Focus on Cambodia
Dear Parents, Caregivers and School Community, kia ora koutou.
It was great to come together as a whole school last week for our ‘Focus on Cambodia’ fundraising fun day. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm across the school as students and staff enjoyed the many activities, games and food on offer. Thank you to everyone who contributed by purchasing food, taking part in the activities, helping to organise the day, or simply getting involved and supporting those around you.
While the day was certainly about having fun, it was also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the reason behind the event. The money raised will go towards supporting our senior students who will be travelling to Cambodia on our Senior Cambodian Mission trip at the end of this term. This trip provides our students with an opportunity to serve others, experience a different culture and, most importantly, put their faith into action.
Geoff McGregor from Partnership Cambodia was able to join me as I walked around the various activities during the day. Geoff was amazed at the way the whole school community came together to support the event. One thing that particularly stood out to him was the way our younger and older students freely mixed. He noticed the way our senior students went out of their way to make sure that our younger students were included and did not miss out on anything.
As a school we want our students to understand the importance of serving others, looking out for those around them and using the opportunities and gifts God has given them to make a difference. Seeing our students demonstrate these qualities so naturally was a real encouragement.
Our students will leave New Zealand for Cambodia on Wednesday, 23 September. As the trip draws closer, please continue to pray for our team as they prepare for the activities they will be involved in. Pray also for the team in Cambodia and for the people our students will meet, that through the relationships they develop and the work they undertake, people will gain a real sense of God’s presence, peace and love.
If you would like to donate towards the organisations we will be working with, please refer to the email sent out earlier this week for further information.
A verse that captures the heart of this mission is:
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
Thank you once again to everyone for their support, and next term we look forward to hearing how God worked through our students during their time in Cambodia.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Stuart Masterton
Christ at the Centre | Culture of Excellence | Partnering with Parents and Whānau
Key Dates and Contacts
Coming up
- Fri 11 September RSVP for the homestay evening
- Wed 23 September Cambodia mission team departs
- Wed 23 September Culture, Coffee and Cake homestay evening, 7pm, staff room
- Fri 25 September Term 3 ends at 3.10pm
- Wed 14 October Board of Trustees meeting, 7pm, Room 21
- Thu 5 November PTA meeting, 3.30pm
Who to contact
- Absences and attendance [email protected] or 03 313 6332
- Change of details [email protected] or 03 313 6332
- Buses Sheryl Band, Term 3 Bus Controller: [email protected]
- Attendance Dues Sharon: [email protected]
- Camps, workbooks, sports Glenda: [email protected]
For more on upcoming events, visit the Parent Portal or download the 2026 School Calendar below.
Justice
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
Proverbs 21:15
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Proverbs 21:3
“Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live…”
Deuteronomy 16:20
Room 6
- Book shares: lovely book shares by Beau and Wynonna! You kept us captivated and entertained with your reading, and you unpacked the story structures well.
- Southern Lights art: Room 6 created Southern Lights art with paint and chalk. We were in awe of the beauty the Lord created.
- My Favourite Things: great oral presentations, Emori and Anina!
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
Room 8
Scientists testing milk, dish wash and dye, bouncy putty with Austen, and buddy reading, which was a hit!
Service Challenge
Congratulations to our Year 3 and 4 Service Challenge certificate recipient, Thea from Room 5, who has reached the Seed and Sprout levels.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”
Mark 10:45
Primary Assemblies
Highlights from our primary assemblies on 14, 21 and 28 August.
Book Week
Congratulations to the winners of our Book Week door competition.
- First place 11EOS
- Second place 10DMI
- Third place 9TCA and 12/13KDR
Secondary Activities
A staff morning tea prepared by our Year 13 Food Tech students, with Mr Scotty Marshall and Mr Nick de Roo, plus moments from Worship.
Sport
Pimply vs Wrinkly
The Pimply girls won 69–50 and the Wrinkly men won 62–54. Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the evening.
Representative rugby
Pierre Smit, who is part of the Saracens rugby team, was invited to play representative rugby for the North Canterbury South team, and won a medal as best backline player on the day.
