黑料正能量

Literacy and Numeracy Workshops  

In Week 9, selected students will be working with our teachers in small groups towards their Literacy or Numeracy attainment. Students need ten credits of each as a co-requisite for their NCEA qualification. Targeted workshops support students at different stages of their learning and NCEA progress, alongside their timetabled classes and twice-yearly CAA examinations (Common Assessment Activities).  

NCEA Update 

Our Term 2 reports are a very important checkpoint, especially for our senior students. They will have 10 weeks in Term 3 to complete their internal programmes, and for many students this can provide enough credits to complete their NCEA Level goal and reduce the pressure of high stakes external. Your child’s confirmed grades can be seen on the portal and are also provided in a weekly email.  

Please contact [email protected] if you are not currently receiving a weekly progress email for your child. 

Reports and Mentor Days / Learning Conferences 

Student Achievement Reports and Draft Graduate Profiles will be available soon for all students. You will be able to access your child’s report digitally through both email and SchoolBridge. Instructions for logging in to SchoolBridge (if required) will be included in the email, making it easy for you to view and download the report at your convenience. 

Following the release of reports, we will be holding Mentor Days on the 26th and 27th of June. These Learning Conferences are an important opportunity for you and your child to discuss their progress and achievement, ask questions, and set goals for the future with their Mentor and Subject Teachers. 

Instructions on how to book these meetings will also be sent out by email. Please note that it is expected all students attend these learning conferences alongside their parent or caregiver.  Your support in making sure that meetings are booked with their teachers even if you as a parent are unable to attend is very much appreciated.  

Please keep an eye on your inbox for these important updates. We look forward to connecting with you and your child at our upcoming Mentor Days / Learning Conferences. 

黑料正能量 Wh膩nau Competition  

Term 1 kicked off the competition with high energy during our Athletics day, where students showed outstanding commitment, teamwork, and determination across various events. The day was filled with colour and noise as each Wh膩nau came out in full force, proudly representing their leaders and values. This early event set the tone for a spirited year ahead.  

In Term 2, the Wh膩nau competition remained strong with a series of engaging activities including Samoan language week, Wh膩nau Quiz and Basketball. These events allowed students to shine not only through sports, but also in cultural and academic based challenges. With more competitions like the Haka Waiata competition during Te Reo M膩ori Language Week, and Master Chef still to come, the race to become the 2025 Wh膩nau Champions is wide open—so keep showing up, participating, and making your Wh膩nau proud! 

From Sommerville School

Excitement Reaches New Heights in Science! 

There was a buzz of excitement when two of our students were invited to join a Year 9 mainstream science class with Ms Quigley at 黑料正能量!

Their learning journey began with an engaging, hands-on unit exploring the human skeleton and muscles. One of the highlights was creating a model of a working hand, which offered a fun and practical way to understand how muscles function. The enthusiasm didn’t stop in the classroom—our students were so committed, they even continued practicing at home!

Currently, they’re diving into the topic of speed and forces. A recent project building model cars provided a fantastic opportunity to apply their knowledge and deepen their understanding of how speed works in real-world contexts.

A big thank you to 黑料正能量 for welcoming us into such a rich and inspiring learning environment - true inclusion in action.

School Events

K奴ki '膧irani (Cook Islands) group 

Our Cook Islands performing group recently visited two local schools, Anchorage Park and Riverhills School, to share a vibrant cultural concert during our K艒whiri 膧konga time. 

The performance began with a graceful routine by the junior girls, followed by a captivating dance by two of our seniors. Next was the energetic ura pa'u, showcasing the powerful drumming and rhythm of Cook Islands culture. To conclude, the group performed the crowd-favourite “Around the World,” where they invited students on stage to join in the dancing. Laughter and excitement filled the room as students embraced the chance to participate. To top it off, the entire staff from both schools were called up to dance, adding to the fun and inclusive atmosphere. 

The day was a wonderful celebration of culture, connection, and community, leaving both the performers and the school audiences with lasting memories. It was a joyful and interactive experience that brought people together through music and movement.  The best part has been that the students prepared their own slides about the Cook Islands and have presented these between each dance, and the whole performance has been student led. So proud!  

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Jazz Band camp 

From 25–27 May, our jazz band students enjoyed an inspiring and music-filled weekend at Karanga Camp in Swanson. With 22 talented students in attendance, the camp was all about refining our sound and preparing for upcoming competitions, including the prestigious KBB Festival. 

A huge thank you to our amazing teachers — Mr Arthur (our Jazz Band Director), Mr Holmes, and Mr Reynolds, for their guidance and dedication.  We’re also incredibly grateful to Miss Benjamin and Mr and Mrs Bold for their generous support throughout the camp. 

The band made fantastic progress, and we can’t wait to showcase the results of all the hard work. Watch this space — jazz excellence is on the way!  

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Big Sing 

On 10 June, our school choir,鈥疎C Voices, hit the stage at鈥疶he Big Sing Auckland, bringing energy, passion, and some seriously impressive vocals. 

