Week 6 - Term 3 - 2024

 Tē tōia, tē haumatia 

Nothing can be achieved without a plan, workforce and a way of doing things 

This whakatauki speaks to the importance of having a ‘plan of attack’. It could be used to guide conversation or lead a discussion in the planning of an event or community initiative

Week 6 26 Ākuhata - 30 Ākuhata Book Week - All week CLA201 Field trip to Teece Museum - Tues 27 BOT student Nominees to Speak in PAC break 2 - Tues 27 Voting opens for BOT student Rep - Tues 27 Inspiring Minds Word Festival - Tues 27 SPACPAC Speech Comp - Tues 27 Spoken Word - Tues 27 Estimated Credits due - Wed 28 LEF Grades due - Wed 28 Pasifika Fono evening - Wed 28 Musical Mania - Thurs 29 (PAC A/S till 10pm)	Week 7 2 Hepetema - 6 Hepetema Winter Tournament Week Equestrian - Sth Island Secondary - Mon 2 - Thurs 5 Football - Mon 2 - Thurs 5 Hockey both Chris Arthur Cup and Federation Cup - Mon 2 - Sat 7 Netball - South Island Champs - Mon 2 - Thurs 5 St Mary's Music Concert - Wed 4 Rock climbing - Thurs 5 - Fir 6 Voting closes for BOT rep - Fri 6
Assembly -  Mon - Year 11 (Gym) Wed - Book Week	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Year 10 - Gym Wed - Mental Health Awareness
Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: TWH Tues: Staff Thurs: PCT's

Information for Staff

1. You may be interested in the latest summary data around Numeracy and Literacy from round 1 that has been released - https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/subjects/litnum/literacy-and-numeracy-data/

These are some interesting results for our ākonga nationally.

Week 5 - Term 3 - 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 19 Ākuhata - 23 Ākuhata Year 13 Dreaming Big Event - Mon 19 Subject Selection closes - Wed 21 (please remind students) Senior Production - Thurs 22 - Fri 23 Non-Uniform Youth Hub - Thurs 22 Rugby - 1st XV final - Sat 24 Wellies for Wellbeing - Sun 25	Week 6 26 Ākuhata - 30 Ākuhata Book Week - All week BOT student Nominees to Speak in PAC break 2 - Tues 27 Voting opens for BOT student Rep - Tues 27 Estimated Credits due - Wed 28 LEF Grades due - Wed 28 Pasifika Fono evening - Wed 28 Musical Mania - Thurs 29 (PAC A/S till 10pm)
Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 CAA Briefing (PAC) Year 13 - Gym Wed - Aroha	Assembly -  Mon - Year 11 (Gym) Wed - Book Week
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT	Meeting  Mon: L&T Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. What a great summary behind 'Why a girls' school'!

2. Curriculum Timelines Changing:

The timeline for updating the National Curriculum has changed as part of a response to tackle maths achievement in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Schools and kura will now need to use the refreshed mathematics and statistics learning area from the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and the pāngarau wāhanga ako from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa for Years 0-8 from Term 1 2025, no longer from the start of 2026.

National curriculum changes

To make sure teachers and kaiako have time to focus on maths and pāngarau, the Minister of Education has also agreed that the timeline for the new science and technology curriculum will be pushed out. These will now be available for use and open for feedback from Term 3, 2025.

• Teachers and kaiako in Years 7-13 for English and te reo Rangatira and in Years 9-13 for maths and pāngarau can still expect to see drafts of this material in Term 4 this year for feedback. 

Feedback will be invited on the draft maths learning areas and pāngarau wāhanga ako for Years 0-8 alongside the previously planned consultation on the draft Years 0-6 English learning area content and fast testing of te reo rangatira wāhanga ako materials.

A range of support, resources and further guidance will be made available to support these changes.

This will include:

• New teacher and student workbooks for every primary school and kura
• Professional learning and development in maths and pāngarau for teachers and kaiako
• Teacher-only day resources 

3. Guess the Odd one out- https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/odd-one-out/wAHNn4JsVTFOiw?hl=en

A Google tool that is part of Arts and Culture and lets you explore computer generated images against real one.

Week 4 - Term 3 - 2024

 

Tē tōia, tē haumatia 

Nothing can be achieved without a plan, workforce and a way of doing things 

This whakatauki speaks to the importance of having a ‘plan of attack’. It could be used to guide conversation or lead a discussion in the planning of an event or community initiative.

