Read the latest news from Rutherford College

Kia ora koutou,

This time of the year can be a challenge for many of our senior students with assessment pressures. I have encouraged all of our young people this week of the importance of living  by a moral compass that enhances your mana and brand image.

• Be on time and don’t keep other people waiting. In other words, if you are always 5 minutes early you can’t be late.
• We look for the positive in situations and in other people.
• We choose to work hard and look to maximise our own potential. Derived Grades Exams for example.
• We don’t compare ourselves to the best that others can be only to the best that that we can be.
• If we have nothing good to say or post, then we make the choice to say nothing.
• We look after the environment. One way we can achieve that is by putting any and all rubbish in the right place.
• We don’t make excuses for mistakes that we have made. We learn from them.

It comes down to work hard and be kind, and this means

- Right Place
- Right Time
- Right Thing

Senior Assessment Update: Important September Dates

September is a busy and important assessment month for our senior students, with Literacy and Numeracy CAAs followed closely by the Year 11–13 Derived Grade Exams.

Literacy & Numeracy CAA Resits

For students who still need to achieve the Literacy and/or Numeracy CAA, this is their final opportunity to sit these assessments in 2026. Caregivers of students who need to resit have already been emailed.

CAA dates:

• Monday 14 September: Year 10 Numeracy

These assessments are digital, so students need to bring a fully charged device. Students sitting Numeracy also need to bring a calculator. Students who passed their CAAs earlier in the year do not need to resit them.

Year 11–13 Derived Grade Exams

Monday 14 September: Study leave for Years 11–13
Tuesday 15 – Tuesday 22 September: Derived Grade Exams

Attendance at all scheduled exams is expected.

Derived Grade Exams are particularly important because they provide the stored evidence we may need if a student is unable to sit an NCEA external examination in November because of illness or another significant event. If there is no valid stored grade available, the school may have no grade to submit to NZQA.

The majority of our Derived Grade Exams are digital. Students should bring a fully charged device unless they have been told their exam is on paper. Charging outlets are not available during exams. Students should also bring their own calculator when required.

Students must be in full school uniform whenever they are on site and should return home to study after completing their exams. Catch-up exams will only be available for valid absences, such as illness or an official school activity.

Year 10 students taking Year 11 Maths may, with parental approval, take study leave on Thursday 17 September and on the morning of Friday 18 September before their exam. Please record this absence in advance through SchoolBridge.

Hearing Screening – 22-24 September 2026 

Free Year 9 Hearing Screening is taking place at our school as part of Listen Up, New Zealand, a national programme by the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation. This quick, simple, and non-invasive check can identify early signs of hearing loss.  

The tests will take place across on 22-24 September. Students will be called out of class for approximately 15-20 minutes for the test.  

This is an ‘OPT OUT’ initiative so if you do not wish to be part of this programme, please ensure you indicate this on the link below.  

Parent-Caregiver Registration & Opt Out Link

Student Representative on the School Board-Voting closes at 5pm

Don't forget to vote for one of our candidates today:

• Yehya Al Hakeem
• Emma Chase
• Cassie Chen
• Sebastian Li
• Nova Maslen
• Hamish Singh

Students can  vote for their candidate by logging into SchoolBridge and clicking Student Voting. Voting closes 11 September 5pm. Results are declared 17 September.

Learner Licence for Y12/13

Rutherford College Year 12/13 students (age 16+) have the opportunity to attend a Learner Licence Workshop to help pass the learner licence theory test.

Date:  Monday 26 & Tuesday 27 September 2026 (school holidays)

Time:  9am – 3pm

Location: Rutherford College – Careers Department, D Block

Cost:  $100 for the 2-day workshop

This workshop will be delivered by an experienced AA Driving School facilitator and is interactive and practical. The workshop will help students understand why the road rules exist and how they apply in real driving situations.

On completion of the workshop, students should feel confident to sit the learner licence theory test and will have the opportunity to do so on Wednesday 28 September at school. AA will provide an on-site mobile testing unit which will be available from 9am – 3pm. Identification documents and payment of the testing fee ($96.10) will be required on the testing day. Students who do not sit the theory test at school can visit an AA centre of their choice and make a booking to sit the test at a time and date that suits them.

On passing the theory test, students can bring their licence photo ID card to the Careers Department to have 2, Level 1 credits added to their Record of Learning. Credits are available at each stage of the driver licence process while students are at school.

There are limited spaces for this workshop and bookings can be made through the Community Education website: 

If you have any questions regarding this workshop please email: [email protected].

Kotuku Badge Applications for Y11-13 are open again.
If any student in Y11 to 13 missed out on a Kotuku Badge, applications are open again for a short time. Make sure you apply before 23 September. Log in to SchoolBridge and click on Kotuku Badge Application now.

Ngā mihi nui 

Gary Moore