Week 8 - Term 3 - 2025

 Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tō huarahi.

May peace be widespread, may the sea glisten like greenstone, and may the shimmer of light guide you on your way.

Week 8 1 Hepetema - 5 Hepetema Academic Week - All week Whanau Hui - Tues 2 @ 6pm LEF's due - Thurs 4 School examinations begin - Thurs 4 (Year 11 - 13 on study leave) Reading CAA - Year 10 - Thurs 4 Writing CAA - Year 10 - Fri 5	Week 9 8 Hepetema - 12 Hepetema School examinations - all week Get to Go Challenge - Mon 8 Numeracy CAA Year 10 - Thurs 11 PTA y10/11 parents social Year 9 Music performance p5 - Fri 12
Assembly -  Mon - Year 11 - 13 in the Gym for examination information Wed - Rangatiratanga	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 - PAC Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Tues: Staff Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area if needed Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. A big thank  you to everyone who has been away with our students on Tournament week, stepped up to fill the gaps in relief and everything else that has helped with the smooth running this week!

2. Professional Reading: Strengthening the Student Toolbox: Study Strategies to Boost Learning by John Dunlosky.

The reading explores various study strategies and their effectiveness in boosting student learning and retention. Dunlosky, a psychology professor, highlights how many common study habits like highlighting and cramming are actually inefficient. The piece then reviews ten different learning strategies, categorising them by their efficacy based on extensive research. Specifically, it identifies practice testing and distributed practice as the most effective methods for improving comprehension and long-term memory, suitable for all ages and material types. The article also examines other promising strategies like interleaved practice, elaborative interrogation, and self-explanation, while cautioning against less effective but popular techniques such as simple rereading, highlighting, and summarisation without proper training. Ultimately, the source advocates for teachers to guide students in adopting evidence-backed study habits to foster lifelong learning.

Week 7 - Term 3 - 2025

 I orea te tuatara ka puta ki waho

A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions

Week 7 25 Akuhata - 29 Akuhata Winter Tournament Week - All week Badminton - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Basketball - Junior SS - Mon 25 - Tues 26 Basketball SI Champs - Wed 27 - Sat 30 Football - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Hockey 2XI - All Week Hockey Federation Cup - All Week Ice Hockey - Mon 25 - Thurs 27 Equestrian SISS - Mon 25 Netball - SI Champs - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Spoken Word Comp - Wed 27 Year 11 Casio Calculator Comp - Thurs 28 Rugby - NZ Champs - Thurs 28 - Sun 31	Week 8 1 Hepetema - 5 Hepetema  Academic Week - All week Whanau Hui - Tues 2 LEF's due - Thurs 4 School examinations begin - Thurs 4 (Year 11 - 13 on study leave) Reading CAA - Year 10 - Thurs 4 Writing CAA - Year 10 - Fri 5
Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 (Gym) and Year 13 (PAC) Wed - Manaakitanga	Assembly -  Mon - Year 11 - 13 in the Gym for examination information Wed - Rangatiratanga
Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT	Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Tues: Staff Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. As we are coming into examinations, you may be interested in the new tool now found in Chatgpt - the new study mode.

ChatGPT has launched a new feature called Study Mode to make learning more interactive and effective.  Study Mode is "a learning experience in ChatGPT designed to help you build a deeper understanding of any topic. When you turn on and engage with study mode, ChatGPT will ask interactive questions to understand your goals and skill level, then work with you to reach the answer step by step."

You are able to turn on Study Mode anytime, just select it from the drop-down list.

Something that you may want to explore with the lead up to examinations and students ability to have their own personal tutor.

