Recent Updates

Current notices are listed below. Old notices from the last month (if any) are listed below them.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

The last few days have certainly felt like summer is on its way! The sunshine and warmer weather seem to have brightened everyone’s mood and energy.

We welcome back our travellers from Samoa and Vanuatu. From all accounts, both groups had an incredible time experiencing the unique cultures of the villages, towns, and schools they visited. These are memories that will stay with our students for life!
A huge thank you to the parents who supported our staff on these two adventures — your time and energy make all the difference. We also acknowledge the work of Andrew Epskamp, Jo Rogan Gibson, Tracey Lawson, and Graham Rickards for helping bring these experiences to life.

In the coming weeks, we look forward to hearing some student recounts and reflections from these journeys.

Last Friday, our Kapa Haka Roopu shone at the Cultural Festival organised by Hurupaki Kura. Their performance was outstanding, and they represented our school with pride and mana. We’re so grateful to the Hopa Whānau, Whaea Casey, and Whaea Moana for their guidance and support. You can check out a few photos and a video on our school Facebook page.

Attendance Matters!

Every day at school counts. When students attend regularly, they build stronger friendships, grow their confidence, and make steady progress in their learning.
Last term, 48% of students attended school 90% of the time or more. This is an improvement from the same term last year — thank you for your efforts to get tamariki to school consistently. Let’s keep that momentum going and aim even higher this term!

Your support in ensuring students arrive on time and ready to learn each day makes a real difference.

Below is the Term Three data:

Strike Action – School Closed Thursday

You will have received an email yesterday confirming that the NZEI and PPTA strike action will go ahead this Thursday. Unfortunately, this means the school will be closed on that day, as we do not have enough non-union staff to safely operate.

Please note that school will be open as usual on Friday — we do not have a Teacher Only Day. We look forward to seeing all of our students back at school then, ready for a great end to the week.

Year 8 Graduation Dance

We’re really looking forward to celebrating our Year 8 students at their special Graduation Dance on December 9th. Further details about the theme, timing, and organisation will be shared in the coming weeks.

To be eligible to attend, students must maintain at least 90% attendance for the term and have no more than three late arrivals. We appreciate your support in helping all our Year 8s meet these expectations so they can enjoy this memorable event together.

Kim Sloane

Tūmuaki / Principal

New Build Progress

Kia ora parents/whānau

We are pleased to share a quick drone update of the new classrooms being built onsite. This has been a long process taking years to replace leaky buildings. We look forward to the build being completed in 2026.

Thanks to Mandeno Design for sharing images and a short 'flyby' with us.

Video footage of the site can be seen here.

School Closed Thursday 23 October

Sore Throat Checks

Tuning into Teens

We have received an email this morning from the Parenting Hub offering their programme that normally attracts payment. They are offering it by way of koha or for those who cannot afford it, free of charge.

If you are interested in participating, please make contact with Cassie as soon as convenient. The programme starts next Monday and as stated below, limited to 15 people.

Tuning into Teens:

We will be running a programme starting next week, Monday 20th October.

There are 6 sessions in this programme. They will run each Monday night from 6pm-8.30pm, starting the 20th of October and ending with the final session on Monday 24th November. Please note that one of these Mondays will be the labor day weekend (Monday 27th). We will be running a session on that evening.

To gain the most from this programme, it is important that you can attend all of the sessions. If you think there will be a problem with this, please let us know before you register.

We will run the sessions online, via Zoom. You do not need a zoom account for this. Once you have registered we will send you a link that you can click on each week to join.

Payments: This will be on a koha basis. We do not get funding for this programme but we believe that parents should be able to access this service no matter their financial situation. Therefore, payment is voluntary and determined by what you can afford to pay. As an idea, the running costs for us are $300 per person ($50 per session, per attendant). If this amount is not feasible, please pay what you can, or not at all.

This is a first-in-first-served basis, and spots are limited to 15. If you want to register, please fill in the form here. https://forms.office.com/r/6tMSBpKCiS

If you have any questions, please get in touch by replying to this email, or feel free to call me on 0212343527.

Ngā mihi,
Cassie Borlase+64212343527
Director, Facilitator and Peer Coach

Tulsi Parenting Hub - Providing support for families via programmes and resources & Koru Parenting Hub - a not-for-profit, charitable organisation, striving to remove barriers for parents to receive support.
www.parentinghub.co.nz

Proposed Strike Action - 23 October

Te Kamo Intermediate has been advised by the Primary Teachers Union - NZEI that strike action is likely on Thursday, October 23.

If the strike goes ahead, the school will be closed on this day.

We will share the confirmed notification and any further details as soon as we receive formal advice.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

A warm welcome to Term Four. We hope everyone had an enjoyable spring break and feels refreshed for the coming term.

Our Y7 students will continue to study their Geography unit, which they are very much enjoying and our Y8 students are preparing for our Enterprise Day later this term.

We have two groups heading off to the Pacific Islands during the next week and wish them all the best. The group heading to Samoa depart on Saturday and the Vanuatu group next Tuesday. These trips are often life changing for the students, experiencing a different culture, visiting schools to compare the different education systems and forming new friendships. We will provide updates through our school facebook page.

Now is a good time for Y7 students to start saving towards this trip, if interested in going.

The Term Three assessment tasks have now been completed and we are in the process of comparing with Term One data. While we don’t have formal parent/student/teacher conferences, you are encouraged to make contact with your child’s class teacher, after next week, to see how they have progressed. Term Four written reports will also show the progress and achievement made by each child.

Health and Safety: A polite reminder that all parents/caregivers entering the school grounds, must sign in at the Front Office please. We also ask that every effort is made to make appointments for students outside of school hours.

Attendance: I was thrilled to see an increase in attendance for 2025 Term Three attendance from 2024 Term Three attendance. While only an increase of 8%, this is moving in the right direction. It is hoped we might reach 50% for this term. We still have less than 50% reaching regular attendance (fewer than 5 days off per term). With winter illnesses less prevalent, we look forward to students attending each day and additionally being at school by 845am. It was not a great start by a number of students yesterday or today who were at least 15 minutes late.

