Principal’s Message
Talofa lava
I hope this newsletter finds everyone warm and well. It has definitely been a challenging time at school as the Winter bugs do the rounds with our akonga and our kaiako. Thank you for keeping your tamariki home when they have been unwell, here’s hoping and praying that we can forge ahead and reach our attendance targets of 80% attendance for 90% the remainder of term two. On that note there are plenty of school jumpers to keep our tamariki warm, in the Lost Property basket so feel free to come and have a look if you are missing items or you need some items.
This term our Kaiako are beginning to roll out schoolwide, the new Curriculum changes in English and Maths. We look forward to sharing more with you during our Parent partnership meetings next term.
The term 2 Inquiry topic we have been enjoying is OUR WONDERFUL WORLD, kicking off with the FIFA Club, World Cup as our Context and Scenario.
I would like to introduce you to our newest staff members:
Mrs Christine Santos is our new Learning Assistant working closely in Room 5. Christine arrived in Aotearoa at the end of 2024 with her husband and daughter . The students love her calming presence and joyous spirit.
Mr Avinesh Narayan graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Laidlaw College earlier this month. Avi has made a wonderful start in room 2 and the students have yoked with him easily and are thriving with his high expectations in learning and behaviour. Check out his classroom!
This month we also celebrate the Academic achievements of our staff: Mrs RhonaDean Godinet -Level 2- Te Reo Maori-Te Wananga o Aotearoa
Dr Ulumato’otua Aiono MNZM -Honorary Doctor of Commerce, Otago University
Our school vision Sharp Minds, Strong Bodies, Good Hearts is strengthened each time our leaders learn something new. May we all be encouraged to continue to be the best that we can be in our fields of expertise, opening new doors for our tamariki.
Viia le Atua,
Sita Selupe MNZM
Tumuaki/Principal
The Calendar
Recent Events
Term 2:
PINK DAY
This year PINK Day was run by our Year 6 – 8 students. The boys looked after the sausage sizzle station overseen by Mr ‘Ofanoa and the Cupcakes and cookie stations were overseen by Whaea Cecelia and Mrs Laura. We would like to thank all our students for supporting the fundraiser by wearing something pink and for also purchasing our goodies. A huge thank you to our Year 6 – 8 whanau who donated baking, bread, sausages & sauces – you are truly appreciated. Together we raised $563.00 for the NZ Mental Health Foundation.
PROJECT WY
*The harder you work for something, the greater you will feel when you achieve it – Author Unknown*
Our ongoing partnership with Project Wy and their programme, enables our families to work together, push limits and achieve a set goal.
The challenge that our families chose to accept was to walk up and down Rangitoto Island. Their preparation consisted of Thursday trainings based at Otahuhu Intermediate and Saturday trainings based at different venues each week – Dilworth Junior College, Mission Bay, Auckland Domain and even Eden Park.
On Saturday 3rd May, 6 families started the day with an early morning drive to the city to catch the Ferry across to Rangitoto Island. Each represented school had been given the task of putting together a uniform or similar outfits for their school to wear on the day. So each Rise UP family had been given a goodie bag which contained snacks and orange accessories. Once our team had disembarked from the ferry dressed in their orange accessories, they were all ready for the challenge ahead. Our students spent time together chatting, laughing and taking in all the different things they could see, while our parents followed behind. Such a great opportunity for our families to have quality time together and for our parents to connect with other parents from our school. Our families trained hard and were rewarded by making it to the top of Rangitoto. The realisation of all their early morning wake up calls, numerous burpees and squats, the never ending amount of stairs they had to run up and down and the thousands of steps they had done was all for this one moment.The walk was finished with our students playing in the water together while they waited for the Ferry.
Congratulations to Raven and Rere, Eli and Gideon, Beckham and Leka, Lynell and Nigel, Izzy and Phil and Shekinah and Sio.
If you are looking for a way to connect with your child or your family wants a new challenge, then please get in touch. The only requirements are that your child is Year 6 to Year 8 and you both are willing to attend two training sessions a week (Thursday and Saturday mornings).
The next Project Wy challenge is a 10km walk at Mount Maunganui – BRING IT ON!!
Whanau Programme & Notices
UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS – 2025
Kia ora koutou,
Every three years, state and state-integrated schools across the country hold Board elections – and it’s that time again in 2025. The School Board plays a vital role in the life of our school. Board members help shape the strategic direction of Rise UP Academy, represent the voices of our whānau and community, oversee how school funding is used, and ensure our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi is upheld in all that we do.
