Principal’s Message
Kia ora Koutou,
Term 2 at Rise UP, has been another wonderful season of vibrant changes and celebrations on many fronts.
We celebrated our Wheels Day with the Boys in blue to culminate all the Inquiry learning for our Travelwise topic. What a wonderful day it was for our staff and children and thank you once again to our volunteers on the day-we really cant do these fun things without ticking the Health & Safety supervision boxes. So far our voluntary hours are at 1336 -way to go whanau!
Our dress up Fabulous Fridays continue to be a real highlight of the week and I am constantly amazed by the students creativity and boldness in their thinking. Our attendance for Term 1 was 61% and we are tracking at an average of 54% for Term 2. An area of focus for Rise UP attendance is our punctuality-when the Ministry calculate our number of students here daily, we sit at around 85%-90%- this is FANTASTIC, but the lateness brings our overall attendance down significantly. So let’s push hard to bring our students here on time for the most important time of the day, our daily devotions.
Well done whanau for engaging and accessing our new HERO school portal. Teachers have also been learning how to use HERO to share student progress and learning and you will notice the new report formats which are aligned with the Ministry of Education requirements. The students have also learned to adjust to the new assessments and we look forward to sharing learning progress at our Parent partnership meetings early in Term 3.
As we wrap up another busy and successful term, we want to wish all of our beautiful Rise UP whānau a safe, restful, and blessed school holiday break.
Our tamariki have worked incredibly hard over the last few weeks, and they have truly earned this time to recharge. We encourage you all to switch off the alarms, slow down the daily rush, and simply enjoy being together. Whether you are heading away or enjoying a cozy staycation at home, may this time be filled with lots of laughter, shared stories, and precious moments with your loved ones.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back fresh, energized, and ready for Term 3!
Ngā mihi nui and God bless,
Sita Selupe MNZM
Principal
Term 2 Highlights
Room 1
Room 1 Bake Sale
As part of Room 1’s financial literacy and teamwork focus, the class planned, baked, and
hosted a spectacularly successful bake sale! It was a busy morning of organising and seeing
their backwards planning come to life. As young entrepreneurs; Room 1 learned that planning
is everything! From marking their calendars, to assembly notices, to baking and creating the
vibes! These are all entrepreneurial skills needed for a successful event. Room 1 raised $620.
Thank you Rise Up students and teachers for your purchases and kind donations allowing us to
purchase our own hop cards, travel to the city for the Auckland Writers Festival and have
McDonald’s for lunch!Auckland Writers Festival
Our Room 1 students took a deep dive into the world of literature at the Auckland Writers
Festival! It was an incredible opportunity to hear from talented authors, poets, and illustrators
who shared their creative journeys and insider secrets to captivating storytelling.
Our young writers left the sessions armed with new techniques to try out in their own narratives.
Our favourite author was Kenneth Chapman, we have been studying his novel “Lonasei and the
Origin Grove” a mystery covering narrative structure, extensive vocabulary and comprehension
skills. From our Novel Study, we achieved some mystery narratives as a practice leading up to
our E-Astle Writing assessment which produced some great writing results! We look forward to
meeting Kenneth Chapman in Term 3!Library Visits
We’ve been making the most of our regular Library Visits this term to the Māngere Library,
fostering a deep love for reading and research. My highlight for the term is seeing Room 1
students reading in their free time! Our senior students have been exploring new genres,
sharing book recommendations, and utilizing the space to dive deep into their inquiry topics.
The library remains a favorite sanctuary for quiet reflection and literary discovery. In Room 1, all
leaders are readers!275 Market Day
Financial literacy and entrepreneurship were on full display at our highly anticipated 275 Market
Day! Room 1 students spent weeks researching, budgeting, creating prototypes, and marketing
their unique products. On the day, the bustling marketplace was full of community vibes! I saw
students with fantastic sales pitches, great customer service and amazing student leadership.
Our 275 Market Day raised $2,275.70. Thank you Rise Up community for supporting Room 1book the best camp and awesome activities at camp for Term 4. My highlight was seeing each
student use their Math Skills to handle real money, real time, real customers. Look out for our
next 275 Market Day in Term 3!Y7&8 SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
JS Carving, Mapu Maia, 3D Print Designs, Cooking with Mrs Govender.
The Y7&8 Special Programmes ticked off Technology, Visual Arts and P.E and Health for our
Room 1 learners. These programmes run as part of NZ Curriculum alignment. The skills,
connection and learning for our ākonga have been meaningful and beneficial for their Sharp
Minds, Strong Bodies and Good Hearts. We have some talented wood carvers, creative
designers, great cooks and very skilled athletes!
