Summit Point School

Science: Darwin’s Finches Experiment- Why do birds have different beaks?

Our young scientists stepped into Charles Darwin’s shoes this week to find out!
Through a hands-on simulation of Darwin’s finches, students used different "tools" to mimic bird beaks and test how well they could gather food.

This interactive experiment brought the concept of evolutionary adaptation to life, making abstract scientific theories tangible, memorable, and incredibly fun for curious minds.

Every Student Matters: Finding the Right Educational Pathway ✨

Every child’s learning journey is unique, and finding the environment where they will truly thrive can feel like a big decision. We are here to help you navigate the options.

Join us for an evening of connection and insight as we explore diverse educational pathways across Summit Point School (SPS), Future School (AGE), and Crimson Global Academy.

Learn directly from leading educators and experts:

Rebecca Elias (SPS)

Lisa Squire (Future School)

Pene Barton (CEO, Crimson Global Academy)

Special Guest: Rhian Collings (Registered Psychologist & Director of Blossom Psychology)

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, get your questions answered, and discuss the important details that matter most for your child's future.

🗓️ When: 18 June 2026 at 6:00 PM
📧 Register your interest: [email protected]
📞 Questions? Call us at 09 973 5354

We can’t wait to welcome you! 🤝💙

Multisensory Maths Extravaganza!

Math you can see, touch, and truly understand! 🧱✨

This week, we’ve been tackling multiplication and division using arrays, following the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) framework. By starting with hands-on materials (concrete) before moving to drawings (representational) and symbols (abstract), we give our working memory and processing speeds the perfect scaffolding to succeed. Watching the "aha!" moments light up the room is the absolute best part of our day!

Find out how we can support your child's maths learning at www.summitpoint.school.nz or www.thesummitacademy.co.nz

STEM Challenge: Duct Tape Vessels

The Ultimate STEM Challenge: Can you hold water using only duct tape? 🚰💪

Our innovators put their spatial reasoning and engineering skills to the test to build waterproof vessels. STEM challenges like this are fantastic for building executive functioning, requiring planning, goal-directed persistence, and cognitive flexibility when things don't go right the first time. There’s no single "correct" design, just a room full of brilliant, outside-the-box thinkers testing their limits!

The team at Icehouse Ventures and Crimson Global Academy are looking for Aotearoa's most exceptional young founders. 🚀

Today, they are launching The Fellowship: a first-of-its-kind programme to help the next generation of founders start and grow a globally successful startup, all while in high school. 🌍

Five Year 12 students will be selected to receive fully funded scholarships, which include a world-class education pathway through Crimson Global Academy (valued at $30,000 per student), and a year-long programme with Icehouse Ventures that includes mentorship, engagement with investors, attendance at events, and support from other founders. Each student will also receive $10,000 to put toward travel, startup costs, product development or other expenses that help accelerate their ideas. ✨

No business plan or polished pitch is needed. Just the ambition and conviction to see a problem the world hasn't solved yet, and the drive to fix it.

If you know an exceptional young thinker, share this with them. It could change the trajectory of their life 👉 https://icehouseventures.co.nz/the-fellowship

🗓️ Applications close 5PM NZT, 21st June 2026.

Charcoal Art Masterclass

Things got a little messy, and a lot beautiful, in art this week! 🖤🎨
Our students have been exploring the rich texture of charcoal, learning the art of sketching and shading. Art sessions like this are so much more than just creating a picture; they offer an incredible "mindful flow" and a grounding sensory experience that helps our neurodiverse learners regulate and express themselves. Look at those stunning contrasts and textures!

Find out more: www.summitpoint.school.nz or www.thesummitacademy.co.nz

Ruapehu Class at Fair Food

Talk about teamwork with a purpose! 🍌💛

Our amazing Ruapehu class rolled up their sleeves and headed out to visit Food Fair, a wonderful local company dedicated to reducing food waste.

Our students put their fine motor and executive functioning skills to work, chopping a massive 40 kg of bananas! These will be added to frozen smoothie packs and distributed to families in need. Connecting with our community and seeing the tangible impact of our hard work is such a powerful way for our ākonga to learn.

We are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn about food waste, create delicious pizzas, and help feed other people with the bananas we chopped!

School Trip to Auckland Zoo 🦒

oaring into a week of discovery! 🦁🌿 Our whole school community had the most incredible day exploring the sights, sounds, and wonders of Auckland Zoo!

A massive, heartfelt shoutout to the zoo’s phenomenal educational leaders. They truly went above and beyond to make the day unforgettable for our ākonga. By using highly engaging, interactive storytelling and adjusting to the sensory and processing needs of our neurodiverse learners, they kept every single student completely captivated.

From discussing animal adaptations up close to giving our minds a wonderful sensory reset out in nature, it was an absolute highlight of our term. Thank you, Auckland Zoo team, for creating such an inclusive, welcoming space where our tamariki could truly thrive! 🌍✨

Kia ora, Summit Point School whānau! It’s looking a little rosier than usual around here today! 🌸

Our campus has been transformed into a sea of pink as our incredible students stand together for Pink Shirt Day. Beyond the vibrant outfits, the heart of the day was found in our shared lunch, where our tamariki came together to celebrate kindness, community, and delicious kai.

Pink Shirt Day & Our Neurodiverse Tamariki

At Summit Point School, this day holds a special place in our hearts. For our neurodiverse learners, "fitting in" can sometimes feel like a challenge in the wider world.

By wearing pink, our students are sending a powerful message that difference is a superpower. This day aligns perfectly with our mission because:

Inclusion is Active: We don't just talk about being kind; we show it through solidarity.

Celebrating Uniqueness: Just as we celebrate the different ways our brains work, we celebrate the diversity that makes our community strong.

Safe Spaces: Shared lunches and group participation help foster the social connections and "belonging" that are vital for neurodivergent well-being.

Huge thanks to all the parents and staff who helped coordinate the pink gear and the lunch spreads. Seeing our students support one another with such genuine care is exactly what makes our school so special! 💖

Ruapehu Class – The Art of Seeing

Stop and smell the… apples? Our Ruapehu students traded their fast-paced energy for a moment of "quiet focus" this week during a beautiful still life art session.

While they were busy capturing shadows and highlights, they were actually flexing some incredible brain muscles! Still life drawing is a masterclass in:

• 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Learning to see the world as it 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 is, not just how we imagine it.

• 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Slowing down the racing mind to focus on a single point of beauty.

• 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Translating those tricky 3D shapes onto a 2D page.

For our neurodiverse artists, this isn’t just about making a pretty picture; it’s about the "mindful flow" that comes when you’re fully immersed in your craft. Check out these masterpieces in the making!