Thursday, 7 March 2024

Week 7 - Term 1 - 2024

He kai kei aku ringa

This whakatauki signifies resilience, empowerment and hope. It refers to one's ability to use the skills and resources they have to create success. It's about being responsible for the resources and capabilities one needs to grow and develop.

Week 7
 11 Poutū-te-rangi - 15 Poutū-te-rangi

Volleyball - Canterbury Champs - Mon 11

Year 9 Camp week - Various classes out all week.

Gateway First Aid Course - Mon 11 - Tues 12

Victoria Uni Visit - Mon 11

Non- Uniform Day - Tues 12

GEO201 Field Trip to Arthurs Pass - Wed 13 - Fri 15

Rowing Pre Maadi Camp - Wed 13 - Fri 15

Otago University Visit for Yr 13 - Wed 13

Swimming School Sports - Thurs 14

Women in Defence Forces visit - Thurs 14

StEADA Documentation due - Fri 15

Polyfest Camp - Fri 15 - Sat 16

Polyfest in Hagley Park - Sat 16

Basketball - 3x3 Southern Zone - Sat 16 - Sun 17

Week 8
 18  Poutū-te-rangi -  22 Poutū-te-rangi

Summer Tournament Week

Basketball - 3x3 Zone - Mon 18 - Tues 19

Rowing - Maadi Cup - All week

Volleyball Nationals - All week

Volleyball NZSS Champs - All week

9Kai visit to Otakaro orchard - Mon 18

Waterpolo - South Island Sec - Thrus 21 - Sun 24

Estimated Credits due - Wed 20

LEF Grades due - Wed 20

Changemaker Leadership day - Thurs 21

PLD Late start - Thurs 21 - school to start at period 2





Assembly - 

Mon - Year 10 - PAC
Year 12 - Gym

Wed - Full School 

Assembly - 

Mon - Year 9 - PAC

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Learning Area
Meeting 

Mon:  L&T and TWH

Tues: Learning Area

Thurs: Late start PLD p1 (21/3)

Information for Staff:

1. This year we are bringing back the late start PLD slots to make time in the school year to allow for smaller groups of staff to get together to work on a number of our different school priorities.

Please click on the google form to indicate what group that you will be joining. If there is an alternative that is not covered, please discuss with BLS and we can look to accommodate a separate group focus.

Please use the following link to sign up: https://forms.gle/E4v7p4PJh9jri5qD8

The Professional Learning Groups will be:
a. Literacy in the junior school
b. Numeracy across the junior school
c. Culturally Responsive Practice - developing a strategic overview and action plan for CGHS.
d. Teacher Profile - this is a chance for a small group of staff to look at how the teacher profile could be used better within our kura. For example in the developing a new classroom observation feedback/feedforward form with the CGHS teacher profile at its centre.
e. Restorative - this would be great for new staff and those who would like a refresher on restorative conversations and relational behaviour management.
f. House Spirit/Culture - a number of staff have identified that this could be an action point for CGHS. The focus will be on 'How to lift Spirit across the school'.
g. Other - see BLS to confirm the focus and who will be part of the group.

2. If you would like to read a summary of the 'actions' put forward at our staff meeting on Tuesday you can find the document HERE. If you would like to add in any extra comments for an area that your group did not have a chance to discuss, or reinforce something that you may want to see as a priority, please comment on the side.

One of our key aims over the last few years, under Strategic Goal 2, as been around student agency, engagement and student-centered learning. Something you may want to explore is the following playbook 'Agency by Design'. It has a lot of information but there may be relevant chapters with great reflective questions.


Wednesday, 28 February 2024

Week 6 - Term 1 - 2024

 He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea

I am a seed which was sewn in the heavens of Rangiatea

A famous proverb from the Aotea waka, which shows the important of your genealogy and your culture.

Week 6
 4 Poutū-te-rangi - 8 Poutū-te-rangi

New Staff walk through - p1 - 3 Mon 4

BIO201 Field Trip to Temple Basin - 2 groups Mon - Wed and Wed - Fri - all week.

