Week 3 - Term 1 - 2026

Mauri tū mauri ora

An active soul is a healthy soul

Week 3 9 Hui-tanguru - 13 Hui-tanguru SPACPAC Leaders Retreat - Tues 10 Year 9 Parents Evening - Tues 10 @ 5.30 Year 11 Art Trip - Wed 11 Tabloid Sports Day - Fri 13	Week 4 16 Hui-tanguru - 20 Hui-tanguru Canterbury Senior Tennis - Mon 16 - Tues 17 Pasifika Fono - Tues 17
Assembly -  Mon -  Year 9 - Camp assembly (Gym -Hine Aukaha) Year 11 - NCEA in PAC (Hine Rehia) Wed - House	Assembly -  Mon -  Year 10 (Gym -Hine Aukaha) Year 12 NCEA in PAC (Hine Rehia) Wed - Manaakitanga Year 11 - PAC (Hine Rehia) - Ako teachers to attend with this year level.
Meeting  Mon: TWH Tues: Learning Area Thurs: New staff to CGHS - Ako and MyMahi	Meeting  Mon:  L&T Tues: Professional Learning (more detail to come) Thurs: New staff to CGHS - Learning Enhancement with JAC

Information for Staff:

1. At our staff meeting on Tuesday, a few questions were asked around the access from the courts through to the rest of the school. The images below show what the hinge point/connection will look like between the Harakeke wing and Te Uru Rākau.

Students will be able to access the building through the central point, or via the external stairs at either end of the building.

Week 2 - Term 1 - 2026

 Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

Let us keep close together, not far apart

Week 2 2 Hui-tanguru - 6 Hui-tanguru All classes start - p1 - Mon 2 (Please check Kamar for the classes you will be teaching - there is an extended Ako on the Monday morning - followed by p1) Building Evac - Tues 3 (TBC)- this is pending due to fences going up and the gates being added to allow for the evacuation to proceed. At this stage, plan to teach your class. Waitangi Day - Fri 6	Week 3 9 Hui-tanguru - 13 Hui-tanguru SPACPAC Leaders Retreat - Tues 10 Year 9 Parents Evening - Tues 10 @ 5.30 Year 11 Art Trip - Wed 11 Tabloid Sports Day - Fri 13
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Full School - Prefect Badging	Assembly -  Mon -  Year 9 - Camp assembly (Gym -Hine Aukaha) Year 11 - NCEA in PAC (Hine Rehia) Wed - House
Meeting  Mon:  Nil Tues: Staff Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon:  L&T Tues: Learning Area Thurs: New staff to CGHS - Ako and MyMahi

Information for Staff:

1. Just a reminder that updates to a number of NZC Achievement standards and supporting materials for use this year (2026) have been published. These changes have occurred across multiple subjects. Just a reminder to check that the versions you are using are up-to-date. Most changes have been minor and have helped improve the clarity and interpretation of Conditions of Assessment. Please check the list of those subjects with updates HERE.

2. Kamar: You may notice some changes in Kamar. There has been a big update so you might find some of the areas you use are now in a different place. For example - Communications - this is in the student menu. Under this is where you will find 'letters' and 'Send Text/Email'. There is also a new section called 'Custom emails'.

If you are wanting to set up your mark books, please make a time to see Michelle if you need help with this.

Week 1 - Term 1 - 2026

 He rau ringa e oti ai 

Many hands make light work 

Week 1 Mon 26 Kohitātea - 30 Kohitātea New Staff induction 12 - 2 - Mon 26 Course change for students - 9 - 12 - Tues 27 Staff Only Day - Wed 28 (See outline below) Year 9 Enrolment - Thurs 29 Year 13 Enrolment - Thurs 29 Mihi Whakatau - Thurs 29 Year 9 in - Fri 30 Yr 10, 11, and 12  enrolment - Fri 30	Week 2 2 Hui-tanguru - 6 Hui-tanguru All classes start - p1 - Mon 2 (Please check Kamar for the classes you will be teaching - there is an extended Ako on the Monday morning - followed by p1) Building Evac - Tues 3 Waitangi Day - Fri 6
Assembly -  Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Full School
Meeting  Wed:  Learning Area (1.15 - 2.30)           L&T - 2.40 Thurs: Learning Area	Meeting  Mon:  Nil Tues: Staff

Information for Staff:

1. Welcome back to Christchurch Girls' High School/ Te Kura o Hine Waiora for 2026. A special warm welcome to all of our new staff joining us this year.

Hope you have all had a restful break and are ready for the term ahead.

The overview for Wednesday 28 January is as follows

Staff Welcome back– All Staff at school

8.30- 10.00 am    Staff briefing – Staffroom

                             Welcome back and new staff introductions, strategic direction (ARH), 2025 NCEA (BLS), Classroom Expectations (LEG) and Waiata Practice/Mihi Whakatau update for Thurs

10.00 – 10.30    Morning tea (Break/BYO)

10.30 – 12.30    SchoolBridge/Calendar, Talanoa Ako, SMART Assessment Tool, Role of the Counsellor, MyMahi and Evacuation Information (staffroom)

                   Whanaungatanga Activity (ARL)

12.30 – 1.15      Lunch provided

1.15 – 2.30        Departments 

2.45 – 4          HoLA Meeting (126) and Year 9 Ako teachers (staffroom with LEG, HHA)

                               International Student Orientation (8.30am - 3pm)

2. To start the year, you may have seen the TED talk below, but a good reminder about teaching girls bravery, not perfection. A great message of why we need girls schools where risk taking (of the courageous kind) can take place and courage is celebrated and taught.

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