Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you all enjoyed a refreshing and restful break with your children and had a wonderful Easter.
It has been a pleasure to see our students return to both campuses this week. The atmosphere has been incredibly calm and purposeful as everyone settles back into their academic routines. We have a busy and exciting term ahead, and I am delighted to share some of the latest developments with you.
As you know, next week we are launching our new Creative Friday timetable for our Universal Drive site. As we discussed in our recent correspondence, this model is designed to foster both academic rigour and creative mastery.
We have some fantastic options for students to choose from this term. These opportunities will continue to grow and diversify as the college expands. We are committed to ensuring our Year 9 and 10 students have the same rich, innovative experiences as our Intermediate cohort.
For our Lincoln Road campus, there will be a minor amendment to the daily schedule starting next week: Tutor Group sessions will now be held in the afternoons rather than the morning. We believe this shift will allow for a more settled start to academic blocks while providing a dedicated space for reflection at the end of the school day.
I am delighted to introduce Mr. Connor McFadyen, who joins us as our new ICT, Digital Fluency, and Graphics teacher. Connor brings a wealth of technical expertise and a passion for future-focused learning that aligns perfectly with our vision.
I am also proud to announce that Mr. Robert Solomone has been appointed as the Dean of our Universal Drive site. Robert’s dedication to student wellbeing and leadership will be invaluable as he supports our senior students through their academic and creative journeys this year.
A massive congratulations to our Shakespeare Group! They represented North West College at the Regional Shakespeare Festival last term and were nothing short of incredible. Their performance was a testament to their hard work, bravery, and artistic talent. They certainly did NWC proud!
This term, we have new lunchtime clubs and activities on offer. These are designed to give students the chance to step out of their comfort zones and try something new and different. We have Latin dancing and Debating on offer for the students, I’ll update you on how these are going as the term continues. We encourage all students to get involved and make the most of these opportunities.
Finally, I want to thank you for your continued support and the positive feedback regarding the exciting changes we have implemented. As we grow, your partnership and engagement remain crucial to our success. We value the trust you place in us to provide a world-class education for your children.
We look forward to a successful and productive Term 2.
Best Wishes,
Mrs. Michelle Randles
Debating: News Stories, Persuasive Speeches and a Debate App
The debating group have been running debates, presenting news stories, and trying out a debate app built by Mr McFadyen.
Embroidery: First Patches Under Way
Embroidery students have started their own patches, from bagpipes and a cricket ball to a lime and a firefly.
Shakespeare Festival: Planning Begins for The Scottish Play
Students have started work on an SGCNZ Shakespeare Festival entry for Term 1 2027, reading the play and learning soliloquies.
Year 9 Digital Fluency: Vibe Coding With Real Developer Tools
Every Year 9 Digital Fluency student now works in Visual Studio Code and GitHub, using AI to design, test and improve their own games and apps.
Years 7 and 8 Maths: Revision Before the Exams
Year 7 have finished all 15 exam topics and Year 8 sit their exam on Tuesday. Students need a blue or black pen and a ruler.
Years 7 and 8 English: Play Scripts, Book Reviews and Exam Preparation
Year 7 are writing their own short plays, Year 8 are studying A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and both classes welcomed back the mobile library.
Spanish: The Impossible House and Year 10 Mock Exams
Year 9 are describing, selling and letting homes in The Impossible House role-play, and Year 10 sat Cambridge-style mock exams.
Global Perspectives: The Kids Election and the Global Energy Crisis
Years 7 and 8 have studied New Zealand’s political parties ahead of the Kids Election, and how shipping risks push up living costs here.
Raising Resilient Teenagers Together
Practical ways families can help students keep showing up, slow down on tasks and protect their sleep through the last weeks of the year.
Water Safety at Muriwai Lifeguard Station
Year 7 and 8 students spent the day with Muriwai lifeguards, learning to spot ocean hazards, stay calm and signal for help.