Week 4 12 Ākuhata - 16 Ākuhata Junior and Senior Art Exhibition - Mon 12 Subject choice afternoon - Mon 12 Adventure race hot chips fundraiser - Wed 14 LEF Grades due - Wed 14 ERO Relationship and Sexuality Education - Thurs 15 Nominations for Student BOT rep open - Thurs 15 Smile Study Group Willowbank FT - Thurs 15 Sports and Cultural photos - Thurs 15 - Fri 16 GEO201 to Central Police station - Thurs 15 Cadenza Timaru - Fri 16 - Sat 17	Week 5 19 Ākuhata - 23 Ākuhata Year 13 Dreaming Big Event - Mon 19 Subject Selection closes - Wed 21 Senior Production - Thurs 22 Non-Uniform Youth Hub - Thurs 22 Rugby - 1st XV final - Sat 24 Wellies for Wellbeing - Sun 25
Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 - Gym Year 12 - PAC Wed - Boarders Week	Assembly -  Mon - Year 10 CAA Briefing (PAC) Year 13 - Gym Wed - Aroha
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT

Information for Staff

1. Thank you to everyone involved in Lip-sync - especially L-J. Another very successful CGHS event. Judging was incredibly close - a big shout out to the staff for their efforts and entertaining moves!

2. Feedback re the year 10 timetable for 2025: We have had 31 responses from staff around whether we should keep the same structure as we have had this year. If you would still like to have your say please fill out the google form https://forms.gle/Ecu9CiTkQhdpqMhA8

Results as they currently stand are:

3. Ai has already changed classrooms and will continue to do so in the future. 

Using AI to flip your classroom.

AI can be used as a tutor, a partner to the human teacher, to deliver content, enabling students and teachers to use class time for discussions, collaborative tasks or problems solving activities. Thus, AI can increase student agency. Content is tailored to students' needs.

The one-size-fits-all approach of lectures doesn’t account for individual differences and abilities, leading to some students falling behind while others become disengaged due to a lack of challenge

Week 3 - Term 3 - 2024

 Kia whakamana ngā rerekētanga ki roto i tēnā i tēnā o tātou.

Honouring and respecting the differences that each partner brings to the relationship.

Week 3 5 Ākuhata - 9 Ākuhata QUAD Tournament - Mon 5 Subject Selection opens on portal - Mon 5 Australian Maths Competition p3 & 4 - Wed 7 Junior Speech Competition - p4 Wed 7 UC Law and Criminal Justice Day - Wed 7 LipSynch - Thurs 8 Senior Speech Competitor - Thurs 8 International Ski Trip - Fri 9 Equestrian - Cant ODHT - Sun 11	Week 4 12 Ākuhata - 16 Ākuhata Junior and Senior Art Exhibition - Mon 12 Subject choice afternoon - Mon 12 Adventure race hot chips fundraiser - Wed 14 LEF Grades due - Wed 14 ERO Relationship and Sexuality Education - Thurs 15 Sports and Cultural photos - Thurs 15 - Fri 16 GEO201 to Central Police station - Thurs 15 Cadenza Timaru - Fri 16 - Sat 17
Assembly -  Mon -  Nil - Subject Selection Wed - House Assembly - LipSynch practice	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 - Gym Year 12 - PAC Wed - Boarders Week
Meeting  Mon: Te Whare Haoura Tues: Staff Thurs: PCT	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. On Wednesday evening we had a successful Whānau hui. Thank you Adrienne for organising this.

It was a great chance for our whānau parents to ask questions and raise both hopes and possible issues in relation to where our school wharenui will be placed moving forward.

Sophie Yarram also got to present her 'Love to Learn' student voice project that she led. If you have not had a chance to see this presentation, have a look at the presentation that represent a snapshot of across year levels and nationalities at our kura.

2. Time to focus: Behaviour in our Classrooms

If you have not had a chance to read the ERO document that came out this year on classroom behaviour, the following link is to a 10 min summary read on the findings. Findings agree that student behaviour has become worse in the last two years, and yes, there is a definite link between behaviour and student learning and achievement. Read the summary HERE.

Week 2 - Term 3 - 2024

 Te tīmatanga o te mātauranga ko te whakarongo

Te wāhanga tuarua ko te whakarongo

The first stage of learning is silence

The second is listening.

Week 2 29 Hōngongoi - 2 Ākuhata International Week TOU201 to Mt Hutt - Mon 29 French students concert at CBHS - Mon 29 Forestry Big Day out - Tues 30 Cultural Dress day - Wed 31 LEF Grades due - Wed 31 Whānau Hui - Wed 31 @6pm  Chamber Music competition - Fri 2 Year 11 Formal - Sat 3	Week 3 5 Ākuhata - 9 Ākuhata QUAD Tournament - Mon 5 Subject Selection opens on portal - Mon 5 Australian Maths Competition p3 & 4 - Wed 7 Junior Speech Competition - p4 Wed 7 UC Law and Criminal Justice Day - Wed 7 LipSynch - Thurs 8 Senior Speech Competitor - Thurs 8 International Ski Trip - Fri 9 Equestrian - Cant ODHT - Sun 11
Assembly -  Mon -  Year 10 PAC Year 11 - Gym Wed - International	Assembly -  Mon -  Nil - Subject Selection Wed - House Assembly - LipSynch practice
Meeting  Mon:  Learning and Teaching Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT	Meeting  Mon: Te Whare Haoura Tues: Staff Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. A few updates from the MOE:

