Kia ora, Tēnā koutou katoa, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Tālofa lava kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Mālō nī, Ni sa bula vinaka, Tālofa,

As a challenging year concludes against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis and a plethora of 'bad news' stories trumpeted through the media, it has been refreshing to have the involvement and achievements of so many young men highlighted over recent weeks, helping to provide some balance to the negativity that so easily pervades our lives.

In our previous newsletter, we recognised many achievements of young men in the senior school in academic, cultural and sporting activities, and in this newsletter, we switch our focus to our junior students.

Latterly we have seen a fantastic effort with the Junior Road Race, 13 Year 10 Camps providing a wide range of experiences, challenge tasks for Year 9 students, the acknowledgment of young men who are positively involved in school life with the presentation of Barrowclough Programme certificates, recognition of young men who demonstrated leadership and positive role modeling as Form Class Captains, the celebration of our top achievers at the Junior Prizegiving, as well as continued involvement in many different co-curricular activities.

We have so many young men who enthusiastically embrace school life, get involved in co-curricular activities, form positive relationships with their peers and teachers and demonstrate our school values -Tū Māia | Courage – Ngākau Mahaki | Humility – Te mahi tahi | Industry – Tū Rangatira | Integrity – Tū Whakahī | Pride – Tū Whakaaute | Respect - on a daily basis.

Our school vision, Hai Whakapakari i Ngā Tamatāne Kia Purapura Tuawhiti | To Develop Educated Men of Outstanding Character, underpins all that we do. While there are many opportunities for character to be 'taught' in the classroom, at assemblies and other planned activities, it is often the situations in which it is 'caught' - the unplanned and informal opportunities for learning that are provided so plentifully through co-curricular activities - that provide the most salient lessons. The relationships that are built through involvement in activities outside of the classroom are also important for good mental health.

Well done to all who have been fully involved in school life and given their best during 2022. You can be proud of your efforts and achievements and know that you are on the pathway to becoming an educated man of outstanding character.

To those who haven't been so involved in school life or who haven't put in the effort they could have: take some time to reflect during the summer break so that you can return with a positive approach for 2023. Parents will play a key role in guiding these conversations.

Attendance

There is a very strong correlation between regular school attendance and achievement at school. Our attendance data is very positive when compared to other secondary schools in our region, secondary schools of the same decile, and secondary schools nationally. However, the Covid epidemic of 2022 and the associated Public Health messaging have accelerated a downward trend in school attendance. In terms one and two this year only half of our young men were considered to be regularly attending school.

Term 2 Attendance 2022 — Image by: PNBHS

The New Zealand Ministry of Education defines regular attendance as 90% and above. However, while this might sound good, 90% attendance means missing one day of school every fortnight and a full four school weeks over a school year. An attendance record of 90% would have a detrimental impact on academic achievement. Anything lower than 90% would of course have an even more significant impact on academic achievement.

School attendance has garnered much media attention in recent weeks and appears primed to be made a political football in the lead-up to the next general election. Unfortunately, the regular reference to truancy has 'muddied the waters' and stymied a deeper examination of the issue. Yes, truant students are a concern and it is essential that support is provided to find and reengage these young people in education. However, the much larger and growing area of concern is the huge number of young people whose absences from school are explained by their parents.

Yes, there are many cases of legitimate illnesses or medical conditions that require students to be absent from school. Funerals, tangihanga, and increasingly weddings can occur during the school week and these are legitimate reasons for absence. However, we are seeing a concerning and growing number of occasions when it is simply parental convenience that is taking young men out of school. Put simply, this must change. We must Make School The Priority.

While it would easy to make excuses about the impact of the pandemic on student attendance or to simply look at our comparison data and say that there is no problem, such approaches are of no benefit to our young men.

School reports include information about your son's attendance in 2022 and many parents of young men in Years 9, 10 and 11 have received additional communication from us where attendance has been either very good or of concern. Please read this communication carefully and consider the extent to which school has been the priority for your son. Each time he is kept at home or taken out of school early by a parent because it's convenient, or an overseas holiday is booked during term time because it is cheaper, or he is allowed to stay at home because he is tired or has a minor ailment, a very dangerous message is given about the value that is placed on his education.

In 2023 please Make School The Priority for your son.

Click here to read further information about the relationship between school attendance and achievement.

Make School The Priority — Image by: PNBHS

Season's Greetings from Palmerston North Boys' High School

Meri Kirihimete ǀ Merry Christmas