5th February 2010
2010 is under way! As usual the weather took a dramatic turn for the better the moment the first bell rang but I guess that’s life. I can report that the school has begun the year in a positive and optimistic manner and that we are fully staffed.
On Tuesday the 2nd we were delighted to welcome 114 immaculately turned out Year 9’s. We conducted a Powhiri where we welcomed our new students and our new teachers. It had a really nice tone. This will now become a formal part of the commencement of every year. It was also great to see Matua Gage looking well after a recent, serious illness.
Mrs Yvonne Sharp, Miss Jo Rule, Mrs Rachel Burgess, Mrs Jordana Norrish and Ms Amanda Smith join us as new teachers. The school had the opportunity to welcome them at the first full assembly on Wednesday.
As a result of staff changes in 2009 it is my pleasure to confirm the following internal promotions. Mr Greg Heller is our new Head of the Social Sciences Department. Mr Gareth Hore will take up the position as his assistant. Mr Justin Zani takes over as the Head of the Science Department. Mr Ben Crawford takes up the role of Assistant Head of the Mathematics Department. Mrs Jo Jory is our new Dean of Year 9 students and Miss Lisa Macpherson assumes the role of Year 12 Dean. I congratulate all of these teachers on their appointment.
By Wednesday we were up and running on full timetable. This achievement is due to the fine work done by the year level Deans, the Heads of Department and the timetable team. Our aim is always to get the best course that we can for every student. Sometimes this is a challenging process, particularly if last year’s results were below expectations. I thank parents and students for their cooperation as issues are worked through.
As we carried out our community consultation last year, we heard clear messages from parents about student motivation and readiness to work. We have responded by developing a new programme for our Year 9 and 10 students. The Attitude to Learning Programme, or ALP for short, will encourage students to get the basics right. Teachers will award grades for key competencies such as participating and contributing, managing self and relating to others. Parents will receive a progress report at the end of every term. Students who are not getting these basics right will have plenty of warnings and receive help to get things back on track. We have set the bar for progression to the next year level at a level that all students can manage if they work well.
We will be running a welcome evening for Year 9 parents on Tuesday 23rd February. There will be an evening for Year 10 parents on the 2nd of March. These meetings will give parents a chance to meet the teachers and to have the ALP explained to them in more detail. Details for these meetings will be published in future newsletters, on our website and in a flyer that students bring home.
Have a good week.