Kia ora Parents and Whanau
Congratulations to all students who were recognised at our recent Maori and Pasifika, Sports and Cultural/Academic Award Evenings. Throughout the year you have certainly made the most of all opportunities offered across the breadth and depth of the Northcross curriculum.
I would also like to take the time to acknowledge all students, who may have not been formally recognised, but who were actively involved in their learning, participating in a range of activities offered ultimately setting their own goals and achieving personal excellence. We certainly congratulate you on your perseverance and willingness to give it your all.
This year we celebrated 100 years of Intermediate Schooling! Intermediates were conceived with great enthusiasm back in 1922 with the celebrated opening of Kowhai Intermediate in Auckland. Intermediates were designed to ‘bridge the gap’ between primary and secondary schools by providing specialist courses to suit the educational needs of the students at the time. Unfortunately, during the early years, Intermediates struggled and were viewed very negatively, there was no clear guidance from Government at the time to justify their existence! Luckily this did change and they have since gone from strength to strength.
Forward to 2022. We continue to promote the Northcross curriculum and Learning Dispositions recognising that students in the Intermediate years are undergoing rapid physical and emotional development. It is important we continue to support students to become confident/positive in their own identity, that they are motivated reliable and resilient. They are actively involved in their own learning and participate in a range of life experiences offered by Intermediate Schools. We continue to promote critical and creative thinking, developing students who are problem creators and solvers, engaged in inquiry and real life scenarios. Most importantly, students are connected with themselves, their peer group, teachers, parents and the wider community, effective communication is the key.
I would like to again acknowledge all students this year for their commitment to our schools values and making the best of every learning opportunity offered. Every day we observe the steps they take to fulfil their own ambitions striving to reach personal goals, continuing to enhance the characteristics of the Intermediate principles that have evolved over the last 100 years.
To our year 8 students transitioning to their respective high schools, thank you for your contribution to our school throughout the year. We hope you continue from Northcross, creating your own positive learning pathway, through secondary school and into whatever career you may chose.
Ko te pae tawhiti whaia kia tata
Ko te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina
Seek out distant horizons, and cherish those you attain.
Year 7 students, you are the new leaders for 2023. I know you will support the many students transitioning from the contributing schools next year offering your friendship, support and guidance.
Thank you to our parents and Whanau for your support throughout the 2022. It has certainly been a positive finish to the year, coming out of earlier covid restriction and being able to provide a full range of sporting and cultural opportunities. We very much appreciate your support in assisting with these activities.
To our wonderful staff, I thank you for your commitment in working with the young adolescents. You are empathetic with the physical, emotional, social and academic needs of our students, you are all appropriate and positive role models for our school often going beyond expectations. Your efforts and commitment makes Northcross a school that stands out so positively in our community. I acknowledge your huge contributions to making a difference for our students.
We would also like to thank and acknowledge teachers who are finishing their time at Northcross Intermediate this year. Mrs Leane Barry, who has taken a teaching position at the Correspondence School. Mr Adam Rice will join the staff at Whangapararoa College as a PE teacher. Mr Steve Guy is moving to Cambridge and teaching at the Middle School there. Mrs Kimberley Williams will join the staff at Redoubt Primary school. We certainly thank you for your time at Northcross and wish you all the best in your new ventures.
A reminder, school finishes this Thursday the 15th at 12 pm, the students may wear mufti. All buses, apart from the Okura bus, will be leaving the school just after 12pm. Please make alternative arrangements for these students as there will be no supervision available at Northcross. Students Reports will go live at 12 pm on Thursday giving parents an overview of their child’s progress throughout the year.
Please enjoy a well-deserved Christmas break, stay safe and may 2023 be just as successful.
Nga mihi nui
Jonathon Tredray
Principal
Top Banner Photo: Top All Round Student Prize winners, Karry Gong (Y7) and Sophie Herde (Y8)
