Our School Info BookNewsletter - WE 27/11/20
Only ONE thing in my Newsletter piece this week!
Amuri is going Cell phone Free in 2021
After extensive consideration of the research and evidence, the Board of Trustees have made the decision to make Amuri Area School cell phone free for students from 2021. As a Staff and Board we believe that cell phones at school are interfering with the learning process and dramatically reducing social interactions for our students. This concept is nothing new and has been introduced in many schools both within New Zealand and internationally and our research and discussion with schools that have made this change has provided overwhelming evidence that this is the right thing to do for our students.
This initiative will be rolled out as part of a FIVE string approach to increase student socialisation and wellbeing and promote the positive access of technology. These include:-
Initiative One: Students in Years 1-12 will not be able to use Cell phones or Bluetooth Earphones connected to Cell phones at school for any reason.
Students may have a phone in their bag to use for the bus journey and for after school activities, however, these must not be visible or switched on for any reason at school. We will send out further information on the specific system for managing this early in the first term and discuss this with all students.
Initiative Two: Significant Increase in organised lunchtime activities.
The school has set aside three hours of teacher contact time in 2021 to organise lunchtime activities for students on the senior side of the school.
Initiative Three: Resources shed for breaktimes established.
Students on the senior side of the school will be able to sign out loaned sports equipment for breaktimes to encourage participation and activity.
Initiative Four: A confidential cyber bullying email address will be established for students to report online issues. With the removal of cell phones AND with the effectiveness of the school filtering system, these issues should not originate from school at all, therefore, when reported, these will be managed as a counselling rather than behavioural issue with parents contacted where possible and encouraged to use NETSAFE and/or the Police as required.
Initiative Five: An increase in our loan laptop capacity for students, based on our successful pilot in 2020.
This is not about putting our heads in the sand over technology. Our BYOD programme for Years 9-13 and school provided devices in the lower years will allow all students to have the access to the tech they actually need for educational purposes each day. Students still have a LOT of time during the rest of their day to use cell phones and we think school can be a place where they have a break from it all! The research around the negative effects of social media on child wellbeing is becoming overwhelming and we think this small thing can make a big difference to learning and more importantly to real human social interaction.
We ask for your support with this initiative and for you to talk this through with your child to prepare them for 2021... to talk, to engage, to play, to learn.
Kia Kitea Toikaka
James Griggs
Principal
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This will be the last contribution for the year which on reflection, has presented some unique challenges. We are proud of how the students and staff have managed, adapted, and worked very hard to keep the learning on track despite the wobbles and achieved most of what we set out to do. The lesson for us all is to expect the unexpected and use our resilience and grit to create silver linings in the darkest of clouds.
The NCEA exams are running very smoothly and it is a relief in every school in the country that so far there has been no disruptions or alert level changes. The students have been positive about their papers and have approached these externals endeavouring to do their very best.
Year 10 have made their option choices for next year around Art, Foods, Woodwork and Technology – they will study two of these only for the whole year. It is certainly going to be an action-packed end of term for Year 10 as they have a visit to Rodin Cars on Friday and their Social Studies/Science field trip in the last week. The field trip is being funded by the school so after the cost of camp, there will be no additional costs.
Year 9 will be focused on finishing course work and apart from a ‘big day in’ of alternative activities on Monday 7th December, are well advised to stay on task. As Mr Griggs outlined in last weeks’ newsletter, this year level will arrive in Year 11 in time for the introduction of the new NCEA changes and they will need to be well prepared. I suggest you have a quick re-read of what was written so that you are becoming aware of the changes.
We have been looking closely at the class make-up of the Year 9 group who are currently in two unstreamed groups working on the same programmes. It has become apparent that some changes need to be made – this is nothing to do with ability, it is more to do with recognising that some students are not working to their potential and could be better stimulated in a different grouping. There will be no streaming, both classes are and will be mixed ability. The decision on the make-up of the classes is done in consultation with teachers and senior management to ensure the best for all students. These have been compiled using our best professional judgement and based on a variety of factors, therefore, we cannot accommodate individual requests to change.