Jump Jam
Board Election Results
Congratulations to our newly elected representatives on the Board of Trustees.
Tyla Trent
Student Representative
Read Tyla’s statement
I believe I would be a good member of the school board because I am responsible, approachable and willing to listen to the opinions and ideas of others. I would make sure that I represent the wider student body, not just my own opinions, and would be confident speaking up about issues that matter to students. I understand that being on the school board is about making decisions that benefit the whole school community, so I would take the role seriously and be respectful of different perspectives. I would bring strong leadership, communication and teamwork skills, while also being willing to listen and learn from others. I want to help make our school a positive, supportive and inclusive place where students feel heard and valued. Most importantly, I would be committed to representing students honestly and making sure their voices are considered when important decisions are made.
Vikie Balogun-Fatokun
Parent Representative
Read Vikie’s statement
I am honoured to accept my nomination for the Board of Trustees/Governors of the school and to offer my candidacy for consideration. As a parent with children attending the RNLS, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the positive impact that Christian education can have on young people. I deeply value the school’s commitment to academic excellence, character development, spiritual growth, and the nurturing of a caring and supportive community. These values align closely with my own beliefs and aspirations for the next generation.
I believe that schools play a vital role in shaping not only academic achievement but also integrity, compassion, resilience, and faith. In a rapidly changing world, our children need strong foundations that equip them to thrive academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. I am passionate about supporting the school’s mission of providing an environment where students can grow in knowledge, faith, and service to others.
Professionally, I bring experience in governance, strategic planning, community engagement, legal, safeguarding, risk management, and organisational development. Through my work with academic institutions, community and charitable initiatives, I have developed an appreciation for accountability, responsible stewardship of resources, ethical leadership, and collaborative decision-making. I understand the importance of balancing vision with practical governance and ensuring that decisions are made in the best interests of students, staff, families, and the wider school community.
If elected, I would seek to contribute thoughtfully and constructively to Board discussions, support sound governance practices, and work collaboratively with fellow Board members, school leadership, staff, parents, and stakeholders. I believe that effective governance is built on listening, mutual respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to the long-term success and sustainability of the school. Most importantly, I am committed to supporting a school culture that reflects Christian values, promotes student wellbeing, encourages academic excellence, and strengthens partnerships between RNLS, whānau, the church, and the broader community.
It would be a privilege to serve the school in this capacity. I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered and look forward to supporting the continued growth, mission, and future success of our school community.
Vikie
Cambodia Mission Trip
Hello everyone!
In September, our school is privileged to send a team of 13 students and three teachers from New Life to Cambodia with the Partnership Cambodia School Tours.
This is an incredible opportunity and we’re super excited to restart missions’ trips after stopping them for a while due to covid. This opportunity is an amazing answer to prayer, and it’s beautiful to see God working in our school.
We would love your support at this time; we will be doing various fundraisers that we would love you to get involved in. Coming up, we have the whole school Cambodia Day on Thursday the 3rd of September with a gold-coin donation non-uniform, and awesome lunch time activities! We also will have many different smaller fundraisers going on, so keep your ears and eyes open!
We’d also love to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped out already, especially with the awesome PTA auction! It went really well and it was a huge help to our funding.
Please pray for
- Sufficient funding for the trip
- Safety and peace of mind for everyone going, and their families back home
- Help for Geoff as he plans the trip
- Future interest in continued missions’ trips
- A positive impact for everyone involved
Thanks for your support and we look forward to sharing about our trip when we come back!
RNLS Cambodia team, 2026
Cohen C, Emma R, Reese A, Morgan D, Grace A, Sophie M, Shaylah G, Camara B, Daniel H, Tyla T, Lydia M, Olive G, Sophie B, Mrs Band, Mr Masterton, and Miss Cameron.
International
You’re invited to Culture, Coffee and Cake, a relaxed and informative evening for Rangiora New Life School homestay families.
