From the Principal's desk

We are now well into the first term of 2016. We have had a very smooth start to the year and the students seemed to settle into their routines very quickly. The year began with over 200 Year 9 students, who, alongside our new international and senior students, were welcomed to Kaiapoi High School with a powhiri. Matua Remi spoke beautifully and our Year 13 students were all involved for the first time. We certainly struggled to get everyone in the auditorium.

I would also like to welcome our new staff for 2016. Kim van Vuuren joins the Senior Leadership Team in the Assistant Principal role and Sarah McCallum has been recently appointed to a counselling position. Ryan Anderson (Science/HAPE), Kim Bosma (Science), Simon Henson (Social Sciences), Edward Kwon (Arts), Jene Lubbe (Mathematics), Kelsey McBeth (English), Nick McGillivray (Social Sciences/HAPE) and Bernadette van Dalen (Art) all joined the school at the start of 2016. Kelsey and Ryan are both ex-students of Kaiapoi High School and I am sure it took a while for them to adjust to having their old teachers as colleagues!

Our school roll currently sits at over 800 students, and our junior students make up 48% of this number. Due to this heavy weighting and the general increase in our school role, the Ministry has suggested that the school be rebuilt for 1100 students. On Thursday night I will be sharing the plans for the rebuild with our neighbours, as they will be affected over this period. Early in term 2, I will make a presentation to our parents and caregivers to explain the plans and share with you all the direction of teaching and learning that we will be taking into the future.

NCEA results were positive last year. In a few weeks we will be having our academic assembly at school. This assembly is to honour those students that performed at a high level in their examinations last year. Parents of award winners are invited to this assembly, so please keep a look out for your invitation. Our pass rates (compared against the national average) were:

· Level One NCEA 84% (83%)

· Level Two NCEA 84% (87%)

· Level Three NCEA 85% (80%)

I would also like to make a special mention of Brooke McGowan, who achieved a scholarship in Media Studies last year. This was an outstanding achievement. Well done also to her teacher, Ms Mann.

When I speak to our Year 9 and new students at the start of the year, I use a metaphor to describe school. School is like a vending machine; you have to put something in to get something out. Standing back and looking gives you nothing. So far this year, we have had sports games and trials, stage challenge auditions, house challenge day, athletics day, swimming sports and many cultural events, including Waitangi Day and the opening of the New Zealand Women’s Golf Open. I really do encourage you to have a word to your sons and daughters to be involved as much as possible in the wider school life of Kaiapoi High School. The truth of the matter is that we sometimes remember our class teachers that influence our schooling, but we always remember our sports teams and cultural events.

I wish to thank Emma McCracken and the great team of the Parent Teachers Association for organising our Year 9 wine and cheese evening. It was a great night, with a large number attending. Thanks also the Hospitality class that provided us with delicious cheese boards.

Finally, we have Board of Trustees elections this year in June. If you are interested in being on the Board, please do not hesitate to call me and have a chat. It is not an onerous task and very different from being on a Board at the primary school level. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Mate huruhuru te mana ka rere

You give the bird wings and it will fly

Bruce Kearney

Principal