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