Canterbury Uni Visit for Year 13 - Mon 4

Athletic Sports Competitive - Tues 5

Canterbury Uni Visit for Year 12 - Tues 5

DVC101 Field Trip to Christchurch City - Wed 6

Equestrian Event CSS - Wed 6

LEF Grades due - Wed 6

Futsal - Mainland Regionals - Sat 9 - Sun 10

Volleyball - Canterbury Champs - Sat 9 - Sun 10)

Week 7
 11 Poutū-te-rangi - 15 Poutū-te-rangi

Volleyball - Canterbury Champs - Mon 11

Year 9 Camp week - Various classes out all week.

Gateway First Aid Course - Mon 11 - Tues 12

Victoria Uni Visit - Mon 11

Non- Uniform Day - Tues 12

GEO201 Field Trip to Arthurs Pass - Wed 13 - Fri 15

Rowing Pre Maadi Camp - Wed 13 - Fri 15

Otago University Visit for Yr 13 - Wed 13

Swimming School Sports - Thurs 14

Women in Defence Forces visit - Thurs 14

Polyfest Camp - Fri 15 - Sat 16

Basketball - 3x3 Southern Zone - Sat 16 - Sun 17

Rowing Maadi Cup - Sat 16 - Sun 24

Touch - Canterbury Champs - Sat 16 - Sun 17


Assembly - 

Mon - Year 9 Gym
Year 13 PAC - (NCEA)

Wed - Full School 

Assembly - 

Mon - Year 10 - PAC
Year 12 - Gym

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Staff
Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff:

1. It was great to see so many students out and involved in our tabloid sports today. House spirit was strong and there was a great mixture of activities that everyone could give it a go. Thanks for all of your support in enabling this to happen.

2. Save the date: 


https://www.canterburypolyfest.co.nz/

Thursday, 22 February 2024

Week 5 - Term 1 - 2024

 Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou 

Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing 

This whakatauki refers to the importance of learning for it is key to your wellbeing. If you follow the path of learning, the world will be your oyster.

Week 5
26 Hui-tanguru -  1 Poutū-te-rangi

New Staff walk through - p1 - 3 Mon 26

Peer Support p2 (year 9) Wed 28

Cricket - The Willows - Wed 28

Rowing - SISS - Thurs 29 - Sun 3

Ara Liaison visit break 2 - Thurs 29

CGHS Tabloid Sports Day - Fri 1

Staff Drinks - 3pm Fri 1 (Venue TBC)

Week 6
 4 Poutū-te-rangi - 8 Poutū-te-rangi

New Staff walk through - p1 - 3 Mon 4

BIO201 Field Trip to Temple Basin - 2 groups Mon - Wed and Wed - Fri - all week.

Canterbury Uni Visit for Year 13 - Mon 4

Athletic Sports Competitive - Tues 5

Canterbury Uni Visit for Year 12 - Tues 5

DVC101 Field Trip to Christchurch City - Wed 6

Equestrian Event CSS - Wed 6

LEF Grades due - Wed 6

Futsal - Mainland Regionals - Sat 9 - Sun 10

Volleyball - Canterbury Champs - Sat 9 - Sun 10


Assembly - 

Mon - Year 10 - Gym
Year 11 - PAC (NCEA)

Wed - Full School 

Assembly - 

Mon - Year 9 Gym
Year 12 PAC - (NCEA)

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  TWH (126) and HoD's/HoLA's if needed in 104 for markbook set up

Tues: Learning Area
Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Staff

Information for Staff:

1. A big thank you for our fist year of Ako conferences. No doubt we will get your feedback but there were many parents throughout the school, and great conversations being had. With next Friday being our house day, you may want to dust off your costumes so that are back on display as we get our house competitions underway.

2. This term we will look at increasing our te reo knowlege as Kaiako - the first challenge is to have a go at the Wordwall quiz on colours. Points will be awarded for the first and the number correct - it will be great if you all have a go!

Thursday, 15 February 2024

Week 4 - Term 1 - 2024

 He maurea kai whiria!

