Term 3 - Week 10
25 September 2026
From the Principal
As we come to the end of another busy term, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our students, staff, whānau and wider school community for your support while I was on sabbatical this term. A special thank you to our Board for granting me this wonderful opportunity, and to Angela McCamish for stepping into the role of Acting Principal and providing strong leadership in my absence. I am very grateful for the care and commitment shown across our school during this time. As part of my sabbatical, I completed a course through Harvard University and spent considerable time exploring the opportunities and challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence in education. This has given me the opportunity to reflect and prepare for how we as a school can best support our students to learn, thrive and navigate an increasingly changing world.
Over the next term, our Board will also be working on our strategic planning for the future direction of the school. An important part of this process will be hearing from all members of our school community, including our students, staff, whānau and wider community. We want to ensure that our future priorities reflect the aspirations and needs of our community, so please look out for opportunities to engage with the consultation process from early next term and take the time to share your views.
I would also like to remind families that the first day of school for all students next year will be Tuesday 26 January, the week before Auckland Anniversary Day which is on Monday 1 February next year. Please ensure that any overseas holidays are planned so that students are back in New Zealand and ready to begin the school year with us on 26 January.
Alongside our day-to-day teaching and learning, we have also been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for the implementation of the new curriculum. This has involved our staff engaging with the changes, considering what they will mean for teaching and learning across the school, and planning for a smooth transition. There is a significant amount of work involved in this process, and I would like to acknowledge the commitment of our teachers and leaders as we continue to ensure our curriculum meets the needs of our students and prepares them well for the future.
We are now entering a particularly busy period for our senior students as they prepare for their upcoming examinations, the timetable for which is shared in the Teaching and Learning section. There is a real sense of purpose as they work towards completing their courses and putting themselves in the best possible position for success. I encourage our seniors to use the holidays wisely, take time to recharge, but also ensure that time is spent completing any final internal assessments and preparing for our pre-exam Assessment Week, which will take place in Week 2 of next term. We will also be holding our inaugural Spellquest in Week 1 of next term – the lists for each year level are provided at the end of this newsletter to support all year levels in preparing for this exciting new event.
Last week we celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, providing opportunities for our students and staff to celebrate and strengthen their use of te reo Māori. A highlight was our annual waiata competition, which showcased the enthusiasm, talent and teamwork of our students. Congratulations to Hillary on taking the win and thank you to everyone who participated and supported this special event. In particular, I would like to acknowledge our kapa haka rōpū, who inspired us all with their performance not only at this event but at a number of schools around our area last week. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
Finally, reports will be coming home this week. I encourage all parents and whānau to take time to read through the report with your child, celebrate their progress and discuss areas for continued improvement. Most importantly, please use this report as an opportunity to set some clear and achievable goals together for Term 4 so we can make the most of this final term of the year.
I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable break and look forward to welcoming our student's back next term.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Louise Addison | Tumuaki
From our Student Leaders
Board elections – new student representative for 2026-2027
We’re pleased to announce that Dave Ramos is our new Student Representative for 2026/27. Dave, pictured, will work alongside students and staff throughout the year to help build a positive, welcoming and supportive student community. It’s a great opportunity to represent his fellow students, share their voices and help make a difference.
Term 3 activities
Term 3 has been action packed with activities, with high participation from the students of Edgewater. At the beginning of the term we held the year 12 Leadership Camp, which was led by the current student leaders. The turnout was good and the vibes were positive with the year 12 cohort strengthening their bonds with each other, and they were able to learn and develop the skills they will need when they step into their leadership roles next year.
The Expo Evening went well, with performances from the Jazz Band and the Kapa Haka group, and fun activities from each department, giving the year 8’s and their families a taste of what the student experience and learning opportunities are at EC.
This term was big for cultural celebrations, with Tongan, Cook Island, Māori, and International Language Weeks all happening. Every language week featured a performance and activities throughout the week, and there was enthusiastic participation throughout. Cultural Night was a big highlight as usual, being an amazing showcase of the diversity of our students, whānau, and wider community.
Thank you to all of our students, and staff who contributed to and supported these events throughout the term. Your enthusiasm is much appreciated! Kia māia, kia manaakitanga, kia manawa reka.
From the Teaching and Learning Team
End-of-Year External Examinations Timetable
The official timetable for the upcoming NCEA and Scholarship External Examinations is available online on the NZQA website and included here for your convenience. Examinations will run from the 10th of November to the 4th of December.
