Week 8 - Term 4 - 2025

 Kua hua te marama 

Something has completed a full cycle 

This whakatauki could be used to celebrate success/a project coming to term. It can also be used to reflect on the cyclical nature of things. 

Week 8 24 Noema - 28 Noema NZQA examinations - All Week Year 10 Camps - All Week Junior Clearance begins - Mon 24 Rugby - Condor 7s Tues 25 - Sun 30 LEF's due - Wed 26 Ako Teacher reports due - Wed 26 Senior Condor 7s - Fri 28 - Sun 30 Cricket - 1st XI - The Willows	Week 9 1 Tīhema - 5 Tīhema Prefect Leadership Camp - Mon 1 - Wed 3 World Challenge - Africa 2025 - Leave Mon 1 Junior Ako conferences - Mon 1 Otago Girls' Cricket Match - Mon 1 Junior Prizegiving - Thurs 4 Junior Reports uploaded to portal - Thurs 4 Year 9 short film & musical showcase - Thurs 4 @ 6pm Sod turning for new build - Thurs 4 @8am Last Day - Thurs 4 Athletics - NZSS Champs - Fri 5 - Sun 7
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - None	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 Values - Gym Year 10 Values - PAC Wed - None Thurs - Prizegiving (am)
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Department Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Department

Week 7 - Term 4 - 2025

 Me te rangi ka paruhi

Like a beautifully fine, calm day

Beauty is a pleasure to behold

Week 7 17 Noema - 21 Noema NZQA examinations - All Week South Island Junior Volleyball - all week Year 10 Camps - all week Tennis - Cant. Junior Champs - Tues 18 - Wed 19 Sevens Tournament - Tues 18 Water polo Junior SI Cup - Thurs 20 - Sun 23 Junior Subject Reports due - Fri 21 Touch - Cant. Champs - Sat 22 - Sun 23	Week 8 24 Noema - 28 Noema NZQA examinations - All Week Year 10 Camps - All Week Junior Clearance begins - Mon 24 Rugby - Condor 7s Tues 25 - Sun 30 LEF's due - Wed 26 Ako Teacher reports due - Wed 26 Senior Condor 7s - Fri 28 - Sun 30 Cricket - 1st XI - The Willows
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - None	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - None
Meeting  Mon: Learning and Teaching Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon:  Tues: Staff meeting Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. Your professional reading for the week - "What Socrates Might Say about AI in Education?"

The article draws a parallel between Socrates' historical warning about the invention of writing, that it would diminish true memory and understanding and contemporary anxieties surrounding Artificial Intelligence in education. It argues that new technologies, from the printing press to the internet and now AI, initially trigger fears of shallowness and cognitive laziness, but history shows these tools ultimately spur educational evolution. To adapt, it is suggested that educators must shift pedagogy away from rote recall toward fostering critical thinking, metacognition, and authentic, problem-based assessments to ensure AI becomes a partner for deeper learning, not a shortcut.

2. OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) TALIS survey on usage of AI in primary and secondary teaching: You may be interested to see how New Zealand teachers compare with other countries around AI use. See the recent article in the New Zealand Interface magazine: https://interfaceonline.co.nz/2025/11/11/ai-usage-in-teaching-and-how-kiwi-educators-compare/

Week 6 - Term 4 - 2025

 Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou

Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing

Week 6 10 Noema - 14 Noema NZQA examinations - All Week Year 10 Camps start - Mon 10 - Wed 12 Junior Rank Lists to PWL - Mon 10 Junior Prizewinners and Specials into Kamar - Wed 12 Junior LEF's due - Wed 12 International student trip A&P show - Thurs 13 Canterbury Anniversary day - Fri 14	Week 7 17 Noema - 21 Noema NZQA examinations - All Week South Island Junior Volleyball - all week Year 10 Camps - all week Tennis - Cant. Junior Champs - Tues 18 - Wed 19 Sevens Tournament - Tues 18 Water polo Junior SI Cup - Thurs 20 - Sun 23 Touch - Cant. Champs - Sat 22 - Sun 23
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - None	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - None
Meeting  Mon: Te Whare Hauora Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Junior HoD (am)	Meeting  Mon: Learning and Teaching Tues:  Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. If you are interested in the annual Hui Rangahau Graham Nuthall Researh Symposium for 2025 - this year it is on the 19th November. This is a free event, that can be watched online or attended in person. The topic is:

This year’s Graham Nuthall Lecture explores how high-quality assessment can drive real improvements in student learning. Since 1999, UC’s Centre for Assessment and Monitoring (CAM) has provided New Zealand primary and secondary schools with evidence-based assessments and surveys grounded in world-leading educational research. CAM’s tools offer schools robust statistical data and comprehensive online feedback, enabling better decision-making, planning, goal setting, and reporting at the student, subject, and school level.

Details and sign up can be found at https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/events/2025/hui-rangahau-graham-nuthall-research-symposium-2025