Week 6 - Term 3 - 2025

 Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua 

As people disappear from sight, the land remains 

Week 6 17 Akuhata - 22 Akuhata Book Week - All week CGHS/CBHS Multicultural Performance Evening - Tues 19 Student Clothing Drive - Tues 19 Cantamath - Wed 20 No school due to Teacher Strike - Wed 20 Market Day lunchtime - Thurs 21 String Orchestra - Aurora Festival BHS - Wed 20 - Thurs 21 12 & 13 French Trip to Akaroa - Thurs 21 LEF's and EC's due - Thurs 21 Te Kura practice exams p2 - 5 - Thurs 21 BUS201 FT to Ridgecliff - Fri 22 May Campbell Anderson Essay - Fri 22 Non Uniform Day - Fri 22 Basketball - Junior SS - Sat 23 - Sun 24	Week 7 25 Akuhata - 29Akuhata Winter Tournament Week - All week Badminton - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Basketball - Junior SS - Mon 25 - Tues 26 Basketball SI Champs - Wed 27 - Sat 30 Football - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Hockey 2XI - All Week Hockey Federation Cup - All Week Ice Hockey - Mon 25 - Thurs 27 Equestrian SISS - Mon 25 Netball - SI Champs - Mon 25 - Thurs 28 Spoken Word Comp - Wed 27 Year 11 Casio Calculator Comp - Thrus 28 Rugby - NZ Champs - Thurs 28 - Sun 31
Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (Gym) and Year 12 (PAC) Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 (Gym) and Year 13 (PAC) Wed - Manaakitanga
Meeting  Mon: Te Whare Hauora Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT

Information for Staff

1. Just a reminder to have you say with the changes in the qualifications and sign up for the webinar. You will find the question and answer section relevant. These also will feed into the overall FAQ sheets that are being developed. Link can be found HERE.

2. For the History teachers out there, you may be interested in the following event: Teaching History with AI - "Discover how generative AI can bring the past to life and shape the future of teaching, learning and assessment. Eric Persen’s journey from history classroom to GenAI advisor began with a single question: how can emerging technologies make the study of history more engaging, while also shaping the future of education policy?"

2. A short clip from Leon Furze on how to use Google Gemini

Week 5 - Term 3 - 2025

 He rā whatiwhati kō

A day of hard work

Week 5 11 Akuhata - 15 Akuhata PHY302 Practical p3 - 5 - Mon 11 Wednesday at One Concert - orchestra and Cantrices - Wed 13 May Campbell Anderson Essay Competition - p1 - 3 - Thurs 14 Senior Speech Competition - Thurs 14 Ski/SnowB CSS Champs - Thurs 14 Cantrices - Cadenza Timaru - Fri 15 - Sat 16 Year 11 Study Skills session - Fri 15 p2 Squash - SI champs - Sat 16 - Sun 17 Aerobics Regionals - Sun 17	Week 6 17 Akuhata - 21 Akuhata Book Week - All week CGHS/CBHS Multicultural Performance Evening - Tues 19 Student Clothing Drive - Tues 19 Cantamath - Wed 20 Market Day lunchtime - Wed 20 String Orchestra - Aurora Festival BHS - Wed 20 - Thurs 21 12 & 13 French Trip to Akaroa - Thurs 21 LEF's and EC's due - Thurs 21 Te Kura practice exams p2 - 5 - Thurs 21 BUS201 FT to Ridgecliff - Fri 22 May Campbell Anderson Essay - Fri 22 Non Uniform Day - Fri 22 Basketball - Junior SS - Sat 23 - Sun 24
Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 (CAA prep) - PAC Year 11 - Gym Wed - Manaakitanga	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (Gym) and Year 12 (PAC) Wed - Book Week
Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Tues: Staff Thurs: PCT meeting	Meeting  Mon: Te Whare Hauora Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. Updates for Notebook LM:

For those of you who have managed to have a play around or use this space, there have been a couple of updates that were released earlier this week.

Just remember that this is a space where you can load up resources, that you trust (e.g. google docs, pdf's, websites that you trust) and allows you to interact with the content and ask questions.

What ever you upload, the tool will create an interactive podcast, which you can now be part of to join the conversation as well as a video of the content.