Lastly, we ask that you please take some time to carefully monitor your child’s social media activity. Over recent weeks, including the holidays, we have seen a marked increase in online incidents of a threatening or harmful nature occurring outside of school hours. Unfortunately, these situations often carry over into school and require significant time and attention from staff, taking away from our focus on teaching and learning. Your support in helping ensure your child is using social media safely and respectfully is greatly appreciated.

Kim Sloane

Tūmuaki / Principal

Taonga o Te Moana

AIMS Games Thank You

Life Education Trust

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori!

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori!

We are having a wonderful week so far celebrating te reo Māori in our classes. One of the best ways to keep learning and engaging with a language is to make it fun, and our tamariki have shown just how much can be gained when learning is playful and interactive.

This week is not just about games—it is about valuing te reo Māori as a living taonga. For many of our young people, it is a chance to strengthen their cultural identity and take pride in their heritage. For others, including those new to Aotearoa, it is an exciting opportunity to embrace the language of this land and deepen their sense of belonging.

As the whakataukī reminds us:

“Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.”
The language is the essence of Māori identity.

Te Reo Māori – Ake, Ake, Ake. A forever language.

Winter Illness

We have a number of staff who are unwell due to winter illnesses. We do our very best to employ relievers and the SLT support classes where possible.

We thank parents and caregivers for your understanding if you receive an email asking to keep your child at home if we cannot provide cover.

We don't make these decisions lightly and please be assured, there is always learning available for the students online.

Principal's Corner

Northland Mathex.

Last week 16 of our students competed in the Northland Mathex Competition. We are very proud of these young people.

Congratulations to these students who won the Y7 competition! They completed the 20 questions with 10 minutes to spare. Simply outstanding.

Special acknowledgement to Mr Epskamp for working with these students in preparation for the competition.

Madelyn Loh R16, Brooklyn Marwick R22, Tom Saunders R22, and Kauri Cooper R11. Of interest is that each of these young people attended different primary schools. Great team work.

Attendance:

Congratulations to the following classes for achieving 90% and above attendance for last week! We look to more classes meeting 90%.

Last week, Room 5 enjoyed a pizza lunch for being the top class over two weeks.

Rm 11: 95 %

Rm 10: 93 %

Rm 7: 92%

Rm 19: 91% - top Y8 class

Rm 4: 90%

Curriculum Survey

You are invited to complete the accompanying survey gathering information on the concepts we currently have planned for the next two years. We welcome your input.

Keep warm and let's all look forward to some warm spring weather.

Te Kamo High Enrolment Zone

The Ministry of Education has advised that Te Kamo High School will be implementing an enrolment zone. Te Kamo High is currently working with the Ministry to confirm the zone boundaries, which will be shared as part of a six-week public consultation process.

Their goal is to have the enrolment zone finalised, along with the number of out-of-zone places available at each year level, by the start of Term 4, 2025. This will apply to all enrolments for the 2026 school year. From that time, proof of residential address will be required for all enrolment applications.

While a large proportion of their current students live outside the proposed zone, they anticipate continuing to accept many out-of-zone enrolments until they reach full capacity.

You can view the consultation details and provide feedback via their school website or directly through the Ministry of Education’s consultation page here:
https://www.education.govt.nz/have-your-say/te-kamo-high-school-new-enrolment-scheme/details

If you have any questions regarding the zone or enrolments, please contact Te Kamo High School directly.

If you are intending to enrol at TKHS but not yet done so, please make every effort to do so as soon as possible.

Mid Year Data

Kia ora parents/whānau

Below you will find the mid-year data from across the school. The teachers have been working incredibly hard to support a diverse range of needs, and we are so proud of what our students have accomplished so far this year. We also want to thank you, our parents and whānau, for the crucial role you play in supporting your child’s learning journey.

Mathematics is now being assessed in Phases, with Y7 and Y8 at Phase Three. Reading and Writing is currently assessed as Level 4, and will be moving to Phases once the new English Curriculum is finalised.

Mid year reports were sent out via the HERO app at the end of last term. If you have not had a discussion with your child and their teacher about goals for the remainder of the year, please make contact with them and they can make a time to meet. This is a valuable way of having a shared understanding of where your child is at and what they will be working on to meet their own individual learning goals.

Mathematics and Statistics

We are pleased to report that a large number of students are achieving within the new curriculum's target of Phase Three. This is a fantastic result, especially considering the change to a new curriculum which has seen the expected levels move up almost one year. Teachers have found that the new, clearer framework has made teaching more structured and effective. A strong focus on explicit teaching and basic facts has greatly improved our students' confidence in problem-solving and their overall number knowledge. It's also wonderful to see that the achievement patterns for our Māori students are very similar to the overall student population. The change in the curriculum expectation gives us good guidance on what we need to be teaching those who are not yet at level.

Continued support from home with consolidation of basic facts for those who do not yet have these mastered will be of great help.

Reading

Our reading results are also very positive, with the majority of our students achieving within Level Four. The data shows that our Māori students' reading levels are similar to the whole school data.

Writing

We're also pleased to see good achievement in writing across the school. Similar to reading, the data for Māori students is consistent with the rest of the school.

Teachers will continue to use a wide range of teaching strategies, including a structured literacy approach, to support every student's growth in both Reading and Writing. We are looking forward to working with the new English Curriculum and will be sharing more about this once it has been finalised.

Thank you again for your ongoing support. Your partnership is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Ngā mihi nui,

The Te Kamo Intermediate School Staff

Reminder about visiting

A reminder that if you are coming in to the school, you are required to sign in at the Office please.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Cross Country:

A reminder that we have our annual Cross Country this Friday. All welcome. Times are as follows:

AIMS Games Hip Hop Crew

Congratulations to our Hip Hop Crew who won the Open Group Under 13 category at the Whangarei Dance Festival on Saturday evening.

Congratulations Charlotte Gray, Deanna Finlayson, Evie Coates, Havana Blank, Kadi Dowsett, Olivia Moore, Pax Hargie and Spencer Warmington.

Huge congratulations and awesome choreography by Kyra and Tyra.

Please take a look at our Sports Facebook Page for some photos.

