Principal’s Message
Tena koutou katoa,
As the Winter weather kicks in we can celebrate all the wins, large and small as we landed the term 2 RUA waka. We saw many touchdowns with learning as our teachers implemented the New Zealand refreshed Curriculum in English. Thank you for accommodating the Tuesday 2pm finish to allow our teachers time to adjust and enhance their classroom practice. We go back to a business as usual 3pm finish on Tuesdays going forward. The Mid year Parent partnership meetings will be held on Friday 18th July, a time to celebrate and review our children’s learning goals with our teachers.
We marvelled as we celebrated our students learning during the RUA FIFA club World Cup Inquiry presentation day. I hope you enjoyed celebrating this as much as we did, enjoy the pictures and please continue to extend their learning with cooking, quizzes and all the wonderful things you do to support the learning topics at home. Room 2 were asking Mr Avi if they could go to Japan…anything is possible.
The RUA attendance for Term 2 improved slightly with 56% of our students attending over 90% of the time -missing fewer than 5 days across term 2. Let’s continue to maintain our attendance upward curve even through the winter keeping warm and well rested. Gentle reminder that there is a whole table of nutritious fruit and snacks at the front office at the end of each day for everyone to enjoy-please help yourself.
Exciting times as the nominations for our first Tri-ennial elections are due on the 18th of July 2025. Grace Leulua’i is our Returning officer, so if you are interested in governance and would like to nominate yourself or another parent, please contact her by the 18th of July.
Enjoy the rest of the break, keep warm and thank you for your ongoing support and prayers for our school.
Nga mihi nui,
Sita Selupe MNZM
Principal
The Calendar
Recent Events
Term 2: In the Classroom
Room 5
It’s been a busy and exciting term in Room 5! We welcomed five new students to our classroom, and it’s been wonderful to see how the respectful and supportive relationships among students have helped everyone settle in smoothly and feel part of our class.
Inquiry topic was “The Wonderful World: FIFA World Cup.” As part of this, we explored Australia—a country from the Australasia continent. Students engaged in learning about Australia’s unique culture, diverse landscapes, foods and its national soccer team, the Socceroos. It’s been a term full of curiosity, teamwork, and global learning!
As part of our exploration of Australia, the class had hands-on experience making lamingtons. It was a joy to see the students so engaged—and even more fun watching them enjoy the treats they made themselves! The term wrapped up with the exciting final of our school FIFA fun tournament. Our students proudly represented the Socceroos club, showed great teamwork, and enjoyed playing games together.
Another highlight was leading the assembly for Samoan Language Week. Room 5 students showcased their learning through conversation, singing and dancing, using Samoan words and phrases with confidence and enthusiasm.
During Term 2, our class explored the theme of Understanding God through daily devotions. Students learned memory verses and key Bible scriptures, which helped deepen their understanding of God’s love and teachings. It was amazing to see how much the students enjoyed praying together and sharing their thoughts about Bible stories. These moments strengthened and encouraged kindness and connection in our classroom.
In Maths, we continued building on our understanding of numbers and shapes. Our literacy focus has been structured literacy—where students have been learning letter sounds, decoding words, and recognising letters. It’s clear that as students begin to understand the connections between sounds and letters, their reading and writing skills grow stronger.
It’s been a rewarding term, and I am proud of all that Room 5 has achieved. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 3, ready for more learning and fun!
God Bless
Leaso Partsch.
Room 4
Term 2 Wrap-Up
Hola Familia,
What an exciting and full-on nine weeks of learning we’ve had in Room 4!
Our ākonga have been busy exploring our World through our engaging inquiry context “Our World – Spain”, diving into culture, geography, language and the excitement of the FIFA World Cup.
A class favourite has been learning about the legendary football team Real Madrid, which has sparked great curiosity and discussion. Not to mention the exquisite Spanish cuisine experience cooking Paella pronounced “pah-EH-yah”.
Our Structured Literacy programme is well underway, with students developing confidence in their phoneme knowledge and early reading skills. It’s been fantastic to see their progress and enthusiasm for learning grow each week.
Room 4 are growing in their understanding of God through our focus verse, Isaiah 55:8–9. The children are learning that God’s ways and thoughts are far greater than ours, and they are beginning to trust that even when they don’t understand everything, God has a bigger plan. It’s been heartening to see them reflect on His greatness and how they can show faith in everyday moments.
Gracias to our amazing tamariki and supportive whānau for all your encouragement, partnership, and energy throughout Term Two.