At Rise UP Academy, our Board is made up of:
The Principal
One elected staff representative
Three trustees appointed by the Rise UP Trust
Two elected parent representatives (we currently have two vacancies to fill)
This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to be actively involved in shaping the future of our school. To help run this process smoothly, the current Board has appointed Election Pilot as the Returning Officer. They are the only Ministry of Education-accredited provider of online election services and have been supporting schools with elections for over 20 years.
For the 2025 elections, the process will be online. Nomination and voting forms will be emailed directly to all eligible voters by Election Pilot. If we do not have an email address on file for you, paper forms will be posted, so everyone has the chance to participate. Please note that School Board elections are held under the Education and Training Act 2020 and the Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2022. To meet these legal requirements, your contact details have been securely shared with Election Pilot. These details will only be used for the purposes of this election and will be deleted within 60 days of the election closing.
If you have any questions about the process, feel free to contact the Returning Officer directly:
– 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369)
– [email protected]
We’ll continue to keep you informed as we move through each stage of the election process.
Election Day is Wednesday 10th September 2025.
Ngā mihi nui,
Grace Leulua’i
Whanau Educator
PHOTOLIFE – School Photos/Portraits/Siblings photo
Parents Photolife have emailed to you, your child’s unique Key Code to go online to view and purchase 2025 School Photos. ***FREE DELIVERY EXPIRES Midnight Sunday 29 JUNE 2025*** Please also keep an eye on their trash/spam folder.
ENROLMENTS
Dear whanau if you have any friends or family who are wanting to send their students to Rise UP Academy please encourage them to send their enrolments through to us via our website https://www.riseupacademy.school.nz/online-enrolment-form/
UNIFORM SALES
Ou Admin office is open for uniform sales 8.30-9.15am on Thursdays only. Polo shirts sizes 6-14 are $43.00, sizes S-XL are $48.00 and the jerseys are $53.00
ROAD SAFETY
Speed Limits are changing on roads near our school.
These changes will happen between 26-30 May 2025.
The Ministry of Transport has approved the https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/land-transport-rule-setting-of-speed-limits-2024. This updated Rule requires Auckland Transport to reverse the permanent 30km per hour speed limits introduced around our school.
Speed limits are changing on around 1,500 Auckland roads. Please keep an eye out for new speed limit signs.
For more information visit: https://at.govt.nz/speedlimitreversals
SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL
PROV-TECH Automotive
If your car needs some work done or a service please check out http://provtechauto.com
275KAI
Mary and her whanau make the heartiest burgers and delicious meals like; surf n turf, ribs etc found here too! 60 Vine Street Mangere. https://www.facebook.com/275KAI
MAMAS MEDALS
She and her team create the most stunning pieces and are available to order. You’ll be the talk of the town when you wear one of her numbers. https://www.facebook.com/mamasmedals
*Whanau if you own a small business that you would like us to post up on our newsletters please email [email protected]
Devotions
Term Scripture: Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts more than your thoughts.”
This reminds us that while we can seek to understand God, He is beyond full comprehension — which makes Him all the more awe-inspiring.
Term 2, we are learning to read the Bible well. As we teach each week with an overarching theme of who God is, we dive deeper into scripture by acknowledging the:
● Narrative context of the Bible (When, Where, Why, Who, What, How)
● Cultural context of the Bible (what cultural beliefs/rules/traditions were present at
the time of each parable/instructions from the Bible)
● Historical context
● Geographical context
It is a privilege to be able to teach God’s Word at Rise Up Academy. Ng`a mihi nui kia
koutou to the Scotts Whanau (Mayleen Scott) and Fe’ao Whanau (Board member, Mike
Fe’ao) for sharing with us the creation story and trusting God. Parents teaching the
Word to our `akonga is a blessing! We look forward to our Duisokosoko whanau sharing
with us God’s Word in Week 9.
This week’s memory verse: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just,
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.
This is a big foundational topic for our `akonga, asking for forgiveness and learning to
forgive their peers’ aids in stewarding a good heart.
Our children’s knowledge of the Bible is inspiring, thank you parents for helping them
practice their memory verses at home and answering those big theological questions
they like to ask just before bedtime 🙂
God bless you and your whanau
Prayer requests:
● Devotion Curriculum
● Protection from winter sickness over staff and ākonga
● Enrolment numbers for Senior school
● Teachers of the Word
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