Boys’ Rugby Sevens

Lastly, I want to acknowledge our Boys’ Rugby Sevens team, who recently spent time at Radius Rimu Park, a facility that has generously provided sponsorship support ahead of the AIMS Games. It was heartwarming to see our students giving back to a community that supports them. Well done, boys—a lovely article in the Northern Advocate. We are proud of you.

Attendance and Punctuality:

Thank you to those who are making an effort to get their child to school and on time. It does make a difference.

If we can support you in any way, please reach out to us. We are here to help.

Seeing the effects absence can make, is concerning.

Open Evening:

A huge thank you to parents who allowed their child/ren to support us with our Open Evening last Wednesday. They were absolutely great ambassadors for the school. Many parents of Y6 students complemented our students on their enthusiasm, knowledge and understanding of our school.

If you know of people who were unable to attend on Wednesday, please have them make contact with us. We are happy to have individual tours around the school. Equally, parents are welcome to attend next week when the Y6 students join us for part of the morning, from our local schools.

TKIS students who attended the Open Evening have earned themselves a free mufti day this Thursday. Other students are welcome to wear mufti but a $2 donation is required.

Changes to NCEA

You may have seen in the media, changes are imminent with NCEA as it currently stands. This information has been shared from our local Ministry Office.

Today, the Minister of Education has made a significant announcement about the future direction of our national qualification, NCEA. Consultation on the proposal has opened today and over the coming weeks schools and communities will have the opportunity to provide feedback and input on the final shape of this proposal.
Under this proposal, students who are currently in Year 8 would be the first group to undertake the Foundational Award in Year 11 or new qualifications in Year 12 and 13.
While we respond to the proposed changes to NCEA, parents of students currently sitting our national qualification can be assured that NCEA is a good qualification and we are committed to delivering quality teaching and learning programmes for all students.

Have your say

Visit: Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA - Ministry of Education
Questions? Email: NCEAconsultation@education.govt.nz
Webinars available from 11 August – sign up on the consultation page here: Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA - Ministry of Education

Through this consultation, New Zealanders have the opportunity to shape a qualification system that reflects our ambition, diversity, and commitment to success.

Thank you for your leadership and for everything you do to support learners.

Hira Gage

Director of Education for Te Tai Tokerau

Reflections on Adolescence and Wellbeing

I recently read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and I’d like to share a brief summary with you. I believe the messages in this book are especially important given the increasing number of young adolescents experiencing anxiety. As a school and wider community, we must continue building their resilience and, where possible, reduce or limit the use of certain digital devices.

Haidt argues that the sharp decline in adolescent mental health since the early 2010s is largely due to two interconnected shifts in childhood: the rise of a “phone-based childhood” and the decline of a “play-based childhood.” These changes have been linked globally to increases in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide.

Around 2012, as smartphones and social media became widely accessible to young people, what Haidt refers to as the “great rewiring of childhood” began. He outlines four major harms associated with this shift:

Social Deprivation – Face-to-face interaction has decreased significantly, affecting the development of essential social and emotional skills.
Sleep Disruption – Phones in bedrooms and the addictive nature of social media impact the quality and quantity of sleep, which is crucial for healthy development.
Attention Fragmentation – Constant notifications and digital distractions impair the ability to focus, learn deeply, and engage in sustained thinking.
Addiction – Social media and online content are designed to be highly stimulating and unpredictable, often resulting in compulsive device use.

In contrast, free play—unstructured, often unsupervised outdoor or imaginative activity—is essential for building resilience, problem-solving skills, and independence. We see the value of this every day at school. During break times, we encourage students to engage in physical games on the field, astroturf, and courts. It’s heartening to watch them negotiate rules, resolve disagreements, and develop social awareness through play.

Haidt also makes a particularly thought-provoking observation: that parents have become "overprotective in the real world" while "underprotective in the virtual one." That’s a statement worth reflecting on.

The Government is playing a role in supporting adolescent wellbeing through its phone-free school policy. We adhere to this guideline—students are required to hand in their phones upon arrival and collect them at the end of the school day. Many students find this separation difficult, which raises valid concerns around dependence and screen habits.

A common reason we hear for students carrying phones is for after-school communication. If that is the primary need, consider providing a basic phone that can make calls and send texts. You might hold off on a smartphone until high school, where the demands and independence are more appropriate.

Interestingly, many of the students I meet for Principal Stripe applications either do not use social media or have very limited, parent-monitored access. That in itself speaks volumes.

When your child comes home from school, encourage opportunities for active, creative, and social play—whether that’s with siblings, neighbours, or friends. This could be as simple as kicking a ball around, riding a bike, climbing a tree, playing a board game or doing a creative project together.

We are encouraged by how many students play sports both in and out of school. The benefits go far beyond physical health—they help build resilience, teamwork, time management, commitment, leadership, and a strong sense of belonging.

I urge you to monitor device use at home, keeping screens in shared spaces and limiting usage after bedtime. A simple, effective rule is no devices in bedrooms overnight.

The more we act together—as parents, caregivers, and educators—to support a return to play and balance in the lives of our young people, the stronger they will grow, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Kim Sloane

Tumuaki / Principal

Policy Review

Each term Te Kamo Intermediate reviews a range of policies.

Policies for this term's review are available to view on our website under the tab 'School Information'.

Weekly updates

Kia ora parents and whānau,

Student-Led Conferences

A huge thank you to everyone who made it to our Student-Led Conferences last week! It was fantastic to see so many of you engaging with your children about their learning journey. For those who couldn't make it due to the unexpected school closure, our teachers will be in touch soon to reschedule.

Science Fair Success

Our school hall was buzzing with incredible innovation last week, showcasing a wonderful array of Science Fair exhibits! A big congratulations to all the students who participated. We're especially proud of those who have been selected to represent our school at the upcoming Central Northland Science Fair. Good luck!

Mathex Competition Tomorrow!

Get ready for some fast-paced problem-solving! Our annual school Mathex competition is happening tomorrow. Eight students from each class will put their skills to the test in a 20-question challenge. Whānau are warmly invited to attend and cheer on our competitors – we always appreciate parents who are keen to join in the fun!

