Thursday 11th November | Term 4 Week 4
Kia ora e te whānau,

As week 4 draws to a close, I am excitedly awaiting the final applications for the Head Student 2022 positions from our Year 12 students. Following receipt of an application letter, there will be a selection and formal interview process. I’d like to applaud the applicants for ‘throwing their hats in the ring’, it takes confidence and strength to put your name forward for a student leadership position.

This week, we are happy to have been able to complete our school photos for 2021 under Level 2 conditions. You’ll find the whole school photo was the only one not possible this year. We’ve also had the opportunity to promote Athletics Skills within our Year 4-6 group, with an ‘in house’ Athletics Skills morning. It’s a shame they didn’t get to compete in a regional sense, but we understand why the decision was made to cancel the large event. Earlier in the week, we had our final day with Maire Froud, the Police Education Officer. This time, her focus lay with the middle school and the Digital Safety Act. Their specific learning outcomes related to permissions, rights and responsibilities when sharing photos.

Next week, we look forward to the Ministry of Education visiting for a final set of Master Planning Workshops relating to our upcoming rebuild. I am hoping that we will soon know, and be able to share the proposed location of our new school within the current site.

Earlier this term, I let you know that final decisions regarding Prizegiving would be confirmed at the end of this week. Considering our ongoing status at Alert Level 2, we have made the decision that we cannot proceed with the usual large, single ceremony. This year, we will hold several smaller ceremonies which will be recorded for parents to view online. Due to privacy constraints, the ceremonies won’t be streamed, instead recorded and uploaded to view with password protection. There will be four ceremonies:
  1. Rooms 7-9
  2. Rooms 13, 4 and 5
  3. M1-4
  4. Year 11-13
We are able to invite Year 13 guests (2 per student) to the Year 11-13 ceremony and stay within the gathering rules. We feel that making arrangements for Year 13 guests is of the highest priority as these students should be recognised for their endeavours through the entirety of their schooling. Further information regarding timings and other organisational matters will be communicated to parents nearer the time.

Two reminders:
  • You are now able to provide vaccine certification for students aged 12 and over to the main office. Please read the article later in this newsletter which gives greater detail about the process.
  • Year 11-13 reports (following the 3-way-conferences) will be with students before the end of this week, please ask your child for your formal copy.

He waka eke noa,

Kate Staniford
Tumuaki | Principal


Room 9 Hīkoi & Waiata

Last Friday, Room 9 students joined senior ākonga for a hīkoi (walk) to Te Whare Mahana Marae to practice their waiata.

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Students' Cycling Safety

We have, this week, been approached by New Zealand Police in regards to a complaint by a member of the school community surrounding students wearing (or in this case, not wearing) bike helmets when cycling to and from school.

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Cameron's Sand Pit Project

Recently, the school has received feedback from one of our students about the lack of sandpit facilities for the middle and senior school areas. We invited this student to take action to resolve this matter.

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SkoolBag App Update

At the beginning of 2022, the SkoolBag app, used for school notifications and absence reports will be turned off. This will be replaced by our new Student Management System.

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Textile Basics with M1

Students in M1 have been learning some Soft Materials Technology beginner skills.

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Prizegiving Trophies

In preparation for this year's Prizegiving ceremony, can any student who was awarded a trophy last year, please return it to school by Friday, 19th November?

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Student Vaccination Data Collection

The school has been contacted by the Ministry of Education with information from the Ministry of Health over how the school should go about collating the vaccination register information for our students aged 12 and over.

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Teens and Study: How Can Parents Help?

Anxiety sometimes look like procrastination, and procrastination can result in panic. Time for a plan!

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Digital Exams Student Checklist

NZQA is changing how students can sit their NCEA exams – from hand-written papers, to online, using a device. If your rangatahi is sitting a digital exam, they can use the 2021 Digital Exam Student Checklist to prepare.

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Calendar | Wātaka

Click here to view the updated Google Term Calendar.

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