Term 2 - Week 11
3 July 2026
From the Principal
It has been another busy and successful term at Edgewater College, with a strong focus on learning, wellbeing, and opportunities for our ākonga. These opportunities ensure our learners are well supported both in and beyond the classroom. It is fantastic to see the collation of the many successes across our kura and within the wider community.
Our pastoral initiatives have made a meaningful impact this term, strengthening connection and student voice. Events such as the Bacon Butty Breakfast, Pride in Schools Week and “Say No to Nudes” reflect our commitment to student wellbeing, safety, and inclusion. It was inspiring to see students collaborate and express pride in their whānau identities, with Hillary Whānau taking out both competitions and earning the Whānau Shield for the term.
Beyond the classroom, our students continue to excel across a diverse range of cultural, academic, and co-curricular experiences. Highlights include our outstanding Footloose production, the powerful representation of our EC Voices choir at The Big Sing, and the vibrant celebration of Samoan Language Week. Students have also engaged in hands-on learning through experiences such as environmental initiatives, careers expos, and a range of experiential trips and workshops. These opportunities reflect the richness of life at Edgewater College and our ongoing commitment to developing confident, capable, and connected young people.
Thank you for your support of our young people and I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing term break.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Angela McCamish | Acting Principal
From the Teaching and Learning Team
Upcoming Open Expo
We warmly invite all prospective students and families to our upcoming information evening and expo on Thursday 6 August from 6.00pm to 7.30pm. Roast beef sandwiches and a halal sausage sizzle will be provided. Come meet our outstanding staff and students, and experience “EC Cares” in action.
Mentor Day
Our next Mentor Day will be in week one of Term 3 on Thursday July 23rd from 2pm to 8 pm.
We encourage all caregivers to meet and talk with teachers about their student’s progress and goals. Bookings are now open via Schoolbridge. These can be done face-to–face or online.
Ways to support your child’s academic success:
- Organisational habits - bag packed, alarm reminders for gear or laptop.
- Quiet study spaces – regular revision of notes or catching up on task completion.
- Join their Google Classroom so you can see activities, assignment and due dates.
- Encourage them to attend Studypoint, Tues–Thurs 3.15–4.15pm.
- Encourage students to attend additional holiday workshops if available.
- Get in touch with teachers early if you have concerns or questions.
- Regular bedtimes and agreement on ‘no phone’ time overnight so they are well rested for the school day.
Phones in school
As a school, we've noticed a gradual increase in the number of students using their phones at break times. As a result, from Term 3 we will be collecting and storing any student phones seen in use during breaks. Students will be able to collect these from the front office at the end of the school day. The government requires all schools to have student phones "off and away for the day" and we ask for your support in reminding students not use their phones at break time.From the Pastoral Team
Bacon Butty Breakfast
As part of Strive for Five, our attendance initiative, Ms Frayling and the senior leaders fired up the BBQ for bacon sandwiches. It was a great success with lots of positive comments from students who appreciated hot food on a cold day. It was also a great leadership opportunity for student helpers to get involved. YUM!
Pride in Schools Week
Our school recently celebrated Pride in Schools – an annual nationwide campaign that celebrates rainbow students, staff and whānau. It is a week that focuses on creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all. The students flew the flag, wore rainbow colours on the Friday, and participated in activities centred around supporting and celebrating diversity. It was a fantastic, colourful week.
Say No to Nudes
Recently our local Police were here at Edgewater College to present to our senior students about online digital safety. The programme ‘Say No to Nudes’ centres on catfishing and digital sextortion which is a growing concern for our students and whānau. The programme is highlighted and explained in further detail on the NZ Police website. The students were both engaged and intrigued with regards to how these situations unfold, and can quickly spiral out of control. It was also an opportunity to communicate, and connect with our local community police.
If you have any concerns at all about your child’s safety online, please go to the NZ Police website where you can find the same presentation, watch it yourself and use it to open up a conversation with your own child.
Whānau Trash to Fashion Competition
For the Trash to Fashion competition, students were tasked with designing and creating an outfit using recycled materials. The competition highlighted students' creativity, innovation, and awareness of sustainability by transforming everyday recyclable items into unique fashion pieces.
