From the Principal: Term 4 Week 3

Kia ora koutou | hello to you all

Tuesday was an amazing day, with our seniors enjoying Tabloids - on a sunny day with schoolwide support - for their last day this year. We were also treated to four tractors being shown off as a mark of appreciation for our Rural College, thanks to students Logan, Liam and Lucas in Year 12 plus Dustin in Year 9 with parents Murray and Jennie. Everyone loves tractors but they’re especially significant to us and I hope we can make this a tradition. The Tabloid sports were creative and fun, with lots of laughing and unconventional teamwork. They were put together by the all-weekend effort of our house leader teachers Kath Wilson, Megan Evans, Heidi Clark and Jemma Rangi so ngā mihi nui to them.

With seniors now being on study leave, it’s important for parents to understand their routines and requirements for exams. Some students have well and truly passed already and may be focusing on reduced numbers of exams for higher grades or lower stress and this is okay in NCEA; some may need everything they can get and some may not be sitting exams. It’s important to understand what applies to your child and how to support them best. At assembly this week, I praised the value of hard work and encouraged all seniors to get a job of any kind over summer to learn the skills we can’t teach at school.

Year 10 students this week visited Ōnuku Marae, Okains Bay and sites of historical significance around Akaroa. This is a great learning experience, organised and led by Anna Lee, and our students are lucky to have such passionate educators. I’m really pleased that our curriculum is finally looking at our own (that’s Aotearoa, NZ) histories in a more open way.

We’ve also had a group of year 10 students traversing the South Island with Adventure 180 Trust, led by Shawn Gough and Courtenay Henshaw. They get back late on Friday and will have some awesome stories.

You’ll recall that we moved our policies to SchoolDocs this year. We’re constantly seeking your feedback to improve what we do and instructions for review are below.

To give a review:

1. Visit the website https://darfield.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (darfield) and password (tawera).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type.

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.

If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Please remember that our current uniform is on clearance special at the Warehouse Rolleston until the end of November and can be worn for the next two years. Buying it actually helps us too. Nowhere will sell our uniform in December and it will be available from Mainland Uniforms Wairakei Road from January 2023.

Mauri ora ki a koutou,

Andy England

Dates this term

• Canterbury Anniversary: 11 Nov

• Whānau Hui: Fri 18 Nov 5.30pm Kākāpōtahi

• Staff only day: 25 Nov

• Senior prizegiving: 1 Dec

• Junior prizegiving and last day of term: 9 Dec