Principals News

With the holidays starting next week, it will be an excellent opportunity for students to relax and rest after a busy Term 3. Teachers have begun noticing the students feeling slightly lethargic, so the rest is very timely. I know the teachers are also very keen on a break. 

Over the past few weeks, it has been great to walk into classes and see and hear the students buzzing about our Science Unit, and seeing the student's unique ideas about developing products that incorporate how properties change. The designs are mind-blowing; there are newly created sports drinks called eco-aide, ice cream cones that stop the ice cream from melting, an egg carton that protects the eggs from breaking while they are being transported and a coffee cup that keeps coffee at a consistent temperature. 

Please mark in your diaries our “Action Day” on Thursday, 27^th October, where parents and the community can see these innovations in action. 

A big thank you to our Community at Pasadena (C@P) group, who organised a fantastic Quiz Night last Friday and our great Quiz Master, Jerome Brown. There was a tremendous turnout, with 20 tables sold and a great atmosphere. While it was good to raise funds, it was extra special for our community to come together in a social setting for the first time in a while. 

Pasifika Fono

We hosted a Pasifika Fono for parents on Wednesday 14 September, with our Pasifika Student Leadership Group leading karakia, speaking about the opportunities available to our students, and a performance by our Siva group.  There was talanoa with parents and students to collaboratively share ideas for new initiatives, the local curriculum, and a graduate profile, before sharing kai.

Ideas from the Fono will be used for future planning and reflection to ensure we are meeting the needs of our Pasifika students and their whānau. Some ideas are included below:

New Initiatives:

• Celebrating Pacific Cultures through food, greater activities during language weeks, choir
• Sharing knowledge with wider school
• Parent led initiatives e.g. workshops, performance group, Pasifika Graduation

Local Curriculum - what is essential learning for our Pasifika students:

• History, including ancestors, navigation, Dawn Raids, colonisation, Te Tiriti and how it impacts Pacific students
• Social Skills, Peer Pressure, Nutrition, Racism & Discrimination

Graduate Profile - what skills, characteristics or attributes are important:

• Know your identity and be proud of it
• Confidence, Kindness, Resilience
• Self-management

Student Consultation

As part of consulting with our Pasifika community, we also collected student voice from 36 students who identified with a Pacific ethnicity to learn more about how they felt at Pasadena and how we could continue to improve opportunities for our Pasifika students. Most students felt very positive about being a Pasifika student at Pasadena commenting that the school embraced their culture, they felt included and welcome.  Many students mentioned they felt proud to be a Pasifika student.

Pasifika Opportunities at Pasadena

We offer a range of opportunities for students with a Pasifika focus such as Pasifika Enrichment, a Siva performance group, and the celebration of Language Weeks.  Through Pasifika Enrichment students have connected with the Polynesian Panthers, to explore their history, as well as an Art project utilising this learning.  Students loved sharing and being proud of their culture, as well as connecting with other Pasifika students who have similar values to them.  Students enjoyed learning about their cultural history and language and learning from their peers.  They valued that the school has embraced their Pasifika background.

Further Opportunities?

A number of students felt like there were many opportunities already and commented that they enjoyed and appreciated these.  Students would also like to:

• Make sure we celebrate all Pacific cultures
• Learn more about racism across the school
• Share more about Pacific cultures in classes
• Learn more about Pacific culture in classes
• Have more opportunities for performance
• Have more sports

Student Leadership Groups - Year 7

Developing leadership skills is an important part of Intermediate school. Currently, we have Year 8 students in our Student Strategic Leadership Groups, however, we are now looking to add 1-2 Year 7 students to work alongside and shadow our Year 8s for the remainder of the year. Please note, there will be another opportunity for the students to apply as a Year 8 in 2023.
The Student Strategic Leadership Groups that mirror the schools strategic plan include:

• Students/Ākonga
• Future Focus/ Whakakitenga
• Bilingual Pathways (Māori)/ Hurahi Māori
• Wellbeing/Toiora
• Community/Hapori
• Pasifika
• Sports/Hā kinakina

These groups provide greater opportunities for students’ leadership, enabling them to pursue their passions and interests as well as creating and implementing new initiatives across the school and community. 

