Hero photograph
Year 9 2020
 

Principal's Report

Ms L. Miller, Principal —

Kia ora, a mai. Welcome to the new members of our school community, and welcome back to those of you who are returning. I trust you all enjoyed a restful break over the holiday period and that you managed to find some warm weather at some part of it.

School has been underway for students for just over a week and we have used that time very productively. Starting with course confirmation for all Year 11 to 13 students has meant that classes have already settled into their work for the year, with very few adjustments still required. Part of last Wednesday’s Teacher Only Day involved a visit to our, almost completed, Classroom by the Sea and classes have already begun to use it for programmes of learning. Year 9s and new internationals joined us last Thursday, with the whole school coming in on Friday. We have relaunched our Positive Behaviour for Learning framework for the year, Year 12 and 13 house leaders have been elected, preparations are underway for Sports Day (which will be held next Friday - 14 February) and our Prefects have had their badges presented at a whole school assembly.

The threat of coronavirus has been ever present since school has come back. We have a number of students who have been self-isolated for the past week due to their recent arrival from mainland China. Once they have been symptom free for 14 days since departure from China they will be free to return to school. We have been encouraging all students to practice good hygiene measures such as frequent hand washing with soap (especially before eating), covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue (which should then be disposed of) and not sharing food, utensils or drinking vessels. We are continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

Preliminary NCEA examination results came out in mid January and we are very pleased with what they show. There will likely be some movement upwards in these results, particularly at Level 3 and UE levels as reconsiderations and additional assessment occurs. To date the percentage of students on the school roll as at March 1st 2019, who achieved NCEA at the various levels are: Level 1: 89.1; Level 2: 94.5; Level 3: 86; University Entrance: 79.4. To provide some context to these results, the percentage of students who achieved these qualifications nationally are: Level 1: 68.6; Level 2: 76.1; Level 3: 65.5; University Entrance: 46.8.

We are also delighted with our Scholarship results which saw us achieve 14 scholarships, including one Outstanding scholarship. Congratulations to all involved in making this possible.

In Term 4 last year the OGHS Board of Trustees and staff developed a new Strategic Plan. Four strategic goals were decided upon:

  1. All ākonga* are aware of and proactive in managing their own wellbeing.

  2. Ākonga are empowered through educational opportunities that are inspiring, authentic and responsive to their needs now and in the future.

  3. Student success and belonging is enhanced by learning environments that reflect and celebrate their diversity, while recognising the unique place of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  4. The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) and Restorative Practice (RP) frameworks are embedded, creating and sustaining effective learning environments that maximise student achievement.

*Ākonga refers to all learners in the school community and includes both students and teachers.

These goals will form the basis of our annual plan for the year which is already underway in terms of the adoption of strategies to achieve these goals. As part of our drive to achieve goal four, we have started the year by making clear to students three key expectations that we have of them. These are that they are on time, that phones are off and away during class time (unless the teacher requests they use them for their learning) and that they bring a book to silent reading each day. Please encourage and support your daughter to meet these expectations. All of these expectations require students to be at school first and foremost. Regular attendance is critical to students academic, social and emotional development and parents are key partners in ensuring their child gets to school each day. If you have any worries or concerns in this regard, please contact the school as soon as possible so that we can work together to find solutions to any problems.

As part of working towards the strategic goals of the school we have a number of exciting projects on the agenda for the year ahead. These include the opening of our Classroom by the Sea (which will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 12 March), the progression of our two major building projects and improvements to the school made possible by the $400,000 of additional funding provided by the government late last year. We are also ‘full steam ahead’ in planning for the 150th celebrations for the school next year.

One of the many differences parents find when their child reaches high school is that they feel less ‘connected’ to the school. While increasing separation between child and parent is a normal aspect of adolescence, we do want you to feel welcome in the school and encourage you to attend school events. On Wednesday night we held our whanau hui for members of our Maori community. Next Tuesday evening we will hold our Year 9 meet the teacher evening (please note the change of date due to Queen!) and we have our Athletic Sports on Friday 14 February. Please come along and support your daughter and the school. I look forward to seeing many of you at these events.

Ngā mihi

Linda Miller