The year in review.

Tena koutou katoa

E nga tauira,e nga whanau,

ki ai te korero

na taku rourou na tou rourou ka ora ai te kareti

tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa

DEVELOPMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016

There have been several developments and highlights here at Manawatu College in 2016:

• a really good ERO Report in August
• a very positive MNA (Managing National Assessment) Report
• Manawatu College students joining with those from the two Levin colleges to form the kapahaka group Nga Wai o Manawhenua;
• introducing six x 100 minute periods into our timetable in May, which replace 12 of the 50 minute periods. This has had a positive impact on teaching & learning;
• our Head Student Kyle Williams-Simeon is the first Manawatu College Student to gain a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award
• introducing Whakairo and Nga Toi into our curriculum;
• creating a new leadership position of Kura Kaitiaki for 2017.

I would like to expand on the last two.

ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE TO NEW SUBJECTS

A highlight this year has been the enthusiastic response by over 30 of our students to two new subjects – Senior NCEA Whakairo and Year 10 Nga Toi.

These courses have also included the concept of Rangatira o apopo, where our learners are seen as the leaders of tomorrow. They have enjoyed a Te Reo programme as part of their courses which is enabling them to better engage in customary processes. The success of these two courses has led to the emergence of a new course for 2017 – Tu Rangatira, which is designed to support students to become standing leaders.

KAITIAKI

The development of these courses has highlighted the need to develop Maori leadership positions in our school, and so we have created the role of College Kaitiaki to support tikanga and Maori initiatives within our kura and community, and seven of our students have now been appointed.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

All five parent representatives on our Board of Trustees did not seek re-election in May, as they no longer had children at Manawatu College. I wish to acknowledge the significant contributions Mrs Karen Dykstra, Whaea Tracey Robinson, Mrs Judy Sanson & Mr Simon Pedersen have made to our College over the past six to nine years, especially Simon (our Chairman) and Judy (our deputy chair).

Fortunately we were given advanced warning of their departures, and were able to co-opt four parents onto the Board in the preceding twelve months, and all were elected as parent representatives in May. The new Board comprises:

• Mr Paul Davenport (Chairman) – parent representative
• Ms Kara Lummis – parent representative
• Ms Lexi Knowles-Whaitiri – parent representative
• Mr Kyle Kuiti – parent representative
• Mrs Carolyn Allan – staff representative
• Miss Natalie MacDonald – student representative
• Mr Trevor Solomon (Kaumatua) – co-opted member
• Mr Bruce McIntyre - Principal

At the end of Term 3 we farewelled our dedicated and long-serving Food Technology teacher Mrs Christine Hoggart, who retired from teaching and shifted to Blenheim, and at the end of the year we also farewelled Mr Eric Culshaw, who takes up an education position at the Youth Justice facility in Palmerston North. I wish to acknowledge and thank Eric for his vision, dedication and skills in establishing Te Wero classes for some of our Year 10 and senior boys.

In August Mrs Jude Richards left on two years leave to teach in Sharjah, and next year Mr Mic O’Dea will be on leave four days a week to immerse himself in te reo Maori. Mr Chad Ellwood will also be on leave next year, and will be teaching in another school in Palmerston North.

We will be welcoming several new teachers next year to fill these gaps and to cover for an increase in roll in 2017.

FOCUS FOR 2017

Our major focus for next year will be continuing to improve the achievement of all of our students – academically, culturally and physically, by providing more relevant programmes, more expert tuition, and more conducive and supportive environments.

No reira ki te whanau o te kareti o Manawatu

Tena Koutou

Tena Koutou

Tena tatou katoa

Bruce McIntyre