The role of the Student Strategic Leadership Group is to:

• Create, plan and action initiatives in the school community
• Lead events across the school such as socials, language weeks, bully-free week
• Present at assemblies, parent evenings, open days
• Support our PASA values 
• Coach and mentor other students to reach their goals 

Qualities we are looking for

• Excellent self-management skills
• A strong communicator (can speak in front of a group)
• Well organised
• Gets on well with peers - is a team player
• A strong role model who shows our PASA values at all times
• Prepared and able to stand up for and support peers
• Respected by others (peers and staff)
• Shows initiative
• Proud of who they are (culture etc)
• Kind, caring and respectful

Process

The process of appointing our Student Leaders involves:

• Students have a conversation with their classroom teacher about their application 
• Submitting an application via google forms which will be available on google classroom on Friday 30th September. This involves identifying their strengths and experiences as a leader as well as their new ideas and initiatives they may like to implement. Applications are due 18th October at 3pm
• Students can apply for multiple groups, however, successful applicants will only be a member of one
• Following the written application, teachers will comment on the strengths of the applicants
• Small group interviews will take place with Teacher Strategic Leaders and the Senior Leadership Team
• Successful applicants will be announced on Friday 28th October

Supporting your child through the application process

Students should apply independently with their own thoughts. Unfortunately, not all applicants will be successful and this may lead to feelings of disappointment. However, this is a great opportunity for students to develop their resilience with teacher and parent support. Students also have the opportunity to apply again as a Year 8 student in Term 1 of 2023.

Students will have different levels of resilience and different ways of responding to and recovering from stressful times. Disappointment is a very normal human experience. When experiences are normalised, there will be a safety and security that will open the way for them to explore what those experiences mean for them, and experiment with ways to respond. If you would like some strategies to support building resilience in your child, this is a great article to read for tips.

If you have any questions about the Student Leadership Groups, please contact your child’s teacher or me (christine@pasadena.school.nz)

Christine Abercrombie
Assistant Principal 

Speeches

Each year the students at Pasadena take part in a school-wide speech competition. Each student is required to write a speech about the topic of their choice. Once the speeches are written, edited and revised, students are able to choose whether they would like to present to the class or not. Each class decides on someone to present their speech in front of teams, and then there were students chosen to present in front of the whole school. When making choices, we look at the content of speeches and how students present.

This year, there were some fantastic speeches and topics that students chose to write about! Choosing only one speech per class was really tricky! Our top three finalists in the school speeches this year were Aariya Rm 12, Maisey Rm 7 and Rhiannon Rm 6. A big congratulations to those students and everyone who presented as it isn’t easy to get up in front of your peers and share your work!

This year students also had the option to write and present for the Rehu Tai speech competition. For this competition, students are able to choose whether to write a flash talk, rap, spoken word or speech. These students did this in their own time. A big congratulations to Tilly Rm 6 who represented Pasadena Intermediate at the city-wide competition!

Well done to everyone who participated and presented their fabulous writing!

Action Day! 

This term, for our theme, How We Respond To Our Changing World, the students have been exploring how an idea can lead to innovation. They have inquired into how materials might be transformed and altered to meet a need, how the changing properties of materials inform sustainable practices as well as the role of entrepreneurial ventures as a way to activate original ideas.

All students have identified a local or global need and have used their new learning of materials and innovation to create a prototype or product as a solution. To support this, students have been able to select and work flexibly with different specialist teachers that are best suited to the skills they require.

Our students would love to share their learning with our local community at our Action Day on Thursday 27th October from 2-5.30 pm. All visitors will be provided with ‘Action Day tokens’ where they can vote for their favourite product. 

Unit of Inquiry - How We Respond To The Changing World

This term Pasadena has taken a twist on our usual inquiry process - How we respond to our changing world has been our latest theme. Over the first part of the term, we learned about and completed different scientific experiments, evening trying some experiments out ourselves! When the final task rolled around, we learned that this time we were doing things a little more hands-on. We needed to think of a simple problem, and develop a solution that involved using our knowledge of how materials transform that we would then present on our Action day next term. We also had to explain the science behind our ideas. The amazing specialist teachers pitched in to help so that we could develop our creations with more expertise. For example, our product, ECOAID, is a safer, more eco-friendly and healthier version of Powerade. Our problem was that even though energy drinks are helpful, they can also be harmful. For us, our science included identifying different types of sugar and how they work, how ingredients interact with each other and how energy works in our bodies. Using the kitchen and working with Mrs Allington, we have created a healthier energy drink version where we are currently refining our recipe. We looking forward to sharing our drink with everyone at the Action day.

