Newsletter - Issue 03 - March 13

Tēnā koutou katoa nga mihi ki te whānau o Te Kura Takawaenga o Ōtātara

"We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race"

Kofi Annan

This particular panui may start out sounding a wee bit dreary and sad but bear with me. There is a great deal of light at the end of this particular tunnel. As I watch and read the latest news it pains me greatly seeing how we, as a human race, treat each other with such contempt. It saddens me that we feel that we can solve issues, real or perceived, with a force that I find difficult to comprehend. Oh, I am well aware that much of the bitterness and fighting we see across the world has trade, has oil and has profit at its core but that in itself creates even more head scratching from me. Is this the way it has always been? Probably. Is this the way that it will always be? I hope not.

In a world seemingly torn by aggression and arrogance, I am pleased to say that somewhere amongst all this lies a hope that I see here every day within our kura and within our community. Aotearoa New Zealand has always been a melting-pot, a land where immigrants have their own hopes and where, for the most part, I see acceptance. With that immigration we see new ideas, new thinking and, obviously new cultural flavours and foods and that diversity may create a new world-order. That diversity adds to all that we have and opens our eyes to new possibilities.

I see that in our kura everyday. I see that in the way that learning groups are created within rooms that are not based on anything except need, where the learners themselves see their peers as classmates and nothing else. I see children of all ethnicities working and playing alongside each other - Bullrush, Survivor, football,  hockey and cricket to name but a few. I hear their laughter and their cries of joy. I hear them talking to each other as if they have known each other forever. I see those ethnicities combining to share, nurture and grow their own cultures but I also see those cultures sharing with all 'kiwis' through such events as last weekends International Foods Festival held in Hastings. I see a wide range of ethnicities in our Kapahaka, I see them in all that we do. 

Oh, I am sure that the picture above is not perfect but nothing ever is! But, if it is true that the vast majority of our rangatahi / teens do not see their peers as anything more than their peers and do not judge them for anything other than whether they are nice, or not, then that is nothing short of the solution that we need. Could this be the generation that changes the world for the better - the generation that talks its way through issues? Lets hope so!

Ngā mihi nui,

Marty Hantz
Tumuaki / Principal 
Te Kura Takawaenga o Ōtātara Taradale Intermediate

As part of our Attendance Management Plan, we regularly review our attendance data and share updates with our community. Below is a snapshot of attendance for Term 1 so far (Weeks 1–5).

Whole School Picture

• 73.92% of our ākonga are currently Regularly Attending (91–100%).
• 16.47% fall into the Irregular Attendance (81–90%) category.
• 6.08% are Moderately Absent (71–80%).
• 3.53% are Chronically Absent (0–70%).
  

This means nearly three quarters of our learners are attending regularly, which is a positive start to the year. Our focus now is supporting those students who are moving toward irregular attendance to return to regular routines early in the year.

Year Level Snapshot

Year 7:

• 74.90% regularly attending
• 3.42% chronically absent

Year 8:

• 72.87% regularly attending
• 3.64% chronically absent
  

Attendance patterns between the year levels are similar, although Year 8 has slightly more students in the moderately absent category, which we will continue to monitor and support.

Boys and Girls

Attendance rates between boys and girls are very similar overall, both sitting around 74% regularly attending.

• Boys currently have slightly higher chronic absence (4.55%), while
• Girls have slightly higher moderate absence (6.91%).
  

Our Focus
Good attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. When students are here regularly, they build stronger friendships, stay connected with learning, and develop positive habits.

Our current focus is to:

• Support whānau early when attendance patterns begin to slip
• Strengthen routines and engagement for students
• Work alongside families where barriers to attendance exist

If your child is finding it difficult to attend regularly, please reach out to us. We are always happy to work together to support our ākonga.

Ngā mihi nui for your continued support in helping your child be present, connected, and ready to learn each day.

Abeeth has made a fantastic start to his time as a Year 7 at Taradale Intermediate. From the moment he walked through the door and our Get Connected meeting, Abeeth demonstrated a clear confidence and assurance, which he has continued to bring into the classroom. Abeeth is sociable and has quickly built positive relationships with his peers. He contributes thoughtful ideas during group discussions and is willing to explain his thinking, which benefits both his own learning and that of his peers.
Abeeth sets high standards for himself in everything that he does and uses each success as motivation to achieve even more. This is demonstrated in his consistent work ethic. Excelling in Pāngarau (Maths) , Abeeth has shown leadership and a willingness to help his peers develop their maths knowledge, guiding them through group tasks with patience and maturity.

It’s not only in the classroom where Abeeth has hit the ground running, but also the sports field already establishing himself as a key member of the school 1st XI cricket team. He has contributed significant runs including his first 50 in the first two games, and has been described as “next level” by Mr Hantz.

Abeeth, I look forward to seeing what you go on to achieve in your time here at Taradale intermediate.

"Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata, whaia te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina"

(Seek out the distant horizons, cherish those you attain.)