I look forward to Term 3 where ākonga will continue with Cooking, 3D Print Designs, Mapu Maia
Programme, Tee-Shirt Printing and backwards planning for Camp.
It has been a busy but productive term 2, thank you parents for sending your child to school
everyday! Everyday matters.Blessings,
Mrs Godinet Muelu and Mrs Govender.
Raven – Persuasive Writing
Room 2 Term 2 Highlights
Term 2 has been another busy and exciting term in Room 2, filled with learning opportunities,
special events, and memorable experiences.
Wheels Day
At the beginning of the term, we celebrated our Term 1 Inquiry learning with Wheels Day.
Students brought along their bikes, scooters, and other wheels and shared what they had learned
about being active travellers. It was wonderful to see students confidently explain how they can
stay safe while travelling and make healthy choices by being active.
Snapshot Maths Assessment
Room 2 had the opportunity to be a demonstration class for a new mathematics assessment
called Snapshot. Our students worked alongside RTLB Charlotte and Vanesh and represented our
school exceptionally well. They showed great focus, perseverance, and positive attitudes
throughout the assessment process.
Farewell Aisea
This term we said goodbye to Aisea, who has moved to a school closer to his home. Aisea was a
valued member of Room 2, and we miss seeing him in our classroom. We wish him all the very
best as he begins this new chapter.
Learning Siva
During Samoa Language Week, Room 2 visited the Māngere Arts Centre to learn Siva Samoa.
Students enjoyed experiencing Samoan culture through movement, music, and dance while
gaining a deeper appreciation of the rich cultural diversity within our community.
Library Visits
Our regular library visits continue to be a highlight for many students. They have enjoyed
borrowing their favourite books and exploring resources linked to our new inquiry learning. It
has been fantastic to see students developing a love of reading and research.
PALS Leadership Workshop
Some of our students, who are Sports Leaders within the school, attended a full-day PALS
(Physical Activity Leaders) workshop. They learned new skills and games that they can use to
organise and lead physical activities for younger students and other classes. We are proud of the
leadership they demonstrated throughout the day.
Hungerball
Students had a fantastic time participating in Hungerball this term. The sessions encouraged
teamwork, communication, sportsmanship, and physical activity. It was wonderful to see
students actively involved and enjoying themselves while developing important social and
sporting skills.
Student Teacher – Mrs Molini
We were blessed to have Mrs Molini, a student teacher from Laidlaw College, join Room 2 for
five weeks. She quickly became a valued part of our classroom and built positive relationships
with our students. We thank her for her dedication, enthusiasm, and contribution to our learning
programme, and we wish her every success in her teaching journey.
Thank you to all our families for your continued support throughout Term 2. We are proud of the
effort, growth, and achievements shown by our Room 2 learners and look forward to another
exciting term ahead.
Kind Regards,
Mr Avi
Room 3
It is hard to believe how quickly this term has flown by! We have had an incredibly busy and rewarding few months.
We kicked off the term with the Life Education program, where our students learned valuable strategies for positive mindset and problem-solving through “cool cat thinking.”
A major highlight was our vibrant celebration of Samoan Language Week. It was truly heartwarming to watch students from all different cultural backgrounds come together to learn traditional songs and deliver a beautiful performance of dance and music for our school community and parents.
During our Devotion sessions, we have focused on teaching our students how to be peacemakers by responding to others with gentle and kind words. This has integrated perfectly into our Inquiry unit, where we are exploring the power of speech—how words can either tear down or build up. Using real-world examples, like the harsh language often seen during elections, we are helping our students at RUA recognize the impact of both negative and positive communication. Our goal is to empower them to become confident, uplifting communicators, fostering a deep sense of identity, belonging, and personal confidence.
Alongside these activities, it has been a demanding term of assessments and report preparation. Despite the busy schedule, our students have remained joyful and have enthusiastically embraced every challenge put before them. Hearing their laughter fill the school every single day is incredibly heartening and makes it an absolute privilege to be part of this community.
As we head into the break, I wish you all a safe and wonderful holiday. May you find time to refresh, unwind, and enjoy making special memories with your children!
Room 4
Term two, our learning journey centred on becoming Peacemakers by using kind
words, wise actions, and thoughtful decisions. We warmly welcomed our new
kaiako, Mrs Nu’uali’itia and spent time reinforcing classroom routines and rhythms that
have helped create a safe, supportive environment where every learner can thrive.
It has been wonderful to see the genuine growth and confidence of our tamariki
throughout the term. Some of our main highlights were instigated by our learners
themselves and had their contributions enrich what they took away from the learning
experiences!