Another exciting development for 2021 is the Duke of Edinburgh award coming back to Amuri Area School. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is the largest youth achievement award in the world. It is internationally recognised, developing life skills and qualities that are recognised and sought after by employers. It involves four sections that students must work through, including Physical Recreation, Skills, Voluntary Service and Adventurous Journey. It is open to everyone between the ages of 14 and 24, and you can start in the school year that you turn 14. If you would like to find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, there are brochures available from the school office or online at www.dofehillary.org.nz. Registrations for this will be taken early Term 1 2021.
Awards and opportunities like the above are an important part of developing a community service ethos which is highly valued by employers and communities and looks excellent on a CV. We would like to see more of our students involved in activities that benefit the wider community and not just themselves.
On behalf of the secondary team we would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing Christmas and New Year. For many of us family members will be unable to travel to join us this year so appreciate those you have around you and hopefully you may also get to enjoy some of the wonderful things NZ has to offer holiday makers.
Penny Mossman
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Congratulations to Rosie Mones-Cazon and Fergus McCone who placed third in the Year 7/8 mixed category at the Rakahuri Bike Blast school's mountain bike event on Monday. Great teamwork!
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Roll of Honour
Olivia Adcock, Tara Bensted, Zac Broom, Lily Burke, Reuben Chinnery, Blake Clisby, Thomas Croft, Annabelle Cundy, Alex Davison, Ella Dawson, Kate Easton, Kenn Egmao, Madi Fauth, Kevin Fenemor-Halsey, Jazmin Goodman-Lloyd, Zak Hill, Ben Jimmink, Phoenix Jimmink, Meg Johnston, Sophie Jones, Rhys Lewis, Laine Lilley, Arlie Marris Molly McKenzie, Arthur Milne, Rommie Murie, Georgie O’Neill, Kaitlyn Palmer Daniela Panganoron, Caleb Parmar, Finn Parmar, Atama Roberts Stevie Sintes, Shyan Tewao, James Van Arendonk, Jake van der Heyden, Emma Whittleston, Sachi Wilkes Issy Williamson, Tenzin Woods, Layla Yukich
1st Merit
Olivia Adcock, Catalina Aguilera, Julia Black, Lily Campion, Blake Clisby, Valerie Croft, Liv Dampier-Crossley, Daphne Delos Santos, Jake Diederich, Michaela Easton, Duncan Eggleston, Tom Frame, Khean Garces, Jazmin Goodman-Lloyd, Zara Hamilton Alysha Hepi-Te Huia, Kadie Herbert, Max Jackson, Catalina Jamieson, Phoenix Jimmink, Matthew Kenyon, Gwen Manifold, Honor McKenzie, Caleb Parmar, Flynn Pearson, Atama Roberts, Shelby Rutherford-Menzies, Alexis Sandall, Alysha Schenkel, Molly Schuurman, Stevie Sintes, Charlie Smith, Angejika Soriano, Shyan Tewao, Gypsy Thornton, Eury Tumamoa, Tamika van de Wiel, James Wallace Taryn Werahiko, Issy Williamson, Jak Wilson, Sarina Woodhouse
2nd Merit
Lily Black, Leighton Chinnery, Ashleigh Clegg, Hannah Clegg, Eden Colebrook, Grace Cundy, Annie Francis, Khean Garces, Chloe Lilley, Jonty O’Neill, Anna Rutherford, Harriett Rutherford, Hana Samera, Hollie Scarlet, Hugh Shand Pippa Ussher, Elliette Williamson
3rd Merit
Lucy Cater, Cris Tabunar, Madison Wayne
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Well done to Myla for competing in the PC4G (Programming
Contest 4 Girls) at the University of Canterbury.
The Contest was designed for Year 10 Girls with or without
prior programming experience, but who were recognised by
their teachers or peers as logical problem solvers. They were
given free online learning accounts to learn Python in advance
of the event. They were also sent some problems of similar
difficulty to the contest to practice on.
The girls competed in teams of 2, using Python. Myla bravely
paired up with Hayley from Cashmere School and enjoyed her
company.
Myla had a marvellous day despite sacrificing her first day at Year 10 camp. Thanks to Noelle for driving her to the event and taking photos.
The top two teams will be invited to a 6-day Olympiad in Informatics programming summer camp in January.
Susan Ibbetson Extension Co-ordinator