They were selected as the final act of the Gala concert with their piece Stand Up, including an incredible solo by Esther Fa’alava.  To see them in action please find the video on our school Facebook page.  As a group, and alongside student musicians they delivered a performance that was both polished and full of heart, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. It was an awesome opportunity to represent our school and be part of such a vibrant celebration of choral music. 

Our sincere congratulations to everyone involved, and our particular thanks to Mr Holmes our amazing Choir Director, along with Mr Reynolds, Ms Lui-Webster, Ms Fa’asolo for their ongoing support of our music programme.   

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Auckland Gallery Art trip 

On Monday 9th of June, 32 of our Year 12 and 13 Painting and Printmaking students took part in a half-day trip to the Auckland Art Gallery. The experience began with a 50-minute interactive tour led by a gallery learning facilitator, where students explored a range of artworks through engaging activities and thoughtful discussion. 

Following the tour, students headed into the studio for a hands-on creative printmaking workshop, where they have created work which will be included in a display at the gallery. The trip has provided valuable inspiration and insight to support their external folio board assessments. 

A big thank you to Ms Cunningham and Ms Takahashi for their fantastic organisation and for their continued support of our talented young artists! Also a shout out to the Auckland Art Gallery who very kindly funded this experience for our up and coming artists. 

Wh膩nau quiz 

This year’s Wh膩nau General Knowledge Quiz was a brilliant display of teamwork, enthusiasm, and competitive spirit! It was great to see all wh膩nau houses get involved and give it their all. Congratulations to Cooper, who took out 1st place, followed by a 2nd place tie between Hillary and Sheppard, and Ng膩ta鈥痵ecuring 3rd place. A big thank you to our librarian Tara鈥痑nd the Academic Committee鈥痜or their support in organising and facilitating the quiz. Ng膩 mihi nui.   

Eastern Schools Career Expo

On Wednesday 11 June, the 2025 Eastern Schools Career Expo brought together over 2,000 students, wh膩nau, and staff from eight local schools at the Howick Leisure Centre. With exhibitors from universities, industry training organisations, and employers across various sectors, students had the opportunity to explore study options, apprenticeships, and career pathways. The expo also featured a workshop hub and industry presentations, giving attendees valuable insights into future opportunities. The 2025 Expo was a huge success and a powerful reminder of how community partnerships can support and inspire our next generation of workers, learners, and leaders. 

Book of the Week

This week my Book of the Week is ‘The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom’, a memoir from Shari Franke, the eldest child of the infamous ‘8 Passengers’ YouTube family. 

The ‘8 Passengers’ vlogging channel; run by Shari’s mother Ruby, had millions of subscribers, all interested in the happy and idyllic Franke family. However, life away from the camera was far from perfect. Shari shares her experience growing up under the complete control of her mother while having to maintain a picture-perfect façade for their followers. 

This is not an easy read, but it is an important one. 鈥疭ocial media is filled with parents using their children for content and views. Shari’s account shows the harm and abuse that can be hidden by a public image. I recommend reading ‘The House of My Mother’ then watching the documentary ‘Devil in the Family’ to get the full story which culminates in the arrest of Shari’s mother. 

This book is available at the library on our ‘New Books’ stand or speak to the librarian to reserve it.    

Tara Holland | School Librarian 

Sport

Rugby

On Thursday 5th June, our boys rugby team had the chance to play a mid-week game, rather than our usual Saturday morning fixture. This was a great opportunity as a large number of students were able to come along and cheer on the team. 

We faced off against Howick College, and there was plenty of excitement in the air. The boys had trained hard and were determined to put in a strong performance. 

A special mention goes to Noah Tuporo-Messina and Hawod Teisina, who were named players of the match. Both boys had outstanding games and made try-saving tackles that kept us in front. 

Our try scorers were Ethan, Tevita, Deydey, and Elijah, who all helped put points on the board to secure a solid 24-12 win. 

Well done to the team on an excellent result!  A special thanks to for our amazing coaches Mr Parker and JK and to our Managing Crew – we really appreciate all your dedication and support.  

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Boys Football

Saturday 7th June was a freezing morning, but with the sun shining, it turned out to be a great day for football. The boys football team played just down the road at Pakuranga College in a much-anticipated match. 

Pakuranga came out strong, scoring three quick goals early in the game. But 黑料正能量 didn’t give up. The boys kept their heads up, tightened their defence, and didn’t allow Pakuranga to score again for the rest of the match. 

Just before half time, Maui Quinn gave the team a boost by scoring two great goals for 黑料正能量. From there, the game was close right to the final whistle. 

Lachlan Bold had an outstanding match, giving 100% effort from start to finish. 

In the final moments, 黑料正能量 had one last shot on goal. The Pakuranga goalie made a save, but the ball rebounded off another player and went in — just as the final whistle blew! It was an exciting finish to a hard-fought game, with the final score locked at 3-3. 

A big thank you to all the parents who came along to support from the sideline, and a special thanks to Mr Bold for stepping in to referee the game.  Thank you also must go to our Coaches and Manager Mr Prasad, Mr Toledo and Ms Bloomfield. The students are lucky to have your wonderful commitment and support.