Tēnā koe, Talofa Lava, Mālō e lelei, Sanibonani, parents, caregivers, whānau and students,

We hope our Tongan whānau have been able to celebrate Tongan language this week. This year’s theme is 'E tu'uloa 'a e Lea faka-Tongá 'o ka lea'aki 'i 'api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-'a-kāingá’, which means the Tongan Language will be sustainable if used at home, church and in the wider community. There are more than 80,000 people of Tongan descent in Aotearoa and the largest age groups are the youngest – meaning many ākonga are enriched with Tongan culture.

Thank you to all those parents who have been following the school process to communicate. Contacting the teacher or Whanau Dean for concerns, inquiries or feedback means the staff who are most engaged with your child can appropriately respond and provide the necessary support.

Today, I would like to focus on a topic that may be considered old fashioned to some but remains as relevant as ever in our increasingly interconnected and diverse world. I want to emphasise the importance of manners for adolescents.

At AJHS, our school model provides a 4 year period of transition, self-discovery, growth, and developing skills that can have a positive impact on our students’ personal and professional identity. Manners encompass a set of social behaviours that enable students to interact respectfully and considerately with others. This means being polite, being intentional with showing others care, reflecting on individuals values, character, and citizenship.

We are increasingly finding that some of our students are in conflicts and disagreements with other students, online or in person. We need to teach our adolescents how to resolve conflict without resorting to aggression, rudeness or actions that sometimes result in breaking the law. Manners - using respectful language to redirect conflict for positive solutions, needs to be reinvigorated amongst our young people. Manners are a tool and a part of being a kind human being. Adolescents with manners are more likely to positively navigate diverse situations and environments, gaining respect from the people around them. Thank you for partnering with our school to ensure your child is using manners as a citizen of Albany, and our AJHS community.

Please note that during Week 9 we will be holding our annual Lockdown emergency drill. Practising emergency drills with our students helps them to respond to any unpredictable situation.

Enjoy your weekend te whānau, and take care.

Malo ‘Aupito

Cushla Shepherd, Principal/Tumuaki

Albany Junior High School