Ponsonby Intermediate School

At Ponsonby Intermediate, I often felt that my emotional well-being was overlooked, especially when it came to dealing with personal challenges. Many of my classmates, like me, were carrying heavy burdens, but the teachers seemed ill-equipped to recognize or address the emotional trauma we faced. This lack of support made it hard to focus on schoolwork, as I often felt isolated and misunderstood in a place where I desperately needed connection.nnThe school culture didn’t always feel welcoming, either. Bullying was a persistent issue, and I saw many students struggle with the fear of being targeted. Instead of fostering a supportive environment, there were moments when I sensed judgment and exclusion from my peers, which intensified my feelings of insecurity. For someone who had already experienced trauma, it was particularly challenging to navigate social interactions. The constant worry about bullying made it even harder to find a sense of belonging, leaving many of us feeling trapped and alone.nnOne of the biggest issues was the limited access to mental health resources. I remember wishing there were more counselors available or programs focused on emotional support. Without those resources, many of us were left to cope on our own. I often saw friends struggling with anxiety or sadness due to bullying, but we had no real way to talk about it or seek help. This lack of support only compounded our feelings of helplessness and despair.nnTeachers played a crucial role in our lives, but many didn’t seem prepared to handle the emotional needs of students dealing with trauma and bullying. It was disheartening to see educators miss the signs of distress or fail to create a safe space for us to express our feelings. Instead of feeling nurtured and understood, I often felt like just another student in a crowded classroom, with my emotional struggles and experiences with bullying going unnoticed.nnIn summary, my experience at Ponsonby Intermediate was marked by a lack of support for emotional trauma and a troubling environment of bullying. These issues significantly impacted my education and well-being. The absence of compassionate resources, an inclusive culture, and adequately trained staff made it difficult for students like me to thrive. I hope that in the future, the school can prioritize emotional health and anti-bullying initiatives so that no student feels as alone or unsafe as I did.

It is a good school but the toilets are stinky ahh

don’t recommend this school. their social science teacher is literally so strict and doesn’t help on students. she should be calm and easy to students but the teaching she does is a big no for me, bad service and poor teaching skills, if ur trying to send your kid to this school, i dont recommend

not good school its was so depressing Ms Cullen was the best

If i could give this school a lower rating, i would. The teaching was fine, but the school itself has done me irreparable psychological damage. I was constantly scared of bullies - they have a no bullying tolerance policy, but what i saw was senior leadership turning a blind eye to every single instance of bullying, as long as the kid was too afraid to speak up. I was constantly afraid, anxious, degraded and taught to view myself as unworthy. Parents, don't send your kids here, but if you do, don't be surprised when they retract in on themselves and you never see them again. This school has no place for anyone interested in art- just sports and discipline. If anything, this school is an amazing example of how backwards and outdated the punitive system is - it didn't result in any prevention of bad behaviour, and rather just made the teachers constantly tired and the students constantly afraid. My most vivid memory from this school is tripping over and having a guy turn around and laugh at me. Your child will be crushed if they come here. I hope the whole place burns down.

Directions to Ponsonby Intermediate School with public transportation

---