Newsletter End of Term 1 2026

Principal’s Message – Term One Reflections: Nurturing Faith and Knowledge

Kia ora Rise UP whānau,

As we close the doors on our first term of the year, we look back with full hearts at the growth of our tamariki. This term, our school life has been anchored in the beautiful theme of “Manaakitanga: Respect”. It has been a season of learning not just how to respect one another, but how to “respect God with everything we have”.

Celebrating Our Devotions

Our daily and weekly devotions have been the foundation of our mornings. It has been a joy to hear the children’s voices lifted in our praise and worship and to witness them hiding the Word in their hearts.

Key Scripture: Matthew 28:6 HE IS NOT HERE, HE IS RISEN

Learning Milestones: Sharp Minds in Action

The academic journey this term has been just as vibrant, with our students engaging deeply with the S.H.A.R.P. Inquiry model:

Travel Wise Inquiry: Our tamariki have been busy investigating how to be safe and responsible travelers in their community.

Te Reo Māori: We have celebrated our identity through pepeha and karakia, integrating Te Reo into all areas of learning.

Class Treaties: At the start of the term, each class collaboratively built their own Class Treaty, aligning their classroom behavior with our RISE values: Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, and Excellence.

A Message of Gratitude

We are so proud of the way our students have embraced both their faith and their studies. Thank you, whānau, for supporting them with their memory verses and spelling words each night. Your partnership is what makes the “Rise UP Village” so special.

May you have a blessed and safe holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone back for Term Two as we continue to grow “Sharp Minds, Strong Bodies, and Good Hearts”.

Ngā mihi nui,
Sita Selupe MNZM
Principal Rise UP Academy

Term 1 Highlights

Room 1 

Tenā koutou e te whānau

Room 1 has had a vibrant and action-packed start to the year, launching our Y7–8 special
programmes with great enthusiasm. Students have engaged in a wide range of rich
learning opportunities, including BikeFit as part of our integrated Inquiry, volleyball skills
sessions with CLM, and creative 3D design and printing. Our culinary programme with
Mrs Govender has been a highlight, alongside swimming and library visits.

Inside the classroom, I am proud of the progress Room 1 has made academically. Students have shown improvement in Mathematics through the new Maths and Statistics Phase 2 and 3 curriculum, as well as in Information Report Writing and Structured Literacy. Their growing confidence and willingness to take on challenges reflects their commitment to learning and striving for excellence.

Looking ahead to Term 2, we are excited to begin our ALiM Maths groups, designed to
support all learners by filling gaps and accelerating progress. Students will also
participate in BoxFit and Cut and Paste sessions with Mupu Maia, and we are especially
looking forward to hands-on carving experiences with J.S Carving. These opportunities
will continue to strengthen both practical skills and cultural connections.

Throughout the term, Room 1 has been developing a strong foundation of values:
respect for God, respect for self, respect for others, and respect for resources. Our goal
is to nurture sharp minds, strong bodies, and good hearts in all our learners. Thank you
to our parents and whānau for your ongoing support and prayers. I look forward to a
refreshing break in Fiji and returning ready for an extraordinary Term 2.

Information Report Writing: Akapei Titimanu and highlights of Term 1, enjoy.

A special thanks to Prov-Tech Automotive Ltd for sponsoring our Sports T-shirts!

Ngā mihi mahana,
Mrs Godinet Muelu

Akapei – Transport

Room 2

Ni sa bula vinaka Room 2 whānau, 

Term 1 was a busy and full term, with many meaningful learning experiences. It was a pleasure getting to know your children and supporting them in their learning throughout the term. 

We also held our Parent Partnership Meetings (PPM), which provided a valuable opportunity to meet with you, discuss your child’s progress, and set learning goals together. It was encouraging to build strong connections between home and school. 

Term 1 Highlights 

Swimming Lessons
Students attended swimming lessons every Tuesday at Māngere Pools. They developed confidence in the water and improved their swimming skills. It was pleasing to see their progress and enthusiasm each week. 

Bike Fit Programme
Students participated in the Bike Fit programme, where they learned about bike safety and the importance of being active. As part of this learning, students rode their bikes to Māngere Town Centre and explored the new bike lanes. This experience supported our inquiry learning and encouraged students to think about safer and healthier ways of travelling to school. It was encouraging to see some students riding their bikes or scooters to school. 

Volleyball Sessions
Students took part in weekly volleyball sessions alongside Room 1. These sessions supported the development of teamwork, coordination, and communication skills. 

