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Linda Miller
 

Ms L Miller, Principal —

This week we saw the school move back into Covid Alert Level 2. Congratulations to all staff and students on the seamless transition you have made to this level and the way you have adapted. A Zoom assembly was held on Tuesday in line with Covid restrictions. At this assembly Academic Blues winners were announced via a video acknowledgement, and the students were presented with their blues after assembly. We also acknowledged the year level champions at our recent school sports: Annabelle Batchelor (Year 9), Rosie Falcous (Year 10), Ella Hou (Year 11), Jordan Evans-Tobata (Year 12), and Isabella Henderson (Year 13).

This week we welcomed two valued groups from our school community to join us on site. On Monday we held our International BBQ and we were pleased to welcome host families and their home-stay students. I would particularly like to acknowledge the support these families have given to our International students throughout the Covid period when students can’t easily return home. On Wednesday we had a fantastic turnout at our Pasifika Fono. We appreciate the support that all these members of the school community give the school by attending these functions.

This week our Year 9 classes have each spent two days at Camp Tirohanga on the Taieri and enjoyed wonderful weather. It was a chance for teamwork opportunities and new friendships to be forged, and it enabled our Year 13 Peer Support students to get to know students outside the classroom and develop their leadership skills. Thank you to all the staff who have supported students during these camps.

I’d like to remind parents and caregivers that students in Years 10 to 13 will have their Learning Conferences with their mentor next Tuesday. We strongly encourage all students to be accompanied by a parent or adult family member at these appointments. Students will have the opportunity to consider wellbeing goals, assess how their subjects are going to date, organise time-management and planning strategies, and set personal goals for 2021. On Tuesday Year 9 students will be involved in a Wellbeing Day where they will take part in a range of activities which form part of our Health Education programme.

Next Thursday we are having whānau group photographs taken, along with a number of other student groups. Students should check the schedule that has been emailed to them so they don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in a photograph. We will also be having a full school photograph to mark the 150th Jubilee of the school. Sport and Cultural photographs are taken later in the year.

Next week will be my final week at school before I embark on my 10 week Principals' Sabbatical to undertake professional learning activities, reflection and rejuvenation. In my absence Deputy Principal Bridget Davidson will be the Acting Principal and I know the school community will support her as she steps into this role.