Week 9, Term 2, 2025

Kia ora koutou,

As we reach the final week of Term 2, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a full and exciting term at Maeroa Intermediate.

We’ve seen our students shine across many different areas—from the creative and scientific to the physical and performing arts. Our Science Night was a fantastic showcase of inquiry and understanding, with students confidently explaining their learning and proudly sharing their investigations with whanau.

Term 2 has also been very active, with many of our students involved in a wide range of sports, including netball, hockey, basketball, badminton, football, futsal, and indoor cricket. It’s been great to see so many of our learners participating enthusiastically and showing great sportsmanship.

A highlight this term was our Matariki Breakfast, which was very well attended by students and our staff.  It was a special way to unite as a school community to mark this special occasion. During the day, students also had the opportunity to participate in various Matariki-themed activities during their breaktimes, further deepening their understanding and connection to this important cultural celebration.

The WIMS Art Day allowed a group of our students to explore their creativity and express themselves through a range of visual media. At the same time, our Show Quest performers have worked incredibly hard in preparation for their upcoming performance - a real highlight to look forward to. 

In addition to all these activities, we continue focusing on literacy and maths across the school. We are using the PR1ME Maths resource to support the implementation of the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum for mathematics, alongside our continued commitment to structured, explicit teaching practices. These approaches are helping us ensure every student develops strong foundations in key learning areas.

Next term, in Week 1, we will hold a Maths Information Evening for parents and whanau on 17 July at 6 p.m. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the refreshed curriculum and how the PR1ME Maths resource is used at Maeroa to support student learning. We encourage all families to attend and look forward to sharing this important part of your child’s learning journey with you.

I want to thank our dedicated staff, who have supported and guided our students through all these opportunities, and our whaanau, who continue to cheer from the sidelines and support us from home.

I hope everyone has a safe and restful break over the holidays. We look forward to seeing everyone back refreshed and ready for a great Term 3.

Ngaa mihi nui,
Susan Wood
Principal

Matariki Breakfast 2025

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A Cautionary Message for Whaanau: Phones, Social Media, and Our Tamariki

We want to take a moment to share an important reminder with our school community.

Recently, we met with a family — caring, responsible parents who are deeply committed to their child’s well-being. Like many families, they had provided their child with a phone, allowed access to social media, and let them use the device in their bedroom. They were unaware their child had been online throughout the night, engaging in social media use that included both bullying behaviour and, tragically, the posting of explicit photos and videos of themself. 

Understandably, the parents were devastated. Despite acting quickly and involving the police and Netsafe, the content had already been shared and will likely remain online indefinitely.

This incident has significantly impacted everyone involved and serves as a sobering reminder that even in safe, loving homes, things can go wrong in the digital world.

As a school, we also see the impact of poor online habits. Many of our students arrive at school tired and struggle to engage with their learning. When we ask why, they often tell us they have been online gaming or using their devices late into the night, sometimes all night. 

We strongly encourage all whaanau to:

• Take devices from your children at night and place them somewhere out of reach, such as a central space in the home.

• Check your child’s social media accounts regularly—this does not intrude on their privacy; it is part of keeping them safe.

• Set clear boundaries around when and how devices can be used.

• Keep open lines of communication with your child about what they’re doing online and who they’re connecting with.

Being a parent in the digital age can be challenging, but your involvement is crucial. Netsafe (www.netsafe.org.nz) has excellent resources to help whānau navigate these challenges.

Let’s work together to support our tamariki, ensuring they are safe, well-rested, and ready to thrive both at school and online.

Susan Wood - Principal

Daily Notices – Building Student Independence and Responsibility

Every morning, our daily notices are read out to all classes over the loudspeaker just before 9 am. These notices are also available in each classroom for students to read, and we share them on our school Facebook page so parents and whaanau can stay informed.

One of our goals at Maeroa is to help our students develop independence and responsibility. We expect students to actively listen to the notices each day and take the next steps themselves—whether that means asking their teacher for more information, speaking to the teacher in charge of an activity, or collecting a notice from the school office.

We know that not all students find this easy. Listening carefully, asking for help, and following up independently are important skills, and like all skills, they take time and practice to develop. Supporting students to grow in these areas is part of their learning journey with us.

As our students move on to secondary school, they will encounter many situations in which they will need to find information for themselves and seek help when needed. By encouraging these habits now, we are preparing them for future success.

Talent Time at Maeroa

Talent Time at Maeroa is a special opportunity for students to engage in an activity of their choice. It’s more than just a fun option—it's a valuable learning experience. Students practise completing and submitting a form, developing the important life skill of following a process independently.

