Intermediate Term Four Update

Tēnā koutou, nau mai hoki mai | Greetings to you all, welcome back! 

Tēnei te mihi, e te whānau,

Welcome back to Term Four! We are all abuzz with excitement in the Intermediate School, as we continue to squeeze the learning juice through authentic contexts. Our concept for this term is "We Brought our Best Together", and we will explore this concept through a range of learning experiences, which could not have been achieved without targeted, specific collaboration.

The amazing learning experiences we have in store for this term are:

• Weekly Year 8 Maunga Walk - Starting in Week Two, on Wednesday afternoons, our Year 8 learners will walk up our fantastic maunga. We will use this time to reflect on our Stonefields journey and set goals for our next step into college. Please note that learners must be wearing sunscreen, wear a school hat and bring a drink bottle. We will depart from Stonefields at 1:50 pm and return just before 3 pm.

• Intermediate Zoo Trip - In week five, we will be going to Auckland Zoo to build knowledge on how the habitats are created and maintained to ensure the health of each animal, both physically and mentally. You will be sent a separate email with more details about this. 

• Year 7 Carnival - Once again, the Year 7 learners will be designing and building carnival games to create a fantastic morning of fun memories for our juniors. We will be working on these throughout the term, with the carnival date being scheduled for the end of the year. 

• Year 8 Pantomime - Meanwhile, our Year 8's will be planning and performing the annual Year 8 Pantomime. This is a wonderful chance for our Year 8's to collaborate, build connections with younger learners and come together to spread some wonderful cheer before they leave Stonefields School.

• Year 8 Graduation Dinner - Our annual Year 8 Graduation Dinner is the Stonefields high society social event of the year! This is a brilliant way to recognise and farewell our Year 8 learners, all while eating some amazing food and dressing up for the occasion. This year, our graduation dinner will be held on Thursday 4 December. We will be in contact via email, closer to the time, with more details. 

In our literacy learning, we are focusing our writing on persuasive language. We are building up to literacy debates, mock court trials, songwriting and more! If you have any specific questions about your child's literacy learning, please contact your child's literacy teacher directly. 

In maths, we are continuing to build our knowledge around the next developmental steps for our learners. This includes algebra, geometry, and integers. If you have any specific questions about your child's maths learning, then please contact your child's maths teacher directly. 

To contact the Hub Teaching Teams, please use the email addresses below:

• hub16teachers@stonefields.school.nz

• hub17teachers@stonefields.school.nz

EPro-8 Engineering Challenge

This week, our Intermediate learners had the exciting opportunity to take part in EPro8, a fast-paced engineering challenge. Participants were tasked with building an exoskeleton featuring articulating arms and legs, using a range of materials such as bolts, metal rods, and axles. Learners were competing for a spot on our school team, where they’ll have the chance to showcase their engineering skills against other schools in the region.

Teacher Strike - Thursday 23 October

NZEI Te Riu Roa Teachers’ Union are currently in negotiations with the Government regarding their collective agreement. The union has called a strike on Thursday 23 October. With the number of staff involved in this strike, we will not have the ratios to safely remain open, therefore, school will be closed for instruction on this day. Kelly Club will be open if you need childcare. Apologies for the incorrect date in our previous comms.

Friday Cafe volunteers needed!

A reminder that Friday Cafe will be run a little different this term. Each week has been assigned to a Hub. We require two parent volunteers from that Hub to help run the cafe for that day. There will be an experienced volunteer there each week to help support and train up any newbies. Volunteers are only needed for one hour, 2.40pm to 3.40pm, on the Friday. We are assigned the following weeks:

• Hub 17 - Friday 10 October

• Hub 16 - Friday 17 October 

If a Hub is unable to secure two volunteers for their week, Friday Cafe will be unable to operate that week. Many hands make light work! Please let the office know what date you can help on.

Senior Assembly Dates

This term we have two senior assemblies. This is a great opportunity for parents to see everything we've been exploring and learning about in the Hubs. We hope you can join us at 2pm in the Hall on: 

• Monday 3 November

• Monday 24 November

Reminder: Chromebooks Charged, Ready for Learning!

A reminder that learners should be bringing fully charged Chromebooks to school each day. Chromebooks tend to be used at various points throughout each day, whilst balancing this with book work. 

• You may be interested to know that Keyboarding is a new element in the 2025 NZC Curriculum. 

• Please ensure that your child charges their Chromebook each night, so they are ready for learning the following day. 