These national assessments give students the opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the year. Having access to the schedule allows students and caregivers to map out study plans, manage revision time effectively, and ensure a smooth exam period.
- Review the Schedule: Please check the timetable carefully, taking note of specific dates, morning or afternoon session and start times. All of the External Examinations will be held in the School Hall.
- NZQA Briefing Assembly: An NZQA assembly will be held in Term 4 prior to students leaving on exam leave. This session will walk students through all official rules, expectations, and procedures for the examinations.
- Arrival Expectations: Students must arrive at school at least 20 minutes before the scheduled start of each examination to allow time for room lining up and administrative checks.
- Reporting Clashes and Issues: If a student identifies an examination clash (two exams scheduled at the same time) or has any concerns regarding their timetable, they must report this directly to the Principal's Nominee (PN) as soon as possible. The PN will then liaise directly with the Examination Centre Manager (ECM) to make the necessary arrangements.
- Preparation and Devices: Ensure all required stationery is brought in a clear, sealable plastic bag. Please note that all mobile phones, watches, and headphones must be turned off and put away in bags before entering the examination room.
We wish all students the very best as they organise their final study routines and prepare for these important assessments.
Upcoming Practice Assessment Week (Term 4, Week 2)
Please mark your calendars! Our upcoming Practice Assessment Week will take place across three days in Week 2 of Term 4: Monday 19, Tuesday 20, and Wednesday 21 October.
Why Practice Assessments Matter
These assessments offer students valuable experience sitting examinations under realistic conditions. Crucially, the results from this week serve as official evidence for Derived Grades. Should illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances prevent a student from sitting their final end-of-year external examinations, these practice assessment results will be used to ensure they receive an accurate, earned grade.
Timetables & Next Steps
- Schedules: Assessment timetables are being distributed to teachers this week.
- Student Information: Teachers will notify students in class regarding their specific assessment times, room locations, and expectations.
- Preparation: We encourage students to begin organising their revision schedules early and to speak directly with their subject teachers if they need extra guidance or support. Thank you for supporting the students in your care as our school community prepares for this important academic milestone.
Summary of CAAs
Thank you for supporting our young people who were entered in the Common Assessment Activities for reading, Writing and Numeracy in week 9. The results for these will be available for Reading on October 14th and Writing and Numeracy on October 27th. Students will continue to have these exams available in May and September each year. There will be targeted opportunities for students in Term 4 who need further support.
From the Pastoral Team
Kōwhiri Ākonga next term
Our Kōwhiri Ākonga programme continues to provide our students with opportunities to discover new interests and challenge themselves beyond the traditional classroom. The focus for term 4 will be on our Junior School. We are incredibly fortunate to welcome a few external groups and organisations who work alongside our students, bringing their expertise, passion and unique experiences into our Junior School.
We are excited to continue offering Weightlifting, while introducing two new activities to our Kōwhiri Ākonga programme: Skateboarding and Circus. Our circus sessions will be led by The Dust Palace, who will introduce students to a range of exciting circus skills, including juggling, balancing, hula hooping and much more. These activities provide students with opportunities to develop coordination, concentration, creativity, perseverance and confidence, all while having plenty of fun.
Skateboarding will also give students the chance to learn new skills, challenge themselves and develop balance, coordination and resilience in a supportive environment.
We look forward to another exciting term of exploring and creating together, and we can't wait to see what our students achieve through our term 4 Kōwhiri Ākonga experiences!
Photos show some of the Kōwhiri Ākonga activities throughout the term. Fitness, Enviro club, Cultural group, knitting and DIY (Do it yourself)
From Sommerville School
Edgewater 1 & 2 have had an action-packed end to Term 3, with lots of exciting activities and learning experiences each week.
Our ākonga enjoyed celebrating Uike Lea Faka, exploring Tongan culture and creating artwork inspired by Tongan patterns through printmaking.
We had great fun celebrating our Character Book Parade, with some amazing costumes bringing our favourite book characters to life. A huge well done to the Gruffalo, who received the Best Effort award!
During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we were very fortunate to welcome mainstream Kapa Haka group into our classroom. It was a wonderful opportunity for our ākonga to experience kapa haka together, ngā mihi nui!
It has been a fantastic end to a busy term, and we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, creativity and māia our ākonga have shown throughout Term 3!
