Kia ora whānau

What a fantastic start to the year it has been. With a starting school roll of 448 (biggest in 9 years) there is already a real buzz around the place. To see the Hall and Auditorium full is really exciting.

For staff the year started last Tuesday with a Teacher Only Day, and we were inspired by Professor Chris Jackson (Deputy Head Boy in 1994) who spoke to us about having a growth mindset and reflected on his ‘journey’ at school. Chris is the professor of oncology at the University of Otago and was recently named as one of the 100 most influential oncologists in the world. He is the epitome of the impact a Waitakian can have on the world!

We welcomed our Year 9 cohort last Thursday along with the Prefects. The Year 9’s have already made such a positive impact on the school and they look like having a great year. Last Friday at our pōwhiri we welcomed all our new students and staff with the whole school present. A highlight was the presentation of the new school korowai (cloak) to the Māori prefect, Jahlin Marsters-Taupo along with a matau ika te pounamu (greenstone fishhook) to be awarded to a junior Māori student later in the year. 

In my address to the school I reflected on speaking last year about the need for a ‘reset’ and my belief that we achieved that. This belief is based on the following. A well-being survey conducted in Term 3 showed the boys believed it to be a far safer and friendlier place and felt a greater sense of belonging than the year before. Our overall pass rate improved at each level of NCEA along with our total number of endorsements almost doubling. As importantly the number of serious disciplinary actions almost halved and there was an increase in students receiving HAT (He Ara Tika) badges and top weekly notes (TWN).

We spoke about this year the focus being on setting new standards. With the quality of both students and staff we currently have at the school there is absolutely no reason why we can’t have higher pass rates, more endorsements, more HAT’s, more TWN, higher attendance rates, less rubbish, less referrals, better standards of uniform, more Aoraki and Otago titles than last year.

This year we welcome seven incredibly capable new teachers to our staff team.

Finn Bloxsom -Mr Bloxsom is an old boy who was a school prefect in 2008. For the past two years he has been with his family in Germany and prior to that he taught for 8 years at secondary schools in China. Mr Bloxsom will be teaching Junior English and Social Studies.

Lark Brudvik-Lindner – Ms Brudvik-Lindner comes to us from Nelson. Last year she gained her Graduate diploma in teaching from the University of Auckland.  She will be teaching Mathematics.

Tim Daly – We welcome Mr Daly and his family who have joined us from Canada. He has extensive experience teaching Technology having taught for 14 years at secondary school level in Ontario and will be teaching four senior technology classes this year.

Paegan Dalziel –Ms Dalziel has graduated from the University of Otago College of Education last year. She will be teaching History and English this year.

Lauren Russell –Ms Russell joins us from Auckland. Like Ms Brudvik-Lindner she graduated last year from the University of Auckland College of Education. She will be teaching Science.

Nikolai Valov –Mr Valov joins us as the new Teacher in charge of Music after teaching for the past 3 years in Oregon, USA and before that in Japan. Mr Valov will be teaching Music and also a Social Studies class.

Ryan Wilson – For the past 9 years Mr Wilson has taught primarily PE at Wairarapa College along with being a House Dean and Senior Boarding Housemaster. Mr Wilson takes up the position here as Director of Boarding as well as teaching PE and Vocational Pathways. 

I need to also make special mention of our property team – Doug Frogley (Property Manager), Kelvin McFelin (caretaker/groundsman), Steve Sugars (groundsman) and Mike McGee (Maintenance) who along with various contractors including Breen Construction, Century Decorating, Treescape, Ambler construction, Roger Gilchrist building , Darren Stewart painting, Waitaki Glass, MCM and Plunket Electrical have done an incredible job of enhancing our property and buildings over the holiday period. These enhancements include a new digital billboard, new flagpole, interior painting of the B block corridor and library, exterior painting of the technology block, cleaning of the pool, asphalting the bridge entrance, roof repairs, renovations to staff accommodation to name but a few. The school looks fantastic!

There are some issues that have arisen to start the year – in particular traffic management but I will send out a more detailed email to parents/Whānau about these in the coming days.

A reminder about some key upcoming dates –

• Monday 9th February – Academic Excellence assembly, 2.05pm, Hall of Memories.

• Tuesday 10th February – Community Association meeting, 5.30pm, Staffroom.

• Wednesday 11th February – Year 9 Meet the Teachers, 6.30pm, Auditorium.

• Thursday 12th and Friday 13th February – Athletic Sports.

• From Monday 16th February – Year 9 Camps begin.
  

As always, thanks for your continued support of our school and have a wonderful Waitangi weekend.

He waka eke noa

We’re all in this together 

Whakaohooho taitahake marohirohi 

Inspiring young men of outstanding character.

Floreat Waitakia

Darryl Paterson