I hope you have had a positive week leading up to our Easter and school holiday break. Thank you to all those parents who attended our online Whanau Forum on Tuesday evening. It was so encouraging and productive to discuss our unique Junior HIgh School model, and to gain insight around current student discipline themes from School Community Police Officer, Louise Nicholas.

This term we have continued to centre school life and progress around wellbeing. Looking after wellbeing is linked to learning engagement, self efficacy (reflects confidence in the ability to manage one's own motivation, behaviour, and social environment), and positive outcomes for both staff and students.

Building on this wellbeing theme, we have re-established school life this term with rigour around our teaching and learning space. Sustaining academic culture where we have high expectations for all our students to achieve, has meant making shifts in how we deliver our pastoral relationships and education partnerships with our students and families. AJHS is committed to creating the best learning conditions for our students.

I would like to make a special mention of our teachers this term. Despite the meaningful and much needed teacher industrial action this term, our teachers have not wavered from their disposition of their students' learning progress. We are very fortunate to have teachers who care so much, and repeatedly enact professionalism. We are hopeful all teachers receive a favourable outcome for strike negotiations soon. If we want to retain skilled and experienced teachers, and inspire the next generation of teachers to join the profession, we must seek better working conditions and remuneration.

Important Dates Term 2:

Monday 24 April, Teacher only day (Kahui Ako Conference of Albany Schools) school is closed.
Tuesday 25th April, ANZAC Day (public holiday), school is closed.
3rd and 11th May, Parent / Teacher Conferences, 2pm - 7pm *Please book your session (details on booking have been emailed to you)

Enjoy your Easter weekend, ensure you rest, and we look forward to seeing you in the new term. Take care.

Cushla Shepherd, Principal/Tumuaki

Albany Junior High School