Kia ora koutou katoa 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou

Senior Parents-Teacher evening

Thank you to everyone who attended our Senior Parents - Teacher Evening.  Please remember that if you want to talk to one of your child’s teachers send them an email or if you want a general catch up please contact their mentor teacher.  We really appreciate working with you to support your child.  

Whiria te Tai Poutini (Weave The West Coast)

I was so fortunate to be part of Whiria te Tai Poutini this weekend at Arahura marae.  An amazing group of senior Māori students, including a number from Greymouth High School  attended the wānanga with Whiria te Tai Poutini who work alongside schools to support and encourage senior Māori students to realise their potential to do great things for themselves, their whānau, and their wider community. 

Their focus is on building strong young Māori by exploring what it means to be connected to whakapapa, whenua and community. The programme is made up of three wānanga (gatherings) over the school-year for Year 11, 12 and 13. Whiria te Tai Poutini welcomes Māori students wanting to develop their leadership skills and build their capability and capacity to contribute to others. At these wānanga students will also get the chance to connect and be mentored by positive local and national Māori role models from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and skills. Many of these role models connect through a national leadership development programme called TUIA.

We are so fortunate to be part of Whiria te Tai Poutini and the amount of growth I got to see in the short time I was there was amazing!

The photo on the front of our newsletter is of Isaiah Cameron and Messiah Taurima-Leach cleaning up on the last day at the marae. 

Secondary Principals’ Council

I am fortunate to represent the West Coast, Nelson, Marlborough areas on the Secondary Principals’ Council.  Every term we meet to be the voice of Principals and schools. In the last  meeting we met with the Minister for Education, Secretary for Education, Chief Review Officer, Police Rangatahi Prevention team, Te Akatea and the Chief Executive of the Teaching Council. I feel very fortunate to be able to bring the voice of the PPTA principals in our area and that of Greymouth High School to the national table.  In this last meeting I was able to talk directly to Iona Holsted, the Secretary for Education, about the specific issues we face on the Coast.  Fingers crossed that she listened and I am looking forward to hearing about the outcomes. 

Whenua Iti

In week 10 myself and Kiri Russell, our Home-School Partnership Promoter (Kaitakawaenga) who also looks after our Trades students, are going up to Whenua Iti to meet up with some of our Trades students.  Our West Coast Trades Academy programme is something that I am very proud of.  Kiri and I are very much looking forward to seeing everything Whenua Iti has to offer for our Grey High students.  https://www.whenuaiti.org.nz/

I am also looking forward to meeting up with our Employment and Life Skills students in week 10.  This course is the first in New Zealand to provide access to a Trades Programme for our supported learning students.   Thank you to Tania Jones our Manager and Kayla Hibbs our Project Manager for always thinking outside of the box and ensuring that all of our students have access to amazing opportunities. 

Have a read below about what they are going to learn - very exciting.

Information about our Employment and Lifeskills students Trades Course

Activities: The specific activities will depend on the weather on the day, but in general will focus on building the practical skills, positive social interactions and confidence that the students are developing through the programme.  Activities will be led by Whenua Iti Outdoors tutors, supported by Greymouth High School Teacher Aides.

Activities on Day 1 will be based locally and may include swimming in the pool, basketball and other adventure-based learning games. The day may include walks in the local area.

Activities on Day 2 will centre around a trip to Lake Brunner (weather dependent).

Food: Lunch will be provided on each day. The students will be involved in preparing these lunches for all to share.  

SISS Junior Netball Tournament

Good luck to our Junior Netball team who are playing in Christchurch at the South Island Secondary Schools competition.  Kia kaha! 

Future important dates

Scholarships

Scholarships are coming available for the year 13s going onto Tertiary Education.  Keep an eye out for them.  

Wednesday 28th August - Tai Poutini Kapa Haka Festival - Te Hui Ahurei o Nga Kura o Te Tai Poutini

We are very excited to be hosting the Kapa Haka festival at Greymouth HIgh School.  It will be a fantastic day with schools across the whole coast.  As it will be a massive event and all encompassing, at the moment we are planning that if our rangatahi are not helping out with the running of the day they we will be having a work from home day.  More information to come.  

As always if any questions please contact the office on office@greyhigh.school.nz

I hope that you enjoy Matariki weekend and the Term 2 break

Ngā manaakitanga

Samantha Mortimer 

Principal Greymouth High School 

Tumuaki Kura tuarua o Māwhera