I have created an example, using the pdf around the new qualification changes - for you to have a look at and check out the notes, video and audio: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/382f56a0-cc18-4fb2-acf8-6f32bf09fddd

Week 4 - Term 3 - 2025

 He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai

If kindness is sown, then kindness you shall receive

Week 4 4 Akuhata - 8 Akuhata Teacher Only Day - Mon 4 Australian Maths Competition - Wed 6 Photos - Cultural and Sports - Thurs 7 - Fri 8 LEF's due - Thurs 7 Pūhoro wānanga - Fri 8Canterbury  Gymnastics - Sat 9 - Sun 10	Week 5 11 Akuhata - 15 Akuhata PHY302 Practical p3 - 5 - Mon 11 Whānau hui - Tues 12 Wednesday at One Concert - orchestra and Cantrices - Wed 13 May Campbell Anderson Essay Competition - p1 - 3 - Thurs 14 Rugby Sponsor Evening - Thurs 14 Senior Speech Competition - Thurs 14 Ski/SnowB CSS Champs - Thurs 14 Cantrices - Cadenza Timaru - Fri 15 - Sat 16 Year 11 Study Skills session - Fri 15 p2 Squash - SI champs - Sat 16 - Sun 17 Aerobics Regionals - Sun 17
Assembly -  Mon - None (TOD) Wed - Aroha	Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 (CAA prep) - PAC Year 11 - Gym Wed - Manaakitanga
Meeting  Mon: TOD - see below for outline Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT meeting	Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Tues: Staff Thurs: PCT meeting

Information for Staff

1. You may be interested in the following features in google classroom when you click on 'Gemini' and use the following 3 options:

• Re-Level Text - to generate a new version of your text for any reading level

• Build a Choice Board - Provides a choice of diverse activities for students to practise or display mastery in a particular topic

• If you have a second language learner in  your class, you may also want to consider the Translate text option:

Week 3 - Term 3 - 2025

 He mango wai koia kia kore e whitikia

It is a big river indeed that cannot be crossed

Make light of difficulties and they will disappear

Week 3 28 Hūrae - 1 Akuhata QUAD Tournament - Mon 28 Young Writers workshop - Mon 28 PISA Testing - Tues 29 Building Evac p1 - Wed 30 MED301 Censor for a Day FT - Thurs 31 Lip Sync @ CBHS - Thurs 31 Squash NZ Champs - Fri 1 - Sun 3 International Students Ski Day - Fri 1 Year 11 Semi-Formal - Sat 2	Week 4 4 Akuhata - 8 Akuhata Teacher Only Day - Mon 4 Australian Maths Competition - Wed 6 Photos - Cultural and Sports - Thurs 7 - Fri 8 LEF's due - Thurs 7 Pūhoro wānanga - Fri 8Canterbury  Gymnastics - Sat 9 - Sun 10
Assembly -  Mon - None - Subject selection for Year 9 - 12 Wed - House Assembly - LipSync	Assembly -  Mon - None (TOD) Wed - Aroha
Meeting  Mon: Teaching and Learning Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT Meeting	Meeting  Mon: TOD - see below for outline Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. The outline for our upcoming TOD is as follows:

8.30 - 10.30: Strategic Planning for 2026 - 2028

11.00 - 1pm: Departments

1.40pm - 2.40pm: PLG groups

2. The article on Edutopia "Helping Students Overcome the Forgetting Curve" emphasises that human brains are naturally wired to forget new information unless it's actively reinforced. To counter this, Kaiako can implement three practical strategies:

• immediate recall through techniques like “brain dumps” that encourage students to retrieve and reframe knowledge right after learning; 
• personal reflection using tools like a “living wall” where students connect new concepts to real-life experiences, deepening memory through elaborative encoding; 
• and immediate use of new ideas in creative, authentic tasks that shift learning into long-term memory. These methods help students become active participants in their learning, transforming fleeting lessons into lasting understanding