Welcome back: looking after each other and going for gold!

Kia ora koutou, malo e lelei, talofa lava, namaste and kumusta.

And an extra special welcome to all new Kōwhai students, whānau and staff of the Kōwhai senior whānau, whether you have been at LCŌ for years, or are joining us fresh from another school. My name is Jane Schroeder, dean for our Kōwhai senior students, and I am looking forward to another colourful year of growth and success together.

It has been fabulous to see all our ākonga back at kura, rejuvenated after a summer break full of sunshine, time with loved ones and rest. Once again we find ourselves starting the year in an unsettled Covid landscape, but I do hope we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel beginning to shine brighter as we move through the peak of the outbreak and back into a sense of normalcy. I want to thank you for supporting our rangatahi to be here at kura, masked up and looking after one another as we focus on reaching our academic and personal goals. Thank you also for staying in touch with us if you are keeping your child home, for whatever reason, so that we can keep accurate attendance records. Please be aware that students are able to access work online when they are at home over this time.

For our Year 11s, this year is their first adventure into the exciting world of NCEA. With the inability to hold assemblies, our head student, Sophie interviewed me around basic information and expectations for NCEA for our very cool new Student Site. Please do take the time to speak with your child about NCEA and their goals for the year ahead whether they are Year 11, 12, or 13, and encourage them to share these goals and any questions they may have with me, their kaiārahi and classroom teachers.

Congratulations to our Year 13 students who all passed NCEA Level 2 last year, we are all really proud of you! Congratulations also to the 90% of our Year 12 students who passed NCEA Level 1 last year. All students who were on a Year 11 plan and attending kura on a regular basis were able to reach this goal which proves this an achievable goal for all who want it!

I would like to take this opportunity to specifically welcome our new teaching staff who have joined Kōwhai. Kirsten Anderson is a new Art teacher working alongside Emily Whiteman in our Kōwhai WH/KAN Ako class. We welcome also Heather McLean who is our new Dance teacher and has taken over Rosina Katene’s Ako class in our Kōwhai HMC Ako class.

While your child’s Ako teacher is your first port of call in contacting the school with any questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with me at schr@linwoodcollege.school.nz or on my work phone number: 022 027 3262.