Dress-Up Days
Every fortnight, students participated in dress-up days with different themes. These days brought excitement, creativity, and helped build a positive classroom environment. 

Upcoming 

Fiji Trip
Some of our students, together with their families, will be travelling to Fiji during the Term 1 holidays as part of a learning experience. This will provide an opportunity to explore Fijian culture and the education system. We keep them in our thoughts and prayers for a safe and meaningful journey. 

Thank you for your continued support throughout Term 1. We look forward to continuing our learning journey together. 

Kind regards
Mr Avi 

Room 3

As Term 1 draws to a close, it has been a privilege to work with the students in Room 3. This term has been filled with meaningful learning experiences and community building. The students have engaged well with structured literacy instruction, demonstrating progress in their spelling development through systematic phonics work. Structured mathematics provides a systematic foundation for each student’s learning journey. The results demonstrate  progress in their mathematical understanding and skill development.

Our school community has noticed increased traffic during afternoon dismissal, which affects student arrival times and attendance. We recognise that many families rely on car transportation and understand the challenges this creates for our local roads. In our inquiry,  we are exploring ways to support safer, more efficient dismissal procedures that benefit everyone in our community. 

Our class has been enjoying basketball  and it has proven to be a valuable opportunity to observe how students work together and approach competition. The sport naturally brings out different strengths in each student, from collaboration to individual effort. These moments on the court offer meaningful insights into how your child engages with challenges and interacts with peers in a team setting.

During our devotion time, we have been exploring the importance of respect across different areas of our lives. Students are learning about respect for God, respect for themselves, respect for authority figures such as parents and teachers, and respect for one another. Through Scripture, we are helping students understand God’s order and recognise that each person holds value and meaning in God’s eyes.

Prayer has become a meaningful practice in our classroom as well. Students are developing an understanding that they can bring all of their concerns and hopes to God, and that through faith and trust, God works purposefully through all circumstances. This foundation supports both their spiritual growth and their daily interactions with those around them.

Special activities including dress-up days, ice cream outings for early arrivals, and swimming lessons have provided welcome breaks and enrichment throughout the term. The students have responded positively to their learning experiences, and we look forward to building on these foundations in Term 2.

Blessings to you and your families,

Ms Bella

Room 5 

Room 5 has had a wonderful start to the year. I am pleased to share that our students have made a positive beginning to their learning journey and have settled well into classroom routines. They are developing a strong sense of belonging within our learning environment as they grow in confidence, build positive relationships, and engage in a range of learning activities.

Our class begins each day with Devotion. This term, our focus is Manaakitanga — Respect. It has been wonderful to see our students’ love for God as they pray together at the beginning and end of each day. Their actions demonstrate respect as they care for themselves, their belongings, and others around them. They are learning to be good stewards of our classroom by helping to tidy up and keep our learning space organised.

Fitness is an important part of our daily routine. Our class enjoys spending time outdoors when the weather is good, and we also participate in indoor activities such as Zumba and other fun movement exercises. These sessions help our students stay active, build coordination, and develop healthy habits.

We began the term by exploring identity, discussing our feelings, and reflecting on what makes us special. Ākonga are learning about their culture and where their families come from. We are also learning about Māori culture as tangata whenua, and the significance of kakahu as items valued to protect our bodies. Room 5 has really enjoyed creating their own kakahu to celebrate Māori culture and proudly share their own identities and heritage.

Our class has also been learning about our Class Treaty, where we discuss and agree on ways to be responsible and respectful in our classroom and across the school.

In literacy, students are learning to form, write, and read letters and letter sounds. As they develop their knowledge of phonemes, they are beginning to blend sounds to read and write VC and CVC words, and are starting to use these skills to read and write simple sentences. As they begin their writing journey, they enjoy writing about experiences they explore with all their senses. One of our recount writing activities was “How to Make a Jam Sandwich.” Students made their sandwiches and enjoyed eating them. They expressed their ideas through drawing and oral conversation, and tried their best to write simple sentences to describe each step.

In mathematics, students are developing an understanding of number structure. They are learning to recognise, read, and write numbers up to 20, as well as counting forwards and backwards and counting in 2s. Students are also beginning to explore simple addition and subtraction, using objects, fingers, and drawings to help them understand how numbers work together.

Our Inquiry theme this term is Travel Wise. Students are exploring how to be safe and responsible travellers. They are learning about road safety, including how to cross the road safely, understanding traffic lights, and recognising important road signs. Through discussions and role-play, students are developing an awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe when travelling.

