The weekly update from our Principal

Bula Vinaka, Kia Ora, Namaste, Salaam Alaikum, Guten Tag, Talofa Lava, Ni Hao, Kumusta and Warm Greetings to our Te Aratai College Whanau.

It has been wonderful to see our ākonga return to Te Aratai College for Term 4. The campus has been buzzing with energy as ākonga have reconnected with each other and their teachers, and there is a real sense of enthusiasm as we head into this final term of the year.

NZQA Examinations

For our senior ākonga, the upcoming NZQA examinations are fast approaching. This is an important time for our young people to focus on their preparation and revision. We encourage ākonga to take advantage of study sessions, seek support from their teachers, and develop good study routines. Your support at home in creating a positive environment for study makes a significant difference.

End of Year Celebrations

Term 4 is always a special time at Te Aratai College, with numerous end-of-year events and celebrations planned. These occasions bring our community together and celebrate the achievements of our ākonga. We hope to see as many whānau as possible joining us for these events. Details will be shared as dates draw closer.

College Campus Sign-In Reminder

A friendly reminder to all parents, caregivers, and visitors: please ensure you sign in at the office when you come onto campus. This is an important health and safety requirement and means that in the unlikely event of an emergency, we know exactly who is onsite.

Celebrating Our Community

This week we are proud to celebrate Fijian Language Week and Mental Health Awareness Week. We have organised a range of break-time activities and events to support our ākonga’ wellbeing as they settle back into kura. It has been heartening to see such positive engagement from our young people.

Attendance Matters – Especially in Term 4

As we’ve said before, regular attendance is the pathway to success. This is particularly crucial in Term 4, as this term lays the foundation for the year ahead. For our senior ākonga, every day counts as they prepare for NZQA examinations and complete final assessments. For our junior ākonga, Term 4 is when important groundwork is laid for next year’s learning, and missing even a few days can create gaps that are difficult to close.

Being present and engaged in learning every day helps our ākonga build the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to be prepared for the next phase of their lives. Term 4 may be shorter, but it is packed with crucial learning opportunities, assessment preparation, and important transitions. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your tamariki are at kura every day, ready to learn and make the most of this vital term.

Looking forward to a fantastic Term 4 together.

Rangitohiora Receives Prestigious Kaitātaki Tane Taonga

Te Aratai College experienced a momentous occasion on Tuesday, October 7th, when Rangitohiora Paringatai-Dallas was presented with the Kaitātaki Tane taonga from Te Pā o Rākaihautū as the current Kaitātaki Tane o te Rohe o Waitaha.

This is a magnificent achievement and a moment of great significance for our whānau and our rohe. The Kaitātaki Tane taonga is awarded to the outstanding male leader in Kapa Haka competition, recognizing excellence in leadership, performance, and dedication to this important cultural practice.

What makes this honour even more remarkable is that this taonga has not been awarded since 2019, underscoring the exceptional nature of Rangitohiora’s achievement. Various guests traveled to Te Aratai College to witness and support this special ceremony, reflecting the importance of this recognition within our wider community.

We are immensely proud of Rangitohiora and what this honour represents. To receive this taonga is a testament to his commitment, his mana, and his dedication to Kapa Haka and cultural leadership. His achievement brings great pride not only to himself but to our entire college community.

Rangitohiora is also serving as one of our Senior Prefects for 2025, demonstrating that his leadership qualities extend across all areas of school life.

Kia kaha ki a Rangitohiora Paringatai-Dallas – a true leader for our kura and our rohe.

Smriti Parajuli Awarded Milford Foundation Scholarship

Congratulations to Year 13 student prefect Smriti Parajuli, who has been awarded a prestigious Milford Foundation Scholarship for 2026—one of only 15 students selected nationally.

The scholarship provides up to $10,000 per annum for the duration of her undergraduate degree, covering fees, living costs, course materials, and accommodation. Smriti will also receive mentoring and access to internship opportunities through the Foundation’s network.

This achievement reflects Smriti’s excellence and the strong support from our school community. Lukas Davidson has expertly managed our relationship with the Milford Foundation over recent years, drawing on his business background, while Jessica Adams in careers has been invaluable in preparing students’ applications.

We have now achieved success in three out of the past four years—a remarkable feat given the scholarship’s competitive nature across 22 schools nationwide.

Warmest congratulations to Smriti on this well-deserved recognition!

Te Aratai College Tops Up Together for Mental Health Awareness Week

This week, Te Aratai College embraced the theme of Top Up Together, bringing our community closer through a range of wellbeing activities aligned with the Five Ways to Wellbeing. Throughout the week, our students and staff connected, learned, gave, stayed active, and took notice—embodying the spirit of collective wellbeing that underpins this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

Today marked the grand finale with our non-uniform day, where the college community came together to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation while celebrating the importance of looking after our oranga. It’s been inspiring to see our students and staff embrace these activities with such enthusiasm and care.

A huge mihi to our dedicated student and staff leads who have championed this kaupapa—not just this week, but every week. Their ongoing commitment to creating a culture of wellbeing at Te Aratai College reminds us all that mental health matters every day.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.

With your food basket and mine, the people will flourish.