We look forward to more learning adventures ahead in Term Three!
Adiós
Mrs Rona Faga & Mrs Desi Govender
Room 4 Teachers
Room 3
This term has been a struggle of sickness and outside challenges. God has revealed his graciousness all the way.
I was away for two weeks and appreciated coming back to a welcoming class. I value my time with the students and came back with a new and fresh approach.
Room 3 students are a happy class, and I love how they interact with one another. They are all good friends and reveal our school value of Good Hearts. It’s
heartwarming to watch.
We have enjoyed our Inquiry, learning about the FIFA celebration and Africa. What an amazing country. Full of diversity, rich culture and eco systems. Room 3 students eyes opened as we covered many aspects of Africa. The wild animals captured the students’ hearts as they learnt about all the different animals, the deserts, the fifty- four counties. The list goes on.
Then everything was topped with our presentation with our parents. What a fun day! My students boasted their knowledge of the whereabouts of each country and competed with their parents. The students loved having their parents participate on the day. We enjoyed Melva pudding, a South African treat and played knuckle bones which is a popular game in Africa.
Enjoy the rest of your holidays
Ms Bella
Room 2
Room 2 Term 2 Highlights
Term 2 has been a very special one for Room 2, as I had the privilege of joining this amazing class as their teacher. From the beginning, our focus was on building strong relationships, getting to know each other, and understanding each student’s unique learning needs.
Throughout the term, Room 2 students embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, showing school values in all they did. Here are some of our term highlights:
Samoan Language Week
We celebrated Samoan Language Week with pride and enthusiasm. Students learned greetings, songs, and cultural facts, and shared their knowledge with each other in fun and respectful ways.
Room 2 Assembly
Our class shone during our Room 2 Assembly, where we confidently shared our learning and talents with the rest of the school. It was a great moment of pride for all of us.
Inquiry: Our Wonderful World – Focus on Asia & Japan
The biggest part of our learning this term was our inquiry on “Our Wonderful World.” We focused on Asia, with a deep dive into Japanese culture. Students collaborated in groups to research, create presentations, and share their findings with the whānau. It was amazing to see their teamwork, creativity, and confidence grow.
Sushi Making & Whānau Sharing
One of the most exciting parts was making sushi. Students enjoyed hands-on learning and proudly presented their delicious creations to their families. It was a beautiful way to connect learning with culture and fun.
Samurai Blue & FIFA Fun
We also dressed up as Samurai Blue, Japan’s national football team, and took part in our school’s FIFA-themed sports day. Room 2 brought great energy, spirit, and teamwork to the event.
Sensational Classroom Award
Room 2 was recognised by our school cleaners as the cleanest and most organised classroom. As a reward, the Sensational Services treated us to a pizza party, which the students thoroughly enjoyed.
Clash of the Class Winners
Room 2 were the proud winners of Clash of the Class for Term 2 — that’s two wins in a row. We celebrated our awesome teamwork with another delicious pizza treat from the school.
Term 2 has been full of learning, laughter, and teamwork. I am so proud of Room 2’s achievements and the way they have supported each other. We look forward to many more exciting moments ahead in Term 3.
Regards, Mr Avi
Room 1
It’s been an action-packed and inspiring term in Room 1 at Rise Up Academy, with our learners diving deep into a wide range of subjects that support both academic growth and personal development.
In Maths, our tamariki have been strengthening their understanding of number knowledge, patterns, and problem-solving strategies. We’ve worked collaboratively on real-life challenges, helping students see how maths applies beyond the classroom. Confidence is growing as learners explore different ways to explain their thinking and tackle tricky problems with resilience. Our Structured Literacy programme has been a real highlight. Students are building strong foundations in phonics, reading comprehension, and writing. We’ve focused on developing clear sentence structure, rich vocabulary, and accurate spelling, and it’s been fantastic to see students using these skills across other learning areas too.
As part of our Inquiry, we’ve been learning about the seven continents—their geography, cultures, languages, and unique features. Using maps, books, and digital tools, students have created amazing visual displays and fact files. This global exploration has sparked curiosity and deepened their understanding of the world they live in.
Food Tech in Room 1 has loved exploring healthy recipes, measuring ingredients, and learning basic kitchen skills. These sessions tie beautifully into our Health and PE learning, where we’ve been focusing on making positive food choices, staying active, and working together in team games. Students are learning not just about keeping their bodies healthy, but also how to communicate, collaborate, and support one another.
