Opening Ceremony April 2025

Marking the Beginning – Our Official Opening Ceremony

On Thursday 3 April, North West College officially opened with a warm and welcoming ceremony attended by students, whānau, staff, community leaders, and guests from across Auckland.

Held onsite at our Lincoln Road premises, the event marked a key milestone in the school’s journey – the formal launch of a charter school built on the values of academic excellence and creative expression.

The ceremony included speeches from Principal Michelle Randles, Co-Founder Sherida Penman Walters, representatives from the Charter School Agency, the Charter Schools Authorisation Board, and local iwi. A mihi and blessing were offered to open the occasion, grounding the day in gratitude and shared purpose.

Guests were treated to:

• A confident and energetic performance by students, reflecting their creative learning in Term 1
• A beautifully crafted ceremonial cake, made by our Office Administrator Monique
• A shared kai, where whānau, staff, and supporters could connect
• Speeches that acknowledged the vision, the mahi, and the collective belief that brought the school to life

Sherida closed the event by thanking the foundation students:

“You are each very special to us and you will always be honoured as our founders.”

As we look to the future, we do so with deep respect for our students – our rangatahi, our chiefs of tomorrow – whose energy, creativity, and potential will help shape the direction of North West College in the years to come.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us. The day reflected not only what’s been built, but the shared sense of commitment to growing something meaningful for young people in our community.

Founders Speech for Opening Ceremony:
Sherida Penman Walters
North West College
3 April 2025
10.30

Warm welcome to each of you.

Mr Pemberton and I are very proud to have the privilege of being the founders of North West College Charter School for Academic Excellence and Creative Arts.

Our dream is that students choose to join our school that provides high quality teaching so they can each achieve their best academically and flourish creatively in an environment of respect for themselves, others and the world they live in.

Minister Seymour, you have worked tirelessly to create charter schools in New Zealand and we thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I know the parents in the North West of Auckland are very grateful to finally have some choice in the education of their families.

Ms Mahon as Chair of the Charter School Authorisation Board, we thank you and the board members for understanding our proposals and acknowledging that the concept of blending academic excellence and creative arts has real merit.

We have had tremendous support from the Charter Schools Agency in the establishment phase. Thank you Ms Lee, Ms Doust and Ms Hunt for your continual guidance. It has been very much appreciated.

We are pleased to formally welcome two new members of our Advisory Board today. Your extensive educational experience will be of great value to us as we work to develop a school of the future.

Thank you to our parents who have demonstrated faith in our innovative concept of learning. We enrolling an average of two students per week and have a wave of interest in North West College and many pre enrolments for 2026 and beyond.

Our specialist teachers share their expertise in both their subjects and creative interests.
Thank you for sharing our vision and being part of our founding team to realise our dream.

Most importantly to our first students.
You are each very special to us and you will always be honoured as our founders.

It has been a privilege to work alongside you, seeing each of you make considerable progress even after 7 weeks.

I’m sure our visitors will be very impressed with your academic work and your art and technology displayed around the school.

You have made a great start, thank you.