Good luck to all students for their Derived Grade Exams next week.

Dear parents/caregivers

It is hard to believe we are approaching the end of term 3.  I know that senior students will be working hard on finishing internal assessments and portfolios alongside studying for Derived Grade Exams next week.  I have been impressed by the resilience our students have shown across the year and wish them all the very best over the coming fortnight.  

Derived Grade Exams

Some tips that might support students to study effectively include:

• Active Studying: Active studying is as simple as asking questions before, during, and after study time. Not only does this help to give your study session direction, but it also helps keep you on track and reflect on how to improve for your next study session.
• Get A Good Night’s Sleep: Students of all ages should get at least eight hours of sleep every school night. It’s the best way to ensure that the brain is refreshed and ready to process all of the information learned during the day.
• Study At The Right Time: Take advantage of the time of the day you feel most productive, and don’t try to force yourself to study when your brainpower isn’t at its peak.
• Have A Designated Study Area: Whether it’s the kitchen table or the desk in your bedroom, create an area to study that is a designated study zone.
• Eat Properly: Don’t forget to eat! Your body (and your brain) needs fuel to help stay in top form.
• Get Chores Out Of The Way: Take care of daily chores before starting your study session to avoid interruption, or being distracted by an unfinished to-do list.
• Create A Timetable: Creating a timetable helps organize your time, schedules your breaks, and is especially useful when you have multiple subjects to study.
• Use A Timer: Use a timer to help keep track of time and to make sure you stick to the timetable you created. 

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Thank you so much to the Cultural Committee for their organisation of events for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.  This columnated in our Pūaha Te Tai Kapahaka group performing in the regional festival today.  This was an outstanding performance and I was so proud of all the students, teachers and tutors involved.  A special mention must go to Te Haupai and Estella Davis for their support of our rangitahi over the year.

Arts Festival

Over the past fortnight our arts team have been busy with a number of events as part of our inaugural Arts Festival.  Congratulations to all of the students and staff involved in each and every performance and the visual art exhibition. The final concert was an amazing celebration of talent at Nayland College, from Shakespeare to Rockquest winning performances, scholarship dance, string orchestra through to our award winning jazz band - it was such a feast of entertainment for the 300 strong crowd. Good luck to our Concert Band as they head off to the Wellington Band Festival next week.

Board elections

The Nayland College Board are an amazing team of professionals that add significant value to the school.  I am delighted to announce that Diane Strong and Glen Heke have been elected onto the board.  I look forward to working closely with them over the coming term of their appointments. 

Vast Dance Festival, Friday 23 September

This is festival of dance open to all secondary schools across the Top of the South Island. The festival gives students the chance to perform in a professional environment, student choreographers have the opportunity to share their work, plus students gain practical lighting, front of house, design and stage management experience.  Good luck to the Nayland College students performing.  Tickets to the postponed 2022 performance can be purchased here. 

Ngā mihi

Daniel Wilson
Principal