Week 9 & 10 - Term 3 - 2026

Whaowhia te kete mātauranga

Fill the basket of knowledge

Week 9 14 Mahuru - 18 Mahuru Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori  Mon  Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Tues Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Numeracy CAA Willowbank - 9ELL & International  Wed - Fri  Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Fri - Sun  Aerobics Nationals	Week 10 21 Mahuru - 25 Mahuru Year 11 & 12 French Trip  20th Sept. - 11th Oct. Manu Kōrero - National Competition 21st Sept. - 26th Sept.  Year 11 Music Assessment  21st Sept. - 26th Sept.  Mon  Year 13 Tourism Trip  Tues Year 13 Tourism Trip  SPACPAC Youth Awards  Wed  Year 13 Tourism Trip  Thurs Year 10 Aerobics (TBC) Fri - Sat WOW Trip
Assembly Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Wed - No Assembly (Gym used for Derived Grade Examinations, see adjusted period times)	Assembly Mon - Year 9 & 10 Values Assembly (Gym) Wed - 150th Assembly (adjusted period times)            Year 9 in PAC
Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Meeting (TBC) Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil (moderation & exam admin)  Tues: Staff Meeting  Thurs: PCT Celebration of Inquiry Mahi

Information for Staff

Classroom Observation Strategies 

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (aitsl) introduces some common observation strategies. Their short videos and prompt questions provide food for thought in our context at Christchurch Girls’ High School Te Kura o Hine Waiora. This week we will look at: 

• Peer Observation 

Peer observation aims to support the sharing of practice and builds awareness about the impact of your own teaching to affect change. 

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/resources/peer-observation

• Learning Walks 

Learning walks aim to foster conversation about teaching and learning in order to develop a shared vision of high quality teaching that impacts on student learning.

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/resources/learning-walks

Suffrage Day Aotearoa 

Suffrage Day in New Zealand falls on Saturday, September 19, celebrating 133 years since women gained the right to vote in 1893.

Some events brought to you by the National Council of Women of New Zealand: 

https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/suffrage_day_2026

Some information from Manatū Wāhine: https://www.women.govt.nz/about-us/history-womens-suffrage-aotearoa-new-zealand

Here's a website and short clip that you might like to share with ākonga:

https://youtu.be/ApeDQ__4yb0?si=bv7xi_UmI_otGH6q

Week 8 - Term 3 - 2026

He rau ringa e oti ai

Many hands make light work

Week 8 7 Mahuru - 11 Mahuru Tues Non-uniform day - Brain Tree  Wed Get to Go Challenge  LEF's due  Senior NCEA Progress Reports Due  Thurs Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Reading CAA  Fri Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Writing CAA  Sun  Tūhono - Kapa Haka	Week 9 14 Mahuru - 18 Mahuru Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori  Mon  Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Tues Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Numeracy CAA Wed - Fri  Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Fri - Sun  Aerobics Nationals
Assembly Mon - Year 10 (PAC) and Senior Examination Briefing (Gym) Wed - Rangatiratanga            Year 10 in PAC	Assembly Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Wed - No Assembly (Gym used for Derived Grade Examinations, see adjusted period times)
Meeting  Mon: HoLA Meeting  Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: PCT Meeting	Meeting  Mon: Junior HoD Meeting  Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

Does technology belong in the classroom? 

This interview was recommended to me by Sara Hornsey and the Social Sciences department. It's well worth the 22 minutes! 

We live in a digital world, so it seems sensible that classrooms should reflect that. But more and more research is suggesting that screen time at school with educational technology can come at the expense of concentration, memory and deep thinking. Dr Jared Cooney Horvath is a former teacher turned neuroscientist who wants us to reconsider how much technology we put between children and learning

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2019050035/feature-interview-does-technology-belong-in-the-classroom

PCT Professional Readings 

Our incredible PCTs have sourced this week’s professional readings, drawing on the inquiries they have been undertaking throughout the term. At our recent PCT hui, we had a meaningful kōrero about how relevant these readings are across all subject areas, as well as how refreshing and valuable it is to engage with professional reading that prompts us to reflect on and strengthen our practice.

Laura - Classroom dynamics in physical education: The interplay of student agentic actions, teacher autonomy support and student intrinsic motivation

Frances - Classrooms as Learning Communities 

Jasmine - Retrieval Practice 

Danni - Enhancing and Undermining Intrinsic Motivation 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 

A perfect 30 second introduction to the week for our ākonga: 

Question 8: Literacy 

Which word is the best synonym for pragmatic?

A. Idealistic
B. Practical
C. Emotional
D. Imaginative

Question 8: Numeracy

A class survey shows 12 students walk, 8 take the bus, and 5 are driven to school. What fraction of the class takes the bus?

Please see the instructions in my email regarding the submission of your 16 responses.

