Week 4 - Term 3 - 2026

 I orea te tuatara ka puta ki waho

A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions

Week 4 10 Here-turi-kōkā - 14 Here-turi-kōkā Arts Week  Mon Writing Club workshop  Tues Inter-School Senior Debating Compt.  LipSync Wed Ensemble Concert  LEF's due  Thurs Arts Dress Up Day  Eton Senior Maths Compt.  Senior Speech Compt. Ski/Snowboard Cant. Champs Fri - Teacher Only Day	Week 5 17 Here-turi-kōkā - 21 Here-turi-kōkā Academic Week and Tongan Language Week  Mon Yearr 9 Zoology Trip  Tues Year 11 Drama Performance Tūranga Trip  Wed Cantamaths  Thurs Photos - Sport & Cultural  Year 11 Art Portfolio Marking  Year 12 May Campbell Anderson Essay Compt.  Fri Photos - Sport & Cultural  Year 11 Art Portfolio Marking  Cadenza (Fri & Sat) 9ANP Observatory Trip  Massey and Victoria Uni Open Days
Assembly Mon - Year 10 CAA Assembly (PAC)             Year 12 (Gym)  Wed - Arts Assembly            Year 13 in PAC	Assembly Mon - Year 11 Study Assembly (PAC) Wed - Tongan Language/Academic                   Assembly            Year 12 in PAC
Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Meeting  Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: PCT	Meeting  Mon: HoLA Meeting  Tues: Staff Meeting  Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

Here's a helpful table from Marcelle: 

Pause Before You Post - a simple but powerful video suggestion from BLS that forces us to critically reflect: 

Does my child want this shared? 

Could this affect their future privacy? 

Am I creating a digital footprint on their behalf that they may not have chosen for themselves? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QL1FmBaof8 

Question 4: Literacy

Choose the correct sentence.

A. The principal principle was fairness.
B. The principle thanked everyone at assembly.
C. The principal welcomed the Year 9 students.
D. The principle of the school gave a speech.

Question 4: Numeracy

A bus leaves at 8:35 a.m. and the trip takes 1 hour 45 minutes. What time does it arrive?

Google for Education Updates 

ISTE conference Google tool announcements.

A large collection of updates were announced at the ISTE conference in the USA in June. We covered a selection in our recent 'learn with Google' session - see the recording here.

Google Summit for 2026

I just wanted to make sure everyone saw the exciting news: the Google Summit for 2026 has been confirmed for Otautahi, Christchurch on October 8th check out the Summit info and registration at this website - please share this with your team and school clusters or networks.

Gemini Academy Term three

We are hosting a virtual Gemini Academy for New Zealand educators, later this term. These are fully funded upskiling sessions, held during an nz afterschool timeslot, over 4 weeks. At the end of the series you can sit your Gemini certification too !

Register to grab your spot here 

Google Vids competition

Our GEG (the google educator group) is running a Google vids competition this term. This is open to all nz schools and aims to help you integrate the power of Google vids into your teaching program. See all the info at this site

Twice a term, the GEGnz also hosts a webinar called the mid evening show. These focus on a theme and encourage participation - check out the past editions here  

Many individual tool updates have also been announced, especially in Google Classroom which is getting a whole redesign. You can check out all the updates on this slide deck 

Week 3 - Term 3 - 2026

E iti noa ana, nā te aroha

Although it is small, it is given with love

Week 3 3 Here-turi-kōkā - 7 Here-turi-kōkā Mon Dance NZ Made  Tues Literacy 'bite-size' Hockey Chris Arthur Cup Wed Australian Maths Compt.  Massey Uni Open Day  Thurs Senior Chirnside Compt.  Fri NZ Squash Champs  International Ski Day  Yr11-13 Pūhoro Wānanga	Week 4 10 Here-turi-kōkā - 14 Here-turi-kōkā Mon Arts Week  Writing Club workshop  Tues Inter-School Senior Debating Compt.  LipSync Wed Ensemble Concert  LEF's due  Thurs Arts Dress Up Day  Eton Senior Maths Compt.  Senior Speech Compt. Ski/Snowboard Cant. Champs Fri - Teacher Only Day
Assembly Mon - Ako time (subject selection) Wed - House Assemblies Connon - Library Deans - Atrium or L2 common if wet Harper - Math Quad or Gym if wet Rolleston - Staffroom Selwyn - PAC Sheppard - Gym	Assembly Mon - Year 10 CAA Assembly (PAC)             Year 12 (Gym)  Wed - Arts Assembly            Year 13 in PAC
Meeting  Mon: PL - Embed  Tues: TOD Preparation  Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Meeting  Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: PCT

Information for Staff

Literacy Summary Report for July, 2026

Year 9 SMART Assessment 

The following diagram provides an outline of the new progress descriptors: 

SMART Reading for Year 9 (250 ākonga) 

Progress descriptor	Number of students	Percentage
Emerging	10	4%
Developing	20	8%
Consolidating	44	18%
Proficient	118	47%
Exceeding	58	23%

It was pleasing to see that 88% of our Year 9 cohort are on track to meet expectations by the end of the year. This aligns with previous Year 9 results and is consistent with our current Year 10 CAA Reading results. 

