December 2025 Edition

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Rotorua Intermediate Newsletter

1 December 2025

Tuesday 2 December--------------------------------Manaakitanga Celebration
Wednesday 3 December----------------------------CBOP Athletics - Westbrook
Thursday 4 December------------------------Year 8 Social Dance 6.30pm - 10pm
Monday 7th December-------------------------- Pathways Prize Giving 9.30am
Tuseday 8th December----------------------------Sports Prize Giving 9.30am
Wednesday 10 December---Y8 End of Year Prize Giving 9.30am & Last Day of School
Thursday 11 December------Y7 End of Year Prize Giving 9.30am - Last day of School
Monday 2 February ---Year 7's ONLY Start 8.40am
Tuesday 3 February--------All students at school

Principal’s Newsletter Message – Celebrating 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau,

As we move toward the end of 2025, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible year we have shared at Rotorua Intermediate. This has been a year defined by Courage and Commitment, by students stepping up as leaders, by staff growing their practice, and by a community that continues to believe in the potential of every child who walks through our gates.

Celebrating Our Students

Across the kura, our students have shown impressive growth—academically, socially, and as young people ready to contribute positively to their world.

Our Prefects, Cultural Leaders, Kaitiaki and Kahui Rangatahi have led with integrity, manaakitanga, and a quiet determination that sets the tone for others.

Students have exemplified our values through academic excellence, sporting achievement, cultural leadership, and genuine care for their peers.

Engagement in pathways programmes, sports, arts, Kapa Haka, Minecraft-based inquiry, and community events like the Legend of the Peaks Kids Forest Run has highlighted the diverse strengths within our school.

Most importantly, so many of our learners have demonstrated real self-management, resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to take on new challenges—qualities that will carry them confidently into their futures.

Celebrating Our Staff

Behind every success stands a team of dedicated teachers, support staff, and leaders who have continued to strive for improvement, even in the face of rapid change in education.

This year we have seen:

Strong progress in developing clarity in the classroom, effective feedback, and deeper use of formative assessment.

Teachers engaging with new thinking from Dylan Wiliam, Russell Bishop, Nathaniel Swain, and others to lift the learning experience for our students.

A continued commitment from our Mauri Ora team to strengthen student wellbeing and provide strong support around behaviour, mental health, and hauora.

Staff collaborating more closely on shared expectations, consistent routines, and a culture of high trust and high care.

To every staff member—thank you. Your effort, expertise, and heart make the difference.

Our Community – Partners in Learning

We also acknowledge you, our whānau. Your encouragement, communication, and partnership are essential to every learner’s success. Together we form the strong triangle that supports each child—school, home, and student working as one.

Looking Ahead to 2026 – A Bold and Exciting Year

As we prepare for 2026, we do so with enormous optimism.

Next year will see:

A strengthened focus on learner agency, self-management and student responsibility.
Continued refinement of our teaching practices, ensuring every classroom is a place of pride, clarity, and high expectations.

The introduction of new tools and approaches—including the careful use of AI-enhanced personalised learning—to support every student to grow at their own pace.

Expanded opportunities in sport, culture, leadership, and our Career Pathways Programme.
A commitment to consistency, stability, and quality learning for every child, every day.

2026 will be a year where Rotorua Intermediate continues to rise—stronger, more connected, and more focused than ever on what truly matters: growing great learners and great people.

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.
Thank you for your support, your trust, and your belief in our kura.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Garry de Thierry
Principal – Rotorua Intermediate

Student Conduct Transitioning To and From School in Uniform

Manaakitanga Awards Week 6 Term 4

Tu Maia Mansell (Pukaki Whānau)
Tu Maia you consistently show respect, care, and kindness towards others. You have a great sense of humour that brightens our learning space daily. Keep continuing to shine Tu Maia!

Peata Hay (Tunohopu Whānau)
Peata, you have truly locked in this term, and it has been wonderful to see your focus and commitment shine through. You’ve achieved outstanding results in your testing, showing the depth of your knowledge and determination to succeed. Thank you for being an amazing co-class leader—always supporting your peers and helping to keep everyone on track. Keep up the great mahi — ka rawe koe kōtiro.

Olivia Meelker - Gear (Te Rangiiwaho Whānau)
Olivia, you have worked incredibly hard this term. You are a dedicated learner as well as a great role model in our class. Keep striving to do your very best! Keep up the awesome mahi!

Yashvi Gounder (Hurungaterangi Whānau)
Yashvi, you are such a joy to have in class and our whanau! You always work hard, whether you're working on your own or as part of a team. It is clear that you take pride in what you do. You live out the 3Rs every day—showing respect for yourself, for others, and taking responsibility for your actions. Keep up the amazing effort!

