Talofa lava

Shirley Boys’ High School is currently going well. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been visiting all of the Year 9 classes in a variety of subjects. Overall, I have been very impressed with the engagement and behaviour of boys in the classes, and also the quality of teaching. The teacher student relationships that I observed were very positive and I saw a good range of teaching. This is a really nice way for me to keep involved with the teaching and learning that is occurring at Shirley Boys’ High School and to see how well the boys are going.

This term we also have a number of sports exchanges. These are a great opportunity for the boys involved to play against other schools and make good friendships. The Marlborough Exchange involved a number of teams and went very well. I look forward to seeing more good exchanges with King’s High School in Dunedin and Nelson College over the remainder of the term.

Last week we were forced into lockdown after a person came on site and did not follow procedures. We did not know what this person’s intentions were and they presented a potential threat to staff and students so we went into lockdown. The Police arrived quickly to support us and the situation was managed without further concern.

What this did do was highlight a number of issues. The students managed the situation very well and the majority did exactly what they are supposed to do, which is be on the floor and stay still and quiet. One of the issues with this is the use of mobile phones as they make noise and emit light. All of the research shows that people shouldn’t be using their phones during lockdown, and while it is natural to want to contact your son it does create issues. When we are in lockdown it is also the priority of the school to keep the staff and students safe. We will communicate with families and whānau when we can but it is not a priority. Lastly, parents and caregivers must not come on site when we are in lockdown. Again, I understand it is natural to want to ensure your son is safe but by being on site and trying to make contact with your son it is just another thing for the staff to deal with. Please stay away from the school during a lockdown until we communicate with you that it is safe to do so.

This week’s events also highlight that these types of events create anxiety and potentially bring back past trauma. If there are any issues with how students are feeling, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with your son’s Form Teacher or Dean, or the Guidance team.

On Friday 2nd June we will have our Ōtākaro Kāhui Ako Conference. This will be a great opportunity for the staff in all of the schools and Early Learning Centres in our cluster to meet at Shirley Boys’ High School for a good day of professional learning.

I wish everyone all the best for Samoan Language Week.

Manuia le aso