Kia ora e te whānau and warm greetings

Welcome back ki te kura for 2024. I hope everyone had a refreshing holiday break and a chance to enjoy some of the lovely weather we have had. I’d like to acknowledge our students for the positive way they have resettled back into school after the holiday break.

We had a lovely Pōwhiri on Wednesday to welcome our new students and staff. I’d like to acknowledge the work of our Kapa Haka, Kōkā Ngāwini and Whaea Aroha and our Connections Leaders and Prefects in helping us with this welcome. Ka mau te wehi! A special welcome too, to any students joining us as a new student from Years 10 to 13.

We have some new staff joining us this year:

Ms Zoe Thurston - our new Science Technician

Ms Micaela Irvine - Art and Visual Imaging

Miss Jocelyn Dobson - English

Whaea Moira Pearson - PEH

Whaea Ahnna Stewart - Te Whare Poutama

Whaea Kathy Robins - Te Whare Poutama 

Students now have their timetables, know their formclass and are settling back into the rhythms and routines of being back at school. We have discussed at our first assembly the importance of pacing ourselves and realising it does take some time and can be quite tiring adjusting back into our school and work persona. We’ve all had to set aside the jandals and shorts and back into our school and work uniforms. We have reminded students about our jewellery rules - put simply - jewellery is not permitted aside from a simple stud in each ear (no keepers in ears please) but if students have an existing nose piercing they may keep a small, clear plastic keeper in it, otherwise no jewellery may be worn.

These rules connect very closely to our value of Respect/ Whakaute - Respect the uniform and respect the school rules. We also ask that as part of this respect for the school uniform students only wear badges on their blazer or cardigan that are associated with school achievement or school events. 

There will be friendly reminders and after Waitangi Day non regulation uniform items will be confiscated. Students may collect them each Friday from the Student Centre. We appreciate your support with these rules and our advice is to students - do not let this become a barrier between you and your education. Thank you also to those of you who consistently wear your uniform correctly and with pride every day.

Secondly, a reminder about our cell phone rules:

• Years 9,10 and 11 may not have phones out at any time between the first bell and the last bell of the day EVER. Years 9,10 and 11 may also not wear Smart Watches

• Years 12 and 13 may only use their phones during interval and lunchtime

• Nobody may use their cell phone in classrooms including form time

• Nobody may use their cell phone while transitioning between classes

• Nobody may use their cell phones in the library

The reasons for this rule:

We need to value the school day for face to face connection

We want students involved at breaktime in social and house activities and phones are not suitable work devices for the classroom.

We have reminded students in assembly to respect the rules and that Cell Phones or Smart Watches used inappropriately will be confiscated. They will be taken to the Student Centre where students can retrieve them at end of day - on a third offence they will only be given back to parents and a discussion had.

Thirdly, we have reminded students that we are a Vape free campus - anyone found to be breaking this rule will be dealt with as a discipline issue and anyone posting to social media will also be considered in serious breach of school protocols. Students are instructed not go into toilet cubicles together - if they do, they will be considered to be part of the problem. Our campus must be a safe place for all students. Duty Staff will be fully enforcing this.

Another change to be mindful this year is the change to our Wednesday timetable:

There will be no Period One class - students may remain at home until the timetable begins at 9.30am with period 2. In Term 1 only Year 9 students and their Connections Leaders will come on site for their Connections Programme and the library will be open for Bus students and those who need a quiet space. We ask that students on campus in this time, be mindful that teachers will be doing their Teacher Professional Development in R Block and Connections groups will be in classrooms around the school. No other students may be in classrooms so if students do have to come on site they are in the Library or quietly stationed outside. Or at home until classes begin at 9.30am. At 10.30am every Wednesday there will be a school assembly for Group A or B, whichever group is not in assembly will be in form time. From thereafter, Wednesday will follow the same format as any other timetabled day and school will finish at 3.10pm.

We have acknowledged our prefects with a badge assembly and our Headgirl for 2024, Lucy McLean has welcomed students back to school. We all look forward to working with you in 2024.

Ngā mihi,

Tracy Walker
Principal