Ignore small matters and direct effort toward important projects

This whakatauki encourages us to keep things in perspective, to not get bogged down by the small things, the little details, but instead to maintain our focus on the vision, on what is important. It could be used to keep people on track, and/or to remind us/people to maintain focus on what’s important even in the face of great complexity. 

Week 4
19 Hui-tanguru - 23 Hui-tanguru

PHO201 Skills afternoon - Tues 20

Equestrian - Canterbury Show - Wed 21

LEF's due - Wed 21 @ 3.30pm

PHO301 Skills afternoon - Thurs 22

Ako Conferences - all school - Fri 23

Volleyball Mainland Champs - Fri 23 - Sun 25

Week 5
26 Hui-tanguru -  1 Poutū-te-rangi

New Staff walk through - p1 - 3 Mon 26

Peer Support p2 (year 9) Wed 28

Cricket - The Willows - Wed 28

Rowing - SISS - Thurs 29 - Sun 3

Ara Liaison visit break 2 - Thurs 29

CGHS Tabloid Sports Day - Fri 1

Staff Drinks - 3pm Fri 1 (Venue TBC)


Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School 

Thurs - New Staff in 126

Assembly - 

Mon - Year 10 - Gym
Year 11 - PAC (NCEA)

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  L&T

Tues: Learning Area
Meeting 

Mon:  TWH (126) and HoD's/HoLA's if needed in 104 for markbook set up

Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff:

1. As students are starting the best internal, it might be time to further explore plagiarism detection software. Last year we made the decision to keep using Turnitin as our main tool. If you have not used this before, please see Michelle to discuss how to set this up for your class. We did not get the additional AI detection part of this software as it was an extra expense.

Many of you will also be using draftback, or brisk. Another one is Copyleaks. Search for the Copyleaks Chrome extension and click “Add to Chrome”. Once it has installed, you can click the © logo up the top-right corner of your Chrome window and paste in the text. 

Experiment by pasting in different amounts of text and see what might work best. The  software for these tools is not perfect. It can be wrong. Always use this step with your own judgement and with the next step.

Remember to explicitly tell our students about what constitutes academic dishonesty and plagiarism and what is acceptable or not acceptable use for your Learning Area.

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Week 3 - Term 1 - 2024

 E kore te patiki e hoki ki tona puehu

The flounder (fish) does not return to his dust

Do not make the same mistake twice.

Week 3
12 Hui-tanguru - 16 Hui-tanguru

Prefects Leadership Course - Tues 13 and Thurs 15

11Art to Airforce Museum - Wed 14

Peer Support p1 (year 9 out of class) - Wed 14

Class and Individual Photos - Thurs 15 - Fri 16

Staff photo - Thurs 15 @ 2.50

Staff BYO Family Picnic Dinner - Fri 16 @ 5.30pm

Week 4
19 Hui-tanguru - 23 Hui-tanguru

PHO201 Skills afternoon - Tues 20

Equestrian - Canterbury Show - Wed 21

PHO301 Skills afternoon - Thurs 22

Ako Conferences - all school - Fri 23





Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School 

Thurs - New Staff in 126

Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School 

Thurs - New Staff in 126
Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Staff
Meeting 

Mon:  L&T

Tues: Learning Area

Information for Staff:

1. A reminder that if you have yet to complete your Staff Responsible use agreement - this needs to be done by the end of Friday. Please check your email for the link.

2. Need help deciding on a random choice or outcome? Spin wheel lets you add any text to the wheel and then spin it. Simply add your choices (up to seven) and edit the design. You can also create multiple wheels to use separately or together, view the outcomes of each, and save if needed.

3. This year we will continue to see a large number of new AI tools available. If you are looking for prompts that have been already developed to help - you may want to check out 'GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators'

A number of senior classes may be beginning their first internals and research. You may find the following table useful when discussing the use of AI in any research based task.


See https://www.canva.com/design/DAF3bSmWIBI/7e7FK5jaH2ripTBSaHIdpA/view for larger view.

