Updates from our Syndicate leaders

Junior Syndicate Update

Our Primary students are so excited to be back at school.   We have started the year with a bang by blessing our new buildings and the official opening, tree planting and sod returning.  

We welcome Miss Cope to Room 5, Miss Tierney to Room 2, and Ms Lemon to Room 1. 

In Term 1 we require students to be wearing a wide brimmed sun hat at appropriate times like playtimes, lunchtimes and when outside doing PE. Can you please ensure that your child has a named hat at school. As Term 1 is always very hot, please ensure that your student has a named water bottle at school.   This will ensure your student stays hydrated.

Important dates:

Monday the 2nd March   - Upper Waitaki Swimming Sports in Kurow - Year 4 - 8

Friday the 13th March  - North Otago Rippa Rugby - Year 3-8

Friday 18th March -  TAS athletics Year 4-13

Junior Assemblies 

Junior assemblies this year will happen in our Multipurpose space in the Specialist Block.  These will begin on the 25th March.

  Assembly will be at the same time as last year at 2:30pm on Wednesday afternoons. Sometimes classes will share and sometimes they won’t depending on the work they have completed that week. Within the classes, some students will feel more comfortable sharing and others will not want to share just yet.  

Current & Upcoming Topics

• Ko wai ahau? (Who Am I?): For the first few weeks, we are focusing on identity and connection.
• Mathematics: We are currently exploring Statistics. Following this, classes will move into specialised math topics tailored to their specific year levels.
• Science & Sustainability: Every class will soon begin a fascinating unit on Bee Conservation.
  

Home Learning & Support

Starting next week, students may begin bringing home reading books and spelling words.

Your support at home makes a world of difference. Establishing a nightly routine for reading and spelling practice helps build the confidence and consistency students need to succeed.

Tip: If you have questions or want specific ideas on how to support these topics at home, please reach out to your child's teacher—they would love to chat!

Making appointments with teachers

If you would like to make an appointment with a teacher you should email them to organise a time. Please remember that sometimes we will require time to organise this with other teachers.

Email addresses are as below.

Room 1 -Beth Lemon  [email protected]

Room 2 -Isabella Tierney and Olivia McIntyre   [email protected] and [email protected]

Room 3 -Sharon Reid   [email protected]

Room 4 -Olivia Wise [email protected]

Room 5 -Nicole Cope  [email protected]

Room 6 -Melissa McLellan and Margaret White   [email protected] and [email protected]

AP -Melissa McLellan  [email protected]

Senior Syndicate Update

A Positive Start to 2026 for Our Year 7–13 Students

The new school year has begun with a real sense of excitement and purpose for our Year 7–13 students as they have returned refreshed and ready to learn, but they have also stepped into our beautiful new school buildings with maturity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to help move supplies and support each other to settle in. 

From the first day back, students have shown impressive adaptability—navigating new spaces, supporting younger peers, and taking real pride in caring for our environment. Their positive attitude has set the tone for a smooth and settled start to the year.

For our senior students, the focus has quickly shifted to their NCEA programmes. Classes are already well underway, and teachers are reporting strong engagement as students begin shaping their goals for the year ahead. It’s been encouraging to see how confidently they’ve stepped into their learning, making the most of the opportunities our new facilities provide.

2025 NCEA Attainment Results

We are pleased to share our 2025 NCEA attainment data, which highlights both areas of strength and areas for continued growth:

• NCEA Level 1: Twizel Area School’s overall attainment rate was 66.67%, compared with the provisional national average of 72.1% for Year 11 students participating in a full assessment programme.

• NCEA Level 2: Our attainment rate was 72.22%, closely aligned with the provisional national average of 72.7% for Year 12 students.

• NCEA Level 3: Twizel students achieved an outstanding 100% attainment rate, with 88.9% gaining University Entrance. This is significantly higher than the provisional national averages of 70.4% for NCEA Level 3 attainment and 49.9% for University Entrance.

These results reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the strong support of our whānau and wider community. We are incredibly proud of our senior learners and the pathways they are now pursuing.

As we settle into 2026, we look forward to building on these achievements, supporting every student to grow, and making the most of the opportunities our new school environment offers. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year for Twizel Area School.