The quality of the designs was outstanding, with students demonstrating excellent teamwork and resourcefulness throughout the process and Hillary Whānau was declared the winner.
As Hillary Whānau were the winners of both the Trash to Fashion and the Chalk Art event in May, they have earned the distinction of becoming our current Whānau Shield holders for the term.
From Sommerville School
The Sommerville Satellite has had an awesome Term 2. Our phrase over the past few weeks is “Give it your best shot,” and we truly embody this!
We have continued our BSLA learning and are very proud of our progress. We can write lots of words using a rhyme chain.
Our numeracy focus this term is money. Identifying New Zealand currency and adding coins to find a total. We apply these skills during our weekly Mini Woolworths visits, where we purchase groceries, add totals, and calculate change. We also help create the weekly shopping list before collecting the items from Mini Woollies, which the cooking group then uses to prepare something delicious each Tuesday. It has been an engaging, real-world learning experience from start to finish.
Recent events
'Footloose' production
It’s been a few weeks since EC students cut loose on stage for the last time to sold out audiences, but the energy and memories of our 2026 production of Footloose the Musical are still rockin’. Term 2 was a huge term for our performing arts department; the monumental task of producing a school musical from start to end in roughly ten weeks is not for the faint hearted!
In this production, we had fifty Year 9-13 students from a variety of different backgrounds, friendship circles, and levels of experience. In fact, the only thing most of us had in common was that we had never done a musical before! Nevertheless, everyone came to auditions ready to give something new a go, and we ended up with an amazing group of energetic and supportive cast members ready to bring this show alive. We quickly learned that talent only goes so far in the performing arts world though; the rest is down to many hours of hard work! All our cast and band spent countless hours learning lines, practicing choreography, and rehearsing scenes together, and it was this dedication and commitment to the kaupapa that really brought Footloose to life.
A special thank you to our director and choreographer Miss Brown. This was Miss Brown’s first time directing a school show, and her tireless mahi behind the scenes (as well as creating them!) created such a supportive, welcoming environment for all our students and gave them lessons and memories for a lifetime. We were also very lucky for the help and support we were given to make it possible – in particular from Mr Reynolds, Mr Holmes, our art department for their amazing set and props, our caretaker Dave with his never-ending list of skills, as well as some past EC students who returned to help us out. Theatre is, above all, about community and bringing people together. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and supported us – we’re so proud of what we achieved, and we look forward to seeing you at the next one!
Big Sing
On Tuesday 16 June the Edgewater College Choir known as ‘EC Voices participated in the National Choral Festival ‘THE BIG SING’. This event occurs throughout NZ in all the major centres, encouraging school choirs to perform repertoire in a range of categories. This year our un-auditioned choir consisted of 111 students, one of the biggest choirs in the country. This is an awesome accolade considering we are one of the smallest schools participating in this event. The Auckland BIG SING event was held in the Auckland Town Hall. This is a wonderful venue to perform in and daunting for many of our students who this is their first year in the choir. Not only did they represent our school with pride but received many wonderful comments from strangers throughout the day on how moved they were from our performance. This year we performed 3 pieces: Siyahumba (a traditional Zulu song), Rise Up by Andra Day and Leiola, a traditional 'Tongan' love song.
We also managed to visit the Auckland Art Gallery where we gave a spontaneous performance in their beautiful atrium. Many of the public heard us singing and gathered quickly to become an audience.
It was certainly a long day but I’m sure if you talk to any of the members of this year’s choir, they will all say the same thing. This is certainly a highlight of the year. We look forward to showcasing the choir later this year in our Annual Music Concert ’SHINE’ happening in early Term 4.
I would like to also say a huge thank you to the staff that came along and supported the choir: Mr Reynolds, Miss Brown, Miss Fa’asolo, Mrs Lui-Webster. I couldn’t have done it without you.
First Foundation Scholarship Success
Congratulations to Hezekiah Carza, who has been awarded a prestigious First Foundation Scholarship.
The First Foundation Scholarship is a highly competitive four-year programme that supports talented young New Zealanders as they transition from secondary school into tertiary study and future careers. The scholarship provides financial assistance for university study, one-on-one mentoring, and valuable work experience opportunities, helping students build the skills, networks, and confidence needed to succeed.
