PRINCIPALS PIECE

LEARNERS AT THE CENTRE

CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE

FUTURE OF LEARNING AND WORK

SPOTLIGHT ON A STUDENT

SPORTS AND CULTURAL BULLETIN

TERM DATES 2025

SCHOOL CAREERS & COUNSELLING SERVICES

ATTENDANCE

STUDENT WELLBEING SERVICES

Welcome to the start of another exciting year at Spotswood College! It has been fantastic to see our students and staff returning with energy and enthusiasm.

We began the year with a wonderful pōwhiri, warmly welcoming our new students, whānau, and staff into our school community. A special mention to Joel Penno and Nikau Rei, who spoke on our behalf with pride and mana—tēnei te mihi ki a kōrua!

With the year now underway, student timetables are confirmed. We encourage all parents and caregivers to check course selections online to ensure you are aware of what your child is taking this year.

A reminder to all students about the importance of wearing our uniform correctly—this is a way we show pride in our school and respect for each other. We also encourage everyone to get involved—whether in sports, arts, leadership, or other extracurricular activities, these opportunities enrich the school experience and help build strong connections.

At Spotswood College, our kawa is to connect, strengthen, and inspire each other to achieve personal excellence. Let’s work together to make 2025 a year of growth, success, and positivity.

Ngā mihi nui,
Nicola Ngarewa

Principal, Spotswood College

At Spotswood College, we are committed to ensuring every student has the best opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. A key factor in this success is regular school attendance. The New Zealand Ministry of Education’s 2025 guidelines emphasize that attending school at least 90% of the time (no more than five days absent per term) is essential for academic achievement and overall well-being.

Why Attendance Matters

• Academic Success – Missing school means missing out on important learning. Research shows that students who attend regularly are more likely to achieve NCEA and other qualifications.

• Social and Emotional Wellbeing – Being present helps students build friendships, develop resilience, and stay engaged in school life.

• Future Opportunities – Good attendance habits lead to a better work ethic and increased opportunities for further education and employment.

Understanding Absences

While we understand that some absences are unavoidable (such as illness), every effort should be made to keep time away from school to a minimum. The Ministry of Education classifies attendance as:

• Regular (90% or more) – This is the goal for all students.

• At Risk (80-89%) – Missing 1-2 days every fortnight can quickly add up to learning gaps.

• Moderate to Severe Risk (below 80%) – Frequent absences lead to significant challenges in keeping up with learning and assessments.

What You Can Do

• Ensure your child attends school every day unless they are unwell.

• Communicate with the school if your child needs to be absent and provide a reason.

• Avoid scheduling appointments or holidays during term time.

• Encourage good routines at home to support punctuality and engagement.

Our goal at Spotswood College is to support all students to attend, engage, and achieve. If you have any concerns about attendance, please reach out to your child's Learning Advisor (LA) or the Poutiaki —we are here to help.

A warm welcome to new staff members:

Teachers:

Imke Harder - English

Claire Oag - Te Waka Manaaki

Leanne Meyer - Technology

Support Staff:

Lee Taukiri - Cleaner

Allison Winik - Counsellor

Leah Kessler - Counsellor

Maria Tihema - Youth Worker

Simon Mace - Production Tutor

Ashleigh Blackbourn - Teacher Aide

Mia Bishop - Teacher Aide

Rob Moore - Teacher Aide

Principal

Whaea Nicola email: nng@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Deputy Principal/Senior Leadership

Mr Daryn Shaw email: dsh@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Deputy Principal/Senior Leadership

Mrs Hilary Takarangi email: hta@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Deputy Principal/Senior Leadership

Mr Darren Scott email: dsc@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Year 12 and 13 Dean

Mr Wayne Cribb email: wcr@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Year 11 Dean

Whaea Tulah Katene-Wall email: tka@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Year 10 Dean

Matua Matty James email: mja@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Year 9 Dean

Mr Airana Ngarewa email: ang@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

International Director

Mrs Nicola Healy email: nhe@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Business Manager

Ms Christina Davis email: cdv@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Careers Advisor

Mrs Chell Lusk email: clu@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

It was fantastic to see so many families at our Whānau Meet the Teacher Picnic this week! The evening was a great opportunity for parents, caregivers, and staff to connect in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, shared kai, and engaged with their child’s teachers. Building strong relationships between home and school is vital to student success, and it was wonderful to see so many meaningful connections happening.

We appreciated the chance to talk about how we can work together to support our students throughout the year. Our kawa (vision statement) is to connect, strengthen, and inspire each other to achieve personal excellence, and events like this truly reflect that kaupapa.

