naomi Wangham; Middle Team; Mathew Fitness, Mitchell Baird, Olivia Rose and Betty Shen. The teams received their topic,” Currency” on March the 1st and began researching this topic not only during school time but every Sunday until their departure to the States. Again congratulations on their exceptional achievement. Their success not only serves as a testament to the calibre of our students but also the outstanding guidance provided by Glenis Martin, who has been working tirelessly, preparing our teams for this challenge. A brilliant result on the International Stage! A huge thanks also to Julie Mills who travelled with the team as a chaperone.
I would like to acknowledge our students who have participated in recent cultural events including, our Kapa Haka group, the Arts Class preparation for Show Quest, Stuff and Nonsense, lunchtime performance by our bands and the recent Tutors Musical evening. A special congratulations to Hannah and Ashley Hyde (photo left) who won best original song at the Recent Smoke Free Rock Quest. Hannah went on to win best musician with her base guitar playing. An outstanding result knowing how competitive this competition is. These achievements reflect not only students individual talents but also the collective support they receive from their families, teachers, and the school community.
Our students’ sporting prowess continues to impress as they excel in various sporting disciplines. Whether it’s on the basketball court, football, rugby or hockey fields, or on an orienteering course, our students have consistently displayed exceptional talent, sportsmanship, and dedication. I would like to extend our gratitude to all teachers and parents for encouraging and supporting our students to pursue their passions, explore their talents and enjoy being part of a team. You can read about the specific successes of our sporting teams in a number of the posts in this issue of the NX Beacon.
Recently, Northcross hosted a week of Maths problem solving competitions. Working together in teams of four, students required perseverance, resilience and teamwork to finish 20 questions in the fastest time possible. We hosted 220 year 5 and 6 students in the Junior Mathex with congratulations going to Pinehill for taking out top honours. Next we had over 500 Northcross students competing for their classes and teams in the NX Mathex. Northcross then hosted the North Shore Intermediate Schools Mathex with 14 schools, 103 teams involving 412 students competing for the the top 3 spots. Northcross once again did very well with our teams amongst the medal winners. You can read more about the results for both the NX and NH Mathex in the ‘Magnificent Mathematicians’ post in this issue of the NX Beacon.
Thanks to Deputy Principal Christina England for organising the events. With 1132 students competing over the week for top Maths problem solving honours, it was great to see so many students enjoying and succeeding in Maths. Congratulations to those who achieved top places.
In closing , we certainly look forward to further celebrating our students’ successes and achievements in Term 3, recognising the exceptional potential of every one of our students.
A reminder we finish term 2 on the 30th of June returning on the 17th of July. Please have a safe and well deserved break.
Nga mihi nui
Jonathon
