Welcome back to 2023.

Kia ora koutou katoa

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou

Welcome back to 2023. We hope that you enjoyed the summer break and we are very much looking forward to catching up with everyone soon.

New staff members

• Laura Starling - who is joining the English department. She is a newly qualified teacher from Otago University

• Ann Zachan - who is also joining the English department and teaching QWest. She has moved to us from Te Aratika Academy in the Hawkes Bay.

• Susie Gilroy - Art, English and QWest. Susie has a wealth of experience, especially in Art. She has most recently been at Southern Cross Campus in Auckland.

• Dr Nic Petty - who is joining us from JPII and teaching Maths and QWest, Dr Nic has a speciality in Statistics.

• Clairol Tiden - who is joining us from The Philippines via Indonesia and is teaching Maths

Other roles

• Fiona Cropp is our Acting Head of Maths

• Anna Bermingham and Bernard Adams are sharing the acting HOD Social Sciences role for Terms 1 and 2 while Lindsay Robertson is taking leave.

Busy week 0

Student Leadership Training

Thank you so much to Susan Smith (Student leaders co-ordinator) and Rowan Haigh for all of their work with our amazing student leadership team last week. The students had an amazing time and learnt a lot about themselves and what it takes to be a fantastic leader. Thursday 27th January and Friday 28th January.

Arahura Marae

All teachers (including principals) who are new to the rohe of Ngāti Waewae, which is to say from the Hokitika river north past Karamea are asked to attend a pōwhiri at the Arahura Marae. During the day we learnt about the nature of Ngāti Waewae as mana whenua, the history and geography of the area and some tikanga. It is always an awesome experience and we would like to thank the marae for their manaakitanga. Friday 28th January

Staff transition

All of our new staff attended an induction/transition day on Thursday 27th January. We know that it takes longer than a day to get to know all of the things you need to know in a new job but they definitely gave it a good go. We have lots of people to support them

Week 1: 30th January to 3rd February

We had two great staff only days on Monday and Tuesday. Monday was just for us as GHS staff and Tuesday was for our Kahui Ako, which comprises nearly all of our schools in the Greymouth area. It is always good to see each other and start the year in a very positive way.

Year 9s and student leaders - Thursday 2nd February and Friday 3rd February

We have a great plan for the two days we are welcoming our new year 9s to Greymouth High School. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and supporting them all transitioning to us at high school.

Week 2: 7th February to 10th February

Tuesday 7th February

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at school on Tuesday 7th February.

Update on Ka ora Ka Ako (free school lunches)

We are still looking for our lunch co-ordinator. If you know anyone who is interested please point them towards our Facebook page for more information.

Uniform Shop

OPENS Thursday 19 January - Friday 3 February 2023, 12noon - 5.00pm (week days only).

From Tuesday 7 February, it will revert to normal hours, Tuesday & Thursday) afternoons, 1.30 - 4.30pm (Term time only).

Finally from me (Sam)

My thanks especially go out to Jayne Wheeler, Rowan Haigh, Ian Johnson and Raewyn McKnight (the other 4 members of our SLT) who have been holding the fort while I have been recovering from surgery. I am able to work from home but cannot come into school for long periods of time while I recover. Jayne Wheeler is acting principal while I am not there, but you are still more than welcome to contact me by email as I am answering them when I can.

Samantha Mortimer

Principal