Reflecting on Term Two

As we bring Term Two to a learning and teaching close, we have much to celebrate amongst the challenges of Industrial Action.

Curriculum Review

Led by Deputy Principal Ms Rowlands, we are well underway with reviewing our junior curriculum. Some big questions are being asked. Is what we are teaching still fit for purpose? Does it align with our WHY and, therefore, our vision of ‘empowering learners to make a positive impact’? What can we learn from research trends? What part does technology play? What excites learners (students and teachers), and what changes, if any, impact will this have on the senior school? Impact Education, a consultancy group also working with Tauranga Boys’ College, is supporting our journey in this process. The first stage was looking at evidence we had gathered and then grouping that into key findings. Several staff members are keen to participate in this review and meet fortnightly to progress their conversations on those big questions.

Learned helplessness or self-managing during Industrial Action?

At the time of writing this article, industrial action has continued, but both the PPTA and the Government have agreed to enter into an arbitration process. Once the terms of reference are established, we, too, will be able to share more. As mentioned in my last newsletter and through our social media posts, students need to self-manage by attending the days they should be at school, engaging with what they can do from home when they are rostered home and empowering themselves so that they build resilience and focus on what they can do rather than a type of learned helplessness of ‘I can’t do anything unless my teacher helps me’. Learning occurs both in and outside of the classroom and whilst teachers make a critical difference, students can also notice and take responsibility for some of their learning.

Pride in our Uniform

Thank you for your support of the correct wearing of our school uniform. Trousers, shorts and skirts are all options for students, as is our lava lava. These items, along with our shirt, jersey and jacket, ensure that students have a uniform choice, are warm and wear the uniform with pride. Students that have joined us from non-uniform-wearing schools do comment on not having to ‘compete with other girls’, to ‘feel like they have to have brands’, or to ‘have to worry about what I need to wear’ as the uniform allows for everyone to have a choice, to show their sense of belonging to Tauranga Girls’ College and it ‘reduces costs’ over the year.

Need to contact us?

Who to contact if you have any questions? If your young person comes home and voices a concern, take the time to speak with them to ascertain the context and to triangulate the story. If you wish to talk to a staff member about the matter, then raise that with the learner's coach, subject teacher, dean etc., depending on the context. Please make the time to do this. Email (addresses are on our website) or phone to make an appointment. All of our staff have classes they need to attend, and with the current industrial action, the time to complete all of their mahi falls between 8:20am - 4:20pm. Our staff will always do their best to support you as soon as possible.

Cameras at school

I remind you again of the cameras in use at school. A sign that reads ‘camera operating’ indicates where they are positioned. You will see this at reception too. Recently, the cameras provided evidence of a 3am theft. The information we captured could then be passed on to the police. We are not a ‘gated school’, so occasionally, people take shortcuts through our school despite our signage reminding members of the public not to do so. Our cameras are also helpful in capturing vandalism. Cameras are not located in changing rooms or toilet cubicles for privacy reasons but can show sites of gathering where students should not be.

Toilet Blocks

I acknowledge that students are vaping in bathrooms. Whilst we cannot lock toilets, we also cannot staff a person outside the toilet blocks to ensure students use them for the purpose they are built. Thousands of dollars have been spent on the upgrade of toilets in the last two years (and will continue), so it is unfortunate that what was once the ‘smoking behind the bike sheds’ activity of the past is now a ‘vaping in the toilets’. Furthermore, there has been some vandalism too. New signage about vaping is being erected, and we appreciate students stepping up and informing teachers when they come across students vaping in the toilets. This allows a staff member to pop into the nearby toilet and address the matter where possible. I also have a group of students from the Design Thinking class investigating solutions to this challenge. All school sites are ‘no smoking’ zones; therefore, I appreciate it when visitors/parents respect this when coming onto the school site too. Vaping is harmful, and we will continue to do our best, with the support of students, to address this issue. Rest assured, this is not just a Tauranga Girls’ College issue. All Principals are very concerned about vaping in schools (including at intermediate and primary schools). We hope that recent legislation changes about the sale and marketing of vapes can also help schools in their endeavour to eradicate them.

Te Ara Ako (Learning conversations)

Our staff agreed to continue learning conversations despite the industrial action. Thank you to those who took the opportunity to meet with subject teachers last week to discuss your young person's learning, engagement and attendance at school.

Engagement in Extra-curricular Activities

Term two is always a busy one with winter, arts and cultural codes/events that get underway. We have had some extraordinary sporting success, and as they have occurred, we try to place this on our Social Media accounts (do share with us too). Equally, there has been success in the performing arts arena with drama productions, music (rock band and chorale) success and, of course, our school's production, ‘The Addams Family’. Our Tauranga Girls’ College and Tauranga Boys’ College Kapa Haka group led by Matua Ed is also well underway, and we look forward to hearing more about their preparation for the Kapa Haka Regionals, which is scheduled for next term. All of these activities support wahine to make a positive impact. My thanks go to those parents, teachers and students who give up their time to provide coaching, umpiring, mentoring and managerial skills. Many hands certainly make for light work, and we can always do with more, so thank you to those who do make this time. You definitely make a difference.

Enjoy the non-teaching time that’s just around the corner. Keep warm and be safe.