Year 8 High School Visits

Over the past week, our Year 8 students have been busy exploring their high school options. They've had visits from Whangārei Boys High School and Whangārei Girls High School, and also made a trip to Te Kamo High School. Remember, open evening information has been shared in previous updates and is also available directly on the high school websites.

As we head further into winter, we're all hoping these sunny days continue. Stay warm, everyone!

Ngā manaakitanga,

Te Kamo Intermediate

CityLink Bus Fares

1^st August – CityLink and SchoolLink fares increase SL2 and LSL6

CityLink Whangārei and SchoolLink reminds all passengers that fares are increasing on bus services from 1 August. Fares will rise by $1 per journey, so from 1 August fares for young people aged 5-18 will be $2 and the adult fare will be $3. Remember to top up Bee Cards in advance or bring extra cash for your journey. www.citylinkwhangarei.co.nz

Principal's Corner

Welcome to Term Three

A warm welcome to Term Three! We have a busy and exciting term ahead.

You are warmly invited to view the Science Fair exhibits in the school hall this week. Many of you may wish to take the opportunity to do so while attending Student-Led Conferences on Wednesday or Thursday.

Next Wednesday, we will hold our annual school Mathex competition. Eight students from each class will compete in a 20-question problem-solving challenge. Whānau are welcome to attend, and as many of you will know, we always appreciate parents who are keen to join in the fun!

Throughout the term, a number of sporting events are scheduled, including the AIMS Games in early September. We sincerely thank the many parents who have supported fundraising efforts to ensure our teams can travel to Tauranga for this exciting event.

Later in August, a group of our students will attend the Youth Summit. We are looking forward to the event, which promises to feature some inspiring speakers.

Our learning concept this term is Enterprise. Students will explore real-world needs, design and test prototypes, and—with support—develop a product to bring to market in Term Four.

A gentle reminder that, unless unwell, students are expected to attend school each day. If your child is absent and we haven’t received a reason, you may receive a text or phone call from us. This is simply to ensure we are supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing.

Stay warm over the winter months—we’re all hoping for a few sunny days ahead!

Nga mihi

Kim Sloane

Tumuaki

Dropping Students Off

Kia ora parents / whānau

A polite reminder about vehicles on school grounds.

If you are intending on dropping your child off within the school grounds, please stay within the school bus loop. Access to the remainder of the school via the carpark is for staff only.

Many thanks for helping us to keep our school a safe vehicle zone.

School Mid Year Reports

Kia ora parents/whānau

You are likely to have already received this message through Hero.

Your child’s mid-year report is now available to view on Hero! This is our first time reporting through Hero, and we’re excited to share your child’s progress with you in this new format.

The new report includes:

Attendance to date
A graph showing whether they are working Towards, At, or Above their expected curriculum level in Reading, Writing and Mathematics
Effort and Attitude indicators for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
Student self-reflection
STEAM grade for Year 8 students only

If your child has been absent for an extended period of time, some areas may not be included in their report.

To view your child’s report:

1.Log in to the Hero app or visit https://go.linc-ed.com

2.Click on your child’s name

3.Click on 2025 Report

To print your child’s report, click the printer icon towards the top of the report page and follow the instructions according to your printer.

Student Led Conferences will be held in the first week of Term 3.

If your child is in The Bach, you will receive your report from the SENCO or Learning Support Coordinator. They will also help to arrange your student conference.

Ngā mihi

Te Kamo Intermediate School

Statement from the Ministry of Education

As part of our focus on lifting student achievement we have introduced a new curriculum this year for Maths in Years 0–8. This means we are currently changing from the old to the new curriculum.

We want to acknowledge that schools and kura will only have been using the new curricula from the start of 2025, which includes new teaching and assessment methods and content.

Because of this you could see a change in your child’s progress or achievement compared to previous years, which may be the result of changes in the curriculum expectations for your child’s year level. If you have concerns or questions about your child’s achievement, we strongly suggest you talk with your child’s teacher or kaiako. They will also have used their own observations, classroom tasks and other tests to report on the progress your child is making.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

As we move through the last week of Term Two, I take this opportunity to thank you for the important role you play in teaching your young adolescents how to be resilient. Your guidance, support, and encouragement help them navigate challenges, bounce back from setbacks, and develop the confidence to face the ups and downs of growing up. By modelling perseverance and fostering a positive mindset, you are equipping them with lifelong skills that will serve them well in every area of their lives.

I recently attended the annual NZAIMS Leadership Conference, where Jake Bailey presented his take on resilience. Many of you will remember seeing Jake on television and social media in 2015 when, as a student of Christchurch Boys High he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. With treatment he was well enough to present his speech at the end of year Prize Giving and it received thousands of views on social media.

Twelve years later, Jake is a full time public speaker and the youngest #1 bestselling author in NZ history. He is a passionate educator on the power of resilience.

Jake promotes the Four ‘S’ model, which I share below:

What: Resilience is the ability to overcome and recover from both big and small challenges we face in our lives (adversity).

SLOW DOWN: Break challenges down into manageable/smaller goals. Focus on getting through each week,day or hour at a time.

SALVAGE: Seek out anything good within challenging situations. Any piece of happiness, no matter how small, is crucial to capture during tough times. Aim for realistic optimism.

STREAMLINE: Try to put your attention where it matters. If you can spend at least two hours of each day NOT worrying, you will grow resilience. Try to find things that you enjoy.

STAND ALONGSIDE: Don’t climb mountains alone. Build, create, develop relationships so that when the time comes for support, you have those established.

Our staff will be using some of these strategies while working alongside the students.

School Reports

School reports will be emailed to parents this Thursday. Student Led Conferences will take place early next term, providing an opportunity for students to share their progress and goals.

I have really enjoyed reading through the Students’ reflections following their growth as they navigate their intermediate school years. Students are becoming increasingly competent in knowing where they 'sit' academically in the areas of mathematics, reading and writing and, can talk about their next steps in learning.

There is separate communication in the Updates about the Reports and Conferences.

We wish our school community a safe, happy, and restful Winter holiday. Enjoy the break with your whānau, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting new term.

