Kia ora koutou.

Dear Parents and caregivers, welcome to 2022 – and a special welcome to all our new students, their whanau and our new staff. I hope you have all had a wonderful break and are refreshed to take on 2022. Hopefully this newsletter before the start of the school year provides you with plenty of useful information. 

NEW STAFF

We have six new staff joining us in 2022. We are extremely excited about the skill and expertise they will bring to our team and know they will be made to feel very welcome.

· Janice Vermeulen will be the new Guidance Councillor

· Nicola Turner will be teaching Science along with being the Year 13 Dean and relief co-  ordinator

· Josh Ratcliff will be teaching Physical Education and Agriculture

· Kristine Abrahan will be teaching Mathematics

· Ben Aberhart will be teaching Mathematics

· Dylan Ball will be teaching Technology

YEAR LEVEL DEANS 2022

There have been a number of changes in year Level Deans from 2021. The 2022 Year Level Deans are as follows:

Year 9 – Ian Cathcart

Year 10 – Ryan Westgate

Year 11 – Ben Winders

Year 12 – Tony Blackbeard

Year 13 – Nicola Turner

COURSE CONFIRMATION

On Friday 28th January the Year 11,12 and 13 Deans will be available in the Social Centre from 9am until 3pm to confirm courses. This should only apply to students who have a ‘blank’ on their timetable. Otherwise, it is expected that all students will study the courses they chose last year.

STATIONERY

As per the previous Newsletter. Please click on the link below to access your stationery list,

www.myschool.co.nz/waitakibhs

At the very least your son is expected to have an adequate supply of pens, pencils, a ruler and refill paper to enable him to produce work on any given school day.

HOUSE GROUP TEACHERS

· SSi (Mr Smith) is now SCn (Mrs Crane)

· LFa (Mr Familton) is now LAt (Mr Aberhart)

TRAFFIC

Could we please ask that if you intend on bringing your son to school in a motor vehicle that he is dropped off either on Waitaki Avenue, Virgil Street or Thames Highway. Last year, a number of vehicles were coming into the school which caused some confusion and inequity. Also, a friendly reminder that the stop signs at the railway crossing means that your vehicle needs to come to a complete stop before proceeding over the crossing. The health and safety of all in our community is of paramount importance to us. We very much appreciate your support in this.