Week 8 - Term 4 - 2024

 He iti tangata e tupu – he iti toki e iti tonu

People grow, adzes remain small – people are more valuable than material possessions

Week 8 2 Hakihea - 6 Hakihea NZQA Exams cont. Year 10 Camps continue Athletics - National Champs - Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Year 9 Short Film and Musical Theatre Showcase - Thurs 5	Week 9 9 Hakihea - 11 Hakihea Rowing - Otago Champs Twizel - Sun 8 - Sun 15 Junior School Prizegiving - Wed 11 (am) Last day for school - Wed 11
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Year 10  (PAC) Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: PUM	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Nil

Information for Staff

1. You may have heard on the radio or on the news about the latest report from ERO "Set up to succeed: How well is NCEA Level 1 working for our schools and students?" It is a long read, but it will be interesting to see the next steps that come out of this review into NZQA.

2. Thank you for all of the mahi on writing your junior reports. Just a reminder to have your buddy carefully check your comments for any errors. When we all work together to get this right, it reduces the final checking moment.

3. As we are all completing our Professional Growth Cycle reflections, please remember to login to Education Potential to check how your senior students have gone at the end of the year. This can help with the reflection of your own goals, but also for goals for 2025.

https://goedpotential.com/login.htm 

Week 7 - Term 4 - 2024

 Me te rangi ka paruhi

Like a beautifully fine, calm day

Week 7 25 Noema - 29 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Year 10 Camps continue Sevens - Condors Wed 27 - Sun 1 Kiorahi junior tournament - Thurs 28 Junior Ako Conferences - Fri 29 Junior subject reports to be completed - Fri 29 Cricket - Willows match - Sun 1 Concert for Michael Langdon - Sun 1	Week 8 2 Hakihea - 6 Hakihea NZQA Exams cont. Year 10 Camps continue Athletics - National Champs - Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Year 9 Short Film and Musical Theatre Showcase - Thurs 5
Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Year 10  (PAC) Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area	Meeting  Mon:  Tues: Staff

Information for Staff

1. Upcoming events: Just a reminder that the last day of term is Wednesday 11 December for our junior students.

This will be followed by our staff farewells and long service celebration. 

If you have yet to sign up for the lunch at Dux dine, please do so ASAP.

2. Junior reports - it is important that these are checked. The following deadlines are important:

Junior subject reports - grades and comments completed

Friday 29th November

Ako teacher comments

Friday 29th November

Buddy checking and corrections completed

Monday 2nd December - Wednesday 4th December

Week 6 - Term 4 - 2024

 Ka whāngaia, ka tupu, ka puāwai 

That which is nurtured, grow then blossom 

If we take the time to nurture and support then growth will occur.

Week 6 18 Noema - 22 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Spirit of Adventure - All Week Year 10 Camps Begin Rugby 7's NZR Crusaders - Mon 18 Volleyball - Sth Is Tournament - Tues 19 - Fri 22 Tennis - Cant Champs - Tues 19 LEF Grades Due - Juniors - Wed 20 Cricket - Smash 5's - Thurs 21 - Fri 22 Kai for the community bake - Thurs 21	Week 7 25 Noema - 29 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Year 10 Camps continue Sevens - Condors Wed 27 - Sun 1 Kiorahi junior tournament - Thurs 28 Junior Ako Conferences - Fri 29 Cricket - Willows match - Sun 1 Concert for Michael Langdon - Sun 1
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: TWH Tues: Learning Area	Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff

1. Thank you to Alice-Louise for the organisation behind the clothes swap this afternoon. What a great way to wind down and end the week before the long weekend.

The clothing that has not yet been claimed will be in the staffroom for the first few days of next week, so feel free to have a browse and take home something for yourself or your family at home.

2. Google Gemini has just announced that it has lowered its age limit from 18 to 13 years old for use. This matches Microsoft co-pilot. Google have added in the extra data protection.

The why? "Google is committed to making AI helpful for everyone, in the classroom and beyondOpens in a new window. We want to both prepare teenagers with the skills and tools that they need to thrive in a future where GenAI exists and help them learn how this technology can be used to unlock creativity and facilitate learning. Gemini can provide guided support to help students learn more confidently with in-the-moment assistance, practice materials and real-time feedback and ideas."

You may be interested to know that Auckland University have taken a new stance on the use of AI - and that is to use it to it's maximum potential. They believe it will create efficiencies.

Something to consider from a schools perspective and how we make sure we are proactive and teach our students how to use it as long as we emphasise  to use it as a tool 'critically', yet 'effectively' to enhance learning, but also 'sparingly'.

Week 5 - Term 4 - 2024

 Ko ia kāhore nei i rapu, tē kitea

He who does not seek will not find

Week 5 11 Noema - 15 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Teacher Only Day - Thurs 14 Show Day - Fri 15.	Week 6 18 Noema - 22 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Spirit of Adventure - All Week Year 10 Camps Begin Rugby 7's NZR Crusaders - Mon 18 Volleyball - Sth Is Tournament - Tues 19 - Fri 22 Tennis - Cant Champs - Tues 19 LEF Grades Due - Juniors - Wed 20 Cricket - Smash 5's - Thurs 21 - Fri 22 Kai for the community bake - Thurs 21
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Staff	Meeting  Mon: TWH Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff

1. Acts of Appreciation Infographic. As the end of the year approaches, it's important for teams to reflect on their successes over the year, and on the support they've received from team members. Here's our infographic sharing six 'Acts of Appreciation' a team might engage in at any time of the year. [Link]

2. Just to set the scene for our staff meeting on Tuesday - a few quotes to consider:

Change, as we know, is constant. We might seek change, comply with it, or rebel against it. The truth is, we do all three of these things, depending on the type of change required of us. Here are a few of the many famous and inspirational quotes about change that may help you think differently:

