What a delight is was to hear the school full of chatter. Both Staff and Students were so pleased to see each other.

 Time for Everything Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

This passage from Ecclesiastes has struck me as reflecting the last few weeks.  There is a time for everything however we have no control over when that time is.  Time is a precious gift that we need to acknowledge and use wisely.  It is a particular challenge when we go from a time in lockdown to a time of 'business as usual' when is not as usual.  It is will take us time to adjust to the turmoil we have all been through and return to our regular routine.

The return to Level 2 was a welcome return for staff and students. It was positive to see and hear so many students and staff on their return. We appreciate your support and encouragement over the last few weeks. Thank you to those who have contacted us and how we can support your daughter's return for students who have not yet returned.

Some students may be feeling overwhelmed about the amount of work ahead of them. We have focused this week on revision and creating a plan to make the best use of the time forward. For senior students creating a calendar can help them see what is due when and how everything fits in, due dates, when the exams are and what they need to achieve their goals.

Final Day for Senior Students extended to Friday 12th November 2021

Due to the moving of the NCEA exams, we have moved the last day for Seniors to be Friday 12th November 202. This allows us more learning and teaching time.

NCEA Internal Assessments

We will also modify our derived grade assessments - previously, we held these over a week, and students have only come to school for assessments. We are going to run these assessments during the school week to cause the minimum disruption to learning. This may mean that some three hour assessments will run from 1 until 4.  

This will not have a negative effect on students but allow them more contact time with their teachers. These assessments will be held in the first week of term 4. The purpose of these assessments is to practice for the external and get a grade that can be used if your daughter is unable to sit the final external assessment for some reason.