Nga mihi

Kim Sloane

Principal / Tumuaki

Kids Learn Through Consequences

Kids Learn Through Consequences

One of the most valuable ways our kids learn is through natural consequences.

Every action has a result — some good, some not so good. Eat well, feel well. Eat crap, feel crap. Act silly and break something? There’s a consequence for that too.

In our house, the rule is simple: if you break it, you fix it. If you spill it, you clean it. If you leave a spade in the driveway and a car runs it over, you save up and replace it.

Parenting isn’t just about keeping the peace — it’s about preparing our kids for the real world. Teaching responsibility when young gives them a head start on life. It builds resilience, accountability, and the kind of character that will serve them for years to come.

Kids Learn Through Consequences Link

Parent Support Group

Parent Support Group

Would you like to be part of a group of parents who the school through assisting with fundraising events?

We have had our main one for the year, The Mighty Walk. The other main event we help organise is the end of year Y8 Graduation Dance.

If you would like to find out more, pop along to the school on Monday 9th June at 700pm. We really need you!

The Mighty Walk

Last week we acknowledged students for their outstanding efforts in both fundraising and distance walked during The Mighty Walk.

We were grateful to all sponsors who so generously gave prizes for our students.

Acknowledgement and congratulations to the following students:

Money Raised:

1st: Sebastian Moon $1035

2nd: Lilly Osborne $600

3rd: Harper Sergeant $590

4th: Giacomo Wong: $510

1st class: Room 8 $2662

2nd class: Room 11 $2350

Overall winning team: Matai. $6919

Overall runner up team: Tawa $4962

Distance Walked:

Boys:

1st: Kale Paniora 44km

2nd: Kale Overton 42km

3rd: Oliver Moselen-Meehan

Girls:

1st: Ella Watts 36.4 km

2nd: Rosie Soole 34.8km

3rd: Renee Hardwick 31.6km

1st class: Room 10: 643.6km

2nd class: Room 11: 603.08km

Overall winning team: Tawa 1843.48km

Overall runner up team: Kowhai 1758.2km

The Mighty Walk

The Mighty Walk

What a fantastic day we had last Thursday. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The students really made an effort to walk as far as they could in the allocated time and the canteen was well supported. We are still tallying distances walked per student, class and team and while the online platform has now closed for donations, we still need to look at our top fundraisers per class.

We will publish the top students and classes next week.

We take this time to thank our wonderful Parent Support Group for their time and effort in making this event a success. I cannot speak highly enough of these parents who donate their time and fully support our school - THANK YOU!

We are always looking for new members for the PSG and other than the main fundraiser of the year, there is little to do by way of other events. We will be meeting on June 9 at 700pm if you would like to join us in the staffroom.

We are also extremely grateful for the generous donations and sponsorship of the following businesses. This has made a huge difference to our profit.

Please support these organisations where possible.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Welcome to Week 4!

A nice sunny start to the week! I enjoyed watching a number of our students play hockey on Friday afternoon and/or netball on Saturday morning. Sport offers so many opportunities and the benefits are huge. I acknowledge the time each parent/caregiver invests in their child’s sport. Team building, resilience, co-operation, respect, communication, goal setting - all valuable skills moving forward.

The Mighty Walk

At the time of writing we have raised just under $20,000. The Walk is on Thursday and we invite you to come and walk a few laps with your child if you have time. I know the Parent Support Group would also appreciate some assistance if you can spare a few hours.

Fundraising will remain open until Monday 26, 12:00pm - a reminder that funds will go towards class trips. The more we raise, the less you need to pay for trips:)

It’s not too late to register and help Te Kamo Intermediate.
https://tekamointermediatemightywalk2025.raiseit.co.nz

Some information for Thursday:

Students are welcome at Kensington from 8:15 onwards. Walking will commence at 8:30am
Buses will run from school soon after 8:45am and return at 1:45pm. If you want to take your child home from Kensington, please send written information to the class teacher. Otherwise students will be released from school at the usual time.
Students may wear their P.E Gear to and from school. They may dress up in team colours with hair ties, tutus etc. Please - no paint of any description.
As there will be no school lunches on Thursday, students are encouraged to bring a small amount of money to purchase food or bring their own. Filled water bottles are highly recommended.
Phones: Students bringing phones to school will be asked (as they are each day) to hand them in to the class teacher. Our preference would be to keep the phones at home.

Attendance

We really do appreciate whanau making an effort to get their children to school. We are here to support you - please reach out if necessary.

We understand that as we approach winter, there are the usual illnesses. I have attached some communication from the Ministry of Education, offering guidance around when to send/not send children to school.

MOE Guidance around sickness.

Today we took six students out for lunch for 100% attendance last week. These students were drawn randomly from all of those with 100% attendance. We will do the same in a few weeks for some more students.

Congratulations to:

Madison - Rm 3, Awarangi - Rm 21, Ella - Rm 23, Sebastian - Rm 6, Jackson - Rm 17 and, Rocco - Rm 11

Pink Shirt Day

A huge thank you for supporting Pink Shirt Day last Friday. We raised over $800 for the Mental Health Foundation of NZ.

More can be seen on other areas of the Recent Updates.

Kim Sloane

Tūmuaki / Principal

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Welcome to Week 3!

We’re now well into Term 2, and it’s definitely starting to feel like winter—with winter sports in full swing! It was fantastic to see four of our hockey teams playing simultaneously on Friday afternoon and our netball teams enjoying strong competition on Saturday.

Kid’s Lit Quiz

Yesterday we had three teams competing in the regional final of the Kid’s Lit Quiz in Kerikeri. While they did not come away with a victory and a place in the national final, they made us very proud. The competition was very close with only one mark each separating the top three placegetters. Congratulations to all of our competitors. We will look forward to competing in the sport of reading again next year.

Attendance Update

On Friday, we received a breakdown of our Term 1 attendance data. Here's a brief summary:

63% of students had regular attendance (over 90%), an improvement from 61% in Term 1, 2024
21% of students were absent for 5–9 days during the term
66% of students consistently arrived on time (this is an area of concern)
Year 7 students had a higher rate of regular attendance
Friday had the lowest average attendance across the week
A significant concern: Over 20% of absences were unexplained

This week, we’re running an attendance incentive. Students who are at school every day and on time will go into a draw to win a McDonald’s or sushi lunch.

