15 September 2021

He maurea kai whiria!

Ignore small matters and direct effort toward important projects

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa

I have chosen this whakatauki as I feel that it sums up where we are at, at this stage of the term.  We are barely back from lockdown and already the end of the term will be with us in approximately two weeks’ time.  In the senior school, we are very much focused on getting the students ready for NCEA.  We have found that the students have either thrived during lockdown and achieved extremely well, thrived in some subjects but have done little in others, or engaged hardly at all.  Fortunately, the last group is very small.  Later in this message, I will share with you what New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has done to support our students.

Another aspect of importance is that the building development at the school has started to gather momentum.  The new car park by the football field will become operational next week, and the carpark at the bottom of the drive will be converted into a building management site that contains multiple portocoms.  It is expected that we will have 60 plus trades people on site.  The demolition of the staffroom, B7 science lab, the library and C1 and C2 will take place between now and the end of the Christmas break. Kamatua Joe McLeod will bless the site on Monday September 20. Three re-locatable classrooms will be brought on-site to accommodate the students. While this is underway we will also be re-roofing A Block.  As you can see, important projects are underway.

I would like to advise you that as part of this process, the Pavilion will become our new staffroom for next term.  As a result, we have to relocate the contents of the staff room, the Deans and Guidance rooms and the Maths and English Departments.  To achieve this move, which is a large undertaking, will be school will finish at 1pm on Wednesday 29 September. Year 12 and 13s would have been in study during this time.  The Learning Support Centre will operate as normal.

Returning to the theme of NCEA, NZQA has announced some changes to support our students. I have already advised you of the later start to the examinations (22 November) and the later submission for portifolio work such as Art.  Learning Recognition Credits (LRC) were originally available for schools who had been at Alert Level 4 for more than 20 Days.  This has been reduced to 16 days so we are included.  This means:

Learning Recognition Credits (LRCs)

• for every five credits a student earns, they get one extra LRC
• students at NCEA Level 1 are eligible for up to eight additional credits
• students at NCEA Levels 2 or 3 are eligible for up to six additional credits.

Endorsements

• no change to normal requirements.

University Entrance

• no change to normal requirements.

Students who has entered for NCEA Level 1 will now only need 72 credits instead of 80, and at Level 2 and 3, 54 credits will be needed instead of 60.

This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week).  While our college encourages the use of Māori Language and Tikanga throughout the year (it is part of our school’s strategic plan) we have organised some extra activities.  Paige Puketapu our Komiti Māori Representative and Board member has organised quizes, competitions and presentations at assembly to support the week.

Earlier in the year, Cyrus Dahl raised tens of thousands of dollars for the building of an accessible swings in Woodridge.  This facility has now been opened and the documentary of this story can be viewed on TV1 Sunday 19 September 12 noon.

Ngā mihi

Grant Jones

Principal