Thursday, 1 February 2024

Week 2 - Term 1 - 2024

 He maonga āwhā

Calm after the storm

Week 2
Hui-tanguru - 9 Hui-tanguru

Waitangi Day - Tues 6

Restraint training - must be completed - Wed 7

Year 9 Parents Evening - Thurs 8

Building Evac practice - Wed 7 - p4

Week 3
12 Hui-tanguru - 16 Hui-tanguru

Prefects Leadership Course - Tues 13 and Thurs 15

11Art to Airforce Museum - Wed 14

Peer Support p1 (year 9 out of class) - Wed 14

Class and Individual Photos - Thurs 15 - Fri 16

Staff photo - Thurs 15 @ 2.50

Staff BYO Family Picnic Dinner - Fri 16 @ 5.30pm


Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School  - Leadership Badges

Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  TWH

Tues: Nil
Meeting 

Mon:  Nil

Tues: Staff

Information for Staff:

1. Thank you to everyone this week - there has a lot to be done to get the school back up and running and it was great to see the whole school back today. Monday is a normal day of classes and all students will be in Ako class.

Wednesday is our first full school assembly, as per our new tradition, the Prefects will be getting their badges and their parents are invited.

2. You will see the Social Committee has been active behind the scenes. We would like to continue the tradition of our start of year family get together. The date has been set for Friday 16 Feb, starting at 5.30. Please bring along you family, we will have the games out, try and twist Gen's arm to create her famous Brownie for dessert and a chance to get to know our new staff. This year, rather than providing dinner, it is a BYO picnic (or BYO fish and chips perhaps? Uber?) Please put this in your diary, it will be great to have as many staff and families there.

3. It is really important to make sure that you have noted what meeting is on and when via our meeting schedule. If it get's updated throughout the year, it will be reshared with staff. If you are to be away, please let BLS know (for staff meetings) and your HoLA for any department meeting.

4. Also, if you haven't used ETV at all - please check it out at www.etv.org.nz

You just need to log in using your school email address and password.
This opens up a vast array of online video clips and there are thousands of educational videos that you can use.
It would be great if more can use it - so go exploring to see what is on there.

Tuesday, 23 January 2024

Week 1 - Term 1 - 2024

 He rau ringa e oti ai

Many hands make light work

Week 1
Mon 29 Kohitātea - 2 Hui-tanguru

Teacher Only Day - Mon 29 (See outline below)

Year 9 Enrolment - Tues 30

Mihi Whakatau - Tues 30

Yr 11, 12 and 13 enrolment - Wed 31

Yr 13 Leaders Training - Wed 31

Yr 10 Enrolment - Thurs 1

All classes start - p1 - Fri 2 (Please check Kamar for the classes you will be teaching)

Week 2
Hui-tanguru - 9 Hui-tanguru

Waitangi Day - Tues 6

Year 9 Parents Evening - Thurs 8

Building Evac practice - Fri 9 - p2


Assembly - 

Nil

Assembly - 

Mon - Nil

Wed - Full School 

Meeting 

Mon:  Learning Area (11 - 12.30)
          L&T - 2.30

Tues: Learning Area
Meeting 

Mon:  TWH

Tues: Nil

Information for Staff:

1. Welcome back to Christchurch Girls' High School/ Te Kura o Hine Waiora for 2024. A special warm welcome to all of our new staff joining us this year alongside our new Principal, Helen Armstrong.

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

The overview for Monday 29 January

Staff Welcome back– All Staff at school

8.30- 10.30 am        Staff briefing – Staffroom – Welcome back and new staff introductions, and updates/information for 2024 and Waiata Practice/Mihi Whakatau

10.30 – 11.00         Morning tea

11.00 – 12.30pm      Learning Area meetings

12.30 – 1.15pm        Lunch provided

1.15 – 2.15pm          Whanaungatanga Activity – CGHS Quiz– Meet in Gym at 1.15pm

International and New Students (10 – 13 orientation) (KOM, PWL)

2.30 – 3.30pm HoLA L&T meeting  in 126