 Term 1 Issue 1 |
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Tena koutou e te whanau o Whangaparāoa
It has been fantastic to see all our learners on site this morning and ready for an exciting year ahead. This year, we are oversubscribed with enrolments and returning learners, with over 1850 learners entering the school grounds this morning. This does bring us a few challenges, but it is incredibly exciting to see the growth and development the school has undergone over the last few years.
This morning we had our first full school assembly. We use these opportunities to unite our school, remind our learners of expectations, and ensure we celebrate the amazing achievements of learners both internally and externally.
In our assembly this morning, we announced our Prefect Executive team. Being a school Prefect is a huge honour, and after a rigorous and thorough process that continued over the summer, I wish to congratulate the following learners who will lead our learners this year.
Head Students: Emily Stout and Konstantinos Montes
Deputy Head Students: Shilei Ralph and Zaander Ward
Learner Council Chair: Maya Russell
We have already written to whānau regarding the update to our rules regarding mobile phone use this year. A friendly reminder to have the conversation with your learner regarding this as we have, from today, begun to enforce these. If a parent or caregiver needs to contact their Learner urgently during the day (for example: last minute appointments), they should do so via their child’s school email address. Only in exceptional circumstances should the school office be phoned to assist. All other arrangements for collecting your learner during the day are outlined in the guide document attached in this newsletter.
Within this newsletter is an outline of our procedures for dropping off and picking learners up at the start and end of the school day. As you can imagine, having 1850 learners all leaving at the same time is a challenge, and we need your assistance with following the procedures in place. As always, our preference is for learners to seek other ways of getting to and from school over being dropped off in cars.
Thank you as always for your support and I look forward to sharing an exciting year ahead, with our learners and you.
Ngā mihi
Steve McCracken
Tumuaki | Principal
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February
8 NCEA Information Night
13 - 16 Year 13 Camp
20 Class and I.D Photos
22 Year 7 Meet the Teacher
March
12 - 13 Year 8 - 13 Meet the Teacher
19 Fiafia
21 - 22 Polyfest
29 Good Friday (School closed for instruction)
April
1 Easter Monday (School closed for instruction)
2 Easter Tuesday (School closed for instruction)
4 Information evening
12 Last day of Term 1 |
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Recent News
Assessment KaupapaThis year we are publicising on school reports the number of virtual Whangaparāoa credits allocated to each assessment at all year levels. We have used these credits in the past to calculate awards for prize giving, but have not previously publicised them. This is the beginning step in the process of creating a Whangaparāoa College Certificate for our junior learners from 2025. Other aspects of school life, such as co-curricular activities and service may be included. More information coming later this year. In the meantime, please see here for the Whangaparāoa College Assessment Kaupapa showing all credits at all levels. | |  |
Welcome PōwhiriAs many of you will have already seen on our social media channels, last Thursday saw us welcome our new Year 7 and international learners with a fabulous, and moving, Pōwhiri.
Follow this link for a full video of the ceremony.
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School Site Traffic Management A reminder that there are traffic management plans in place for school access during the school day (including pickups and drop offs). If you are dropping off or collecting a learner via the front entrance of the school (Stanmore Bay Road entrance), it should only be done via the top carpark pick up and drop off zone. A detailed map of the traffic plan can be found here. There is no access to the school from Delshaw Street during morning and afternoon peak periods.
The Berdinner Road entry to the college at the gymnasium end of the site, is restricted access between the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm every day.
We thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep our school community safe.
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AttendanceIf a student misses one day of school every two weeks, they miss a whole year of school by 16 years of age. As a parent or caregiver, you, alongside our school, play a key role in building strong habits of regular school attendance.
All students are legally required to attend school every day and it is a shared responsibility to make sure students attend and engage in learning from when they first start school. As we enter 2024, every day of school matters.
If you're struggling at home with getting your child to school, talk to us!
Our school is committed to supporting your child to attend school and building a culture that fosters excellent attendance by having:
- School staff who have strong relationships with students and
whānau. - A school culture that recognises your child and your family for who they are, where they come from and who they want to be.
- A school community that does everything to make sure students are at school, and they are participating, and progressing in their education.
For more information, please read our 2024 Attendance Information
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School TVSchool Transitions“This is a particularly stressful period for both parents and children and it tends to get trivialised. Parents can often transfer their stress onto their child making transitioning unnecessarily more stressful.”
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
To view, please visit: School Transitions | |  |
Massey University Young Leaders SummitTwenty two Prefects were taken to the Massey University Young Leaders Summit in January which consisted of all North Shore Secondary Schools.
Their behaviour and participation was exemplary one of our Year 13 learners, Ethan Brown, volunteered to perform a Karakia before lunch was served and three of our learners were chosen to demonstrate their public speaking skills in front of the schools who attended.
A very productive and engaging day for all.
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Torbein Beauvais - Year 12
Congratulations to Year 12 Learner Torbein Beauvais who has been selected in the One New Zealand Warriors U17 Harold Matthews Cup team.
This is the first time the Warriors have entered the New South Wales Rugby League’s junior competition.
Torbein will play eight games over nine rounds. After playing their first three matches on the road, they have their last five games at home.
Well done Torbein!
Up the Wahs!
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Jayden Murdie - Year 12
Exciting congratulations to Jayden Murdie, one of our Year 12 learners who completed his first solo flight in December, achieving his goal to fly solo by the end of 2023 and getting another step closer to achieving his main goal of completing his Private Pilot License by the end of the year!
He was presented with a certificate commemorating this exciting achievement at North Shore Aero Club. Well done Jayden, best of luck for achieving your PPL!
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Hosting an International StudentKia Ora Whānau
We have had a fantastic return to welcoming our wonderful international students to the coast.
Welcome to all our new families who have joined our hosting whānau and hello to future homestays.
We are asking for expressions of interest for hosting 2024 and beyond.
This is a great opportunity for you to experience hosting a student from another country and share with them your family and community.
If you would like to be considered for this opportunity please email Sue McKay [email protected] to discuss further. Alternatively, you are welcome to visit our college website and explore the information listed in the International tab.
We would love to hear from you. | |  |
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