Read the latest news from Rutherford College

Kia ora ē te whānau ō te Kōtuku

Some of the key messages to our junior students this week have been to be considerate, around spaces where exams are being held. They have made a great start to displaying the appropriate levels of respect and responsibility to this expectation.

Junior Exams

Treat the exams as an opportunity to learn, a chance to prepare and do the best, that you, can do. Don’t compare yourself to the best that others can be. Build a study timetable. Don’t hope for the best plan for it.

I also believe it was timely to remind our junior students of what good looks like at Rutherford.

Expected behaviours all comes back to “At Rutherford we strive for personal excellence” in all situations.

What does that mean?

Manners/courtesy remembering to say please, thanky you, excuse me and sorry cost you nothing but have a substantial positive impact on other people. 

So please remember to remember the importance of these words. 

I encourage you to thank the staff, thank the bus drivers, thank your family for what they do, do the dishes, mow the lawns, or bring the washing in.

We value little acts of kindness. At the very least do no harm with your words or actions.

If people need help give it, include people in what you are doing, say hello when you arrive. 

Classroom Visits

This morning Mr Curran and I visited 10 classes during period 1. It was very pleasing to see that all classes were engaging in structured revision lessons to support students in their preparation for their exams. Our young people in attendance were well engaged in class. What needs to happen now, is they follow that up with some further revision work in their own time. Those who choose to do additional revision will reap the rewards. Academic progress is like anything else. If you only go to the formalized training or tuition and do not practice in your own time, the gains will never be your personal best.

Good, better, best

Never let it rest.

Until your good is better

And your better is your best.

Junior Exams 

The junior exams will be held Friday 17 November and Monday 20 November 

On these days the school day will be divided into two sessions. 

Session One: 8.50am – 11.10am 

Session Two: 11.50am – 2.10pm 

Students need to be at school in time to attend the first session, which will start at 8.50am and they will be released to go home at 2.10pm after the second session. 

Exam Timetable 

Year 10 

Friday    17/11                   Session One: English*                                    Session Two: Science 

Monday 20/11                  Session One: Social Studies                          Session Two: Mathematics 

*the English exam will be a digital one in preparation for 2024 Level 1 NCEA –  students are being prepared for this by the English teachers 

Year 9 

Friday 17/11                      Session One: Mathematics                           Session Two: Social Studies 

Monday 20/11                  Session One: English                                     Session Two: Science 

Lateness 

Lateness is a significant issue for a high number of students at the moment. Why is being on time important? Punctuality is the habit of doing a task in time. In a much broader sense, it’s a habit of doing things at the right time, on any given day. Being on time plays a vital role in increasing their academic success and developing important habits for life after school. It provides students with stability, security, and self-confidence for their learning, and helps students manage their academic and personal life. 

Given that lateness through the gate in the morning has become increasingly problematic, the school will implement the following procedures for students that are late.

• All students are required to sign in if they arrive after 8.50am
• If a student arrives with a note they will be sent straight to the Attendance office to sign in. If the note provides a justified reason, then the student will be sent directly to class and the reason will be recorded on Kamar.
• Students who are late and do not sign in will be followed up by the Deans.
• If a student does not have a note they will receive a lunchtime detention to be completed that day. Reasons such as traffic, slept in, disorganised or dropping siblings to school will not be acceptable. Discretion will be applied where applicable.
• Students are to complete the detention that day. If they fail to attend the student will receive an after school detention.
• If the student is late more than twice in the week they will receive an after school detention in the following week.
• If lateness continues to be a concern, the school will make contact to arrange a whānau hui.

Bus Timetable changes

As from Monday Nov 13th the 013 service to and from Glendene will change.

The morning run will remain as it is currently.

The afternoon from Rutherford will have two buses.

One will remain 013 the other renamed 014.

The 013 will continue to serve the current routes.

The 014 will use the current route until View Rd and then will divert at View Rd to end at Holy Cross Church.

All these services will run nonstop between Rutherford College and Royal View Rd along Te Atatū Rd.

Term 4 Events Changes in the School Day

Term 4 is a very busy time of the year and the school has a lot of different events occurring in the first few weeks. Some include early finishes and a staff only day 24 November. 

Upcoming Events:

04 – 05 December – Wider Living Events for Y9/10 students and School Production

07-08 December – Junior Prizegiving

08 December – last day of the school year

Fill The Blues Bus

The Blues have partnered with the Salvation Army with the aim to provide every child with a gift this Christmas. These gifts will then be distributed to children within the Blues region, from Cape Reinga to the Bombay’s via the Salvation Army. The cost-of-living crisis and economic climate is proving to be difficult for many families in our region, so if you are in a position to help the Blues spread some joy this festive season, Rutherford College will be serving as a drop off point for the community where you can drop off donated gifts (unwrapped). On Friday 1st December Blues players will be splitting off into three buses to collect the donations from our region. You can find more information about how you can help at the Blues website, along with gift ideas and other drop off points in the area: https://www.blues.rugby/fill-the-bus.

Kia Kaha

Gary Moore