Read the latest News from Rutherford College

Kia ora e te whanau ō te Kōtuku 

It was a pleasure to be able to welcome our future Year 9 cohort to Rutherford College this week as part of the orientation programme. A big thank you to the staff and students who put together the programme for our new students.  Orientation days provide an opportunity for everyone to get to know a little bit about our school, and what is important here as well as meet new people.

I would like to thank and acknowledge the vast majority of our Year 9 and 10 students who are living by our school values and through their daily words and actions are taking little steps in the right direction. I was impressed with the way they conducted themselves during the junior exams. We can allow ourselves to get focused on the one or two who let themselves down and lose sight of the good things being done by the majority. Post exams as I walk around the school during the day and then talking to our students after school out in the local community I am energized by the positivity on display.

An increasing number of our young people are recognising that success at school and life in general is all about little steps in the right direction, each day.  It is also accepting that there will be some real challenges and disappointments along the way.  Sometimes we try to protect people from failure and therefore reality. The real learning and progress occurs when we make mistakes and take the chance to improve. ‘Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up again.’

Success comes in small positive steps in the right direction repeated often.

Happiness and therefore success will be achieved by defaulting to a very simple philosophy that I repeat often; Work Hard, Be Kind – good things happen.

Homestay Families Urgently Wanted

Host families for International Students.

Rutherford College is welcoming back large numbers of International students in Term one 2024. We are looking for caring local homestay families to host them.

Payments of $330 per week to cover expenses.

If you have a spare room and are keen to learn about other cultures, please contact our homestay partner now!

Lake Panorama Student Homestays - www.lpstudenthomestays.co.nz 

School Policies and Procedures

Rutherford College subscribes to SchoolDocs for all policies and procedures. Anyone in the community can log in at SchoolDocs to view, read or review policies.

Term 4 Reviews underway are:

Curriculum and Student Achievement
Student Assessment
Home Learning
Religious Instruction/Religious Education
Health Education

Anyone can review the policies by clicking on the review tab when you log in to SchoolDocs.
Username: rutherfordcollege
Password: kotuku

Reviews are open until 15 December 2023. SchoolDocs considers feedback before making any changes. Your feedback can be anonymous.

Junior Production

Please support our students by coming along to the Junior Production of 'Aladdin JR'. Based on the Disney film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry Rosslo it will be a wonderful event for all the family. Everyone has been working very hard and you will definitely enjoy some fabulous music and acting.

Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December. Tickets are available online at www.trybooking.com/nz/QDD - Adults $15/Child or student $12. Under 5 free. (Booking fee applies).
Limited door sales (subject to availability).

Upcoming Events and Changes to the end of year

04 - 05 December Wider Living Week
04 - 05 December Junior Production
07 December Year 9 Prizegiving 10.45am (parents welcome) - finish time is 12.00pm then students will be released for the year
07 December Year 10 Prizegiving 12.45pm - 2pm (parents welcome) then students will be released for the year

08 December is a staff only day - no school for students

2024 Start Times

22 January - School Office opens at 8am
25-26 January Staff only days
29 January - Auckland Anniversary Day (school closed)
30 January - Y9 students first day and new to Rutherford powhiri
31 January - Y9 and Y10 at school
01 February - All levels at school
02 February - All levels at school on full timetable
05 February - School Closed
06 February - Waitangi Day - School closed
29 March - 2 April - Easter Break
12 April - End of term 1

Kia kaha
Gary Moore