As the senior school approaches their final months of learning and as we look ahead to parallel examinations in weeks 8 and 9, it is important to be mindful of the changes that acknowledge the year we have had and to remember that we are not through this pandemic yet. We urge you to encourage your young person to continue good health practices including mask wearing in the parallel and November examinations.

Next Monday we have Subject Selection Evening where families can talk to our Heads of Department and Teachers in Charge of subjects about the courses on offer in 2023. It will run from 5 pm until 6:30 pm for Years 9, 11 and 12. We look forward to welcoming you up the top of K Block. For those of you in Year 10 (2022), next Monday when we are having subject selection evening we have a special event for you and your whānau. At 5 pm you need to come to the hall and bring those significant adults in your lives who will hear about NCEA and how it works next year. Then after you've heard some speakers (around 30 mins) you can take your families to meet the subject leaders upstairs in K Block and they will tell you all about the range of new subjects on offer for you.

See you there! 5 pm, Monday in the hall.

Recently, the Associate Minister of Education announced changes to NCEA that recognise the impact student and teacher absences due to COVID-19 and other winter illnesses have had on teaching, learning and assessment this year.

In 2022, students will be entitled to 1 Learning Recognition Credit (LRC) for every 5 credits

earned through assessment, up to a maximum of:

NCEA Level Maximum LRCs

1 10

2 8

3 8

To receive a Certificate Endorsement, students will need 46 credits at Merit or Excellence level, instead of the usual 50.

To be awarded University Entrance, students will need 14 credits in each of two UE Approved Subjects, and 12 credits in a third UE Approved Subject (they will also need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet the regular literacy and numeracy requirements).

Consider what preparation you can do before the parallel examinations so that if something unforeseen happens (like Covid or Covid isolation) and you miss them, you have a backup. Get a study plan underway now. It is also essential that you complete all assessment practice essays or tests that are required in class so that if there was a need to generate evidence to support you, your teacher and Head of Department will be able to locate that work.