Week 4
12 November 2024
Kia ora, EBIS Whānau
It’s been a great first few weeks of term 4.
We recently experienced the Intermediate Polyfest in Porirua, with 13 of the 15 intermediate schools in the region coming together for a celebration of Pasifika cultures. All of our representatives made us proud, and their set was loud, proud and in sync. It was a real pleasure to be able to watch our students take such pride in their school and their cultures in this most important of settings. This is the type of event that makes intermediates the wonderful schooling pathway they are.
There was a further celebration via the annual sporting festival, Toa Whakaihuwaka. In its second year this event has grown to involve intermediates from Hawkes Bay, as well as those regions who competed in 2023. Hockey was added to the list of sports contested and the event found a new home at Massey University. We sent three teams who joined the other 61 teams, representing 24 intermediate schools and comprising over 730 athletes.
Our boys basketball team experienced great success against Monrad Tirohanga (Palmerston North) and Napier Intermediate, but came unstuck against our Wellington rivals to finish in 4th place.
Our girls basketball team were the only team to defeat a Wellington opponent, beating Maidstone Intermediate, while they also beat Heretaunga Intermediate (Hawkes Bay) on their way to 7th.
Finally our hockey team had a tough day with the highlight coming when they defeating Highlands Intermediate (New Plymouth) to end their day in 6th place.
All of our athletes were a great credit to Evans Bay Intermediate and were a part of a special day.
This time of the year is also a time of preparation for the change ahead.
Transition visits and testing is taking place over the next few weeks with our high schools. In fact this week alone we have welcomed three high schools in to speak with our teachers. This is an important part of ensuring that the change of schools is successful.
With all this going on it’s hard to imagine much is happening in the classes, but we assure you there is still plenty of learning taking place everyday and the students and teachers are making the most of the remaining weeks.
Thank you for all of your support at this busy time, there is still much to cram into the rest of the year. Have a great weekend,
Ngā mihi nui,
EBIS Staff.
2024 represents the first time in many years that Evans Bay Intermediate School has had a dedicated Pasifika group. Prior to this we have had Ākauwaiata represent the school as a fusion group at the Wellington Intermediates Polyfest. This year we were there with our own identity.
The event was held at Elim Church in Porirua and was a wonderful event organised by Titahi Bay Intermediate School.
EBIS were the third school on the stage and all the hard work that has taken place over the last few months came together as we showcased a set we connected strongly with.
We faced our challenges with Matua Rob being absent, but everyone was able to lift and make him proud.
A huge thank you goes to Whaea Vic, Whaea Ruby and Matua Ezra for their hard work in preparing us both before and on the day. Also to Matua Rob for his work in preparing us and Mrs Kadlec for supporting us at this event.
On Wednesday 6 November, we had 31 students in hockey and basketball get up early to catch the bus to Massey University in Palmerston North where they competed against schools from across the lower North Island in Toa Whakaihuwaka.
These teams qualified to compete via the WRISSA tournaments earlier in the year.
It was a fabulous event with our teams having the opportunity to compete against schools from Manawatū, Taranaki and the Hawkes Bay.
Well done to all three teams, our boys basketball placed 4th, our hockey team 6th and our girls basketball team 7th.
It was awesome that all of them experienced success, while doing so respectfully and building whanaungatanga.
A huge thank you to Adam Hart, Lauren McAuley, Chris Tupu and Vic Subritzky-Nafatali for the work you did with the teams, and also to those supporters who travelled to cheer them on. It was a long day, but a great day that the students really enjoyed. Roll on Toa Whakaihuwaka 2025.
A tough morning turned into a wonderful afternoon as we found ourselves in the same pool as both potential finalists at WRISSA Touch Rugby.
Following the split into top 8 and bottom 8 we set ourselves the goal of winning the bottom 8. That’s exactly what we did to finish the day with a commendable ninth place.
Thanks to Miss Hayes for her work on the day, and to both her and Miss Dean for helping us prepare.
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