Thank you, whānau, for your continued support in your child’s learning journey. I am so proud of the progress our tamariki are making across all areas of learning. We look forward to another exciting term of learning, growing, and celebrating each child’s achievements together.

Together, we can help our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Fa‘amanuia le Atua.

Mrs Partsch

TERM ONE HIGHLIGHTS

BikeFit with Triple Teez – Māngere Bike Station

Room 1 and Room 2 have engaged in a valuable learning experience through Triple Teez
– Keep the Wheels Spinning; Time to Thrive to Stay Alive. As part of our Inquiry focus on
Travel Wise, students have been developing their cycling skills while learning how to
navigate the Māngere bike lanes safely. This programme has supported the development
of road safety awareness, confidence, and independence, while also promoting physical
wellbeing and active lifestyles.

It has been particularly pleasing to see students transferring this learning beyond the
school setting. This week, noticing three bikes and two scooters parked outside the
office was a wonderful reflection of increased confidence and engagement. Experiences
such as this highlight how our ākonga are applying their knowledge in authentic
contexts, making positive choices, and embracing opportunities to stay active and safe.
Awesome to see ākonga from our Junior school also ride their bikes to school! We look
forward to our Wheels Day in Term 2 to celebrate our Inquiry learning!

Mrs Godinet Muelu and Mr Avi

SWIMMING PROGRAMME | HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Rise Up Academy has been blessed with another term of swimming lessons, generously funded by Find Your Field of Dreams. The John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams programme is aimed at improving young people’s health and physical ability, as well as teaching them teamwork, mutual respect and empathy.

Our tamariki in Rooms 1, 2, 3, and 4 have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in 30-minute guided instructional lessons at Mangere Pools, with all transportation and lessons provided free of charge.

Our kaiako have been thrilled to see the confidence of our akonga grow week by week. From blowing bubbles and putting their heads under the water, to floating on their backs and practicing breaststroke and backstroke, tamariki are developing essential water safety skills while building resilience and self-confidence.
We are so proud of all our akonga for their enthusiasm, perseverance, and commitment to attending swimming lessons every Tuesday.

Thank you to our amazing whānau for supporting our RUA children and helping make these lessons a safe and positive experience.

Nga mihi nui,
Mrs Rona Faga | Mr Avi (Health & PE Lead)

Devotion Curriculum Term 1

Our Term 1 Devotion theme of Respect has been a strong foundation for both teaching
and learning in our classroom and across the school. Students have been developing an
understanding of Respect for God by participating meaningfully in prayer, worship, and
devotion time, recognising God’s presence in their daily lives. Respect for Self has been
reflected in the way students are taking pride in their work, making positive choices, and
striving to grow academically, spiritually, and physically.

Respect for Others has been evident in the care, kindness, and encouragement students
are showing toward one another, helping to build a positive and inclusive classroom
environment. Alongside this, our focus on Stewardship has encouraged students to take
responsibility for their surroundings and resources, understanding the importance of
caring for what God has entrusted to us. Our special character is well embedded through
our Devotion Common Practice Model, and this has been clearly reflected in student
behaviour throughout the term.

We give thanks to God for His continuous protection, strength, and love over our
students and teachers. We also thank our parents and whānau for your ongoing support.

Please continue to cover our school in prayer and fasting, as we remain committed to
nurturing our special character through the implementation of moral, pastoral, and public
theology.

Blessings,
Mrs Godinet Muelu

ATTENDANCE @ RUA

Let’s work together to increase our student’s attendance and for more whānau to reach 100% attendance for 2026.

Term One Attendance

ATTENDANCE INITIATIVES:

ENROLMENTS

If you have a 3 year old or a 4 year old, please make sure you have filled in an enrolment form so we can book a space for them at Rise Up https://www.riseupacademy.school.nz/online-enrolment-form/

If you have any friends or family who are wanting to send their students to Rise UP Academy please encourage them to complete the enrolment form our website https://www.riseupacademy.school.nz/online-enrolment-form/

Whanau Notices

UNIFORM SALES

We have stocked up on our Uniforms so if your child is needing a new shirt or jersey come and see us. Uniform sales are from 815am every day. Polo shirts (sizes 6-2xl) are $43.00 each, and the Jerseys are size 8-16 = $48.00 and sizes small to 2xl = $52.00.

ABSENCES

Please notify us on HERO, text (022 419 4988) or complete the Online Form if your child is absent.

IMPORTANT DATES

SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL

*Whanau if you own a small business that you would like us to post up on our newsletters please email admin@riseuptrust.org.nz