It’s been a fantastic term of growth, engagement, and fun. We’re so proud of how our learners are rising up to new challenges every day with positivity and perseverance!
Regards,
John Ofanoa
Inquiry Learning
“Celebrating Our Wonderful World Through the FIFA Club World Football”
Hola! Hello! Jambo! こんにちは Konnichiwa! G’day!
Term 2 allowed our akonga to explore “Our Wonderful World” through the exciting lens of the FIFA Club World Cup. As part of our inquiry learning, tamariki delved
into various continents of the world:
North & South America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Australasia
Through this global learning journey, students have learnt that football (soccer) is more than just a sport—it is a powerful way to bring people, cultures and
nations together. The FIFA Club World Cup is a celebration of diversity and unity, with teams from across the world representing their countries,
cultures, and communities with pride.
Each class focussed on researching countries from each continent; drawn from a ballot. Within their continent; they selected their team that was represented in the
FIFA Club World Cup.
● Room 1 – North/South America – Inter Miami CF, Seattle Sounders to name a few.
● Room 2 – Asia – Japan’s traditions and their strong football culture – Urawa Red Diamonds/Samurai Blue.
● Room 3 – Africa and its passionate football fans and music – Mamelodi Sundowns.
● Room 4 – Europe – Spain and the famous Real Madrid team.
● Room 5 – Australasia – Australia’s Socceroos and New Zealand’s All Whites.
Our tamariki filled their kites about our Wonderful World with knowledge about the:
● Location of the continents and countries on world maps.
● Learning about different cultures, languages, traditions and cuisines.
● Exploring how football creates connections across borders.
● Sharing their learning through art, writing, research and presentations.
This inquiry has sparked curiosity, pride in cultural identity, and a growing awareness of how the world is beautifully connected.
P for Presentation! – RUA FIFA World Cup
Our whanau were treated to in class presentations showcasing the following:
● Cuisine Tasting – From Sushi making, Paella food sampling, hot dogs, lamingtons, toasted sandwich making, Malva pudding cakes!
● Traditional customs – From Japanese tea ceremonies, Fan dances, African games not to mention the Spanish Macarena!
● Using the White De Bono’s Thinking hats to respond to their Big and Small Questions.
● Parent Quiz time and learning basic language greetings and phrases.
Our day ended with our RUA FIFA World Cup! Parents and children displayed their football skills through various games and activities!
Our school turned into a mini football stadium as our akōnga and their amazing parents faced off in an exciting Parents vs Children game!
Each class brought their A-game, showcasing impressive Ronaldo-style footwork and Messi-like dribbling and control.
The field was full of energy, cheering, laughter, and some very competitive mums and dads!
Thank you to Mr Ofanoa, Whaea Celia and our Learning Assistants for managing the stations for our activities.
Gracias! Dankie! Cheers! Argigatō ありがと Thank you! To our parents for dressing up your child and participating and celebrating their global journey!
Finally, a huge thank you to our Kaiako and tamariki for showcasing God’s Wonderful World!
Ngā mihi mahana,
Rise UP Academy – Rona Faga
275 DAY
If you haven’t seen the live performance yet on the Te Rua Facebook Page, it is a must see! The children’s voices speak for how the day went!
“It takes a village to raise a child” and this is what I saw on Tuesday 27th May. A village of parents coming together to ensure our tamariki get to the Mangere Town Centre safely. I asked the children what their highlight of 275 day was: the long walk, being on stage, singing to everybody are just some comments made as they grinned with big smiles.
275 Day is “for the community by the community” and we are proud to be in the heart of 275! Repping who we are in Christ through our choir and school vision amongst our community was a privilege. Thank you for committing time to watch your children perform. Special thank you to Ms Grace, Nainz and Becks Tupa’i who continue to train our children’s beautiful voices in their weekly choir practices. We look forward to 275 Day 2026 and hope to have some of our parents up there repping RUA!
Whanau Programme & Notices
TOD – Teachers Only Days for Term 3
Friday 18th July – Parent Partnership Meeting. Students to attend the meeting with parents. Please fill in the form that will be sent home on Monday to book in your preferred time.
Tuesday 29th July – Numeracy Workshop for Teachers
-
- TOD-Friday 18th July
-
- TOD Tuesday 29th July
AWHI – Parents Hui
Term 2 our AWHI group met twice, first hui we met George Karanga from Autism NZ; the feedback from parents was so heartening. The connection, parent voice and shared purpose in the room continues to educate us and help with the mahi we do working with tamāriki.
