Tēnā Koutou Katoa

Welcome back to term three! We started the term off with our Open Day with plenty of interest in our kura for 2024. If you or anyone you know is intending to enrol at Heaton for 2024, please ensure the online enrolment is completed as soon as possible as we will be working through the usual in-zone/out-of-zone process during the course of this term.I wanted to correct a statement made in the Press recently that suggested we were increasing our roll when Chisnallwood Intermediate is being asked to reduce theirs. I do not know where this information was sourced from, however this is not the case. Our 2024 (and foreseeable future) numbers will closely resemble those of 2023 and we have no plans or indeed capacity to increase at this time.  

We have also rolled out our new well-being initiative for students with the use of the Linewise PULSE tool. We are looking to use the information we gather each week from our students, to allow us to target interventions and well-being approaches for the school alongside providing a direct way for students to seek help if they need it. 

Mrs Hill has the production preparations well underway with two full casts being selected and prepared for what I am sure will be a show not to be missed later on this term. Mrs Henderson has also started the process for team selection for the upcoming CAIMS tournament and South Island Koru games where we will be sending nine competitive teams. Students have been reminded that whilst playing ability is a factor in team selection for these events, school conduct is also a key component in the selection process. I would like to congratulate our Kapa Haka group for a sterling performance at Christchurch Girls' High School at the end of last term. All efforts now turn to preparations for Tuhono in November! 

Mr Colvin's and Mrs Clarkson's classes are now settled into their new portable classrooms and demolition of the old science class block is about to start next week. Mrs Smeele has set up the new animation technology programme in the performing arts centre and early indications are this will be a hit with the students. The courts are still a work in progress, however I see the work progressing each day as I look across the field so hopefully not too far away now. Mr Williamson is settling in well to life in room 14 and we welcome Mrs McKenzie to the art room whilst Mrs Taylor takes a term off.

Our school policies and procedures are reviewed termly on a three-year cycle by our board/staff and community. You can access and comment on these reviews at www.schooldocs.co.nz. Just search for Heaton and use User name: heaton Password: 8542.

For those of you who have been around a while, we are no longer using NZschoolapps for notifications and we are exclusively using the HERO app as this is a one-stop shop for all you need. 

We were so pleased to see our old green desks found a home in Samoa with a wonderful thank you and picture sent to us. Thanks to Mr Terris for organising this and saving these items from landfill.

Ngā mihi nui

James Griggs, Tumuaki/Principal