Despite regular reminders, we continue to see a number of students arriving well after the 8:45 bell. In some cases, students are dropped off early but then head to the shops instead of school. If this continues, we will contact parents directly.

Thank you for your continued support in helping your child arrive at school on time, ready to start the day positively.

The Mighty Walk

Our major fundraising event is just a few weeks away! We’re aiming to support every class with $1000 towards trips—whether for buses or entry fees. Thanks to your generosity, we've already raised just over $16,000—an incredible start!

If you haven’t registered yet, you can do so here:
https://tekamointermediatemightywalk2025.raiseit.co.nz

Let’s keep up the momentum!

Winter Sports Day

Tomorrow is the annual Year 7 & 8 Winter Sports Day at Kensington Park. Students have selected a sport and will compete against teams from TKIS and other schools.

Students must bring their own lunch.
Buses will transport them to and from the venue.
If alternative travel plans are made, please inform the classroom teacher directly.
Families are welcome to come and support!

Please check with your child which sport they’re playing—some have opted to try something new, which we’ve encouraged.

We’re confident our students will represent Te Kamo Intermediate with pride and positive behaviour.

Pink Shirt Day

This Friday we will be acknowledging the annual Pink Shirt Day fundraiser in conjunction with the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. The Pink Shirt movement first began in Canada and has moved across the world being synonymous with an anti-bullying stance. We will be celebrating diversity and promoting kindness and inclusion on this day, as on all days within our kura.

All of our school is being encouraged to wear pink on Friday in support of this kaupapa. A minimum $2 donation is also being asked for so that we can make a donation directly to the Mental Health Foundation. This will be collected on Friday morning after the roll has been taken.

Each team will select their best dressed student who will be winning a prize. Kōrero mai, Kōrero atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora. Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

Support Staff Appreciation

Finally, we want to take a moment to acknowledge our incredible Support Staff. From Learning Assistants who provide classroom and specialist support, to our Administration and Property teams who keep everything running smoothly and ensuring our property and grounds are well maintained —thank you for all that you do for our students and staff. You are very much appreciated.

Kim Sloane

Seven week Strength & Conditioning Programme

We have an exciting 7 week Strength and Conditioning programme to offer the TKIS kids to improve their overall fitness, speed and reduce the risk of injury. Unfortunately, we have not secured any funding for this, so it will be on a user pays basis. It is totally optional.

It will be run by Jon Renes. Jon is currently the Strength and Conditioning Lead for Northland Football where he runs sessions 4 days a week.

Jon will offer a weekly 1 hour Strength and Conditioning programme over 7 weeks of the term, starting in week 2.

The sessions will be on Mondays 3.15pm-4.15pm on the school turf.

5 May (week 2)

12 May

19 May

26 May

2 June (Queen’s Birthday - no session)

9 June

16 June

23 June

Regular strength and conditioning training can help athletes increase their power, speed, agility and endurance, as well as reduce injury risk and enhance their tolerance to training load.

There will be a maximum of 25 places on a first come first serve basis.

Total cost for the term is $70 ($10 a session).

To secure your child's place, please complete this form and make payment to bank account: 38-9018-0857871-15 (Bronwyn Bayne) by Friday, 2 May. If a weekly installment option is better for you, please set up an AP. Use child's name as reference.

Enquiries to Bronwyn Bayne, tkishockey@kamoint.school.nz

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Welcome to Week 11 of the school term. We are looking forward to welcoming many of you into the school tomorrow and hope you are able to find some time to visit your child’s classroom to see what they have been learning.

AIMS Games Update

All AIMS Games teams have now been confirmed. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the selection process, as well as those who have generously volunteered to coach or manage teams. Please note that until accommodation is secured, we cannot guarantee that teams will be able to travel to Tauranga. However, we are hopeful that suitable accommodation will be found over the coming weeks.

This is a timely reminder that, as representatives of our school, all students selected for AIMS teams are expected to demonstrate high standards of behaviour, commitment, and attendance.

Attendance Focus

Unfortunately, last Friday saw our lowest attendance rate of the year to date—with over 150 students absent, and nearly 50 of those absences unexplained. While we acknowledge the weather was a factor, we must emphasise the importance of regular school attendance. The government is closely monitoring attendance data, and we ask that you continue to support us by ensuring your child attends school each day.

We were concerned to hear that a small number of students missed school due to hair appointments. We kindly request that such appointments be scheduled outside of school hours where possible. While we understand that medical appointments may occasionally occur during the school day, we do encourage students to return to school afterwards whenever feasible.

We have also noticed an increasing number of students being collected well before the end of the school day, often without explanation. We ask that families support our efforts to maximise learning time by minimising early pickups.

The Mighty Walk

A sincere thank you to all who have already signed up to Go Raise It in support of our Mighty Walk fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $27,000 so that every class has the opportunity to benefit from a school trip this year.

Spot prizes will continue to be awarded to students who register and make a genuine effort to fundraise. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Building Project

We are about to embark on a new building project which has been in the planning stages for a number of years. When the students return after the school holidays, there will be fencing around some parts of the school as areas are cordoned off. Two new four classroom blocks will be built and we hope to occupy them by May next year. More information will be shared during the holidays.

Nga mihi

Kim Sloane

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Last week four of our students from Rm15 represented Te Kamo Intermediate at the Te Tai Tokerau EPro 8 finals. We placed second which is an amazing achievement. Congratulations to these students who we are so proud of:

William Marshall, Lashani Thiru, Evie Coates and Mackenzie Clover.

The students chose to construct a scene from Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom. They had to create a track for Indiana Jones’s cart to travel down, attach a boulder (balloon) that got trapped, and release snakes onto the cart. When time ran out, they were working on the final part, the trap door. They worked tremendously well as a team on this challenge and were only 20 points behind the winners. An amazing effort to come 2nd in their first ever EPRO8 together as a team, congratulations.