If you weren’t able to attend but would still like to touch base with your child’s Learning Advisor or subject teachers, please feel free to reach out. We’re always happy to connect.

Our Build a House students are making incredible progress as they near the completion of the three-bedroom home they began constructing last year. This hands-on project has provided students with valuable real-world experience in building and construction, working alongside industry professionals to develop their skills.

It’s been amazing to see the dedication and teamwork of our students as they bring this house to life, applying their learning in a practical and meaningful way. With only the final touches left to complete, we are looking forward to seeing the finished product in the coming weeks.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also welcome a new intake of students for 2025 who are eager to begin their journey in the Build a House programme. They will have the opportunity to learn from experienced tutors, gain industry-recognised skills, and contribute to another exciting build.

A huge thank you to our staff, industry partners, and whānau for supporting this fantastic initiative. We can’t wait to share more updates as the project wraps up!

Kia Ora Whanau,

We are excited to welcome you and your child to the start of their NCEA journey! This year marks the beginning of NCEA Level 1 for many of our students, and we want to ensure you are well-informed and supported as they embark on this important step in their education.

NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) is the secondary school qualification in New Zealand. Level 1 is the foundation year where students begin to earn credits in a variety of subjects, each contributing to their overall achievement towards gaining NCEA. Throughout the year, students will work on assessments and assignments that contribute towards these credits.

We encourage whānau to be actively involved in supporting students through this process. Regular communication between home and school is vital to help ensure our students stay on track with their learning, attend school regularly, and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Our staff are committed to supporting your child every step of the way. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their Learning Advisory (LA) teacher in the first instance and then the Year 11 Poutiaki, Tulah Katene-Wall

We look forward to working alongside you to ensure this is a successful and rewarding year for all of our Year 11 students.

Helpful Links:

Guide to NCEA - te reo Māori [PDF, 5.4 MB]

Guide to NCEA - English [PDF, 6.4 MB]

Photo by Rokati Manu-Benson

Senior Girls 67 teams entered the National tournament

13th= Chelsea Gartner/ Lola Crawshaw

23rd= Scarlett Dinnis/Tia Christiansen

19th Div 2 Ella Chase/ Hannah Dixon

Senior Boys 54 teams entered the National tournament

29th= Wairangi Davey / Dhio Yoshimura

1st Div 2 Olly Smith / Zander Dodunski

3rd Div 2 Christian Liebenberg/ Kingston Davis

Year 11 Boys and below 24 teams entered

5th Westley Oakes-Hill/ Kingston Lilo

11th Tate Upson / Jon Faber

School Counselling Services are available at Spotswood College for students who wish to get additional wellbeing support.

To make an appointment please email:

Guidance Counsellors - manaakitanga@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

Public Health Nurse

Drop in Public Health Nurse hours - Monday 9.00 am - 2.00 pm.

The sickbay is closed for any sick-related issues. If your child is sick, we will contact home and ask for them to be picked up immediately. Students should not arrange this themselves as we need to know where they are at all times.

The sick bay is open to help with injuries.

A public health nurse is available for you and your caregivers if you have any concerns. This could be a rash, not sleeping well, regular headaches, ongoing health issues etc.

Please ask to talk to her privately. Consultations are confidential, offering information and advice. Health resources are available, with a choice of providers for referrals to agencies.

If you would like to see the public health nurse, please ask staff at student reception.

Career support and advice is available to students who would like some guidance on career pathways, tertiary studies and scholarships available.

To make an appointment please contact the Careers Advisor

Chell Lusk - clu@spotswoodcollege.school.nz

MoneyHub has 10+ NCEA resources to help everyone attain merits and excellences - check it out and prepare for upcoming internals and externals with confidence.

https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/resources-for-ncea-students.html

Please make sure your teens are checking, opening and reading their emails. Opportunities are being missed.

We have a school attendance target of above 90% for every student. To ensure that together we reach this, it is important that if you know your child is going to be absent from school, that you please contact the school by using one of the following options.

Option 1: Report an absence using the school app SchoolBridge

Option 2: Call 06 751 2416 and press (1) to report a student's absence. Record your child’s name, parents' name, contact details and reason for absence.

Option 3: Send a text to the office on 02102466182

Option 4: Email absent@spotswoodcollege.school.nz. Please provide your child's name, and reason for absence.

Based on our attendance data system we will send an automated text to parents of any students that are absent, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

If for any reason you are concerned about your child’s attendance, you can speak with Jenine the Attendance Officer or she will pass you on to the DEAN or your child’s Learning Advisor.