Hezekiah's selection reflects her hard work, academic achievement, leadership potential, and commitment to her future goals. As a First Foundation Scholar, she will join a network of ambitious young people from across New Zealand who are being supported to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.
This is an outstanding achievement, and we are incredibly proud of Hezekiah for earning this opportunity. We look forward to following her journey and celebrating her future successes.
Year 9 Readers Cup
A couple of weeks ago a group of Edgewater College students (Willow Shirley, Ariana Shirley, October Maloco, Phebe Ross) went to participate in the East-South Auckland Year 9 Readers Cup. They were tasked to read 6 books as a team and were quizzed on each one. Our team did very well and were particularly pleased they got 11/12 possible points for the Sunrise on the Reaping round. This is our best result yet.
Tivaevae Art Tiles
The Year 9 cohort have been exploring the beautiful Cook Islands art form of Tivaevae, learning about its cultural significance, intricate patterns, and the way it brings communities together through storytelling and design. Students gather inspiration from traditional Tivaevae artworks and explore conventions such as symmetry, colour theory, and scale to transform their drawn designs into 3D sculpted artworks.
Meiya Takahashi | Visual Arts Teacher
Samoan Language Week 2026
This year's Samoan Language Week was celebrated under the theme "E afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le nu'u", which translates to "From the high mountains are the blessings of the village." The theme highlights the importance of strong foundations, leadership, and community in nurturing success and wellbeing.
We kicked off the week with a powerful spoken word presentation by Jireh Israel (Year 12) with support from Esther Fa’alava (Year 12) , which incorporated a unique Samoan flavour. This fresh approach set the tone for the week and provided an inspiring start to our celebrations.
During Extended Mentor, our Samoan Kōwhiri Ākonga group delivered an awesome siva performance, followed by engaging activities within mentor classes that encouraged students to learn more about Samoan language and culture.
To build excitement and participation throughout the week, we introduced whānau-based challenges, including a competitive Kahoot quiz. At break times, students had the opportunity to experience aspects of Samoan culture through hands-on activities such as siapo making and the traditional game of Lape in the gym. These activities were well supported and enjoyed by staff and students.
A special acknowledgement goes to Miss Fa'asolo for her organisation, and leadership in coordinating our Language Weeks programme.
Fa’afetai tele lava.
Dive into Discovery: IS Class Explores Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s
On Friday, May 29th, our Integrated Support (IS) class traded the classroom for the coastline, heading out on an exciting field trip to Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s.
Upon arrival, we were met by Veronica, an aquarium educator who kicked off our day with a fascinating lesson on marine habitats and the unique adaptations animals use to survive. We were also treated to some heartwarming—and eye-opening—stories about the aquarium's rescue animals and the important conservation work happening behind the scenes.
Our jam-packed morning included two dedicated presentations:
● The Penguin Talk: We learned all about the majestic residents at the aquarium, as well as the native penguin species found right here in New Zealand.
● The Turtle Talk: A deep dive into the lives of these ancient sea travelers and the threats they face in the wild.
After fueling up with some lunch, it was time to explore the aquarium in our groups. While the moving walkway and the sharks were incredible, the undisputed highlight of the afternoon was the Arctic Ocean Challenge.
How long could you last? The aquarium featured a hands-on tank filled with water mimicking the freezing temperatures of the Arctic Ocean.
The competitive spirit took over immediately! While Ms. Coetzee "chickened out" after only 10 seconds, a few of our braver boys showed true grit, lasting a whole minute in the icy depths.
We all arrived back at school safe, sound, and a little more knowledgeable about the oceans we share. It was an amazing, fun-filled day of learning outside the classroom.
Enviro Club
Our Enviro Club achieved an amazing result in the Pest Free Howick Ward Moth Plant Competition, with Edgewater College receiving 3rd Place amongst 35 participating schools. Mrs Hinestroza received 2nd Place in the Enviro Teacher category.
Together, our students removed 7,528 moth plant pods and seedlings, making a great contribution to protecting our local environment. These awards recognise the many hours our students have dedicated to removing invasive moth plants and caring for our local environment.