- When Wednesday 23 September, 7.00pm to 9.00pm
- Where Rangiora New Life School staff room
- RSVP [email protected] by 11 September
New homestay families, you’re invited too! Interested in learning more about becoming a homestay family? This is the perfect opportunity to meet the team, ask questions, and discover what’s involved. Hosted by Maree Smith, International Director, and Jessica Cooper, International Administrator.
NCEA
Our NCEA Student FAQ for 2026 covers assessment and grades, attendance, deadlines and extensions, results and records, pathways, exams, and authenticity and AI. Click a page to read it full size.
Uniform
RNLS uniforms are available from NZ Uniforms. Shop online at rnls.nzuniforms.com, or see nzuniforms.com for store details and payment options.
PTA
PTA coffee is available from 8.15am. See the Coffee Cupboard menu below.
The PTA is a small but dedicated group of parents and teachers who gather in Week Four of each term to prayerfully consider and discuss funding requests. Each term, teachers submit requests for specific resources that directly support the needs and wellbeing of our students.
Through our fundraising efforts, we seek to bless and encourage our valued teachers as they faithfully serve and invest in the lives of our young people. It is a privilege to partner together in this way, working as a community to strengthen the work God is doing within our school.
2026 PTA meetings, 3.30pm
19 February, 14 May, 13 August and 5 November.
Parents are warmly welcome to join us. If you can’t attend but would still like to support or contribute in any way, we would love to hear from you: Suzy at [email protected]
School Office Notices
- Keep your details up to date. If your emails, caregiver details, address, phone numbers or circumstances have changed, please let the office know asap.
- Absence texts. Thank you to our parents who respond to our absence texts every morning. If we don’t hear from you by text, we will follow up with a phone call approx. 30 minutes later.
- Student access. The school opens for student access from 8.30am and not beforehand, please. A duty teacher supervises the Denchs Road netball court area from 8.30am to 8.50am (prior to class entry).
- Student medication. For the safety and wellbeing of all students, any medication required during the school day, including paracetamol, must be handed in to the school office for secure storage. This ensures that medication is administered appropriately, reduces the risk of misuse, and enables accurate record keeping, in accordance with the school’s health and safety procedures.
- Period products. Thanks to the Ministry of Education’s access to period products initiative, RNLS has a supply of FREE period products for young people, available from the school office as well as from Mrs Hopkins and Mrs Band.
- Cups and trophies. Please return your 2025 Cup and/or Trophy to the office so they can be prepared and showcased for the upcoming prizegivings.
Board of Trustees
The Board meets at 7pm in RNLS Room 21. Remaining 2026 dates: 14 October, 4 November and 2 December. Agendas and minutes are on our School Board page.
Policies and procedures
RNLS Policies and Procedures, including our Complaints Process, are on rnls.schooldocs.co.nz (user name: RNLS, password: seek).
Parent Prayer Meeting
The Parent Prayer Meeting started on Monday 16 February, at 9am in the Star Room at the Church.
General News
Volunteers needed for Special Assessment Conditions
We need more volunteers to assist some of our students by reading/writing or just supervising during assessments and exams. No experience is necessary; we will give all necessary information. A police vetting check is required and must be arranged through the school office. Please contact Judy Evans (SAC Co-ordinator): [email protected]
Youth Group
Gateway Life Church has recommenced Youth Group, every second Friday night, 7–9pm for ages 12–18. All young people are welcome! More information: Sharon Eloff, 021 030 4781.
From our community
Click a flyer to view it full size.
Notices and Sponsors
Gateway Stadium and Events Centre
For public bookings outside school hours, contact [email protected].
Athlete’s Foot school rewards
Nominate Rangiora New Life School when you buy shoes at our Northlands Athlete’s Foot store, and the school earns $15 of sports equipment or $10 cash for every pair. Open to RNLS staff, students and their families.
Scholastic Book Club
All orders are completed online at bookclub.scholastic.co.nz.
Our Skool Loop sponsors
Thank you to the businesses below for sponsoring our school app. To download it, search ‘Skool Loop’ in Google Play or the App Store and choose our school. To advertise on the app, email [email protected].
Advertise in this newsletter
Call Glenda at the school office on (03) 313 6332 ($50 + GST per term). Click an advert below to view it full size.