Tarkan Morrison (Te Roro o Te Rangi 2)
Tarkan, you have been amazing this term! You have followed instructions, stayed focused, and got on with your mahi. Whaea is so proud of your positive attitude and the effort you put into your ako every day. Kia kaha to keep this up for the remainder of the term — ka mau te wehi!

Natalie Sewell (Taeotu Whānau / Pathways)
Natalie, you have shown resilience, courage and commitment since returning to graphic design after missing several lessons. Your positive attitude and ability to problem solve has allowed you to excel during the past few lessons, which makes you an excellent role model for the class. It is a pleasure to have you in our graphic design class.

PREVIOUS WEEKS:
Damiah-Rose Kingi (Te Roro o Te Rangi Whānau)
Tēna koe e Damiah, embracing your ao Māori in all that you do. Seeing you take the opportunity to mihi to our manuhiri Rautāwhiri on our big whanaungatanga day. We appreciate that this was out of your comfort zone but you didn't shy away from getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Tau kē koe. Me mihi ka tika mō to uru ki te tīma Māori mō ngā kōhine U14 rīki. Poho kereru katoatia mātou katoa ki a koe.

Rachana Aun (Hurungaterangi Whānau)
Rachana, you are such a joy to have in class and our whanau! You always work hard, whether you're working on your own or as part of a team. Your work is consistently of a high standard, and it’s clear that you take pride in what you do. You live out the 3Rs every day—showing respect for yourself, for others, and taking responsibility for your actions. Keep up the amazing effort!

Tygah Nelson (Taeotu Whānau / Pathways)
Tygah, you are an awesome role model to your TeRangiiwaho Science class. You are always focussed on your work, polite and resilient when things don’t turn out as expected. I like the way you work easily with others but you are also not afraid to work solo on projects, challenging and pushing yourself to do better each time. Keep it up.

Manaakitanga Awards Week 7 Term 4

Dee Vunibaka (Pukaki Whānau)
Dee, what an absolute pleasure it is to have you join Pukaki 1! Since joining our kura, you've made friends quickly and easily, settling in quickly to RIS. You consistently show respect for your teachers and peers. You have made such a positive addition to our space, and we are lucky to have you!

Lyrenzo Taurua (Tunohopu Whānau)
Lyrenzo I would like to commend you for an outstanding year with your attendance and setting the bar high for the rest of our class. You have maintained an exceptional record all year with near perfect results. At the end of the year you are still in the high 90s and we applaud for this excellent achievement.

Jedidiah-Clare Bantolio (Te Rangiiwaho Whānau)
Clare, you are such a hard worker in class. You always quietly complete all your tasks without any fuss. You have had such a great year and this term is no different. Good work, Clare!

Jesse Metekingi (Hurungaterangi Whānau)
Jesse, you have been an absolute asset to our class and whānau over the past two years. At Athletics Day, your leadership, maturity, kindness, and willingness to help were clearly recognised across the school by peers and staff. Even when you can’t always take part in activities you would normally excel in, you continue to show a positive attitude and lift others up with your support. It’s wonderful to see you stepping into leadership so naturally. Keep being awesome, Jesse!

Mihaka Singh-Lagan (Te Roro o Te Rangi Whānau)
He Maitaki nui koe. Kua tū koe i mua ite aroaro kia taki i te mihimihi o te ata. Kua tūtuki koe i tētehi whainga a te akomanga.

Oliver Watton (Taeotu Whānau)
Oliver, you have really impressed me during your art lessons. You need to be commended on your resilience and adaptive approach towards your mahi. You took on board everything that was taught to you and your art is amazing. Well done Oliver! You really deserve this award.

PREVIOUS WEEKS:
Natalie Sewell (Taeotu Whānau / Pathways)
Natalie, you have shown resilience, courage and commitment since returning to graphic design after missing several lessons. Your positive attitude and ability to problem solve has allowed you to excel during the past few lessons, which makes you an excellent role model for the class. It is a pleasure to have you in our graphic design class.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

Are you going overseas for the school holidays?

When you return, you can now complete a digital New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) before you fly back into New Zealand – replacing the need to fill out a paper declaration card on the plane.

Everyone coming into New Zealand needs to complete an NZTD. You’ll answer questions about your trip and what’s in your bags. You can complete it at a time that suits you, on the NZTD website or by downloading the NZTD app, and submit it 24 hours before your trip back to New Zealand.

Download the NZTD app today! QR Code below

travellerdeclaration.govt.nz