Congratulations to our Enviro Leaders on this fantastic achievement!
Our students have also been exploring sustainability and environmental stewardship through opportunities provided by the Eastern Busway team and the Bike Hub. They have participated in fabric upcycling projects, transforming unwanted materials into useful items while learning about waste reduction and resourcefulness. These experiences have helped students recognise the connection between their everyday actions, personal wellbeing, and the health of the environment, while building the confidence and skills needed to become active kaitiaki within their school and wider community.
Next term, our AWHI Enviro Club tauira are looking forward to continuing their learning through activities focused on maramataka, sustainable transport, and kai sovereignty, while exploring how these concepts can contribute to healthier communities and a more sustainable future.
Girls Basketball team watch Auckland Tuatara vs Tauranga Whai
On 23 May, Miss Benjamin and Mr Huang took the girls’ basketball team to watch the Auckland Tuatara take on the Tauranga Whai at Eventfinda Stadium.
For some of our students, this was the first time watching a top-level basketball game live. The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing. The Tuatara had a very convincing win over Whai
The girls really loved the experience. They were able to talk to a number of players after the game and get their autographs.
A special thanks to Mrs Booker for winning the tickets that allowed us to take the team for free.
South Auckland Woodturners Guild trip
On June 2nd, the Year 10 Materials Technology class took an exciting trip to South Auckland Woodturners Guild in Papatoetoe.
This was a fantastic opportunity for hands-on learning, where students participated in a full-day introductory woodturning class. Under expert guidance of Strett (the president of the club), they learned new practical skills and were able to turn their very own honey dipper from locally sourced wood to take home.
The energy and focus throughout the day were incredible and in fact, the students enjoyed the experience so much they barely wanted to stop for a lunch break! It was wonderful to see everyone so deeply engaged in the creative process, and they should all be incredibly proud of the beautiful, finished pieces they produced.
Back at our Edgewater workshop, the class will now be utilizing these new learnings and skills to produce their very own wood-turned pen out of locally sourced macrocarpa.
Eastern Careers Expo 2026
Our Year 12 and 13 students recently attended the Eastern Careers Expo, taking advantage of the opportunity to explore a wide range of future pathways. Students engaged with universities, training providers, industry organisations, and employers, gaining valuable insights into tertiary study, apprenticeships, and career opportunities.
The expo provided an excellent chance for students to ask questions, gather information, and make connections that will support their future planning. It was fantastic to see so many students actively exploring their options and taking positive steps towards their goals beyond school!
Gateway: Bunnings Work Experience
Congratulations to our 2INDP and 2EMPL students who successfully completed their Gateway Work Experience Programme at Bunnings Warehouse Botany and Mt Wellington this term. Through their hard work and commitment, students achieved 24 Level 2 credits while gaining valuable hands-on experience. This opportunity helped them develop practical workplace skills, build confidence, and gain insight into the retail industry. Well done to all students on this outstanding achievement.
Gateway: McDonald's Work Experience
Well done to the four students of 1INDP who have successfully completed their Gateway Work Experience at their local McDonald's. Taking such as big leap into the real world of work takes courage, and our students stepped up with confidence. Throughout this term, they worked independently to complete the programme, gaining first-hand experience in the hospitality industry as well as earning 17 credits at NCEA level 2, well done!
Book of the Week
This week's Book of the Week is perfect holiday reading: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman.
The story follows Carl and his cat, Donut, who end up in a televised survival show set in a monster-filled dungeon after an alien race flattens the Earth. As a LitRPG (literary role-playing game), the book incorporates gaming mechanics like leveling up, loot boxes, and achievements. It’s a highly unique way to tell a story and is a lot of fun—especially if you already love video games. It is basically a game you can read!
Tara Holland | School Librarian
Sport
Winter sport has really started off strong at Edgewater. We are now roughly halfway through the season, and there have been some great nail-biting games to watch.
We love the way our students take the field/court with so much pride and demonstrate excellent teamwork and leadership.
Have a look at some of the pictures below.
We would like to thank all the coaches, managers, and parents who are involved with our teams and make it possible for us to participate each week. Your time, support, and commitment are greatly appreciated.
