Kia ora koutou katoa

Welcome back to a busy term 3! This week saw us welcome two new students in years 9 and 11, host the science fair, open day, and parent-teacher-student conferences. Thank you to everyone who made it to the conferences last night, shared such positive feedback with us about the school and the new reporting process. No doubt the conferences have highlighted areas for students to focus on this term to ensure they reach their goals. It is important that students take responsibility for their organisation and timeframes, so they are prepared for learning. We can create optimal conditions for learning but cannot do the thinking for our students. From Wednesday next week, the senior deans in Year 11 (Ema Motu), Year 12 (Corinne Coulthard), and Year 13 (Celia Costelloe) will be working with students on their individual learning and assessment plans so they know what they need to achieve week by week to maintain momentum and maximise the opportunity for educational success this year. Parents, please speak to your child(ren) about this so we can work in partnership to support their learning. Please note, derived grade exams are in week 8 this term (4-8 September).

The Science fair was a highlight this week, with 58 entries (21 primary and 37 high school). The quality of science investigation was some of the best we’ve seen yet. Students get far more out of it than an investigation into an interesting topic, but it is the skills they develop in teamwork, planning, and evaluating and communicating information that serves them so well in the world beyond school. Nothing challenges and builds a student’s resilience quite like an experiment gone awry! As Marie Curie famously said, “First principle: never to let oneself be beaten down by persons or by events!” I warmly congratulate all the participants, and thank our LAL Science, Lisa Steenhauer, and her team for all their work in bringing this together.

From the start of next week our Wellbeing for Learning bootcamp is being run by personal trainer Riria Wall and Bowyn Morgan. Today they met with our staff and students to talk about their Kaupapa for exercise and hauora, and their own journeys in health and fitness. We are delighted to have them leading bootcamp for the next two terms. Bootcamp kicks off again on Wednesday, so we will see all students in their sports gear ready to go. If students are injured and unable to participate, they will need to come in uniform for the day.

Next Friday, you will be sent a survey link about student leadership at JPII. It is open to all students, parents, teachers, and parishioners of St Patrick’s Church. We are interested to hear your ideas about student leadership for the 21st Century and will use this information to help inform us of the model we adopt moving forward. We would appreciate your input as we strive to make student leadership effective, purposeful and relevant at JPII.

Take care this weekend in the wind!

Ngā mihi nui

Renée Hutchinson