Made by: Tommy Rm8, Gareth Rm8 and Riley Rm7

Book Character Week

Last Week, we celebrated Book Character Week where our amazing Librarians sorted an array of fun activities from Kahoots, wanted posters, Author studies etc to take part in during their literacy sessions. On Friday, we had a book character parade where students and staff dressed in their best characters. It was so AMAZING to see the effort and creativity everyone made. These students were named best dressed:
1st place: Angus Rm1 
2nd Place: Milo Rm14 
3rd Place: Tilly Rm6 
4th Place: Alice Rm7 
A massive thank you to all the librarians who contributed their ideas for activities! It was a fantastic and successful day!

Sports News

Netball North Harbour
We have reached the end of our netball season and it has been fantastic to see such a huge number of students representing our school each week. Well done to all players, coaches, managers, parents and supporters and a big thank you for making the season as successful as it was. 

I will be sending out an email to the parents of all netballers inviting you to offer some feedback or any suggestions on how we at Pasadena can improve how we deliver netball. 

Lastly, please can you send your child to school with their netball gear as we will be issuing them out again next year.

AIMS Games
In August, Pasadena were lucky enough to send a team of Year 8 netballers down to Mt Maunganui to compete in a week-long tournament known as the AIMS Games. These games are played annually and even have more participants than the Commonwealth Games! Being a part of such a large event was an unforgettable experience and the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Keep an eye out for some highlights we are currently putting together. 

A massive thank you to Nat, Lyndal, Joanna and Nicole for all your work organising the trip, the fundraising, the practices and everything in between. Also to the parents who all made the trip to cheer on the girls, a big thank you to you. We cannot put into words how grateful we are for all of you!

Central Zone Girls Futsal
Two weeks ago a team of determined Year 8 girls attended the Central Zone Futsal competition. They fought hard against some very experienced teams and had an awesome day, showing off their personalised team chant and maintaining a positive attitude from start to finish. A parent who attended on the day commented that they were such kind, polite and competitive young women. 

A special thanks to Bria and Ceillhe for transporting and managing the team for the day! We wouldn’t have been able to go along without your help!
James Bonnar

Central Zone Boys Futsal
Last week we sent 2 well drilled and athletic teams to the boys Futsal Zone day. The year 7s lost their semi-final to a dramatic last second goal from Ponsonby and then managed a 4th place finish. The Yr 8s proved to be a tactically astute team and brought home the silverware after beating Mt Roskill on penalties in the final. The crowd did go wild!

Central Zone Basketball Girls
On Thursday 22nd September, the CZ Girls basketball team played at the North Shore Events Centre. They won their first 3 games against Royal Oak, Balmoral and St Cuths averaging 20+ points per game taking an easy lead to the quarter-finals. They won their quarter-finals against Remuera and faced a hard challenge in the semi-finals against Ponsonby unfortunately, losing their game. Their last game saw them playing for 3rd and 4th place against Waikowhai resulting in a victory.

A big shout to all the parents who came out to support and the amazing girls who participated on the day Helena Rm1, Aotea Rm3, Violet Rm3, Anahera Rm6, Azalier Rm6, Danica Rm6, Destiny Rm11, Hannah Rm14, Siautu Rm13, Nico Rm13, Sophia Rm15 and Cooper Rm13 who helped referee and support the team. You were all amazing!!

Central Zone Boys Volleyball
On Tuesday 27 September, Pasadena Intermediate participated in the Central Zone Volleyball tournament at the North Shore Events Centre. There were 11 teams from around Auckland competing and for most of the players, it was their first time playing in a Volleyball tournament. Pasadena made a great start winning their first 3 games in a row! They then went on to beat Ponsonby in the quarter-finals and were ready to take on Waikowhai in the semi-finals. They lost that game and Pasadena eventually ended up finishing 4th place overall. Well done to the team and bring on next year!

The team: Trevahn Rm9, Christian Rm13, Vinnie Rm1, Usaia Rm10, Micah Rm1, Waioro Rm10, Max  Rm9, Gary Rm9, Braxton Rm3

Central Zone Girls Volleyball
On Thursday 29 September, Pasadena Intermediate participated in the Central Zone Girls Volleyball tournament at the North Shore Events Centre. There were 14 teams from around the Auckland Central Zone competing and for most of our Pasa girls, it was their first time playing in a Volleyball tournament. Pasadena won 2 out of their first 3 games which meant they made it to the quarter-finals. They won a close game against Kowhai and made it to the final four. The girls lost a close game against Remuera to finish 4th overall. We can be extremely proud of this result and the girls represented Pasadena with pride, dignity and passion. 

Here is the team: Helena Rm1, Willow Rm2, Ella Rm7, Nico Rm13, Siautu Rm13, Hannah  Rm14, Julez Rm14
Jerome Brown

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