We have had a wonderful, though extremely busy start to 2018.

 ● We started the year by launching our 4 school values with all students.  These have been incorporated into our Strategic plan since 2016, but we think we need to focus on them separately now.   You will see the graphic on many staff signatures and documents and the students and staff are using them and referring to them often.

We have explained each in the following way to the students:
Manaakitanga – kindness, generosity, support
Whakarangatira – respect
Manawaroa – resilience
Ngakau pono – integrity

● The roll is huge – 1472 students, which is up 40 from this time last year.  The timetablers have worked their magic so we have not needed to have early classes or teach in the Staffroom, but the majority of classrooms are used 90-100% of the time and we have almost no free space.

● We were fortunate to start the year fully staffed.  Welcome to our new (or returning) colleagues: Rosie Wilson, Emma Young, Ashley Harris (English); Jacqui Forsythe (HR Administrator); Bridgette Dalgliesh, Sonya Stauble, Robyn Morris (Maths); Lu Chen (Maths/Mandarin); Vanessa Ward (HOD PE); Jessica O’Boyle, Luwane Schuster (Science); Ruth Henschel, Rachel McConnel, Sarah Watson (Technology), Anna Wilson (Technology Technician); Tessa van den Beuken (IT Intern); Cathryn Hu (Teacher Aide).

● We have had ERO in the school from 12 - 20 February.  They have visited about 25 classes, talked to staff, students and the BOT, spent many hours with the senior staff and pored over paperwork.   As is always the way, they have identified strengths and found one area we can work on to take our work to the next level, and one they affirm that we keep working on.  There are no areas of non compliance.   We expect the report to be with us by late March and will release it to the school community before it goes up on the ERO website.  The very early timing of the visit meant that we had an incredibly sharp focus to the start of the year and we can use their feedback immediately on our teacher only day on 2 March.

● We were absolutely delighted with our 2017 NCEA results.   Click here for the details or see attachment below.  The graphs compare out results to national statistics and decile 8-10 statistics (the band we sit in for NZQA data which includes all private and most Wellington city secondary schools).  We are so proud of the students and the staff.  These are outstanding results.

● As you have probably heard, we have asked the students to go outside this year on fine days. Contrary to some of the stories floating around, this isn’t because of litter in classrooms (although the lack of litter in the rooms after lunch now is a nice bonus).  Nor is it because we cannot fit everyone in the school.  The reason is that because the rooms are used for classes virtually all day every day, they and the students, need to get some fresh air.  We do have plenty of shade – but some of it is a wee walk away from the nearest exit door.  It has been great to see everyone out enjoying the (generally) glorious summer we have been having.  The library is still open and there will still be meetings or clubs in classrooms.  This is actually the only school I have ever worked in where students were allowed in classrooms at lunchtime, so we are not being overly radical making this small change.

We have been contacted by the Police about a spate of shoplifting by students in WGC uniform.  Obviously this is just awful and I doubt these students have ever been told that stealing (which it is, let us not use euphemisms) is acceptable, but they still do it.  We have been sent photos to help the Police identify these students, so we know who the are and we are working with them, their families and the Police. 
Please be aware that WGC students in uniform are likely to be banned from taking bags into a number of shops in the CBD as a result.  Yet again, the action of a small number of students can have such a negative impact on a large number of people.  I would really appreciate it if you would talk about this at home and about the need to speak up if you see things happening that you know to be wrong.

Thank you for your role making the start of the year so smooth.  I look forward to seeing you at events over the next few weeks as we start our regular activities for parents.

Ngā mihi

Julia Davidson
Principal