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NEWSLETTER |
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TERM 3, ISSUE 2 |
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Principal’s message
Greetings parents and caregivers,
Further to my communication to parents last week regarding the PPTA teacher strike action, please let us know here if your Year 9 or Year 10 student needs supervision at school on Wednesday 20 August.
Term 3 has continued to be filled with opportunities for many of our students to participate and excel. We have recently engaged with Languages week, Cook Island week, Incubate Art Auction, KBB Music Festival and Clash of the Codes. All of these wonderful events were highlighted by the students' passion, enthusiasm, and desire to share their knowledge and talent with their friends and families.
Our school examinations take place in week 8 and 9. These play a crucial role in the learning process by helping both students and teachers measure understanding and progress. They provide a structured way to assess how well students have learned and engaged with material taught in class, identify strengths and weaknesses, and guide future learning steps in preparation for NCEA examinations (that start in November). Examinations also encourage discipline, and time management as students must prepare and apply their knowledge under time constraints.
Examinations and Study leave: Senior students will be on examination leave on the dates below and are expected to attend all of their scheduled examinations, arriving 20 minutes before the start time. If a student is unable to attend due to illness, the usual school absence procedures apply. For any questions or further guidance, please see eLearn or contact your child’s Dean. Year 11: Wednesday 3 September - Tuesday 9 September Year 12: Wednesday 3 September - Friday 12 September Year 13: Wednesday 3 September - Friday 12 September
Friday 12 September is a consolidated learning day. All students in Year 9 to Year 13 are working from home unless they are attending special assessments on that day. If your Year 9 or Year 10 student needs to be supervised for this day, please let us know here.
Sincerely, Brenda McNaughton Principal |
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Upcoming Events:
18-23 August — Tongan Language Week 25-29 August — Winter Tournament Week 28-30 August — Big Sing National Final 3-12 September — School Examinations
For a full list of upcoming events, see the upcoming events page on the school website. |
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Welcoming our new kaumatua – Otene Hopa
On Monday 11 August, we warmly welcomed our new kaumatua, Otene Hopa, to Epsom Girls Grammar School. Otene, a member of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and part of the kāhui taumata, brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and mana to our School. He is the National Cultural Lead at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and a tutor of the renowned Hātea Kapa Haka. The welcome was an opportunity for Otene to meet our staff and key members of our community, and for us to begin building what we know will be a strong and enriching relationship. We look forward to the guidance and cultural leadership he will bring as we continue to honour and strengthen our Te Tiriti partnership and connections with mana whenua. |
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Sports SuccessEmacyn Ieremia Selected for Auckland StormWe are proud to celebrate Year 12 student Emacyn Ieremia, who has been selected for the Auckland Storm Rugby Team to compete in the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup, New Zealand’s National Women’s Provincial Championship. Emacyn will take the field alongside EGGS 1st XV Rugby Coach and PE Teacher Miss Blackwell, adding to our School’s strong representation at the highest level of women’s rugby. EGGS Lacrosse: Auckland ChampionsCongratulations to our Senior A Lacrosse team on their outstanding victory over Westlake Girls in Week 3, which secured their position as champions of the College Sport Auckland Lacrosse Season. This incredible achievement caps off an unbeaten season and is testament to the strength of our Lacrosse programme here at EGGS. Thank you to coach Miss Gunn, who puts so much into the development of players and ongoing success of this sport at Epsom.
For a full roundup of all the sporting success at EGGS, click here. |
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Year 10 Theatre Trip: Romeo and Juliet
On Wednesday 30 July, our Year 10 students attended Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet at the ASB Theatre. This dynamic, contemporary take on the Shakespearean classic brought the text to life in new and engaging ways. Our students were a responsive and enthusiastic audience, and the experience captured the value of learning beyond the classroom—connecting curriculum with the power of live performance. “The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.” – Prologue, Romeo and Juliet |
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EGGS Digital Technology and Robotics Students at ShadowTech25
Forty-six Year 9 to Year 11 Digital Technology and Robotics students attended the ShadowTech25 event at Techtorium on 12 August, to gain new IT skills and insights into potential careers in the digital technology sector. The day began with a whakatau and morning tea, followed by a welcome from Techtorium’s CEO and introductions to staff – including former EGGS students. The students quickly got involved in icebreakers and a range of competitive IT workshops.