Recent events
Cultural Evening
Cultural evening 2026 was an amazing celebration of culture, talent and whanaungatanga for our kura. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their cultures, express themselves through performance, and celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community so special.
This year, we were fortunate to have eight cultural groups take to the stage: our Kapa Haka Rōpū, Tongan, Filipino, Samoan, African, Hazaragi, Bollywood and Cook Island groups. Considering the size of our student population, having eight groups represented is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the enthusiasm of our students to get involved and celebrate their cultural identities.
Adding to the spirit of the evening were our awesome MCs, Jireh Israel (12TA), Lesieli Katoa (12TA) and Abdul Safi (12ED). Together, they represented the cultural diversity of our school and helped guide the audience through an evening filled with energy, pride and celebration. Our students truly performed their hearts out. Their commitment, confidence and passion were evident in every performance and were a testament to the success of our Kōwhiri Ākonga programme, which provides students with opportunities to learn, practise and develop their cultural performance skills.
It was particularly encouraging to see the strong engagement from our families and whānau. Their positive feedback and support for our students highlighted just how meaningful these opportunities are for our wider school community. Many described the evening as one of our best Cultural Nights to date, which is a wonderful reflection of the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.
A huge thank you goes to all our Teachers in Charge of the cultural groups. Your time, commitment, supervision and support have been invaluable in helping our students prepare and perform to such a high standard. A special acknowledgement goes to Miss Fa’asolo for her outstanding coordination, organisation and planning of the evening. Her work behind the scenes helped ensure that the night ran smoothly and allowed our students to shine on stage.
Cultural Night 2026 has given us plenty to celebrate and provides positive signs for what lies ahead, particularly as we look towards Polyfest. The talent, commitment and enthusiasm shown by our students gives us plenty of reason to be excited about the opportunities ahead.
Whānau Waiata Competition
Another great event on our school calendar this year was our Whānau Waiata Competition. Now in its third year, the competition continues to grow and evolve, becoming a very special part of our whānau events and a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together.
This year, each whānau team was given the opportunity to perform a significant Māori waiata of their choice, alongside the school waiata. This added another special dimension to the competition and gave each group the chance to share a waiata that held meaning and significance for them.
Every whānau team showed incredible passion, pride and mana in their performances. It was fantastic to see the commitment, creativity and energy each group brought to the stage. The performances truly showcased what our whānau are capable of when they come together.
The competition opened with a strong and passionate performance from our Kapa Haka rōpū, setting the tone for an exciting evening of waiata and celebration.
We were fortunate to have a wonderful judging panel this year, including our Tumuaki, Louise Addison, and Matua Mauri Hohepa, who has been supporting and working alongside our Kapa Haka group throughout the year.
After an afternoon filled with incredible performances, passion and whānau spirit, Hillary Whānau took out the title of 2026 Whānau Waiata Champions! Congratulations to Hillary Whānau on a fantastic performance.
AWHI Enviro Club brings bike mechanics to Edgewater
Our AWHI Enviro Club rangatahi have been building confidence, practical skills and a more sustainable way to travel through a partnership with Pakuranga Bike Hub.
During a six-week bike-mechanics programme, students learned how to repair and maintain bikes, including adjusting chains, changing tyres and checking that each bike was safe to ride. Their mahi has helped give bikes a new life while creating opportunities for young people to develop hands-on skills and contribute to their community.
The repaired bikes are now available for our rangatahi to use, supporting them to “bike the talk” and making sustainable transport more accessible.
This initiative reflects the wider purpose of AWHI Enviro Club: creating meaningful opportunities that support students’ wellbeing, leadership and connection with the environment.
Read more in Auckland Council’s article: Opening new doors: meet Edgewater College’s new bike mechanics.
Would you like to join? The After School Bike Club is free and open to everyone.
Celebrating Our Languages and Cultures
From 31 August to 4 September, Edgewater College celebrated International Languages Week, recognising the many languages, cultures and traditions that make our school community so diverse.
Throughout the week, students enjoyed a range of activities, including daily flag-raising ceremonies celebrating cultures from South Africa, Afghanistan, China, Australia and the Philippines. Students also took part in language challenges, cultural activities and opportunities to learn from one another.
A major highlight was Cultural Night, where our cultural groups shared their music, dances and traditions with families, friends and the wider school community. The evening was filled with pride, energy and celebration.
Students also enjoyed an International Amazing Race, experiencing Filipino culture through games, language and dance, including Tumbang Preso, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, the Garter Game and Tinikling. The Big Gym was full of laughter, enthusiasm and students trying something new!
