Kia ora koutou

This week the Year 9 classes have been on an overnight camp with their Year 13 Peer Support leaders and students from the Year 12 Physical Education class. These students have been running activities that are part of the Level 2 Achievement Standard, ‘Evaluate leadership strategies that contribute to the effective functioning of a group’. The reports back from the staff involved in the camps have all been the same; the senior students have been fantastic leaders and role models. They have been enthusiastic, well organised and inclusive. To the students involved, thank you for your contribution to the success of these camps and well done.

Since my last article, we have held a Year 9 Parent evening and shared information about classes and learning as well as the variety of opportunities outside the classroom and general school information. I spoke at this evening about how delighted we have been with the start that the Year 9 students have made as Queen’s girls. In their classes, and in the activities that I have watched them in, they are engaged, respectful and enjoying themselves. It was also a great opportunity for parents to meet their daughters’ teachers and parents of other students in their daughters’ class.

We use a variety of measures to support our focus on achievement. Progress reports are emailed fortnightly and we ask you to look at your daughter’s progress and to contact her classroom teacher or the dean of her year level if you have concerns. If you have changed your email address or did not receive a report please check your details on the Parent Portal and send in a correction if necessary.

It is an expectation that students are at school on time. This means all girls need to be at school by 8.40am, and I ask you to support your daughter to ensure this happens.

Cell phones ‘off and away in your bag’ during class time is another expectation for all students. There is an abundance of literature verifying the links between cellphones and classroom distractions and interruptions. The presence of phones in the classroom is found to be a source of distraction for students of all ages, and often the focus on learning is superseded by a focus on a notification or message received during class time. As per our cell phone agreement, students using their phone in class will have their phone removed. The phone will be held in the school office and can be collected after school on the Friday of that week. As parents, I ask you to support this expectation by not messaging or expecting a reply from your daughter during class time.

We are now half way through Term One which means many senior students will be sitting assessments in their classes or have assessments due to be handed in over the coming weeks. To support our focus on achievement, please check with your daughter that she is on track for completion of any assessments due and encourage her to speak to her teacher if there is any query or issue.

To our many sportswomen taking part in the South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships, the Otago Secondary Schools' Athletic Championships and the Otago Secondary Schools' Futsal Tournament in the upcoming week, good luck.

Barbara Agnew

Principal