Fatemah and Cleo representing at 2025 Dreaming Big Conference

We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our outstanding Prefects, Fatemah Ahmadi and Cleo Nicholas, represented Te Aratai College at the prestigious Dreaming Big leadership conference on September 9th.

Held at ANZ Centre in Christchurch, this inspiring event brought together young women leaders from schools across the region to connect, learn, and be empowered by some of New Zealand’s most accomplished women in business, sport, law, and social enterprise.

Throughout the day, Fatemah and Cleo had the privilege of engaging with a diverse range of speakers and workshops, including discussions on creating opportunities, financial wellbeing, and presenting your best self. They heard from remarkable leaders such as Dame Joan Withers (Chair of Infratil and Director of ANZ Group), former Black Ferns manager Cate Sexton, and emerging young professionals making their mark across various industries.

What an honour it was for Te Aratai College to be represented at such a significant event! Fatemah and Cleo not only absorbed valuable leadership insights but also built meaningful connections with student leaders from other schools, expanding their networks and perspectives.

We celebrate their commitment to personal growth and leadership development, and we look forward to seeing how they will apply these learnings to continue making a positive impact in our school community.

Well done, Fatemah and Cleo – you’ve made us all proud!

Subject Selection Forms Due Now!

This is an important reminder for all families with students in Year 10, Year 11, or Year 12. Subject selection forms need to be returned as soon as possible to ensure your young person gets the best possible subject choices for next year.

Students can hand their completed forms directly to the Careers office. If they’re unsure where to find it, they can ask any staff member who will happily point them in the right direction.

Choosing the right subjects is a crucial step in your child’s educational journey, so please encourage them to get their forms in promptly. If you have any questions about subject selection or need support with the process, don’t hesitate to contact the Careers team.

Get Active! Girls Day Out Programme Celebrates Success

We were thrilled to celebrate the graduation of our Year 9 and 10 girls who participated in the ‘Girls Day Out’ programme last term. The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday 9th October at Te Aratai, brought together students, whānau, and staff for an inspiring afternoon of recognition and celebration.

The programme, delivered in partnership with Te Aratai and Waipuna, provided our young women with valuable opportunities for personal growth, connection, and empowerment. Throughout the term, participants engaged in activities designed to build confidence, resilience, and strong peer relationships.

The graduation was a wonderful occasion to acknowledge both individual and collective achievements, with our students sharing their experiences and reflecting on their journey. Staff and families joined together over afternoon tea to celebrate the dedication and progress of these outstanding young women.

We’re incredibly proud of all the girls who committed themselves to this programme and grateful to our partners at Te Aratai and Waipuna for making it possible. Well done to all our graduates!

Looking ahead:

• 14 Oct, Tue 4:30pm-5:45pm Senior Pathway Showcase 2025

• 16 Oct, Thu 4:30pm–6:00pm Hui-ā-Whānau

• 17 Oct, Fri 5:00pm–7:00pm International Awards and Leavers Celebration

• 22 Oct, Wed 6:00pm–8:00pm Sport Awards

• 23 Oct, Thu 4:00pm–6:00pm Board meeting

• 27 Oct, Mon Labour Day – Public holiday

• 28 Oct, Tue 4:00pm–8:00pm Pasifika Awards and Leavers Celebration 2025

• 29 Oct, Wed 5:00pm–6:30pm Senior Prizegiving

• 30 Oct, Thu 1:20pm Year 13’s finish for the year

• 30 Oct, Thu 5:00pm–8:00pm Year 13 Leavers Dinner

• 31 Oct, Fri 1:20pm Year 11’s that have been given exam leave finish

• 31 Oct, Fri 1:20pm Year 12’s finish for the year

• 4 Nov, Tue NCEA Exams begin

• 10 Nov, Mon 9:00am–11:00am 2026 Year 7 new entrants e-asttle testing

• 12 Nov, Wed 9:00am– 11:00am 2026 Year 9 new entrants e-asttle testing

• 14 Nov, Fri Canterbury Anniversary – Public holiday

• 17 Nov, Mon 11:00am–2:30pm Top Team event

• 27 Nov, Thu 4:00pm–6:00pm Board meeting

• 28 Nov, Fri Last day of NCEA Exams

• 1-3 Dec, Mon-Wed Year 8 Camp

• 4 Dec, Thu 5:30pm–8:00pm Year 9 and 10 Drama production

• 9 Dec, Tue 10:30am–12:00pm Tāhuhu Prizegiving

• 9 Dec, Tue 12:00pm–1:00pm Tāhuhu shared kai and activities with whānau

• 9 Dec, Tue 1:00pm Tāhuhu finish for the year

• 10 Dec, Wed 9:30am–11:00am Year 9&10 Prizegiving

• 10 Dec, Wed 11:00am Year 9 & 10 finish for the year

• 10 Dec, Wed Final day of 2025

2025 School Terms:

• Term 4: 6th October – 10 December

2026 School Terms:

• Term 1: From 2nd February (staggered start for year levels) – 2nd April

• Term 2: 20th April – 3rd July

• Term 3: 20th July – 25th September

• Term 4: 12th October – 15th December