'The measure of intelligence is the ability to change' -Albert Einstein

'Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.' -Leo Tolstoy

‘Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past and present are certain to miss the future’ -John F. Kennedy

‘Change in all things is sweet.’ -Aristotle

Week 4 - Term 4 - 2024

 Me te rangi ka paruhi

Like a beautifully fine, calm day

Beauty is a pleasure to behold

Week 4 4 Noema - 8 Noema NZQA Exams begin - Tues 5 Please be aware of any room changes. The gym will be in use as well as the Mathematics rooms. More information to come.	Week 5 11 Noema - 15 Noema NZQA Exams cont. Teacher Only Day - Thurs 14 Show Day - Fri 15
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Staff

Information for Staff

1. A big thank you to everyone involved in the Prizegiving - there is a lot of work behind the scenes and it all went very smoothly! A number of parents have sent through positive feedback and the seniors were amazing. Special thanks to Michael and the orchestra, along with Bina and Ingrid - amazing talent.

A few photos already:

2. Teacher Only Day - Just a reminder that the structure for the day (Thurs 14/11) is that the first hour will be with your Professional Learning Group. This is the replacement time from term 3. This is a good chance to continue the professional discussion from earlier in the year.

3. . We have also had to shift around some of the meetings this term due to the availability of the SLT. This means that we have swapped around the Learning Area and staff meetings in week 4 and 5 to accommodate this. Learning Areas also have the majority of the Thursday of TOD to cover anything needed. the updated meeting schedule for the remainder of the year can be found HERE.

Week 3 - Term 4 - 2024

 E hoa ma, ina te ora o te tangata

My friends, this is the essence of life 

This proverb is an exclamation which can be used when someone is surprised or satisfied.

Week 3 28 Oketopa - 1 Noema Labour Day - Mon 28 Rugby 7's Condor qualifier - Tues 29 Year 13 NCEA assembly p2 - Wed 20 Final full school assembly - Wed 30 School finishes at 1pm - Wed 30 Prizegiving - 6pm @CBHS Volleyball Canterbury Junior Champs - Fri 1 - Sun 3 Year 9 Dance trip to the RNZB - Fri 1 Year 11 NCEA Assembly - Fri 1 p4 Year 12 NCEA assembly - Fri 1 p5 Leavers Dinner - Fri 1 (evening)	Week 4 4 Noema - 8 Noema NZQA Exams begin - Tues 5 Please be aware of any room changes. The gym will be in use as well as the Mathematics rooms. More information to come.
Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Sport and Year 13 Leavers	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area	Meeting  Mon: Staff Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff

1. It is always a big couple of weeks with the wrap up of assessments, evenings out with prizegiving's and celebrations. Thank you to everyone for the little bit you have done to make all of these evenings a success.

2. Two weeks in, the students have been making good use of the furniture that has been placed in the common spaces on Level 2 and 3. A number of senior students have been using it for study as well as collaborative work.

Each time we go past, there seems to be a different configuration - different from what the original plan is. It will be interesting to track the changes over time.

Week 2 - Term 4 - 2024

 He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata

Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure

Week 2 21 Oketopa - 25 Oketopa L1 Art Exhibition - Mon 21 - Fri 25 Senior Clearance Begins - Mon 21 All internal grade, external practice examination grades with comments, (Set B) and derived grades (Set C) entered into markbooks - Mon 21 Year 13 Ranklists to BLS - Mon 21 Year 11 - 13 Prizewinners entered into Kamar - Tues 22 Rugby 7s warm up - Tues 22 Aiga/Whanau Farewell - 6pm Tues 22 Senior Special awards completed - Wed 23 LEF grades due - Wed 23 Acland High Tea - Thurs 24 Junior Writing Competition - Fri 25 Pink Day - Fri 25 Prizewinners notified - Fri 25	Week 3 28 Oketopa - 1 Noema Labour Day - Mon 28 Rugby 7's Condor qualifier - Tues 29 Year 13 NCEA assembly p2 - Wed 20 Final full school assembly - Wed 30 School finishes at 1pm - Wed 30 Prizegiving - 67pm @CBHS Volleyball Canterbury Junior Champs - Fri 1 - Sun 3 Year 9 Dance trip to the RNZB - Fri 1 Year 11 NCEA Assembly - Fri 1 p4 Year 12 NCEA assembly - Fri 1 p5 Leavers Dinner - Fri 1 (evening)
Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 - Staffroom (Camp org) Year 11 - Gym Year 12 - PAC Wed - Cultural and Service Colours	Assembly -  Mon - Nil Wed - Sport and Year 13 Leavers
Meeting  Mon: L & T & TWH Tues: Staff Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs:

Information for Staff

1. Kamar Sign off sheet: If you are working through needing to have your Year 11 - 13's sign off their grades you are able to create a summary sheet  of all internal standards and derived grades. The instructions on how to do this can be found HERE.

2. The teachers toolkit is one of the most popular educational websites in the UK and has lots of resources which can be accessed for free if you make an account. They have just published their top 10 downloaded resources which are listed below.

This is a great resource to use in a range of subjects, and links well to the ‘thinking’ dimension of the GTT. 

1. The Question Matrix (over ½ million downloads!)

2. Pose, Pause, Pounce, Bounce 

3. The 5-Minute Lesson Plan (5+ million downloads in total!)

4. Questioning Templates

5. The Verbal Feedback Project & Findings 

6. A Practical Guide to Adaptive Teaching 

7. The 5-Minute Marking Plan 

8. Mark, Plan, Teach, Sketchnotes 

9. Resilience Assembly 10. Spaced Practice & Curriculum Sequencing