Start of Term 3 Newsletter

Friday 24 July

Tēnā koe

We hope your whānau enjoyed the Matariki holiday and July break from school and you are ready for an enjoyable and successful Term 3.

Thank you for your generous donations for Doctors Without Borders last term. We are pleased with the total raised of $1450. We are also thrilled to let you know that we collected 37 blood donations - ten more than in 2025. As each component is used separately (red blood cells, plasma, platelets), Northcote College’s donations will go on to save 111 lives. This is our school motto in action: Kia manaaki te tangata |To be of service to others.

Open Day: Saturday 25 July noon-3pm

We are looking forward to showing prospective students and their whānau around school tomorrow at our annual Open Day. We always have wonderful feedback about our student guides and helpers; they are our best ambassadors. Please pass on the date to your contacts who may be interested, and our gratitude in advance to all who will make the day a success.

Text capability from Northcote College

In response to feedback from the Sports Pavillion fire and in our drive to support attendance, we now have text capability to communicate with whānau for attendance and health and safety purposes. So that you do not miss an important message, please put this number in your phone as Northcote College Notification: 2340

We will trial next week with a text message stating “Northcote College Trial Text.” If you do not receive this by Wednesday morning, please email the main office at office@northcote.school.nz 

Pathway Meetings for students in Year 12 and their whānau: 28 & 29 July

Students in Year 12 and their whānau are invited to a Pathway Meeting with the student’s form teacher to review progress towards academic and pathway goals and to discuss any further support required to ensure successful transitions from school. Charles Wallace, Deputy Principal, has sent an email with further information and booking details.

Parent-Teacher-Student Meetings: 13 and 18 August

Progress reports were sent home at the end of last term, and the Parent Portal always has up-to-date results and attendance data. We encourage you to come to the Parent-Teacher-Student Meetings on Thursday 13th and Tuesday 18th August 4-7pm. This is an opportunity to speak with subject teachers about your child's progress and ways we can support them to achieve their academic goals. Bookings will be on the School Interviews website, and the code will be sent to you when the site goes live.

2026 yearbook

The 2026 yearbooks are $25. You are encouraged to purchase a copy through the Kindo Shop before the end of this month so we can estimate the printing order number. The yearbooks will be ready for issue at the start of December.

Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activity (CAA) results

The CAA Writing and Numeracy results were released this week. Students who sat these assessments and their whānau will receive emails in early August from our Literacy and Numeracy Coordinators with next steps. 

Year 9 Hearing test: 26-28 August

Northcote College will be participating in the Listen Up, New Zealand Hearing Screening Programme for Year 9 students from Wednesday 26th to Friday 28nd August.This national initiative, delivered by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation (NFDHH), provides a free, quick, simple, and non-invasive hearing check that can identify early signs of hearing loss which may affect student learning. Parents and caregivers of students in Year 9 will receive further information from our school nurses. If you do not wish your child to participate, please opt out by emailing nurse@northcote.school.nz  

Attendance is Important

Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that your child is at school on time and in every lesson ready to learn. We recently received acknowledgement and commendation from the Ministry of Education for our improved attendance data in Term 2. If your child is absent, please notify the Attendance Officer with an explanation either by emailing attendance@northcote.school.nz, calling 09 481 0141 ext.750, or via Parent Portal. 

Kia Manawaroa and Matavai e-newsletters

Please see the links below for the July e-newsletters which are also linked on our school website under ‘Resources’. The monthly pānui have a range of interesting articles and useful information and resources.

Kia Manawaroa: Education pānui for whānau Māori

Matavai: News and information for Pacific families and caregivers

Road safety

This is another reminder to please urge your child to cross Onewa Road responsibly at the lights, to always triple check for cars before stepping out to cross Kauri Glen Road, and to never jaywalk. Kauri Glen Road becomes very congested before and after school particularly on rainy days. If you are dropping off or collecting your child from school, we strongly encourage you to use Gladstone Road. Please do not park on yellow lines or across our neighbours’ driveways.

School uniform

Please support your child to wear the correct uniform which should all be named. In this cold weather, black shoes with black socks or tights are encouraged. White socks are not part of our uniform and should not be worn. 

The Teachers’ Institute Information Session: Wednesday 29 July 5.30-7.30pm

The Teachers’ Institute is holding an information session for people interested in teaching as a career. Details are here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xryHu_Qo6geeLeaeyOokICYFxq7gXByJ/view?usp=sharing 

School donations

We are grateful to families who pay the school donation; without these payments we would not be able to offer the variety of learning opportunities our students currently enjoy. All payments to Northcote College can be made in one place with your myKindo account. Kindo allows partial payment so families can make the donation with the amount they are comfortable with at any time suitable for their situation. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school. We encourage you to stay in contact; if you have any queries, please contact your child’s Dean in the first instance.

Ngā manaakitanga

Vicki Barrie

Tumuaki | Principal

 

Key dates for Term 3

Week 2

Tuesday 28 & Wednesday 29 July: Year 12 Pathways meetings

Week 3

3 - 7 August: Cook Islands Māori Language Week

Thursday 6 August: Performing Arts Showcase 6.30pm

Week 4

Thursday 13 August: Parent-Teacher-Student meetings 4-7pm

Week 5

17 - 21 August: Tongan Language Week

17 - 21 August: Lit Fest with activities all week in the library

Tuesday 18 August: Parent-Teacher-Student meetings 4-7pm

Saturday 22 August: School Ball

Week 6

Wednesday 26 - Friday 28 August: Year 9 Hearing Testing

Thursday 27 & Friday 28 August: Dance Showcase

Friday 28 August: Daffodil Day - non-uniform day to raise money for the Cancer Society

Week 7

31 August - 4 September: Winter Sports Tournament Week

Friday 4 September: Mid-term break - school closed

Week 8

Wednesday 9 September: NCEA Literacy (Reading) Common Assessment Activity (CAA)

Thursday 10 September: NCEA Literacy (Writing) Common Assessment Activity (CAA)

Friday 11 September: NCEA Numeracy Common Assessment Activity (CAA)

Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September: Year 12 Drama Production

Week 9

Monday 14 - Tuesday 22 September: Senior Derived Grade Exams

Week 10

21 - 25 September: Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Thursday 24 & Friday 25 September: Year 13 Drama Production

Friday 25 September: Last day of Term 3

Key Dates for Term 4

• 12 October: First day of Term 4, Timetable Day 6
• 12 - 16 October: Year 9 camp (group 1) to Motutapu Island
• 14 October: 2027 Welcome to Northcote College Evening
• 26 October: Labour Day - school closed
• 27 October: Whānau Prizegiving
• 28 October: Film Evening
• 29 October: Sports Prizegiving
• 4 November: last day of timetabled lessons for seniors
• 5 November: Senior Prizegiving
• 10 November - 4 December: NZQA Examinations 
• 23 - 27 November: Year 9 camp (group 2) to Motutapu Island
• 15 December: Year 10 Prizegiving and last day (1pm finish for students in Year 9)
• 16 December: Year 9 Prizegiving and last day