Kia ora koutou

Once again, we are in interesting times with a Covid-19 lockdown. The sudden move to Alert Level 4 put people on the backfoot but I would like to acknowledge the work that both staff and students have done while at home. The circumstances are not always easy, but we need to make the most of the situation as it presents itself.

As we move back to Level 3, we sense some normality returning with Level 2 hopefully only a week away. However, it is essential that boys are still focussing on learning by completing tasks that teachers are providing and attending any video lessons. Despite what your son might tell you, all of our teachers are putting work online. This will be done through Canvas; some might use Google platforms; and others will be emailing work through. Please check your emails as teachers are often emailing parents and whānau with the details.

This work is important, particularly for our senior students as we will still have school examinations and NCEA will still happen in November. We have decided to shift our school exams to allow more lead-in time once we return to Level 2. These will now take place at the end of Week 9 and throughout Week 10. This may require shifting a couple of field trips, but we are confident of being able to hold these at Level 2. NCEA examinations have also been shifted back by two weeks and will begin on Monday 22nd November.

This makes it very important that boys are doing their schoolwork and thinking about those exams. The school exams will be used to produce Derived Grades which are sent to NZQA. These are used to determine the students’ NCEA external grades if the NCEA exams are unable to be held. The potential for this in a Covid environment is very real.

We are also in the process of Course Selection for subjects in 2022. The Course Booklet is online for students to review. The boys are expected to look through the booklet and start considering possible subjects for next year, and I strongly encourage parents and whānau to look through and have those conversations with their sons. We had scheduled a Course Selection Day on Thursday 9th September but that has now been cancelled so these conversations are very important.

Over the next week, please stay safe, stay in your bubble and ensure we get through this safely. For those of you returning to work, I wish you well.

Ngā mihi nui

Tim Grocott
Headmaster/Tumuaki