Kia ora tātou, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei

Yesterday was one of the teacher-only NCEA days gifted to schools to work on NCEA change and curriculum planning. Although the changes to NCEA have been delayed by a year, our teachers used the time to consider and learn about not only the implications of changes to standards and the introduction of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into NCEA, but the important steps further down the school that we need to consider, to ensure our students are well ready for the changes further up the school! During our sharing time at the end of a big day of planning and discussion, it was exciting to hear the different ways that teachers are looking to refresh the traditional teaching approach. Using more learner agency, ensuring that learning is meaningful and applicable, and increasing the opportunity for local curriculum influence, engagement, and learning ownership by students, is where we are heading. Next year in year 10, we will be trialling some units that reflect these aspirations in all subject areas and we will gather data to inform future decisions about refreshing the ‘middle years’ of schooling at Kavanagh College.

Our year 7-9 team for 2022 also spent the day reviewing the exciting progress that happened this year, looking at areas for change and review, and planning accordingly. I would like to acknowledge the huge amount of work that has gone into our year 7-9 curriculum programmes this year, by both integrated studies teachers and the options teachers, under the leadership of Sarah Henderson and Tricia James. Their willingness to try something new and work hard to see it through is commendable, and the results are looking positive. We look forward to more refinement and the next steps within our vision, as we move into 2022.

Next year, our year 7-9 team will be supported by our new curriculum lead, Michele Rodger, who comes to us from John McGlashan College. Michele will be joined by other new staff Elyse Corkhill (currently at Columba College) in year 7, and Sophie Whibley (who begins her teaching journey with us) and David Sole (currently Ashburton College) who will teaching within the year 9 classes. We will also welcome Naomi Tupa’i into the Phys Ed department, and Hamish Sutherland who returns to Kavanagh College as co-DRS after many years teaching in Wellington. To bolster our pastoral team, we are pleased that Ross Mackinnon will re-join our staff as Guidance Counsellor working alongside Liz Cameron, who is taking on pastoral leadership working closely with the Senior Leadership Team.

Things aren’t winding down yet! Our Year 10 Camps are away to Cromwell and Deep Cove. Thank you to the staff and parents who will be accompanying these camps and I am sure that our year 10s will repay you with perfect manners and attitudes. Our pantomime is putting on the finishing touches and we will be holding this event under the new covid protection framework rules. Look out for more information about how to purchase tickets.

Last week, I spoke about Advent. As we move into week two of Advent, the theme is Peace. Let us continue to pray for peace within our own hearts, our families and in our wider community.

God bless,

Kate Nicholson