Te Hemapo has truly earned our Kaweka Whanaukura certificate through the incredible growth he has shown over the past year, especially this term. He has become someone who takes real risks in his learning, asking thoughtful questions and showing the kind of bravery that lifts the whole class. He is far more comfortable in his learning zone now, and nothing lights him up more than a good debate with his classmates. His effort and the quality of his mahi keep climbing, and it has been awesome to watch. In our classroom, Te Hemapo is a kaiārahi for all things Te Ao Māori. He keeps us sharp with our kupu taonga and encourages others during karakia and waiata. He also takes pride in our learning space, organising, tidying, and helping our day run smoothly without ever being asked. Add in his wicked sense of humour, which lifts us most days, and you have a special taonga. "Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu"

This week we are pleased to present the Takitimu Whānaukura award to Hannah. Hannah is a fantastic learner in every respect who consistently gives 100% to all learning tasks. She is always curious and keen to go the extra mile; asking questions and digging deeper to improve her understanding. Hannah is a very organised and conscientious student who genuinely loves school and learning. Her enthusiasm is infectious and positively impacts those around her. Hannah has made such a fabulous first impression as a year 7 ākonga and we know that she will absolutely thrive at Intermediate with this fantastic attitude. Ka mau te wehi Hannah - we are very proud of you. 

As we move deeper into the term, this Whanaukura award recognises someone who has truly embodied the values of our kura and consistently upholds the expectations of Tareha. Klarisa, you have been a standout in the way that you approach your learning - with integrity, a positive can-do attitude, and a genuine commitment to learn and grow.

Your kindness, care, and consideration for others never go unnoticed. You engage in learning with a smile that radiates to those around you, and you willingly step outside of your comfort zone to embrace new challenges. Your readiness to support others and uplift your peers reflects the strength of your character.

Klarisa, you are honest and trustworthy, and you consistently exceed expectations. The role model attributes you display make you someone others naturally look up to. This award is a reflection of the positive impact you have made and we are so proud of the inspiration, influence, and dedication that you possess and bring to our Whānaukura each day. 

“Mā te huruhru ka rere te manu.” With feathers, the bird can fly.

Klarisa, your values and attitude are your feathers - and they will continue to help your soar. 

The following was written as a speech by one of our Year 8 ākonga who wishes to remain anonymous. We were unable to "fit" this into our celebration assembly yesterday as I was asked only the day before.

The message is such a strong and well thought through presentation that I was not prepared to wait until the next assembly. The message in this will also be much more powerful if shared with all our community.

If you as a whānau are experiencing difficulty or have concerns regarding your own child's hauora / wellbeing then please reach out to us at ineedhelp@taradaleint.school.nz

Self Harm Prevention Speech

Good morning ladies, gents, and everybody in between.

You may not know this, but March is a pretty significant month for a lot of people, including myself, because March is International Self Harm Prevention Month.

If comfortable, can you please raise your hand if you’ve ever thought of, acted on, or know somebody else that has struggled with Self Harm?

Yeah, and I bet when people hear the words ‘Self Harm’ they almost always immediately think of someone cutting or burning themselves. But the truth is, self harm is actually a really wide spectrum. There are lots of hidden ways people hurt themselves that don’t look serious from the outside..
Things like pinching yourself, pulling out hair, biting the inside of your cheeks, or even purposefully bumping into things so that you bruise. Basically, if someone is intentionally hurting their own body, that is counted as self harm.

And here's another thing that not a lot of people realise — Self harm is way more common than you probably think.
A study from Kidshealth New Zealand found that in intermediate, 1 in 5 boys and more than 1 in 4 girls experience Non Suicidal Self Harm. And I may not love maths… but that’s a lot of people.

That means that in a… ‘room’ like this, there’s a good chance that some people here either struggle, or know someone else who has struggled.

Another thing that I want to say is that most self harm is not about attention. In fact, most people try really hard to hide it. But even if someone does feel like they want someone to notice them, that doesn’t mean they’re weak or dramatic. It means they need support. And talking to someone you trust is always a better option than hurting yourself. 

But self harm is still self harm. Attention dependent or not. Not saying it’s right, you definitely shouldn’t do it. However, it may feel like rock bottom,  but if you persevere, if you continue on, it DOES get better. You will struggle, and some days will be harder than others, but as long as you’re able to live, as long as you’re able to wake up to another day, it will be okay.

The only thing I can say to discourage you from self harming is that it’s not worth it in the long run. You’ll look back at the first time you did it and realise, “Yo, that was kinda dumb.” Look at me for example. You don’t wanna turn out like me, right? But on a serious note, people aren’t going to see you for the person you truly are, but as the person that hurts themself. And I can personally say from experience that it is NOT fun.

Okay, so now that we’ve talked about the heavy stuff, here’s the most important part. If you ever see a friend or family member struggling, don't be a bystander. You don’t have to fix everything yourself, but checking in on them, listening, or encouraging them to talk to someone who knows how to help can make a HUGE difference.

And if YOU are the one struggling, please don’t deal with it alone. You can talk to a school counselor, a teacher, a trusted adult, a doctor,  a friend, a family member, or hell, even me. 

There’s also a youthline, which is available 24 hours a day. Their number is 0800 376 633 If you ever need someone to talk to. Because at the end of the day, your mental health matters. And you matter. Thank you for listening to my exclusive speech, stay safe, and I love you ladies.