Return to Cashmere

Mauri ora koutou, It was great to welcome back our students last Thursday. From our perspective the transition back to school was smooth and the students have slotted back into their routines with a sense of purpose. The focus for our staff will be on reconnecting with students and assessing where they are at with regards to the academic progress and re-evaluating and re-planning the year.

Maori Language Week

This week we celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week. This has been celebrated in New Zealand since 1975 and it acknowledges and celebrates the Māori language as a unique cultural treasure for all New Zealanders. It was great to see so many staff and students getting involved in activities throughout the school. Our challenge is now to extend this kaupapa past the allocated week. Kia kaha Te Reo Māori

NZQA Changes

On Thursday 9 September, the Government announced further changes to NCEA for this year’s students. Students disrupted by 16 days of alert level restrictions this year:

Learning Recognition Credits (LRCs)

• for every five credits a student earns, they get one extra LRC
• students at NCEA Level 1 are eligible for up to eight additional credits
• students at NCEA Levels 2 or 3 are eligible for up to six additional credits.

Endorsements

• no change to normal requirements.

University Entrance

• no change to normal requirements.

Change of Year 13 Last Day

Please be aware that we have revised the last day for Year 13 to the 10th November 2021.

Sophie Hartshaw Young Totara Award

Earlier this year Sophie was presented with the Rotary New Zealand Young Totara Award. Sophie earned this award for her interpersonal and leadership skills at Cashmere High School for the Cashmere Volunteer Army, for her work as a Forward Foundation Sports Ambassador, and for being an exemplary role model for the school's values.

Part of her award included a Totara tree, which Sophie has donated to the school to be planted and enjoyed by future generations. Gifting this taonga to our school exemplifies Sophie's 'service before self' ethos and continues a legacy of citizenship through service in our school community. Alice Tiso (Head Girl in 2019) is a past recipient of the Young Totara Award and Sophie's tree is planted next to Alice's near our school's orchard. 

Reports

The Junior Graduation Reports for Term 3 and the Senior Subject Reports for Term 3 will all be published on the afternoon of the 1st of October, the last day of Term. We usually publish around 3.10pm. They will then be on the portal.

Who’s who at Cashmere High School - John Ussher

Kia ora whanāu

Ko John Ussher tōku ingoa

Nō Ōtautahi ahau

Hi, I’m John Ussher, and I teach Drama here at Cashmere High School. I’ve been at Cashmere since 2011, and in my time here I’ve enjoyed being able to pass on my knowledge in the performing arts to our ākonga. As well as Drama, I have also taught some Media Studies, Music, and Performing Arts technology. I also enjoyed being Head of House for Ngata for five years.

I am hugely passionate about our extra-curricular program and one of my favorite things about this job is collaborating with students and staff from all over the school, to create quality performances for our community to enjoy. From Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, to Directing and assistant Directing our major productions, I am enormously proud of the work that we have produced in my time at Cashmere.

I live locally in Beckenham with my wife Natasha who is a Graphic Designer and Brand manager, and two boys Robbie and Jake. In my spare time I co-host the long running radio show ‘Hauswerk’ on RDU 98.5fm, and I am obsessive about djing, and have been since I was a teenager.

The performing arts are my life, and I firmly believe that the skills our tamariki learn by performing to others, using their imagination, learning how to creatively problem solve and think outside the box, are invaluable to their growth and development as they transition into adulthood.

Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia ō tatou māhi

“Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work”

From the Archives

Fortnight Ahead