Attendance Focus

Yesterday we had our lowest ever number of students sign in late! Thank you parents/caregivers for supporting your tamariki in getting to school by 845. We very much appreciate your support.

Whole school attendance was 89.4%. Some other local schools are tracking over 90% so let’s see if we can match or better that for the remaining two weeks of Term One.

The Mighty Walk

It is that time of the year again when we undertake our main fundraiser for the year.

This year we hope to raise over $27,000 so each class can receive $1000 towards a class trip. This will benefit all students.

We have partnered with online fundraising company Go Raise It.

Go Raise It specialises in working with schools to maximise their fundraising efforts. Collecting sponsorship online makes it super easy for everyone - no more door knocking, and students can collect more donations from further afield (friends and family living overseas, work colleagues etc) and no need to worry about handling all that cash and bringing it into school!

Each student will be able to set up their very own fundraising page on the website and we have a number of prizes.

As part of creating their fundraising page they will choose their Room as their fundraising team. The website includes leader boards allowing us to create a little bit of healthy competition between teams. You can view the leaderboards and links to information about fundraising prizes on our Fundraising hub page:

https://tekamointermediatemightywalk2025.raiseit.co.nz/

Drop Off/ Pick Up

In the interest of safety, if you are driving your child to/from school, please drop off by our front door entrance. We’ve noticed students being dropped off on the far side of the carpark and running in front of traffic as they circle the loop.

Ngā mihi

Kim Sloane

Tumuaki / Principa

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

On Friday we worked alongside the Ministry of Education Maths facilitator upskilling on the revised curriculum. It had me thinking; it would be good to run a few workshops for parents/caregivers who are interested in upskilling in maths to support their children. If this is something you are interested in, please complete the brief survey and we will ascertain interest. I envisage we would start off with number skills.

Attendance Focus

A few weeks ago I mentioned that attendance is a key priority for us this year. I’m pleased to see we continue to track at just over 90% which is great. We will celebrate anything over 90%.

One concern we do have is the number of students who are arriving late to school. Almost 7% of our students (almost 50) were late last week. Your support in ensuring your child is at school ready to start the day by 845 is greatly appreciated. Repeat offenders can expect a phone call home to discuss this. Ten minutes late a day amounts to over 1 ½ hours a fortnight. That is a great deal of learning time.

Sport

With trials and practices almost complete for our winter sports I take this opportunity to thank those involved in the selection process and those who have offered to coach. We greatly appreciate your support.

EPro 8

Last week we hosted the EPro 8 competition for local primary and intermediate schools. Rm 15 were successful in making the finals which takes place tonight at WBHS. We wish them the very best of luck.

Ngā mihi

Kim Sloane

Tumuaki / Principal

Healthy Teeth

Report an Absence

If your child is absent from school, you can use the Hero App to let us know.

Update Contact Details

If your contact details have changed - address, email or phone numbers, please use this link to update our records.

https://www.kamoint.school.nz/forms/2-update-contact-details/submission/new

Many thanks

Postponed AIMS Information Meeting

A reminder that this Thursday's proposed AIMS Information Meeting has been postponed. We will communicate further when another date has been set.

Overseas Trips

A reminder that expressions of interest for the overseas trips are due this Friday. Students need to submit a letter to Mr Epskamp in order to be considered.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Attendance Focus

As mentioned in a previous update, attendance remains a key priority for us this year. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of families ensuring their children arrive at school on time, as regular and punctual attendance has a significant impact on student learning and achievement.

We are pleased to report that our attendance data over the past two weeks indicates we are tracking above both the national average and Te Tai Tokerau regional results. Notably, attendance has exceeded 90% on five out of the last ten school days—an outstanding achievement!

We still do have a number of unexplained absences though. This morning 34 students have been marked with unexplained absence, 34 medical, 4 explained but not approved. This amounts to well over two class groups.

Sport

We encourage all students to participate in sport, as the benefits—both physical and social—are immense.

Trials for winter sports are well underway, with netball, football, and hockey trials taking place currently.

This Wednesday, we are excited to have over 140 students competing in the doubles tennis tournament, which represents approximately 20% of our student roll. We look forward to some excellent matches.

Additionally, a number of TKIS students participated in the Beach to Basin event on Sunday. From all reports, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Photos from the event can be seen on the Facebook page.

Last Friday, our annual swimming sports event was held, where Josh Smith set three new records. Full results can be found on the Te Kamo Intermediate Sports Facebook Page. This is our main forum for keeping up to date with sports notices, events and results.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Liz Seaton for her dedication, meticulous planning, and coordination of the many sporting events that take place each week.

Cycling to and from school

A reminder that any student riding a bike to and from school must wear a helmet. This is mandated. We are asking all parents, who have a child cycling to school, to check their child is wearing one. If children don't wear a helmet they may be asked to store their bike at school until it is collected.

New Staff

We welcome three new staff members to our kura. Alisa Dodds is part of the Steam Team, teaching Performing Arts while Victoria Bercic and Brooke Johnsen have joined the Kowhai team teaching in Rms 2 and 3 respectively. We feel very fortunate to have each of them join our teaching team.

Ngā mihi

Senior Leadership Team

Parent Support Group

Te Kamo Intermediate Parent Support Group Meeting

All parents and caregivers are invited to attend the first meeting for the year of our Parent Support Group (PSG). We are keen to welcome new members to help with organising our main fundraising event for the year, the Mighty Walk, usually held in May.

We also organise the Year 8 Formal Dance at the end of the year and make decisions on requests for funding from the school. We meet around 3-4 times a year with most activity centred around organising the Mighty Walk over March-May and then November for the Year End Dance.

Joining the group is a great way to meet other parents, get involved with the school in a meaningful way, and have some fun along the way.

We will be meeting in the Staff Room (upstairs in the Office block) at 5pm on Monday 10 March. All are welcome.

Information evening re enrolment at King's College

The Headmaster, Mr Simon Lamb, and Head of Admissions, Mr Graeme Syms will be visiting Northland as follows:

Thursday March 6^th we are holding an information evening at The Turner Centre in Kerikeri from 6pm to 7pm.
Friday March 7^th we are holding an information evening at The Distinction Whangarei Hotel and Conference Centre, 9 Riverside Drive, Whangarei. 6pm-7pm.

