Kia ora parents and whānau,

I really do hope your son/daughter has had an enjoyable first day back at school. It has been great to see them all again along with our new cohort of Year 9’s - our biggest yet! As many of you will be aware there have been a few changes to the timetable this year.

First up is the fact we now have 6 learning periods a day rather than 5 – each period is 50 minutes long.

Many of these learning periods run as double periods, so for most students there will be three 100min lessons each day, to allow for more in-depth learning opportunities.

Monday’s timings are slightly different to incorporate a short prayer-based assembly for the whole school in the hall to begin the week.

Students still begin and end the day at the usual times.

By reducing lessons to 50 minutes and having 6 lessons a day, we have created time in the timetable for a learning enrichment programme and wellbeing focus on Wednesdays. This has been done largely with the view of developing our hauora/wellbeing programme within school and increasingly localising and integrating our curriculum. Opportunities include access to integrated science, technology, engineering, art, technology, and mātauranga Māori courses (STEAMM), business and entrepreneurship programmes, high level debating skills, understanding the stock market, marine science, multi-sport training (think Coast to Coast), sporting and outdoors opportunities, study skills, study time, NCEA scholarship award support for seniors, and student leadership development amongst other offerings.

Break 1 is now slightly shorter than it was previously and break 2 is slightly longer.

New Dean Structure in 2023

We now have an allocated dean for each year level to support academic and wellbeing needs more intensively for students:

Learning Area Leads for 2023

How Wednesdays will look in Term 1:

Assembly time

Students are allowed to wear PE gear for the day (if students wish to change into their uniform they can do) – note this is NOT a non-uniform day, anyone arriving in unsuitable clothing will be sent home to change or parents will be asked to come in with a change of clothing.

(Suitable PE gear includes the school PE shorts available from the uniform shop, t-shirt in house colour, sports leggings. Suitable sports footwear. Please note: no short ‘booty shorts’ or drug or alcohol branded gear is acceptable.)

Students begin the day by coming straight to the hall – line up outside, Whānau teachers will register you before you are called in to the hall. (If weather is bad students come straight into the hall).

Assembly time will be followed by whole school Haka practice.

Bluelight Bootcamp starting 15 February

This is a whole school initiative – staff included!

General aims of the sessions:

• Expose students to a range of fitness activities and skills.

• Improve overall fitness and well-being (healthy body, healthy mind).

• Expose students to nutrition information so they can make informed lifestyle choices – If we could somehow do this it would be great.

• Improve the relationship between young people, teachers, the Community and the Police.

• Introduce young people to support systems that will help them develop positive personal, teamwork and social skills.

• Expose students to situations that require goal setting, self-discipline and perseverance.

• Improve students’ confidence in themselves and their bodies.

Police personal trainers on board:

Lisa Thom is a personal trainer with much experience and runs her own business called ‘Bodies & Beyond with Lisa’. Lisa also qualified in remedial therapy, sports massage/ taping, dry needling and myofascial cupping. Qualified instructor in Pilates, water aerobics and group exercise classes.

Martin Greaney is a personal trainer who works for PHO- Primary Health Organisation. Marty background is in exercise prescription and Personal trainer for 15 years. Speciality is mobilisation, movement and helping people new to exercise.

The Bluelight Bootcamp will run on Wednesday mornings for an hour starting 15th February for all of term 1.

The exercises will be fun and challenging. These sessions will be mainly individually based so everyone will be able to exercise to their ability in a safe environment.

School staff and police officers will be participating alongside student's – all working out together.

There will also be challenges set for the students to do in their own time - these will be exercise based and mindfulness challenges.

We also hope to be able to set the challenge for the students to compete in the Police fitness test – (PCT) this is a test that Police Officers must do to join the service and pass every two years.

Hauora sessions (all students)

These sessions will be led by our Hauora Navigator, Mrs Beach. These will cover a range of issues at each year level including eating for health, drugs and alcohol, sex and sexuality education, cyber citizenship, bullying and conflict management, mindfulness, and body image. If there are other areas you would like to have included, please let us know!

STEAMM sessions (juniors only) 

Science, Technology, English, Art, Maths and Mātauranga Māori

Students will be based in MM1 as a starting point during these sessions. This is an opportunity for students to take part in cross curricular projects.

The STEAMM team is led by science leader Lisa Steenhauer and includes JMC, MFS, RCH, FJO and TSG.

Senior sessions (seniors only)

Sessions will start in the hall. Sessions are led by MCP.

Jasmine Fitzgerald, our Careers, Trades and Gateway Coordinator has organised speakers from all sorts of career backgrounds to talk with students at the start of each of these sessions. This will have a careers focus.

Any questions or queries, or additional opportunities you’d like to see offered to extend our students, please contact us.

Thanks,

Senior Leadership Team – Ms R Hutchinson, Mr D Steggles, and Ms M Campbell