Week 7 - Term 3 - 2026

Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou

Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing

Week 7 31 Here-turi-kōkā - 4 Mahuru Tournament Week  Mon BOT Meeting  Tues  SPACPAC Speeches  Tournament Week:  Junior SS Basketball (Sat-Tues)  Hockey Federation Cup - 1st XI (Sun-Sun) NZ Badminton Champs (Sun-Wed) SISS Equestrian (Sun-Fri)  NZ Football Tournament (Mon-Fri)  SISS Netball Tournament (Mon-Thurs) Canterbury SS Duathlon (Mon-Thurs) SI Basketball Champs (Wed-Sat)  NZSS Rugby Champs 1st XV (Thurs-Sat) SISS Climbing Event (Thurs & Fri)  SISS Ski & Snowboard Champs (Fri & Sat)  Sun  Theatresports - Senior Heats	Week 8 7 Mahuru - 11 Mahuru Tues Non-uniform day - Brain Tree  Wed Get to Go Challenge  LEF's due  Senior NCEA Progress Reports Due  Thurs Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Reading CAA  Fri Derived Grade Examinations - Seniors Writing CAA  Sun  Tūhono - Kapa Haka
Assembly Mon - Year 9 (PAC) and Year 10 (Gym)  Wed - Aroha Assembly             Year 11 in PAC	Assembly Mon - Year 10 (PAC) and Seniors (Gym) Wed - Rangatiratanga            Year 10 in PAC
Meeting  Mon: PL (Embed)  Tues: Nil Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: HoLA Meeting  Tues: Learning Area Meeting  Thurs: PCT Meeting

Information for Staff

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (14 - 20 September) is almost upon us! Here’s some information so that we can plan ahead in our classrooms, department and wider kura. 

https://www.reomaori.co.nz/

Each day of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 has a theme to guide the week. These themes are designed to help you plan activities and bring te reo into different parts of daily life.

Reading for Pleasure: The Benefits and Challenges

This research comes from the UK, but its findings are highly applicable to an Aotearoa New Zealand context and across all subject areas. Although it refers to ‘children’, the ideas are equally relevant to young people. At its heart, the research aims to support educators to foster lifelong reading habits and develop a sustained love of reading in young people.

It also provides valuable insight into the reading habits students bring with them to high school and the factors that have shaped those habits.

Question 7: Literacy 

Which of these is a complex sentence?

A. The bell rang, and the students left.
B. The students left because the bell rang.
C. The bell rang. The students left.
D. Ringing the bell, the caretaker smiled.

Question 7: Numeracy

A rectangular garden is 8 m long and 5 m wide. What is its area?

Week 6 - Term 3 - 2026

      Mauri tū mauri ora

An active soul is a healthy soul

Week 6 24 Here-turi-kōkā - 28 Here-turi-kōkā Mon BOT meeting - finance  Year 12 Leadership Summit  Wed Aurora Festival  LEF's and EC's due  Market Day in the Quad  Thurs Aurora Festival  Dance Showcase  Te Kura Exams  Fri Aurora Festival  Big Sing Finale  Non-Uniform Day - Library Dress Up  UC Open Day  Tournament Week  Cycling 2 Day Tour (Sat & Sun)	Week 7 31 Here-turi-kōkā - 4 Mahuru Tournament Week  Mon BOT Meeting  Tues  SPACPAC Speeches  Tournament Week:  Junior SS Basketball (Sat-Tues)  Hockey Federation Cup - 1st XI (Sun-Sun) NZ Badminton Champs (Sun-Wed) SISS Equestrian (Sun-Fri)  NZ Football Tournament (Mon-Fri)  SISS Netball Tournament (Mon-Thurs) Canterbury SS Duathlon (Mon-Thurs) SI Basketball Champs (Wed-Sat)  NZSS Rugby Champs 1st XV (Thurs-Sat) SISS Climbing Event (Thurs & Fri)  SISS Ski & Snowboard Champs (Fri & Sat)
Assembly Mon - Year 13 Assembly (PAC) Wed - Book Week/Spoken Word/BOT nominations Assembly            Year 13 in PAC	Assembly Mon - Year 9 (PAC) and Year 10 (Gym)  Wed - Aroha Assembly             Year 11 in PAC
Meeting  Mon: TWH Meeting  Tues: Staff Meeting  Thurs: PCT Meeting	Meeting  Mon: PL (Embed)  Tues: Nil Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

Listening for Learning

Tolhurst’s work on listening has been a recurring reference throughout my studies. Although her work primarily focuses on coaching and mentoring, the principles of effective listening she explores are relevant across all aspects of the teaching profession.

I have put together a slideshow highlighting some of the key insights and gold nuggets from her guide (apologies for the slightly blurry images). Let me know if you want me to share the entire reading with you.

New Zealand Assessment Institute

The New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that promotes effective assessment practice across the education sector. Through professional learning, publications, research, conferences, and school collaboration, NZAI supports educators to strengthen assessment practice and improve learner outcomes (see the knowledge centre).

Please see the linked information for further details about NZAI, its resources, and opportunities to connect with its work. You can also follow NZAI on LinkedIn and Facebook for regular assessment insights and updates.

Question 6: Literacy 

What literary device is used in the sentence: "The wind whispered through the pōhutukawa trees."

A. Hyperbole
B. Personification
C. Simile
D. Onomatopoeia

Question 6: Numeracy

A phone plan charges $18 per month plus $2.50 per GB of data used. If someone uses 4 GB, what is the total cost?