More importantly, it’s about making a choice for you—not because your friend picked it, but because it’s something you're genuinely interested in, whether it’s trying something new or building on a passion you already have.

Once a choice is made, students are encouraged to stick with it, showing perseverance and a willingness to learn and grow. It’s also a great chance to meet and make new friends from different parts of the school, as students are grouped by interest rather than class.

The range of options is fantastic—sports, arts and crafts, cultural activities, baking, looking after the school chickens,  and lots more—there’s something for everyone!

The next round of Talent Time will take place in Term 3. We encourage you to talk with your child and support them in choosing something new or different—they might just discover a hidden talent, make a new friend, or develop a new passion!

Talent Time

Talent Time

Talent Time

School Board of Trustees Elections 2025

The school Board of Trustees elections are scheduled for 10 September 2025.

Please ensure that our school has your correct email address, as nomination information will be sent out via email. 

The main roll, will close on 16 July 2025. 

Secondary School Enrolments

Secondary School Enrolments for 2026
If your child is in Year 8 this year, it is important to ensure they are enrolled in a secondary school for 2026. Please be aware of the following enrolment closing dates for local secondary schools:

• Hamilton Girls’ High School – Friday 22 August 2025

• Hamilton Boys’ High School – Friday 29 August 2025

• Fraser High School (out-of-zone applications) – Thursday 19 September 2025

Please note: Out-of-zone applications received after the closing date will not be considered. You must enrol your child on time to ensure their placement for next year.

Please do not request our teachers to write references for your child. Their latest school report will be out before these closing-off dates, and these reports are what the High Schools require. Your child's mid-year report will be emailed to families on Friday, 18 July.

Student Conferences

How do student-led conferences work?

You will receive your child's mid-year report on Friday of the first week of the next term. The following week, you will have an appointment on either Thursday, July 24th, or Friday, July 25th. The conference is an excellent opportunity to review the mid-year report.

Your child will have brought home a booking sheet for you to fill in. This should be returned to their classroom teacher as soon as possible.  You can book times with your child's class teacher and any of the tech or arts teachers. Additionally, if your child has extra support from our AL@M teachers, you can also book a time with them.  It is a first-in-process, so please send the booking sheet as soon as possible. It is our school's intention for every child to have someone from their family or whaanau present their learning, as the experience of presenting to those who care most about them is rewarding for everyone.

Conferences last for 20 minutes. During this time, your child will present a 10-minute overview of recent learning and set goals, followed by an additional 10 minutes to allow the teacher to expand on the information shared by your child or for you to clarify any points if necessary.

On the booking sheet, you will find details about the arrangements for the conference days. Please indicate whether your child requires supervision or will be at home. This helps with staffing arrangements here at school.

Thursday 24 July   

• Students will be sent home at 12.30 pm. 
• If finishing at 12:30 does not work for your family, we can accommodate a regular finish time until 3:00 pm - please let the classroom teacher know or Nicky at the office. 

Friday 25 July   

• Students are only allowed to come to school during their scheduled appointment time and are permitted to wear mufti. 
• If you need your child to stay at school for the day, we can provide supervision; indicate below.
• Regular class programmes will not run for the day; an alternative programme will be offered in their place. 

Please get in touch with your child's teacher via email if you have not received a booking sheet.

Koru Badges

Congratulations to the following students who have achieved their Koru Badges over the last few weeks. They have set goals, worked hard and been successful. 

Bronze: Carter G, Ethan H, Reef K, Heber W, Aston W, Kale B, Skyla R, Daniel G, Max L, Izaac W, Eris G, Anthony C, Dylan T, Braydon L, Willow H, Leah D, Gypsy D, Lincoln P, Reon R, Norma-Rose, Tyrion J, Harmony, Hunter C, Aaliyah R, Jessica, Nathaniel H. Jamie C, T.J. L, Zowie H, Naia, Ara S, Skylar S., Jahlia, Ava W, Imogen, Lucas S,  Troy C, Joziah T,          Alacia-Rose, Dylan T, Simran, Kelae TT, Caden W-S, Ronan S, Flynn H, Jackson, Cooper MC

Silver: Lincoln F, Lockie, Levi D, Heber W, Lily N, Layla S, Sophie B, Jake V, Blake T, Israel W, Angel B, Lily H, Dylan T,  Nahla N, Maddie F, Winowa L, Shaelah T, Braydon L, 

Gold:  Levi D, Ruby O, Nimisha, Kingston H, Jo-Jo T, David K, Heber W.  Khloe Mc, Lockie P, Jordan E, Alex H, Kiara, Miracle

Platinum: Logan F, Finn S, Madison C, Kiana D, Blake K, Manassah K, Daniel L, Khloe Mc, Levi D, Giselle

Star: Marshall, Logan F.

