Principal’s Message
Tena koutou katoa,
2025 brings a year of growth and change for Rise UP Academy. A warm welcome to our new whanau, it is a privilege to serve you and your children. The tamariki are settling in really well into their new classrooms and we appreciate your understanding as we shifted students into different composites to allow more students who were on our waiting list. Our enrolment numbers are at their highest (for the start of year) since we established in 2014. Our Curriculum theme for 2025 is ‘Wonderfully Made’ and in term 1 we are exploring our Aotearoa history. We will share our learning during week 10 with whanau on Dojo online platform so please see your childs’ teacher if you have any questions or you need access.
The board have set our 2025 annual goals and we appreciate your support and prayers as we mobilise the plan and accelerate learning.
Goal 1: All systems go- Accelerate student learning outcomes and enhancing well-being
Goal 2: Grow, grow, grow-Sustainable roll growth as RUA becomes a school of choice.
Goal 3: Guard the deposit-Accelerate student learning outcomes and enhancing well-being
Goal 4: Faithful in the little-Sustainable Whanau engagement reduces barriers to learning and well-being.
This leads me to our ATTENDANCE goal of 95%-100% regular attendance. In 2024 we averaged 50% regular attendance. In order for us to achieve our goals please support us in ensuring our tamariki are at school 95%-100% of the term. As at Week 3 we were averaging 73% attendance. Please see the graphic below for the actual number of days for further clarity.
Let’s enjoy the last days of Summer and welcome in the Autumn days with songs of praise.
Nga mihi nui,
Sita Selupe
Principal
The Calendar
Recent Events
Term 1 Swimming for Rm’s 1 – 4
This term our very own Rise Up students from Rooms 1 to 4 have been very fortunate to take part in the Field of Dreams swim programme aimed at building confidence, improving skills, and having fun in the water.
Throughout the term, students have been working on perfecting strokes such as freestyle and backstroke, with an emphasis on improving their technique, breathing, and stamina. They have also been learning valuable water safety skills, including safe entry and exit from the pool, recognising water hazards, and understanding how to stay safe in different water environments.
Exciting swimming games, challenges, and relay races so far have kept our Rise Up students engaged and motivated while reinforcing the importance of water safety.
Whether your child is new to swimming or looking to refine their technique, this term it is all about building skills, boosting confidence, and having fun in the water! What a great opportunity it has been so far taking part in this free programme.
It’s going to be a fantastic term filled with splashes, smiles, and lots of learning!
John ‘Ofanoa
GOOD HEARTS & REAL GIRLS
Good Hearts and Real Girls our 2 Pastoral Care groups for Year 6 & 7 girls are well under way. Our focus this term being on Psalms 139 in the hope that our girls will be comfortable in their own skin and be able to celebrate their uniqueness in God. We will also focus on building their Leadership skills. These sessions are all inclusive and all the girls are thoroughly engaged. Our prayer is that our girls will embrace each others personality type and grow in unity together.
Some Images from Term 1 thus far
Whanau Programme & Notices
RUA FUN DAY – Early finish 2pm
On Tuesday 11th March we are having a RUA Fun day consisting of sports and water play. This is an onsite event and will require your children to dress in their House colours (strictly no face paint). Please ensure your children bring a towel, a change of clothes and a labelled water bottle. School will also be finishing at 2.00pm this day. A reminder will be sent out closer to the date.
CARPARK
Whanau if you’ve noticed there is a new school gate in our staff car park – This car park is for STAFF ONLY, please do not try and enter or ask the staff to open the gate for you, we have received complaints from Sir Douglas Bader staff about parents taking up the car parks. Parents please drop your children outside the school and if you need to, walk them up to the gate.
CELL PHONE POLICY
At Rise UP Academy, our approach to cellphones and other personal digital devices supports student engagement and achievement. Personal digital devices include cellphone’s, which we manage according to government regulations, and other devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. Devices that are part of a school-approved Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme have separate conditions for use.
Rise UP Academy does not recommend that students bring personal digital devices to school.
Cellphone regulations
To comply with government regulations, we ensure students do not use cellphones during school hours, including break times. Parents/Caregivers can request an exemption from the school if required. We allow exemptions for students to use cellphones if they are required for:
- a specific educational purpose approved by a teacher
- health needs (e.g. to monitor insulin levels)
- disability or learning support needs
- a special circumstance approved by the principal.
If a parent or caregiver needs to contact their child during school hours, they should call the office. Students should not use smartwatches for communication during school hours.
Rules about cellphones and other personal digital devices made by the board are a school bylaw. The board consults with the school community when making or amending bylaws. We discuss school rules about personal digital devices at the beginning of the year, and throughout the year as needed.
Device requirements at school
The school promotes safe and responsible use of digital technology. Students are required to comply with our digital technology policies and procedures if devices are brought to school. See Digital Technology and Online Safety.
If students bring personal digital devices (including cellphones) to school, the following requirements apply:
- Students are not allowed to take devices on EOTC events.
- Students must turn their devices off and keep them out of sight during school hours.
- If devices are used for a learning activity, this must be approved and supervised by teaching staff.
Inappropriate use
Inappropriate use of a personal digital device may include:
- using a device when not allowed
- any sort of bullying, including online bullying
- sending or sharing inappropriate content
- taking photos or videos of other people without their permission.
Inappropriate use of a personal digital device is managed according to the relevant school policy or procedure:
- Behaviour Management
- Responding to Digital Incidents
- Surrender and Retention of Personal Digital Devices
If a student uses a personal digital device inappropriately (including using a cellphone when it is not allowed) the student must hand it to a staff member immediately when asked. If possible, the student should lock their device before handing it to staff. The device will be kept in the office and can be collected by the student at the end of the day.
***ENROLMENTS***
For our whanau who have children turning five next year please complete an enrolment form. We have spaces available for next year’s enrolment, so please let your whanau know. Please fill in an online form from our website https://www.riseupacademy.school.nz/
UNIFORM SALES
As of next week our office will be open for uniform sales 8.30-9.15am on Thursdays only.
SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL
PROV-TECH Automotive
If your car needs some work done or a service please check out http://provtechauto.com
MAMAS MEDALS
Pine 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
This term’s topic for devotions is about The 10 Commandments, and our new school year started with Ms Godinet turning their attention and focus on to God and the different learning that they will do this year.
She spoke about the difference between a need and a want and making sure they know what God’s WILL for them is. His WILL is for all of us to gain KNOWLEDGE, to UNDERSTAND what we have learnt and then DO (Apply it to our lives) The verse was John 14:15 – “If you LOVE me, OBEY my commandments.” This is a good reminder for our students that if we love God we should obey his commands.
Throughout the term our students will learn more about the 10 Commandments and how they apply them to their own life. They will hear from different teachers about each commandment and how their knowledge and understanding of God shaped them to be the person they are today.
Devotions are an important part of our learning at Rise Up Academy. Through the year we help our students to understand who God is, why God is important and the different things we can do to be more like him. Building values that are good and foundations that are strong help to raise great future leaders.
Prayer Requests:
Student/Staff well being
Full attendance
Roll growth
Funding applications
Health: Sickness
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