On Friday, students were encouraged to wear national or cultural dress, filling the school with a wonderful display of colour and cultural pride.
A huge thank you to our Pastoral Committee, Filipino student leaders and members, and staff for their hard work in making the week such a success.
International Languages Week was a wonderful celebration of culture, belonging and connection, reminding us of the strength and diversity within our Edgewater College community.
Stand Up, Stand Out: Semifinals – EC Music Students rise again
On Saturday 5th September Edgewater College had 3 students who competed in the Stand Up Stand Out Semifinals which were held in the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber. To get to this event our students had to compete in the first rounds where they were selected from well over 150 competitors.
Amy Wallace was chosen for the Solo Vocals category. She was one of only 14 students who were chosen from all over Auckland. Each singer battling for a place in the Finals. Unfortunately, Amy did not make the finals round, but she sang with such spirit, courage and passion.
Esther Fa'alava (vocals) and Jireh Israel (bass guitar) were selected to perform in the semifinals as a group. This unusual combo really made the judges sit up in their seats and groove to the amazing sounds of this combo. For the first time in Edgewater history, we were ecstatic to hear that they were selected as one of only 5 Finalists. Finals are being held in the Auckland Town Hall on Saturday 26th September.
Emerging Ethnic Leaders Event
Bibi Gull Anwari and Rainiel Mariano recently attended the Emerging Ethnic Leaders Breakfast accompanied by Ms. Amarasinghe, TIC ESOL, at Waipuna Conference Centre. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Community Partnerships Team, Auckland Council, and Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition (ARCC).
The event recognised senior students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are already making a positive difference in their schools and communities. Bibi and Rainiel received certificates for their leadership, service, commitment, and contribution.
A strong message from the morning was that leadership is not only about titles, badges, or formal positions. Leadership is a perception and action: stepping forward, using your voice, serving others, and making a positive difference, even when it feels uncomfortable.
This was especially meaningful for our students. The event helped them see that their stories, cultures, service, and everyday actions matter. It was a valuable reminder that leadership potential is sometimes already there; it just needs to be noticed and given an opportunity.
Bone carving workshop
On Thursday 20th August, Maha and Laura from the Aotearoa Bone and Stone Carving Academy visited Edgewater College’s Art Department to host a one-day bone carving workshop.
Eighteen students from our Māori and Pacific Arts class had the opportunity to create their first taonga. Students chose their own shape and learnt how to file, shape and polish the bone before adorning their finished piece with paua shell. All taonga were blessed by Maha and Laura, ready for gifting.
Our students represented Edgewater College with pride throughout the workshop, showing respect and following all tikanga. The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many sharing how much they enjoyed the experience and appreciated the opportunity to learn traditional carving techniques to create their own taonga. The students’ taonga will be displayed at our end-of-year Art Exhibition in term 4 before being gifted to the people they were made for.
Gateway Work Experience – Retail Level 3 ead
Congratulations to our Gateway students who have successfully completed their Level 3 retail work experience placements at our brand-new work-partners; Mitre 10 MEGA, Spotlight, and Number One Shoes.
In the past term, students gained valuable hands-on industry experience while earning 23 NCEA Level 3 credits. They demonstrated reliability, initiative, and a willingness to learn, making the most of this opportunity to develop workplace skills. Well done to all our students, and a sincere thank you to the teams at Mitre 10 MEGA, Spotlight, and Number One Shoes, as well as Goldstar Training for their support and for providing such valuable learning opportunities.
MATHEX Success
Congratulations to all of our students who represented Edgewater College at this year's MATHEX competition! Our students demonstrated excellent mathematical thinking, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and perseverance, while tackling maths questions against teams from other schools.
Special congratulations go to one of our Year 10 teams, who achieved an outstanding 75 points out of 100!
We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented our kura, showing our 3MCs, resilience, and a positive attitude throughout the competition. Well done to everyone involved!
Year 9 Team: Kavapalu Afemui, Kyle Bador, Janidu Mendis, Chan Min, Neihana Ngawhika, Phebe Ross, Ariana Shirley, Willow Shirley, Dasuni Wickramasinghe
Year 10 Team: Sophia Ali, Mila Chen, Devyna Deleon, Sarah Fonua, Rhys Knezovich, Alisa Lee, Paki Moala’eua, Stefe Poila, Scarlett Quinn, Troy Williams
Days for Girls supporting wellbeing and sustainability
AWHI Enviro Club is proud to share an initiative that supports the wellbeing, dignity and confidence of our rangatahi.
