From the Principal's Desk
Nga mihi nui kia koutou katoa. Welcome to the Westland High School newsletter for August 2021.
Tēnā koutou katoa, warm greeting to you all
Term three is now well underway, it is good to see that a majority of students are attending regularly at school and are pleased to be back into their learning routines. Planning for 2022 has commenced with calendars, and events starting to flow in, course selection for middle school and senior students are being revised and an increasing student roll means an additional year 7 - 8 class in 2022, increasing from 4 to 5 classes, an additional year 9 or 10 middle school class may also be required due to strong roll growth.
The school’s student support hub at the end of A-wing nearest the library is almost complete and should be opened mid-term. The support hub will house a careers centre, gateway students, school counsellor (separate office and waiting room) and eventually a place for a visiting health nurse and International department nearby.
The school Hall/Admin/Whare/Music/Drama/Dance facility is also currently on track for a February completion.
In addition over the next two to three years, we will be spending approximately $1.9 million from the Ministry of Education property fund to upgrade school toilet blocks, science labs, and school fields for better drainage and if finances allow field night time training lights, a range of smaller projects will also take place.
We have a number of students who have un-coded absences in their attendance records, this affects the students ability to be able to participate in some non curricular activities as it lowers their overall attendance rate. For all Absences (appointments, illness, etc...) please ensure that you contact the school office first thing in the morning (or sooner) by telephone 03 755 7669, the office has an answerphone, and you can leave a message outside of school hours. In addition, you may use the School App (further details about the app are in this newsletter) or email the school office email (office@westlandhigh.school.nz) to send in a notification of an absence.
In the case of illness, please make sure that you ring in the morning each day your child is sick. For your child’s safety, we need to know whether to expect them at school or not.
If your child is unwell at school they must go to the office, the staff in the office where necessary will contact you to collect your child if necessary and update their attendance record. Your child should not text you to collect them and leave school without going through the correct process. For your child’s safety, it is the school’s responsibility to know the whereabouts of your child during school hours.
Over the past month or so, there has been an upsurge and spread of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) This is a common respiratory virus that causes lung and respiratory tract infections. It is highly contagious. A person infected with RSV spreads the virus in droplets when they cough, sneeze or talk.
We encourage students to stay home or whanau not to come into school if they have or are suspected to have RSV. Remember to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing (wear a face mask if necessary) and continue to wash hands as part of sound hygiene practices. If a child has RSV or is unwell they should not come to school.
Link to the Ministry of Health Website
A reminder about attendance, students with attendance below 93%, will not be permitted to travel and or to represent the school, attend the school ball or do other non-curriculum-based activities like most sports events. There are a few exceptions to this, such as absences beyond the student’s control like illness etc.
Absences such as holidays during term time, sleeping in, etc. are not acceptable and reduce the student attendance percentage. Westland High School is required to ensure the Ministry of Education's attendance rules are adhered to at all times, and we do so. The school attendance rate expectation increases to 95% in 2022.
Regular attendance is essential; otherwise, gaps in understanding grow, and eventually, this means learning will suffer. We care about every student and their education and expect everyone to be the best they can be and at school all the time.
To check your child’s school attendance follow the link below to access the school portal and enter the username and password previously provided. Contact the school office if you have misplaced the username and password.
https://portal.westlandhigh.school.nz/index.php
The majority of students understand the need for regular and consistent attendance. We will continue to work with students who struggle with attendance including family’s where assistance is required. If you have a concern with your child's attendance please do contact the Whanau teacher for an initial conversation, when we work together there are better outcomes for our young people.
On occasion parents and Whanau may need to contact the school. The classroom teacher or Whanau teacher should be contacted in the first instance if you have a concern or need to discuss learning related information. Contact can be made through the school office by phone or email. office@westlandhigh.school.nz
Ngā mihi nui
Iain Murray
Principal