Week 8 - Term 3 - 2024

 He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata

Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure

Week 8 9 Hepetema - 13 Hepetema Cycling - Litolff/Dawe Cups - Wed 11 LEF Grades due School Examinations begin - Thurs 12 - and Fri 13 Pūhoro Wānanga - Thurs 12 Year 10 Literacy Reading CAA - Thurs 12 (am) Year 10 Literacy Writing CAA - Fri 13 (am)	Week 9 16 Hepetema - 20 Hepetema School Examinations  All week for Year 12 and 13 Mon and Tues for Year 11 Hockey Prize Giving - Tues 17 Year 10 Numeracy - Fri 20 Aerobics Nationals - Fri 20 - Sun 22
Assembly -  Mon - Senior Assembly - Gym - Exam Prep Wed - SADD	Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 - Values awards Wed - Nil
Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. You may be interested to read the latest report around ending streaming in schools - Kōkirihia. It looks at the progress made across Aotearoa.

It contains examples of research that has been happening as well as examples of what has happened in a couple of schools.

The link to where the report can be found - click HERE.

2. Just a quick tip that I heard the other day with regards to how schools are combating the use of AI in assessment. Moving forward, when handing out instructions for an assessment task, you might consider including a line/word/statement in 'white' writing and shrink the font to one. Students will not be able to see the text, but if it is copied into an AI tool, then this will alter what the answer that is created, making it easier to spot work that is not a students own.

Week 7 - Term 3 - 2024

Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou

Seek after learning for the sake of your wellbeing 

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	Week 8 9 Hepetema - 13 Hepetema Cycling - Litolff/Dawe Cups - Wed 11 LEF Grades due School Examinations begin - Thurs 12 - and Fri 13 Pūhoro Wānanga - Thurs 12 Year 10 Literacy Reading CAA - Thurs 12 (am) Year 10 Literacy Writing CAA - Fri 13 (am)
Assembly -  Mon - Year 9 (PAC) Year 10 - Gym Wed - Mental Health Awareness	Assembly -  Mon -  Wed - SADD
Meeting  Mon: TWH Tues: Staff Thurs: PCT's	Meeting  Mon: Nil Tues: Learning Area Thurs: Nil

Information for Staff

1. Khan Academy have just released Khanmigo - https://www.khanacademy.org/teacher/khanmigo-tools, the AI tool for teachers. This has been made free for Teachers through Microsoft. It has been trialed in the US in beta format and teachers are finding it helps with planning and generation of ideas to use in the classroom. 

As we know, Khan Academy is a trusted credible platform.

The student platform is currently in beta testing, so watch this space.

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.