Super Star: Kenzie, Morné, Danielle T.

"I never dreamt of success. I worked for it." —Estée Lauder

The Importance of Being On Time

At Maeroa Intermediate, our school day begins promptly at 8:45 am, and this is when teaching and learning start across all classes. Your child must arrive on time each day so they can start their day settled and ready to learn alongside their peers.

Our first learning block each day is focused on mathematics or literacy.  If your child is regularly late, they are missing a significant amount of valuable teaching and learning time in these core subjects, which can have a real impact on their progress.

We understand that things like traffic or unexpected events occasionally cause a delay. However, we are concerned about the number of students arriving late most days of the week. This ongoing lateness makes it much harder for students to keep up and engage confidently in their learning.

Please support your child by ensuring they arrive at school on time every day, ready to make the most of their learning opportunities from the very start. It is even better if our students are at school by 8:30 am and then they have the opportunity to get organised in class before the day begins at 8:45 am. 

2026 Maeroa Enrolments

We have fielded many enquiries about enrolments for 2026. This information is available on our school website; however, below is the first part of the process that may be relevant for many of you as you begin to consider next year. If your student is in Year 8, we encourage you to make contact with the secondary school of your choice and begin the enrolment process early, as all schools have enrolment deadlines to meet.

Term 3

Tuesday 5th August - Orientation Night   from 6 pm - 7.30 pm

• We are hosting an Open Night for families considering Maeroa as their choice for 2026.
• You don’t need an appointment; make your way to the auditorium by 6 p.m., and students will be out to guide you.
• We discuss various options, and classrooms are available. 

Wednesday, 6th August - Enrolment Packs Available 

• Enrolment packs are available at the following contributing schools: Frankton, Aberdeen, Forest Lake, Nawton, and Vardon School.
• If your child attends another school, you can collect one at the Open Night or from the school Office on Wednesday, 6th August.
• Return before Wednesday, 10th September, at 3 pm in Term 3.  
• Students applying for placement in the Sports Unit, Reo Rua, or Gifted and Talented class must meet the enrolment deadlines to be considered. This includes students both within and outside the school zone.
• Please note - We do not accept any out-of-zone Year 8 enrolments. 

Wednesday 10th September, 3 pm 2025 - Enrolment Packs are due back

• All enrolments for 2026 are due back at school, and out-of-zone ballot entries are closed.

Monday, 15th September - Ballot, if necessary, for out-of-zone enrolments.

• Depending on the number of enrolments, it may be necessary to hold a ballot.
• Details of the ballot procedures are included in the enrolment pack.

Wednesday, 17th September  - All applications notified of their enrolment status.

• Families and Whaanau will be notified by email of their enrolment status by Wednesday, September 17th; This includes in-zone and out-of-zone applications.
• If there has been a ballot and you are unsuccessful, you will be notified of your status on our wait list.
• All out-of-zone families will receive emails by Wednesday, the 17th, to inform them of their enrollment status. If they did not get on the ballot, they could be placed on a waiting list. 

Term 3 Dates coming up at Maeroa

Week 1 

• 14 July - Term 3 begins 
• 17 July - Maths Evening for parents/caregivers 6 pm
• 18 July - Mid-year reports will be emailed home. 

Week 2 

• Student Conferences will be on 24 and 25 July. 

  Our student conferences will be held the following week, on:

  • Thursday 24 July from 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm
    Students may go home at 12:30 pm after lunch

  • Friday 25 July from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
    Students only need to come to school for their scheduled conference

  Student conferences are a valuable opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, discuss their learning journey, and celebrate their progress. They are an essential part of building strong school–home partnerships

Week 4 

• 5 August - Maeroa Open Night for all Year 6 families considering Maeroa for 2026 
• Sports Camp away for the week

Week 6

• 18 August Teacher Only Day - Our teachers will all participate in professional learning on the new maths curriculum, facilitated by a specialist. Our school will be closed. 
  
• 22 August - Enrolments for HGHS 2026 close

Week 7

• 29 August - Enrolments for HBHS 2026 close

Week 8 

• AIMS Week 

Week 10 

• 19 September - out-of-zone enrolments for Fraser High close