One of our main highlights was our Sāmoan Language Week. Our learners embraced
new ideas with openness – celebrating culture with enthusiasm, expressing cultural
pride through song, dance, language, and delectable food. They also enjoyed sharing
their own treasured family traditions, whether Samoan or from another culture. We were
incredibly proud of the courage, confidence, and flair our class demonstrated as they
performed both a Siva Samoa and Sāsā in front of a packed school assembly.
Another memorable highlight was our inquiry learning, “Our Words, Our Voices.”
Through this learning, our tamariki discovered that words hold mana, they are powerful
tools that can encourage others, stand up for what is right, and create positive change
in our communities. This learning also connected beautifully with the growing number of
Room 4 learners who have become active participants in our school’s Lit Club.
As part of our integrated inquiry work, we were privileged to host Mrs Reina Vaʻai, a
respected lawyer, filmmaker, gifted storyteller, and children’s author. Our tamariki
developed insightful questions following researching based on our SHARP enquiry
model, and during writing, developed autobiographies highlighting their newfound
knowledge on our community champion! During an exclusive “Storytime with Reina,”
she shared her inspiring book The Doctor, encouraging the ‘Children of South Auckland
and the Pacific’ – and all learners – to dream boldly, persevere through challenges, and
never give up on their aspirations. Reina also introduced important conversations about
equitable access to healthcare, wellbeing, and self-care, reminding our learners that
looking after themselves helps them become the very best version of who they can be.
As Room 4 Kaiako, we count ourselves incredibly honored to see firsthand growth,
courage, kindness, and curiosity our Room 4 learners have experienced this term.
One goal to complement our learning has been to utilize the HERO application more,
trialing some of the new functions available to enhance whānau engagement like
consent. We are grateful to their village at home for continued communications,
encouragement and support for your tamaiti. This remains critical moving forward as we
all refuel, re-focus and re-enter Term 3.
We wish everyone a safe, restful holiday and look forward to another exciting term of
learning together.
Mrs Faga & Mrs Nu’uali’itia
Room 5
Room 5 has had a fantastic term full of learning and growth. I am so proud of the wonderful effort our students have shown as they have learned new skills, built friendships, and become more confident learners. Our new students who joined Room 5 this term have settled in well and are enjoying the structured routines and daily activities in our classroom.
Devotion: It is a blessing for our students to begin each school day by learning from God’s Word. They have been introduced to daily devotion lessons, where they are reminded of God’s love, encouraged to be peacemakers through their words and actions, and guided to apply His teachings in their everyday school life. This learning connected beautifully with our Inquiry topic, where students explored the importance of using kind and respectful language within our school and wider community.
Reading: Most students have developed confidence in decoding and blending phonemes to read words, phrases, and sentences. They are growing in their reading skills and are able to read books independently as well as within guided reading groups.
Mathematics: This term, our students enjoyed exploring mathematics through hands-on learning and real-life experiences. In Algebra, they learned to identify, create, and continue patterns using numbers, shapes, colours, and objects. They also developed their understanding of ordinal numbers by using terms such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th to describe the position of objects in a sequence.
During our Measurement unit, students worked collaboratively in small groups to compare the length and weight of different objects using non-standard units. These practical activities encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking.
One of the highlights of the term was learning to tell the time using both analogue clocks and digital watches. Students showed great enthusiasm and curiosity as they asked thoughtful questions about how clocks work and how to read the time. Many even expressed excitement about having their own watch so they could continue practising at home. Their engagement made this a memorable learning experience for everyone.
Library: Room 5 has enjoyed joining Room 4 for fortnightly library visits, beginning in Week 9 and continuing through Week 11 and into the coming terms. This has been a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a variety of books, develop a love for reading, and feel motivated to read more independently.
Physical Education: In addition, students participate in weekly Hunger Ball sessions. This fun and active programme helps students develop teamwork, hand–eye coordination, balance and movement skills while enjoying physical activity with their peers.
I wish all my students in Room 5 an enjoyable holiday. Have fun and stay safe. I look forward to seeing you all again after two weeks. Faamanuia le Atua, o alofa na. Mrs Partsch.
TERM ONE HIGHLIGHTS
Celebrating 20 Years
A Heartfelt Thank You for a Beautiful AGM
What an incredible evening! On the 18th of June, our community gathered at Rise UP Academy for our 2026 Annual General Meeting, marking a truly historic milestone—20 years of building learning communities (2006–2026).
It was a beautiful night of reflection, connection, and celebration. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all the whānau, trustees, partners, and stakeholders who attended. Your presence reminded us once again of the powerful, collective strength that has sustained and uplifted Rise UP over the last two decades. You are the heart of our mission, and we are profoundly grateful for your unwavering, steadfast support.