“You could tell they genuinely felt heard and valued, which meant a lot. We were really grateful for the warmth, openness, and enthusiasm everyone brought to the kōrero. It was a beautiful reminder of just how powerful authentic, strengths-based partnerships with whānau can be” Charlotte Maumea (RTLB).
Our second AWHI hui we had the privilege of professional development from our Speech Language Therapists Ina and Ishtar and psychologist Yunchan regarding speech and language, the brain and communication with neurodiverse ākonga. Again, this hui created space for parents and educators to work together, ask questions, plan strategies and create resources.
My highlight has been spending time with ākonga on the Senco Register after the hui together with their parents. The learning activities provided by our wonderful RTLBs Charlotte and Vanesh are engaging, fun and resourceful for our families.
Term 3 our AWHI HUI Dates are:
Wednesday 30 July 2pm – 3.45pm
Wednesday 17 September 2pm – 3.45pm
All parents are welcome, if you have any questions regarding AWHI Group please contact Ms Grace or Rhonadean.
HEARTS & MINDS
It has been a joy working alongside our whānau with many young babies joining this cohort! The discussions, reflections and laughter is a true reflection of school and home partnership. We thank you parents for your commitment and engagement in our Hearts and Minds Programme. Thank you Caleb Alo for being a helping hand with babysitting our tamaiti! Congratulations to the following amazing families, God bless your child/ren’s education journey!
Ali and Priscilla Hau
Grace and Mark Kara
Annie and Kyle Nuualiitia
Cathy and Michael Bi-Riley
Caroline and Soul Ailao
Mercedez and Raatu Hona-Taripo
Paige Moki
Sheylah Moki Sio
Our next Hearts and Minds Programme will be in Term 1 2026. Friends of families are welcome to join.
SUNCORP – Collective Giving
We were proud to represent Rise Up Trust at the recent Suncorp Collective Giving Day, a special event where five charities – including The Salvation Army, Good Shepherd NZ, Conservation NZ, SPCA, and us – were invited to share our mahi and vision with the Suncorp team.
One of the highlights of the day was Isabelle MacGregor, one of our student Council leaders, who confidently shared her PATH Plan directly with the CEO of Suncorp. Isabelle’s goals, clear vision, and passion for our special character played a big part in helping Rise Up Trust win the most staff votes! Because of this, we were gifted a $1000 donation to support our kaupapa.
This event was also a fantastic step forward for our Goal 2: “Grow, Grow, Grow”, marketing to our community and beyond! Being part of a corporate environment like Suncorp helped us introduce Rise Up Trust to a wider New Zealand audience, and we were even featured on Suncorp’s internal website and staff giving platform – a great way to connect with potential supporters.
Ka mau te wehi, Izzy! – and thank you to Suncorp for the opportunity to share our mahi. The Christmas gifts for the past few years sponsored by Suncorp are a huge blessing for our ākonga, which I am sure all our whānau love and appreciate.
-
- Izzy with Suncorp CCO
-
- Our Team with Deanne from Suncorp
-
- We won!!!
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
***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.
CAR PARK SAFETY
A gentle reminder to our whanau that the Car park is for Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate and Rise UP Staff ONLY – there are 2 car parks at the end marked for mobility card users only (must be displayed). Please use the off street parking and if you need to supervise your child walking up to the school gate then please walk them as there have been a few near misses and also SDBI car parks taken by our whanau.
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
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
Devotion topic Term 3: Stewardship
Term Scripture: Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.
We are always blessed to have whānau share the Word of God with us! Term 2 we had the privilege of having the following whānau share in our Devotion Assembly:
Week 3 Mrs Mayleen Scott
Week 4 Mr Mike Fe’ao (RUA Vice Chairperson)
Week 10 Mrs Olive Duisokosoko
This term I am elated to share with you our Devotion topic focus on Stewardship; in
alignment with our Inquiry Topic: Wires to Wonders – looking at past, present and the
future of digital technology.
Learning objectives for Term 3 Devotion:
● Ākonga can identify and understand the R.I.S.E UP WAY (Resilience, Integrity,
Stewardship, Excellence).
● Ākonga knows and understands what it means to be good stewards of
technology.
● Ākonga understands what it means to be kind online and offline.
● Ākonga understands digital safety.
Please continue to keep our staff in prayer as we teach the Word of God to our ākonga
and community.
Print or Save this Post