Kia ora Koutou.

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2020 and for those students and whanau who are new to the school, it is wonderful to have you as part of the Riccarton family. Already we are at the halfway point in the term and it is amazing to see what has been achieved in the first few weeks of the year including:

• The hiki te tapu (blessing) of our new outdoor education site at Orohaki. Junior classes will have an opportunity to use this great facility next term when they go on camp (details to follow)
• A very successful ‘Big Arvo’ and Gala Day where our students fully embraced the spirit behind our new whare structure by dressing in their colours, showing a positive spirit and supporting each other through a range of challenges.
• Successful gatherings for our Filipino and Pasifika families in addition more recently, to an opportunity for our Year 9 parents to meet their child’s subject teacher and whanau teacher.

Our provisional statistics from NCEA in 2019 are once again a cause for celebration, particularly when you add in the scholarship exams which saw scholarships awarded to;

• Aislin Rogers in Biology (taught by Mrs Ross) and Statistics (taught by Ms Blissett)
• Emily Ting in Biology (taught by Mrs Ross) and Chemistry (taught by Mrs Conyers)
• Sangam Gaire in Chemistry (taught by Mrs Conyers)
• Leah Albrow in Classics (taught by Mr Campbell)

Across all 3 levels of NCEA in 2019 there was an impressive number of high achievers with 200 students awarded either a merit or excellence endorsement. 

Overall statistics also continue to track above those for decile 4-7 schools throughout New Zealand despite the figures under NZQA’s reporting system now including everyone who is with us for at least 70 days whether they are doing a full NCEA course or not (for example, many of our English Language Learners are not entered into a full NCEA course for obvious reasons).

Finally, a reminder about our Learner Hui on Tuesday 10 March. 

Under our new whare structure in 2020 this is an opportunity to sit down with your child and their whanau teacher and not only discuss how things have started for them this year but also to have conversation around goals for the remainder of 2020.  

Check out the link to ‘School Interviews’ in the email sent to you. We look forward to seeing you there!

Neil Haywood
Principal