Reading and Writing Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) 

Round 1 Reading (Year 11 - 13 ākonga) 

Of the 56 students who attempted the Reading assessment:	Result
	Achieved = 54%
	Not Achieved = 46%

Round 1 Writing (Year 11 - 13 ākonga) 

Of the 57 students who attempted the Writing assessment:	Result
	Achieved = 58%
	Not Achieved = 42%

Podcast Recommendation 

This recommendation came from Gen as a ‘must listen’ for all teachers (and parents). You’ll find it on Spotify and TVNZ. 

Question 3: Literacy

Which sentence contains a mixed metaphor?

A. She broke the ice before beginning the meeting.
B. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
C. It's time to grab the bull by the horns and hit the ground running.
D. The ball is in your court.

Question 3: Numeracy

A recipe uses 1.5 cups of flour for 12 muffins. How much flour is needed for 24 muffins?

Week 2 - Term 3 - 2026

He iti kai mā te kotahi e kai, kia rangona ai te reka

If something is too small for division, do not try to divide it

Week 2 27 Hōngongoi -  31 Hōngongoi Mon - BOT Meeting  Mon - Quad Tournament  Tues - Numeracy 'bite-size' Wed - LEFs due  Wed - Manukura Rugby Game  Wed - Orchestra Day  Thurs - Discovery Coaching  Thurs - Otago Uni Course Planning  Thurs - Year 13 Classical Studies Trip  Thurs - International students marae                   visit  Sat - Year 11 Semi-Formal	Week 3 3 Here-turi-kōkā - 7 Here-turi-kōkā Mon - Dance NZ Made  Tues - Literacy 'bite-size' Wed - Australian Maths Compt.  Wed - Massey Uni Open Day  Thurs - Senior Chirnside Compt.  Fri - NZ Squash Champs  Fri - International Ski Day  Fri - Yr11-13 Pūhoro Wānanga
Assembly Mon - Year 9 (GYM) and Year 13 (PAC) Wed - International Assembly             Year 12 in PAC	Assembly Mon - Ako time (subject selection) Wed - House Assemblies Connon - Library Deans - Atrium or L2 common if wet Harper - Math Quad or Gym if wet Rolleston - Staffroom Selwyn - PAC Sheppard - Gym
Meeting  Mon: TWH Meeting  Tues: PL (TOD preparation)  Thurs: PCT (126)	Meeting  Mon: PL - Embed  Tues: Staff Meeting  Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

Numeracy CAA Summary Report for July 2026

In May 2026, 49 senior students participated in the Numeracy Co-requisite Assessment. To support preparation, students were provided with a Google Classroom containing practice materials, and offered tutorial support during Wednesday period 1. The assessment resulted in a 55% pass rate. This group of students primarily consisted of students who had previously attempted the assessment without achieving a successful outcome, or students new to the school. Overall, this pass rate is an improvement from previous year’s senior student pass rate

May 2026 Numeracy Results

Outcome	Number of students
Achieved	27
Not achieved	22
Absent	3
Total entered	52

Student Feedback Reports

The student feedback report shows the amount of evidence by outcome (there are 3 for numeracy).

Outcome 1 – Form the maths Students recognise what the question is asking, pick out key information, and choose appropriate mathematical or statistical methods to use in the situation
1  no evidence	12 Minimal evidence	10 Weak evidence

Outcome 2 – Do the maths Students carry out the calculations and procedures accurately, including multi‑step problems, using the methods they have chosen.
3  minimal evidence	19 weak evidence	1 Sufficient evidence

 

Outcome 3 – Explain the maths Students explain and justify their answers, showing why their method makes sense and why the result is reasonable in the real‑life context.
6  Minimal evidence	10 weak evidence	7 Sufficient evidence

From the above feedback, Outcomes 1 and 2 appear to be priorities for these learners as this was the school’s weakest areas in the assessment.  This translates to targeted work on reading questions, unpacking contexts, and selecting operations for outcome 1 (forming maths). For outcome 2 targeted teaching on core procedures, and multi‑step problem solving.

Convert Google Slides into Google Vids

You can use a presentation in Google Slides to create scenes for a new or existing video in Google Vids. Each slide becomes a new scene. You can review, edit, or delete scenes. You can also use Gemini in Vids to generate scripts, AI voiceovers, apply background music, and add animations for your imported slides. Before the video is fully generated, you can edit it to match what you want.

Click here to find out more and read instructions on how this works!

Question 2: Literacy

Which of the following best describes inferencing when reading?

1. Finding the meaning of unfamiliar words using a dictionary.

2. Identifying the main idea in the first paragraph only

3. Using clues from the text and prior knowledge to work out meaning that is not directly stated.

4. Reading the text aloud with correct pronunciation.

Question 2: Numeracy

Walking shoes can last about 480 km. A person walks 12 km three times a week. How many weeks should their shoes last?