Term 1 Issue 4

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Kia ora e te whānau o Whangaparāoa,

As I write, we are in the middle of our Year 9–13 Meet the Kaiārahi evenings. It has been great to see so many parents and learners taking the time to connect with our Kaiārahi and reflect on the start of the school year. If there are any matters you wish to follow up, please feel free to contact the relevant staff member.

It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of Term 1. While it has been a shorter term, it has certainly been action-packed. Recently, our Pasifika group—expertly supported by Hibiscus Tuakana and performing alongside Ōrewa College—delivered an outstanding performance on the Tongan stage at Polyfest. Congratulations to all involved.

We have also seen a wide range of learning experiences beyond the classroom, with trips across Auckland including visits to our local marae, Auckland Zoo, and senior Outdoor Education camps. There is rarely a quiet day at our school.

To support the safety of all learners and staff, we have introduced a ‘no wheels’ policy during the school day. With over 2,000 people moving around the site, it is not safe for any wheeled devices to be used on school grounds. Please have a conversation with your child about this expectation, particularly if they travel to school using wheels.

We are also asking our community to keep dogs off-site at all times. Despite previous efforts to accommodate dog owners, ongoing issues—including waste not being cleared and instances of poor behaviour—mean we have had to make this decision. Thank you for your understanding and support.

As we approach the end of term, a number of assessments are taking place. Please check in with your child about any upcoming deadlines and support them to complete their work to the best of their ability.

Please note that Thursday 2 April is a Staff Only Day, giving learners an additional day ahead of Easter. However, it is important that learners continue to attend regularly right through to the end of term.

To finish the term on a high, we wish our senior Kapa Haka rōpū all the very best as they perform on the Māori stage at Polyfest next Tuesday. Kia kaha!
Have a wonderful Easter and term break. We look forward to welcoming all learners back at 8.40am on 20 April.

Ngātahi, Whakapono, Tutuki - Together, Believe, Achieve

Steve McCracken
Tumuaki | Principal

March

25 Year 9 - 13 Meet the Kaiārahi
31 Open Night for 2027
Polyfest - Kapa Haka

April

01 Last day of Term 1
02 Staff only day

20 Term 2 Starts
29 Whole School Assembly
30 Enrolment Interview Evening

Recent News

Polyfest - Pasifika

Last week we proudly celebrated our incredible Pasifika Hibiscus Tuakana learners as they took the stage at Polyfest. Performing on the Tongan stage alongside our friends from Ōrewa College, this special combined performance was a powerful showcase of culture, connection and talent.

The dedication behind the scenes was evident with many hours of practice, late nights and a huge amount of heart poured into preparing for the event. It was a proud moment for our kura to see our learners shine and represent their culture with such passion and pride.

Well done to all involved - we hope you enjoyed every moment of this unforgettable experience.

No Wheels Policy

Whangaparāoa College has implemented a new safety rule for all wheeled transport.

Learners must dismount and walk their vehicles (e-bikes, e-scooters, bikes, skateboards etc) at all times while on school grounds. This includes arrival, departure and during the school day.

The walk zone begins at all main entry points including Berdinner Road, Bonita Avenue and the bus lane paths (as pictured)

For more information regarding this new policy, please see the communication emailed out to whānau on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Additional Note:
We have received concerns from our local primary schools regarding the speed of e-scooters during drop off and pick up times. Please talk with your children about the importance of dismounting when riding through primary school grounds to keep our youngest community members safe.

Raising resilient learners in an AI World

For children who have access to digital devices and the internet, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming nearly unavoidable. Generative AI now appears across search engines, social media, video games, educational platforms, and even toys.

Much of this interaction with AI happens outside the classroom, making the role of parents and caregivers increasingly important in helping young people navigate an AI-driven world.

However, many parents and caregivers are unsure where to begin. With busy lives and competing responsibilities, they may not have had the opportunity to fully understand what AI is, how it works, or the impact it may have on their children.

Like to know a bit more: Visit Brookings - Tips for Parents

2027 Enrolment Dates

Photo Life

Keycodes have been sent to families via email.
As this is a new system, please check your junk, spam, or promotions folders, in case the emails were filtered.

Free delivery applies to orders placed before midnight on Sunday, 5 April 2026.

For enquiries email: [email protected]

Te Whare Hauora

The Weekly 1% Shift
Start the Day with First Light

Get 5-10 minutes of natural light before opening a screen.
Sunlight (even on a cloudy morning) triggers cortisol release to wake us up and sets a timer for melatonin production later that night.
Encouraging learners to step outside or look out a window before checking social media helps regulate their internal body clock.

Old School Uniform

Do you still have items of our old previous school uniform?
We are currently collecting items of our old previous school uniform. If you have any at home, please feel free to drop them off at the school's main office by 3:30pm on Wednesday 1 April 2026.