With the generous support of Days for Girls volunteers, reusable personal-care kits have been donated for all Year 9 girls and our AWHI Enviro Club girls. The aim is to begin providing junior students with a practical, sustainable option that supports them to participate fully in school life.
Each kit has been carefully sewn, assembled and donated by volunteers who give their time to this important kaupapa. The reusable products can help reduce waste while ensuring students have access to the support they need.
Further kits are also available through the school nurses, so students can access support privately when needed.
Days for Girls is an international organisation that works to improve access to essential health products, education and support for girls and women. Their work helps remove barriers to education and promotes health, dignity and confidence.
Learn more about the organisation and its work in Aotearoa: Days for Girls New Zealand.
Celebrating Student Success
Anetailor Ravarua has been selected for the annual NZQA Ringa Toi Art Exhibition in Wellington. She submitted the Pareu she created in our newly established Māori and Pacific Art class. She hand dyed her fabric and printed it using traditional wood blocking techniques. Her work will be on display at:
Location | Ki hea: Te Rauparaha Arena, 17A Parumoana St, Porirua
Dates: 16th-30th September
Her work is part of the new Pacific Art Category for this competition and will be published in a booklet for the exhibition. This is an exciting accomplishment for a budding artist, and we are very proud of Anetailor and can’t wait to see what work she produces moving forward.
‘Play it Strange’ National songwriting competition
This year one of our Year 13 Music students, Amy Wallace, decided to send in one of her original songs to the ‘Play it Strange’ National songwriting competition. This is an organisation that supports and promotes the next up and coming NZ music artists.
It was with great excitement that Amy was chosen as one of the finalists in this national competition for her original song ‘Unfinished’.
On Wednesday 23 September, Amy headed into Roundhead Studios in Eden Terrace to get her song professionally recorded. We wish her all the best for this opportunity and look forward to hearing the final result.
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Secondary North Island Weightlifting Competition
Huge congratulations to Kaltee, who recently competed as the very first student to represent Edgewater College at the Secondary North Island Weightlifting Competition – for Olympic Weightlifting!
She competed in the Under 15 category under the expert guidance of coach Tina Ball (Strength HQ and Coach to Gold Medalist David Liti). Kaltee delivered a masterclass performance—going a flawless 6 for 6 with every single lift approved by the judges.
To top off an incredible day on the platform, Kaltee locked in two brand-new Personal Bests (PBs). Stepping out in school colours for the first time and putting on an incredible display of technique, grit, and power is a monumental achievement. Edgewater College is immensely proud of this historic milestone—huge congratulations to Kaltee and Coach Tina!
Baseball New Zealand Junior Player of the year
Congratulations to Shayne Scanlan, who has been named Baseball New Zealand 2025/26 Junior Player of the Year!
Shayne had an outstanding season, stepping up to play a key role in the Howick Pakuranga Premier Men’s team despite still being junior age. He became the team’s main catcher, working alongside some of New Zealand’s top baseball pitchers, while also making a strong contribution as a batter.
His season reached a memorable high point at the Baseball New Zealand Club Classic national championships. In a dramatic championship game that went into extra innings, Shayne hit a three-run home run to help Howick Pakuranga secure the national title. His performance earned him Tournament MVP honours.
His success is also attracting international attention, with Shayne becoming one of the youngest New Zealand baseball players to receive college offers from the United States.
An incredible season and a fantastic achievement for a young athlete who continues to make his mark in the sport.
Co-Curricular Prizegiving
Join us on the evening of 29 October for our Co-Curricular Prizegiving, celebrating the talent, dedication and commitment of our students across sport, music, culture and other co-curricular activities.
Come along and help us recognise the wonderful contribution our students make to our school community.
Book of the Week
Recently, I put out a whole bunch of new manga and graphic novels which were immediately snapped up!
Before I put them on display, I dipped my toes into the world of manga for the first time and read The Apothecary Diaries. This manga follows Maomao, a herbalist who is kidnapped and sent to the palace. Using her knowledge of medicine and poisons she proves herself and is promoted to food tester. Now she has to survive the intrigue of the inner court! I would definitely recommend to those that have yet to try the manga genre!
We have the first two volumes in the library, with more to come.
Tara Holland | School Librarian
