Principal's Panui - 25 July 2025
Kia ora te whānau o te Kotuku
We were thrilled to welcome so many families to our Open Evening last night—it was wonderful to see such strong interest in what Rutherford College has to offer. The energy and enthusiasm from both visitors and staff made for a fantastic atmosphere, and we’re proud to have had the opportunity to showcase our vibrant school community, dedicated teachers, and the many opportunities available to our students. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a success!
Story for the week
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the correct lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage -- frustration, anger, disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful and happy people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Love the people who treat you right. Have compassion for the ones who don't."
Ready to Join the Rutherford Whānau? Enrolment Week - 28 July to 31 July 3.30pm to 7pm and Saturday morning 01 August 9.30am to 11.30am.
It is time to enrol your child at Rutherford College—a school where every learner is valued, supported, and inspired to strive for personal excellence. Enrolment Week runs from 28–31 July, 3:30–7:00pm and Saturday 1 August, 9:30–11:30am in our Information Commons. Come along, meet our team, and discover what makes Rutherford a place to learn, lead, and belong. We can’t wait to welcome you! Find out what you need to do here. Enrol online and then please make a time to complete your enrolment with one of our staff by booking a 15 Minute Interview here.
If you are currently out of zone and have a child already at Rutherford, please do not assume that they will automatically get a place. Our roll is growing, and the Board of Trustees has limited Out of Zone places to only 40. If you do not enrol before the out of zone deadline date of 27 August, it is highly likely that this quota will have been filled.
School Board Parent Elections – Nominations Closing Soon!
With just 12 days to go, we’re encouraging interested parents and caregivers to put their names forward for the upcoming School Board Parent Elections. Nominations close on Tuesday 6 August, and we’re looking for people who are passionate about education and committed to making a positive impact on the future of Rutherford College.
Being on the school board is a meaningful way to represent our community, contribute to key decisions, and support the direction of the school. You don’t need prior experience—just a willingness to learn, listen, and collaborate.
To help you decide if this role is right for you, we’re holding an Information Evening on Thursday 31 July at 5.30pm in the school staffroom. This will be a great chance to hear more about what the board does, ask questions, and meet current members. We’d love to hear from you—your voice matters!
If you haven't yet received a nomination form via email, please contact the returning officer on [email protected] or phone 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369). You can download anomination form here. Remember you can nominate yourself if you are a parent/caregiver or you can nominate someone else (as long as they agree of course). Information on Nominations is available here.
Weekly Achievement and Attendance Emails
A key part of our communication with caregivers is our weekly attendance email. This Friday we are implementing a new system to provide you with more information without increasing the number of emails you receive. We are adding more information to the weekly email to include recent assessment results, progress towards NCEA, and any upcoming assessment deadlines.
We hope you find this useful in tracking the progress of your child. Please get in touch with the school reception if you believe the emails are not being sent to the right people.
Key Dates:
04-08 Aug Option and Book Week.
06 Aug Nominations close for the parent election
07 Aug Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences 2pm to 8pm. School will finish at 1.20pm to allow time for teachers to set up for interviews. Bookings open 31 July.
07 Aug Careers Expo 2pm - 7pm in the School Hall - Everyone welcome
18-22 Aug - Rutherford Week
22 Aug - Rutherford Day - students leave at approximately 12.30pm
25-29 Aug - Winter Tournament Week
29 Aug - Mid Term Break - School Closed.
Gary Moore