You are most welcome to attend if you are considering King’s College for your son or daughter. They are VERY welcome to find out more about King’s.

We have welcomed a large number of students from Northland in 2025, and look forward to increasing the intake for 2026 and beyond.

Rugby Fans:

Saturday April 12^th: King’s College 1^st XV v Whangarei BHS 1^st XV at WBHS: 12 noon kick off.

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Meet and Greet – Thank You

Thank you to all those who took the time to attend our annual ‘Meet and Greet’ with class teachers last week. These meetings were valuable opportunities to connect, and our teachers sincerely appreciate your efforts. If you were unable to attend but would still like to meet with your child’s teacher, please feel free to contact them via email to arrange a suitable time.

Schoolwide Annual Goals

Each year, we set schoolwide goals to guide our focus. This year, our key priorities are the implementation of the new Mathematics Curriculum and improving student attendance. Our Strategic and Annual Plan will be published later this week following our Board meeting this evening.

Attendance Focus

As part of our attendance improvement efforts, you will receive regular updates and communications. Our goal is to increase our current attendance rate by 10%. Of particular concern is the number of unjustified absences—this morning alone, we recorded 65 absences, 31 of which were unexplained.

Last year, 61% of our students had regular attendance (attending school more than 90% of the time). However, this dropped to 40% in Term Three, before increasing slightly to 45% in Term Four. The government’s goal is for 80% of students to attend school at least 90% of the time, so we have significant progress to make.

We appreciate your support in ensuring that your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. A reminder that all students must be in class by 8:45 am.

Additional Notices

Please read through this week’s Update carefully, as it includes important information, particularly regarding Te Kamo Sport. If your child is trialing for netball, hockey, or football, please ensure you are familiar with the relevant details.

Additionally, a parent and student information evening will be held this Thursday at 5:30pm for those interested in the annual overseas trip.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Ngā mihi

Senior Leadership Team

Sports Facebook Page

All sports-related information is shared on our Te Kamo Intermediate Sports Facebook page. Please join our page if you wish to stay up-to-date with what is happening in and around TKIS.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15h6pWVFne/

Principal's Corner

Tēnā koutou katoa

Ahiahi pai on this very warm day.

We have been lucky to enjoy some beautiful sunny days making it enjoyable for our students to enjoy our first lunchtime sports competition, tug-o-war. Sunhats are very much encouraged along with students wearing sunscreen.

We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Wednesday at our annual beginning of the year, Meet and Greet. Thanks to those who have already made appointments. If you are unable to attend this week, please take the time to email the class teacher and suggest another time you could come in to meet with them. Most students have settled well into their class and this is an opportunity for you to ask questions of the teachers, discuss some early goal setting and hear about upcoming events and programmes at school. Making an appointment is by way of HERO.

At our first whole school assembly we talked about our key school value, RESPECT - Respect for Self, Others and the Environment. Every person at Te Kamo Intermediate has a right to feel safe and comfortable in our learning environment. Most students have had a fantastic start to the year and we hope through engaging activities we can ensure everyone is set up for success for the school year.

Unlike many other schools, our school lunches are, on the whole, arriving on time and being enjoyed by the students. For most young people, they will need this supplemented with other items, e.g. fruit, yogurt, muesli bars etc, sandwiches.

We remind school whānau that we want the young people enjoying water, not fizzy drinks please.

A few reminders for everyone:

School starts at 8:45. Please make every effort to have your child at school before then so they start the day off well.
Uniform - We take pride in our uniform. Please ensure your child is coming to school in the correct uniform each day. If unsure, please check our website for uniform information.
Bike safety. Students must wear a well fitted helmet to ride a bike to and from school. Cyclists wearing helmets came into law in 1994. Please support us by ensuring students are wearing their helmets when leaving home in the morning.
Each morning the school has daily notices which classes talk through. This is where students find out about opportunities to be involved in. Encourage your child to listen to the notices and get involved in some of our many opportunities at Te Kamo Intermediate School.

An update for Netballers. Students have been asked to collect informative notices, their contracts will need to be returned as soon as possible.

Below are the following dates for trials which will be held at TKIS after school:

Year 7

Wednesday 19th February 3.15pm - 4.30pm AND

Wednesday 26th February 3.15pm - 4.30pm

Year 8

Thursday 20th February 3.15pm - 4.30pm AND

Thursday 27th February 3.15pm - 4.30pm

COACHES WANTED:

If there is anyone interested in coaching a Netball team this year, please get in touch with Whaea Moana: mphillips@kamoint.school.nz

Ngā mihi

Senior Leadership Team

Beach to Basin - support of Life Education

Life Education Trust

Harold is thrilled to be taking part in the Sport Northland Chilltech Beach to Basin on March 2^nd 2025. We’re excited to be one of the two charities benefitting from this fantastic event, alongside “I have a Dream”. You can show your support by making a donation directly to Whangarei Life Education when you enter and keep an eye out for Harold on the day! www.facebook.com/sportnorthlandevents

New School App - Hero

Kia ora parents/whānau

This year we are working with a new student management system, Hero. An online platform with a complementary parent app.

We will still be using FaceBook (Meta) for communication, this is linked to the Hero app. Our recent updates (newsletter) will also be sent out via email on Tuesdays, and will also be available on the Hero app. Bookings for any school interviews, including our meet and greet in early February will be made through the Hero app.

With Hero, you can:

View school term dates
View a school calendar of events
Notify the school if your child is absent or late
Book your school interviews
Navigate to other school-related web pages
Customise your account by adding a profile image
Select how you wish to receive notifications

For information about Hero including how to log in, go to the Hero website.

Stripes 2025

Kia ora whānau,

We want to inform you that this year, stripes will only be awarded to students who participate in activities, events, and responsibilities directly connected to or organised by the school. This change aims to ensure that stripes recognise involvement and commitment within our school community and activities.

The full list of activities and responsibilities eligible for stripes is attached for your reference.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to encourage active participation and engagement in school-related events.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Ngā manaakitanga

Liz Seaton (Director of Sport)

Previous Notices