• NCEA Level 1 Subject support is still available and many of your curriculum leaders and teachers will be in contact with their subject specific NCEA Implementation Facilitator. Where your subject specialist teachers do not have a MoE contact, connections can still be made and the team can point you in the right direction.
• On-Line Workshops Across the MOE team of subject specific NIFs are currently being scheduled and organised as on-line workshops for Term 3, and these will be advertised on the NCEA website. 
• External Achievement Standard Assessment Specifications: The assessment specifications for the subject external assessments are available. These are on the NCEA website with the subject external achievement standard information. The same document is on the NZQA website by typing in the achievement number and scrolling down the page to the “Level 1 Specifications” link. Please be aware that the instructions and conditions of assessment of these external specifications differ from subject to subject, or standard to standard. It is VITAL that curriculum leaders and teachers carefully and thoroughly read the assessment specifications for the details of the external achievement standards they are using, rather than relying on information from another subject area or achievement standard’s document, or social media.

2. Here is a very interesting article - Navigating the impact of mobile phone bans in schools.

The idea of the 'popcorn brain' mentioned, where your attention jumps around rapidly, can affect a student's focus and it is interesting that the average attention span has decreased from 2.5 minutes to only 47 seconds in the last 5 years or so!

You may be also interested to know that this is not just students, but also many adults, meaning that there is only a superficial engagement with information that is presented to them. Food for thought.

Week 1 - Term 3 - 2024

 He mahi kai hōaka, he mahi kai tāngata

Just as work consumes sandstone, so it consumes people/everything worthwhile takes considerable effort

Week 1 22  Hōngongoi - 26 Hōngongoi  Geo101 to Quake City Tues 23 - Thurs 25 (1 Class each day) Young Writers Workshop - Tues 23 Orchestra - Intermediate Schools in PAC TOU201 to Hanmer Springs - Fri 26 Curriculum handbook updates to be completed - Fri 26	Week 2 29 Hōngongoi - 2 Ākuhata TOU201 to Mt Hutt - Mon 29 French students concert at CBHS - Mon 29 Forestry Big Day out - Tues 30 Cultural Dress day - Wed 31 LEF Grades due - Wed 31 Whānau Hui - Wed 31 Chamber Music competition - Fri 2 Year 11 Formal - Sat 3
Assembly -  Mon -  Nil Wed - Welcome back and Legacy Club	Assembly -  Mon -  Year 10 PAC Year 11 - Gym Wed - International
Meeting  Mon:  Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon:  Learning and Teaching Tues: Learning Area Thurs: PCT

Information for Staff

1. Welcome back to term 3. A couple of reminders for the upcoming term:

• Please have the curriculum handbook updated by Friday 26th July. This will go live again on our website after this date. Students will begin choosing subjects from the start of week 3.
• Subject choice afternoon is on Monday 12th August - there will be a shortened p5.
• All external entries for the end of year examinations should be in by 1st August - this gives students a chance to check their entries prior to the 1st September deadline. If you need to have conversations with students over digital vs. paper entry, please do this ASAP. If they have SAC conditions this can affect their ability to access a writer, so it is important that if a change is made to a student who has approved SAC conditions that JAC is informed ASAP.
• School examinations are scheduled for the end of week 8 and through week 9. Due to year 11 students having less exam based externals, they will not be off school for the full 7 days of exams. This also allows for subjects who need the time to complete over time submissions to do so before the end of Term 3 as the year 11 cohort will be back in class during week 9. There will be more information to come around this.

2. The University of Reading in the UK has revealed that ChatGPT can not only pass university exams but also outperform human students. This discovery is forcing institutions worldwide into an immediate dilemma. Do they fall back on traditional exams and risk irrelevance, or adapt?

The study paints a stark picture of AI's capabilities. Researchers created 33 fake student profiles and used ChatGPT to answer exam questions for first, second and third-year psychology modules.

The results were astonishing:

• 94% of AI-generated submissions went undetected by markers

• AI consistently achieved higher grades than human students

• Only in third-year exams requiring more abstract reasoning did human students outperform the AI

These findings raise significant concerns about the potential for students using AI to undermine academic integrity. The implications are far-reaching, challenging the foundations of how many university courses evaluate student learning.

To read more of the article - see AI adapt or retreat.