Welcome to the first newsletter for 2019. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome those families who are joining our Rangiora High School community. At the mihi whakatau held on the morning of the 30th January we welcomed 332 Year 9 students and 31 students in other year levels into the school, of which there were 24 international students from Japan, Germany. Korea and Belgium. We also welcomed 13 new teaching staff.

Our school motto, Lux Cum Amore - Enlightenment with Friendship, is particularly relevant at this time. Our School and House Leaders, Peer Supporters and Year 13s have done a stunning job of supporting our new students. I would particularly like to thank them for their contribution to House Sports' Day. As you will see from the photographs in this newsletter and on Facebook it was a colourful and fun filled day where, as always, House spirit was showcased.

To support our young people in their learning, this year we are working with students in all year levels to develop the positive behaviours needed for learning (PB4L). Key to this work is a focus on the Lighthouse Values –Whakautea / Respect, Tohaina / Contribute and Wawatahia / Aspire. I have included below the PB4L matrix that provides for our young people our expectations of their behaviour at school in terms of values in each of our school settings. Teachers are working with our young people outlining our expectations and helping them to understand why these expectations are important.

One of the first changes that we have instigated as a result of our review of PB4L is the expectation that all students will have their cell phones on silent or turned off and out of sight in all classes, on school trips/camps and events.  We also expect that ear phones will be out of sight and that the only time that students will be allowed to use their cellphones in class, on school trips/camps or events, is when the teacher gives permission. It is important that students learn to recognise that there is a time and a place for social media, texting and phone calls and a time for learning. We have been very pleased with the response of our young people to this school-wide expectation. We would ask that you reinforce this message and refrain from contacting your child during class time. If you need to get contact your child during class time, please contact the school office and we will get a message to your child.

Being in class on time is also another key message that we are reinforcing this term. Our partnership, home and school, is critical in supporting young people to be in class on time. The Parental Portal enables you to check your child’s daily attendance. If you have not received instructions on how to access this portal or you have lost your username or password please contact admin@rangiorahigh.school.nz.

Later in this newsletter you will find the contact details for Form Class Teachers, Subject Teachers Deans, Heads of House and Heads of Faculties, and the Senior Leadership team. Please do contact us if you wish to discuss your child’s progress or have any concerns that you would like to discuss. In the first instance please contact your child’s subject teacher or Head of Faculty if you have concerns about programmes of learning. If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing or relationships, please contact their Form Teacher or the Dean.

We look forward to meeting you at the first Student Achievement Interview Days of the year (the dates are in the calendar later in this newsletter). We will notify you when bookings open. In the meantime, we would encourage you to talk to your child about their goals for this year – personal and academic – in preparation for this meeting.

The Ministry of Education will be holding nationwide public consultation meetings, including two in Christchurch on Thursday 21 February. The full schedule is now available on the Ministry of Education website (venues will be added for meetings as they are confirmed) https://conversation.education.govt.nz/conversations/tomorrows-schools-review/have-your-say-today/

An online survey which canvasses opinion on each of our 32 recommendations is now available here https://consultation.education.govt.nz/tsr/survey2019/ and will remain open until 31 March 2019.

A free 0800 number for oral submissions: call 0800 FOR TSR (0800 367 877) to leave your thoughts on the future of our schooling system.

Postcards: for students, families and anyone who just wants to briefly ‘have their say’ on a recommendation or the full report. Freepost postcards will be available at the public meetings.

Formal written submissions about the report can be sent to: tomorrows.schools@education.govt.nz<mailto:tomorrows.schools@education.govt.nz>

Finally, the Board of Trustees was pleased to receive the confirmed ERO report from the October 2018 review visit. The school will now return to the regular review cycle. The confirmed ERO Report is available here on our website.

Karen Stewart
Principal / Tumuaki