Highlights from the evening included:
- A Journey of Impact: Reflecting on our 20-year timeline and our shared vision: “Our Best Generation Yet! Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.”
- Our Voices: Inspiring and moving musical performances by our talented Rise UP Academy Choir.
- Honouring Our Community: Taking a sacred moment of silence to remember the legacy of Catherine Duncan, and celebrating our incredible community heroes by honouring our top 4 Whānau Volunteers and students with 100% perfect attendance.
Thank you to everyone who made the night so special and to everyone who continues to stand alongside us as we challenge and change educational outcomes for our Pasifika and Māori tamariki. Here’s to the next 20 years of learning, loving, and growing together!
275 DAY
The community energy was electric during our recent 275 Day celebrations! It was fantastic to
see our school community come together to celebrate our annual community event. Seeing
local school performances to the incredible buzz in the air, the event truly highlighted the diverse
talents and unity that make our Māngere community special and unique.
A huge thank you goes to our whānau/ parent helpers for your availability with supervision and
support for our school choir on stage. The sense of whānau and school pride was on full
display, and we couldn’t be prouder of how our students represented themselves. Every year
our students remind us of who they are in Christ, who they are in their whānau and who they are
as a kura when they sing. Thank you to Ms Grace, Ms Sarah and SUPA (Becks and Nainz) for
your continued support and partnership with our school choir.
MOSA Rugby League (Year 5 & 6)
Our Year 5 and 6 athletes showed incredible determination and sportsmanship at the recent
Mosa Rugby League tournament! Partnering with a local school; Favona, we took an
underweight team and an open grade. Both schools showed great sportsmanship as they
worked together, showed great resilience as they faced some challenging games and overall
gave it their best on the field. I am very proud of our boys; we might be small in numbers but
mighty in spirit.
Thank you to our parent coaches Justin Ahloe, Toa Su’a and helping mums and dads. Your
support for your child to give contact sport a go and try their best created excellent team spirit
and resilience. Watch this space.
MOSA Netball (Year 5 & 6)
I am just so incredibly proud of our amazing netball girls!
After weeks of training hard on the grass and sharing the netball courts with Bader Intermediate; our girls
stepped onto the courts and completely owned their games.
All that dedication and effort definitely wasn’t in vain!
Our Year 5/6 girls won 4 out of 6 games! Placing second in their pool play; they crossed over to pool play;
where they won another two games.
With a small selection to choose from, our girls showcased their talents and new learnt skills each game.
We also have to acknowledge the unbelievable sideline support. Rise UP definitely takes the crown for the
best cheer squad in the Northern Hemisphere!
Having our parents stationed at every corner of the court encouraging the girls made all the difference.
It was an absolute privilege to watch them play. Tino pai tō mahi, our beautiful netball wāhine! 📣❤️
Hannah Muelu, Ina Partsch, Sela-Rose Faleta, Lusia Duisokosoko, Michelle Sang, Ephesians Fanueli
Amia Su’a, Levi Lemalu, Charlee Winter, Halo Moki-Sio (Mrs Godinet-Manager)
South Western Zone Basketball (Years 7 & 8)
Room 1 have worked very hard this term with coach Mr Mark Faga on the courts to practice
their dribbling, passing and shooting skills. It’s been wonderful to watch their confidence grow
each week as they master new drills. I believe team sport is one of the best opportunities we
can provide for our students to learn sportsmanship, leadership and responsibility.
I am very proud of Room 1 for not only picking up skills in basketball but for showing respect
and courage throughout the practices. Thank you to our Coach Mr Mark Faga for teaching our
students resilience, integrity, stewardship and excellence every Tuesday after school this term!
These values were highlighted at the South Western Zone Tournament; our first time entering
Year 7 & 8 into the intermediate cluster and each student represented our kura with pride and
excellence.
Thank you Mr and Mrs Faga for your availability and energy put into our students to love
basketball! Watch this space!
UPCOMING EVENTS IN TERM 3
ATTENDANCE:
Reminder that any absences from school need to be communicated to our school office. This can be done through your HERO app, text/call 022 419 4988 or email admin@riseuptrust.org.nz.
Ministry of Education are closely monitoring our school’s attendance, which means we ALL play a big part in making sure our students attend school everyday. If there are situations, circumstances or reasons why your child is unable to attend school then please let us know so that we are able to help with support, assistance and solutions.
Congratulations to these students who achieved 100% Attendance for Term 2!
Nehemiah T
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
ABSENCES
Please notify us on HERO, text (022 419 4988) or complete the Online Form if your child is absent.
STAFF CARPARK
Reminder that the carpark is shared with Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate and is for STAFF ONLY!! When you are dropping off or picking up your child please park out on the road and NOT in the carpark.
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.
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
