Kōrero

This week has been focussed on wrapping things up for the term and making sure that we’re ready for Term Two.

Teaching and learning programmes are now well underway and sporting and cultural events will continue to ramp up over the next two terms. Our Year 7 and 8 teachers spent two afternoons this week meeting with parents of their students in the first round of Learning Conferences, we’d like to thank all the parents for coming into these. I’d also like to thank the teachers for these conferences as I know there is considerable work done in preparation for these so that parents get the most up to date information about their daughter’s learning and next steps.

Our final assembly this term celebrated those girls who had achieved some great results in the various Aoraki Championships that have been held over the last few weeks, including equestrian, tennis, triathlon and athletics. It was a delight to have the opportunity to watch some of our students participate in the South Island Secondary Schools Athletics at the weekend and we had some superb results in this meet.

Next term we have a transition period for uniform where students may wear either full Winter or full Summer uniform until King’s Birthday weekend. The holidays coming up are a good opportunity to have blazers, skirts and kilts drycleaned, and for hems to be checked. Kilts are worn at 30 -33cm off the floor with school shoes on, if your daughter’s kilt is too short then please make arrangements to have this lengthened. For those in Year 7 and 8 the tunic is worn all year long. The Year 7&8 winter uniform consists of either a white long-sleeved shirt and tie or blue skivvy worn under the tunic with the blazer, long ink blue knee high or over the knee socks or tights, which are all available at the Uniform Shop. Please check your daughters winter shirts and make sure they are fit for purpose. If you need to purchase new ones then please do this through the Uniform Shop, they are the exclusive supplier of our regulation white long sleeved shirt.

All Year levels spent an hour on Monday with Tamatea Wihongi from Attitude NZ. This health-based presentation discusses some of the big issues facing students including vaping, hauora and discovering what makes them, as an individual, so special. This presentation is one that students really engage in, with a Kaupapa focussed on support they aim to build resilience and let all young people know they are valued. The programme itself is based on and influenced by the concepts of Te whare tapa whā along with social and emotional learning. Designed to compliment the Health Curriculum they also encourage positive behaviour and decisions making within the student body. If you want to find out more about this programme then please click here - Attitude

The Spirituality and Sustainability component of the Year 11 Diploma was completed this week with all students undertaking the school based service component, compulsory Special Character retreat and a self-development course. Like all new initiatives we will be asking for feedback, but what we have gathered so far has been very positive. For me personally it was lovely to spend some time with the girls as they attempted new skills such as knitting and crocheting hats for premature babies. Time was also spent doing service with Joy, Lynne and Aaron up at Te Aitarakihi Māra Kai. Here the girls helped weed existing gardens and create new gardens. On Thursday the girls doing service cooked 14 litres of soup for the Friday Soup Kitchen held at Caroline Bay. I would like to thank all staff for their involvement in this. The generosity of staff and Old Girls in our community have helped make this part of the Diploma very successful. Thank you also to Ms Hull, Mrs Tregenza and Rev Steph for all the organisation that went into this; thank you also to Mr Jones for organising all the relief. It’s been a big programme to get off the ground!

Over the next week we have students involved in netball qualifiers and a football tournament. If you are at a loose end tomorrow at 10.45am and 12pm then I know that our netballers would love to have some support at the outdoor courts at Aorangi Park. These games are to determine which grade they play in this season. Likewise, our Footballers are playing on Sunday at 12.30pm at Sir Basil Arthur and would also welcome some support. We wish you all the best girls!

I hope by now you’ve also seen our new look website and the new video that features on there. A big thank you to Mr Hullen who is designing the site and to Ms Morgan who created the video along with some of the Media students. We haven’t finished with the changes yet and there will be mini roll outs for the remainder of the year as we migrate information contained on our previous site over to the new one.

Term Two will also be a busy term as we head into Winter and there will be some disruption for students as we welcome staff into new roles. We have just appointed Ms Alana Dawson in a fixed-term part-time position in Physical Education until the end of the year. She will be taking a number of Junior classes as we move Mrs Ford into her new homeroom and Ms Hall into the TIC Music role. We are incredibly fortunate to have qualified teachers coming on board and I know that our community will welcome them in true Craighead spirit.

There are also some dates that parents need to be aware of in Term Two. On Thursday May 16 there is a regional Paid Union Meeting (PUM) for all members of PPTA from 1.30pm. School will close at lunchtime and students will be released home for the afternoon. There will be limited supervision provided at school between 1.20 and 3.20pm – please contact the school office on admin@craighead.school.nz or 03 688 6074 if your daughter needs supervision that afternoon. Sunday May 19 is our Open Day and we will be welcoming prospective students into the school between 2 and 4pm that afternoon. We will advise parents of arrangements for Open Day in a communication shortly. On May 31 all teachers in the region are involved in a Teacher Only Day and school will be closed for instruction that Friday. Matariki also falls during Term Time this year and school will be closed on Friday June 28.

I’d like to wish all members of our community, staff, students and parents, a safe and relaxing holiday break. If you are heading away, either to somewhere in New Zealand or overseas - travel safe. We hope this holiday time provides you all with an opportunity to recharge before returning to the start of Term Two.

Ngā Manaakitanga

Mrs Lara Hearn-Rollo

Principal