Highlights included typing speed and accuracy challenges, learning about cyber security and protecting hardware from static electricity, a gaming and IT quiz, and breakout groups where students used coding and Godot to create animated logos. Keynote speakers shared their tertiary study and career journeys. Students left the event with fresh ideas, stronger connections, and a clearer understanding of the many pathways available in the IT industry. |
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INCUBATE 2025: A Celebration of Student Art
On Thursday, 31 August, the Visual Art Department proudly opened their annual student exhibition, INCUBATE. The event was a vibrant celebration of creativity, attended by staff, students, whānau, and the wider community. The outstanding quality of work showcased the talent, passion, and dedication of our ākonga, who proudly stood alongside their pieces, experiencing the mana that comes with exhibiting in a real-world gallery setting.
Several artworks were sold on the night, with a small commission from each sale supporting the school’s growing collection of art taonga. This initiative enriches the visual culture of our School and supports our young artists for years to come. Thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated our students—your presence and purchases made the evening truly memorable |
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Chinese Trip
On 25 July, a group of Year 11 Chinese language students, accompanied by their teachers, visited a local restaurant for a “Yum Cha” experience. They sampled many of the dishes they had studied in class and put their learning into practice by using their oral language skills to interact with the restaurant staff. The students enjoyed taking their learning out of the classroom and practising their language skills and building confidence in a real-world setting. |
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Engineering and Science Competition
On Saturday 2 August, ten teams from EGGS took part in the 8-hour New Zealand Engineering and Science Competition, joining more than 1,000 teams from across the country. Our students approached the day with focus, determination, and impressive teamwork as they tackled complex, real-world challenges. Their preparation in the lead-up to the event was clear in their confident, performance, and their resilience under pressure was outstanding. We are proud of the commitment and collaborative spirit they brought to the competition—qualities that reflect the future of science and engineering. |
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EGGS Choir Concert
We are delighted to share that Paradisum has been invited to participate in The Big Sing National Finale, which will be held in Dunedin from 28 to 30 August this year. In recognition of this achievement and to send our best wishes to the choir, we will be hosting a farewell concert on 19 August which will be held at the Raye Freedman Art Centre. This event will provide an opportunity for the school community to come together in support of Paradisum as they prepare to represent our school at this prestigious national event. Tickets will be available for purchase soon. |
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Year 12 Drama Production
The Year 12 Drama class performed the classic, farcical Russian play, "The Government Inspector" by Nikolai Gogal. This challenging and hilarious play was directed by Mrs Michelle Hesketh. The story centers around a small, corrupt, Russian town that reacts with panic to the news that an incognito inspector will be arriving in their town to investigate them. It was awesome to see the students bring energy and skill to delivering a polished performance. |
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Year 11 Drama Performance
Year 11 Drama students have been researching the history of the historical home, Highwic House, which is locally situated on Gillies Ave. The students performed in character as people who lived in the home at the turn of the 20th century. It was great to see the students working in groups to create, edit, and shape dramatic performances that were full of tension and reflected the politics and language of the time. |
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Archery: WinterAIM 2025
On Sunday 3 August, Auckland Archery Club hosted the annual WinterAIM tournament which 12 of our girls participated in. This competition involves shooting 6 arrows for 6 rounds at 18m and then again at 15m for a total of 72 arrows. We had a strong showing from our barebow shooters Caitlin Lowe gaining 7th in the under 16s barebow scoring 582/720 and Lily Ross gaining 5th in the under 19s barebow scoring 524/720.
We are proud of the impressive progress our Archery team has made since this sport was introduced at EGGS several years ago. We look forward to supporting them as they aim for a top three finish. |
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Our Expectations for Student AttendanceRegular attendance is vital to your student’s success, and we all share responsibility for making it happen. Parents and caregivers must ensure their child attends school every day and notify us as soon as possible if they will be absent, including the reason. While we understand there are genuine reasons for occasional absences, frequent or extended absences can hinder progress. If this occurs, we will contact you to discuss the situation and offer support. If you are having difficulty getting your student to school, please reach out to their Dean so we can work together on a plan to overcome any barriers. For more details on attendance rights and responsibilities, visit the Ministry of Education website. |
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Lumino The DentistsThe Lumino the Dentists Mobile Unit will visit EGGS from 21 August 2025 as part of the fully funded School Smiles Programme. They offer free dental exams, oral health education, x-rays, and treatment for Year 9 to Year 13 students (up to 18-years-old). Enrolment details will be emailed to families soon. |
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