We have had an amazing start to the 2024 school year. 

There have been quite a number of new enrolments across all levels, hence our roll has increased from 2023. This year we are very lucky to be fully staffed, with four new staff joining the team. We have a new Year 7/8 teacher who is replacing Meg Goodman. Her name is Sian Downes. Sian comes to us from Murchison Area School and is an experienced teacher. Emily McKenzie is our new Maths Teacher. Emily is teaching Maths from Year 9 to Year 13. Richard Cruice is taking over the Material Technology position from Mike Fuller, after his retirement at the end of 2023. Erin Kempthorne has been appointed Head of Technology since Mike’s retirement. Neil Hayes is our new Science Teacher. Neil is an addition to our staffing as our roll increase has allowed us to add an extra teacher. Science was the area we lacked enough expertise within our staff in 2023. Neil comes to us with a wealth of experience from around the world. 

The first week has been full of positives, with our Mihi Whakatau providing the highlight on Friday. It has been a long time since we welcomed so many new students. We are grateful for the support of Puketeraki Marae for the occasion, an association we are proud of. Another important event during the first week was the Jack Martin sports afternoon. The weather forecast was terrible but just as we needed it to clear, it did! Houses were dressed up for the occasion and had a lot of fun all afternoon with only the last 15 minutes inside sheltering from the thunder and lightning!

The Board of Trustees are currently advertising for a new Principal to replace Marcus Cooper, after he left to take up a position at Geraldine High School. The applications do not close until February the 26th, hence the process has only just begun. It is hoped to have a suitable candidate in place for the start of Term Two. In the meantime, I will be acting Principal, with Ian Adamson as Acting Deputy Principal and Helen McIntyre as Acting Assistant Principal.

In the early part of this term, I am pushing “opportunities.” We have some amazing staff here at East Otago High School who provide a wide range of opportunities for our students. However, it is up to those students to grasp those opportunities and make the most of them. One of those opportunities last year is going on a Spirit of Adventure Trophy Voyage later this year. They are currently fundraising hard to cover the considerable costs. I am sure you will all be very supportive to help this group out when the opportunity arises.

There are two key initiatives the Ministry of Education are requiring schools to implement in 2024. Those initiatives were policies from the current Government. One policy is to have one hour of reading, writing and maths each day at Year 7/8 level. We are already meeting this policy, so there is no need for change.

However, the “Phones away for the day” policy will impact on both our students and the community.
The full policy needs to be implemented by the beginning of Term Two. We are taking a lead up to the full policy. From Monday the 12th of February, students are not to use phones in the classroom at all, unless it is related to the curriculum and teacher directed, such as Photography. If they do use them, they will be confiscated and placed at the School Office. Once at the office, the phone will only be handed back when a parent comes in to pick it up. That can be at any time. If the parent cannot come in to pick it up, they student will be given the phone back at the end of the school week. If the student has their phone confiscated a second time, they will be banned from bringing it to school. So long as they are responsible, they can still use their phone at break times in Term One. However, from Term Two onwards, phones will be banned within school hours for the whole day. Students will get the option to place it at the office for safe keeping, or have it in their bag. If they have it in their bag, they must not use it at all during any part of the school day. Schools have some flexibility on the implementation of the policy but the ban must be in place. It is just how they manage their phones.

Finally, from me, we are very much looking forward to the coming year and seeing all our students develop and grow, while making the most of all the opportunities that come their way.