• Chargers should be kept at home.

• Please also be aware that the school only monitors activity on Chromebooks during school hours. Outside of school hours, monitoring of the safety and security of your child while online, is the responsibility of parents and guardians.

• Please note that Chromebooks purchased through the Manaiakalani Education Trust are the only devices that can be supported on our school network.

Uniform

At Stonefields School we wear our uniform with pride. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is wearing the correct school uniform:

• Black Intermediate polo shirt 

• Charcoal trousers, skort, or shorts   

• Sun hat

• Black shoes, including black laces, or black sandals

• Black or white socks

• Fleece Jacket or Intermediate Jacket

• Black or dark blue plain hair ties/bands (no other colours please) 

• No jewellery or necklaces should be worn, as this is a health and safety concern during playtimes and PE sessions. Exceptions to this include jewellery of cultural significance, small stud earrings, and watches however no smart-watches. 

• Black tights/leggings and a black or blue thermal can be worn under the uniform for extra warmth if required 

New uniform items can be purchased online and delivered to your home. Pre-Loved uniform items can be requested here and collected from the office. 

Learning Achievement Celebration - Wednesday 10 December

Mark the date in your diary! On Wednesday 10 December from 6pm we will be having our Learning Achievement Celebration, held at Sacred Heart College Auditorium. This is an event for the whole school community to celebrate all learners' achievements this year. All learners Year 1-8, and whānau are expected to attend. 

Senior Athletics Day - Wednesday 29 October

Our Senior Athletics Day is coming up this term on Wednesday 29 October at Colin Maiden Park. Learners will be involved in a variety of events including Sprints, Shot Put, Discus, High Jump and more at our fun activation stations. Whānau are warmly invited to come along, cheer on our athletes, and be part of this energetic day. We look forward to seeing you there

Wet weather save date: Wednesday 5 November.

Term 4 - Inter School Sports 

• EZ Athletics Y7-8 | Thursday 20 November

• Tamaki Athletics Y5-8 | Wednesday 26 November | qualifiers from School Athletics Day

Sign up forms are on the sport website: stonefields.school.nz/sport 

Here's all the key dates for Term 4

• Fijian Language Week | Monday 6 - Friday 10 October

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 17) | Friday 10 October | 3pm

• Friday Cafe performances (run by Hub 16) | Friday 17 October | 3pm

• Diwali Morning Tea | Tuesday 21 October | 10.50am, Staff Hub 

• Stonefields School Board Meeting | Tuesday 21 October | 5.30pm, Te Pātaka Ako

• NZEI Strike Day | Thursday 23 October | School closed 

• Diwali-Themed Friday Cafe (run by Hub 13) | Friday 24 October | 3pm

• Labour Day | Monday 27 October | school closed

• Senior Athletics Day (Year 5-8) | Wednesday 29 October  

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 12) | Friday 31 October | 3pm

• Senior Assembly (Year 5-8) | Monday 3 November | 2pm, Hall 

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 9) | Friday 7 November | 3pm

• Mid-Term New Entrant Cohort starts | Monday 10 November

• Manaiakalani Film Festival | Wednesday 12 November 

• Diabetes Day | Friday 14 November 

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 8) | Friday 14 November | 3pm

• EZ Athletics (Year 7-8) | Thursday 20 November

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 7) | Friday 21 November | 3pm

• Stonefields Market Day | Saturday 22 November  

• 2026 New Entrant Cohort Visit  | Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 November | 9.15am

• Senior Assembly (Year 5-8) | Monday 24 November | 2pm, Hall  

• Stonefields School Board Meeting | Tuesday 25 November | 5.30pm, Te Pātaka Ako

• Tamaki Athletics (Year 5-8) | Wednesday 26 November

• Whānau Hui | Thursday 27 November | 6pm

• Pasifika Talanoa | Thursday 27 November | 6pm

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 10) | Friday 28 November | 3pm

• Kapa Haka at Te Kōtuku Cultural Festival | Saturday 29 November 

• Year 8 Graduation | Thursday 4 December 

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 2) | Friday 5 December | 3pm

• Learning Achievement Celebration | Wednesday 10 December | 6pm at Sacred Heart College

• Friday Cafe (run by Hub 1) | Friday 12 December | 3pm

• 2026 Transition Morning | Monday 15 December

• Term 4 ends | Tuesday 16 December | 3pm 

View our School Calendar to keep up to date with all events