Newsletter - WE 07/08/20

Janine Jack

— Aug 7, 2020

Tēnā Koutou

Debating Team

Our first foray in the debating competition arena for some time resulted in a first round win for Amuri. This team has now progressed to the second round which will be held in the Community Room on Tuesday at 1pm.

NETSAFE

On Monday a group of representative students, the senior management team and group of teachers spent parts of the day with the tutor from NETSAFE looking at how we can improve digital safety both at school and in the home. I understand the parent session in the evening was excellent and provided parents with a raft of information to support them with this increasingly challenging issue within society. From a school perspective they have helped us to clarify the conditions of the Harmful Digital Communications Act and how this applies within a school context and have provided us with a very handy self review tool to evaluate how we are going.

Another interesting thing to note is the Helpline and systems Netsafe have as a government appointed entity to help you, the parent, manage issues that happen to your child. The reality is that MOST of the social media issues we encounter happen at home. This leaves parents in a difficult position as they struggle to understand how to manage these incidents and what if anything, can be done. If you believe the HDCA has been breached, then the correct course of action is the NZ Police. However, a call to NETSAFE will be a great first step in the process to help unpack what is happening and what the correct response may be.

NETSAFE HELPLINE 0508NETSAFE

Our team of students who represented us on the day will be presenting their findings to the whole school at the next assembly.

Coming Up

Year 5 and 6 head out to a ski trip next week and don't forget to register for the Amuri Basin Rogaine next Sunday.

Have a great weekend.

Kia Kitea Toikaka.

James Griggs

Principal

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Senior School News

With a run of pleasant winter weather in the last week or so we hope that it remained the same for the Year 9 camp which is due back tonight. Regardless, time spent together as one group was very timely and the opportunity for students to work across the whole cohort of students will have been a new and valuable experience.

On Sunday a group of Year 12 and 13 students are heading off to the Otago University Open Day in Dunedin with Dr Owens y de Novoa, Mrs Roberts and Mrs Barnes. An additional highlight will be a 3-hour lab session on Sunday afternoon at the Portobello Marine Science facility completing a range of activities that support both Year 12 and 13 Biology standards which the students are studying. There has been a range of experiences packed into this 3-day trip to make the most of the distance being travelled. Thank you to Catherine for organising this and the parents who have offered support to travel or as back up if needed.

We are currently finalising our Course Booklet for 2021 senior subject selection. Already teachers have been talking to students about courses to assist them to make informed decisions at selection time. On Wednesday 19th we are having a ‘speed dating’ type event in the Gym in Period 5 for next year’s senior students with information on courses and the selection process.

This week at assembly we were reacquainted with one of our school values – Integrity - which will be a focus for the Term. One of the best definitions I believe that describes Integrity is ‘doing the right thing even when no-one is watching’. As we move towards a future of great uncertainty, the values we hold and demonstrate will become an important point of difference between people and will certainly contribute towards our ability to be resilient in the face of change and help our future success.

Those of us who attended the Netsafe presentation at Hawarden on Monday found it an extremely practical, informative and at times, an eye opening presentation. We live in a digital world and how we behave in that world can literally make or break us. Knowing and understanding what your children are accessing and sending is important and some of what we see spilling into school gives us cause for concern. We suggest all parents visit the parent portal on the Netsafe website which has got fantastic information for parents.

Penny Mossman

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AUGUST ‘20

10th–14th

Amuri Maths Week

10th – 12th

Yr 12/13 Sciences trip to Otago University

12th

CPS Cross Country, Halswell

12th

Yr 1-3 Cricket Skills

13th