Principal's Panui - 12 April 2024

Kia ora te whanau o Te Kotuku

Thank you to our staff, students, whanau and wider community for the support they have provided to Rutherford College this term. I am particularly pleased with the way our new to Rutherford students have started their journey as part of the Kotuku flock. With 1450 students and 140 staff (teaching and non-teaching) there will always be ups and downs. What I am seeing this year is an overwhelming progress in the right direction across the school and a reflection of the following state of mind.

‘Meeting with triumph and disaster and treating these two impostors just the same.'

What does that mean; We win, we lose, we learn from those moments in time and we move on.

Triumph and disaster are temporary states of existence. They are the current moment and will soon pass. If you are unsuccessful, it does not necessarily mean disaster because failure is also a temporary state that you must learn from. The best thing to do is take on the challenge that it just presented. Failure takes you closer to the desired outcome and always provides a foundation for learning what next from where my feet are now.

Please read on as there are some important messages for Term 2 throughout the rest of this panui.

 Phones away for the day - New Rules for Term 2

The government has introduced new regulations requiring schools to restrict students’ cellphone access.  These new rules come into effect 29 April, the first day of term 2.

The law requires that schools ensure students do not use or access a phone while attending school, including during lunchtime and breaks. Please find Rutherford College’s rules and expectations below. If you have comments or feedback, please feel free to contact the school.  

We have attempted to balance the benefits of modern technology and the need to communicate efficiently and effectively with the new law.  

We expect students’ phones to be away for the day, meaning phones either do not come with the student to school (recommended) or are switched off or placed in flight mode for the day. Eliminating cellphones from classroom environments frees students from the distraction of notifications and social media interruptions, allowing them to engage more deeply with lesson content. 

Phone ‘away for the day’ rules  

• Cellphones, earphones, earbuds, music players and similar devices must be turned off and safely stored in your bag or locker at all times, including intervals/lunchtimes, except where use is authorized by staff for curriculum purposes. 
• Phones will not be used by students on site between 8:50 am and 3:10 pm (exit bell for the day signals the use of mobile phones for students). 
• If phones are brought to school, they must be turned off and kept in a student’s own school bag. 

Procedures and Consequences 

If cellphones or cellphone accessories are visible or being used during the class time without specific teacher instruction for a learning activity, the following consequences will be applied:  

1. First instance: The student will be reminded and told to put the cell phone or accessory away in their bag. 
2. Second instance, or if the student refuses to put the phone or accessory away in their bag: Staff will confiscate the phone for the period and record it as digital misuse in our Student Management System. Students can collect their phone at the end of the period.
3. Escalation/Defiance. The Dean will contact home and go through the pastoral process with the student regarding it as a ‘Major’ incident. This could include confiscation which may involve the cellphone being released only to caregivers in conjunction with punitive measures as appropriate.  

Exemptions to Rutherford College’s Cellphone Rules & Procedures 

 Schools must allow students to use or access a phone when: 

• a phone is needed for health reasons (for example, to monitor insulin levels); or 
• a phone is needed to help a student with a disability or learning support need (for example, to assist with impaired communication); or 
• a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment); or 
• the principal decides that they are needed for special circumstances. 

If cellphones are used for a learning activity, this will be at the teacher's discretion following our in-class procedures and the phone's use will be supervised by a staff member. 

Procedures for Supporting Students to Comply with Cellphones Away for the Day Rules  

• Teachers will remind students of the cellphone rules at the start of every lesson.  
• Teachers will remind students to store their phones in their school bag. 
• If cellphones need to be used for a learning activity, this will be at the teacher’s discretion. Cellphone usage will be supervised.  
• Joining in lunchtime clubs and activities will be encouraged. Sports equipment is available from the Sports Office.  
• Students should take their bags and cellphones if they leave class for an appointment or if there is an emergency.  

Contacting Your Son or Daughter During the School Day 

If a parent or caregiver needs to contact their student urgently during the school day, please call the Office on  09 834 9790. The school has student runners and staff who will ensure emergency messages are passed on promptly.  

Please refer to our website for FAQ's and further information about how this procedure will affect students. We would like to invite you to have a conversation with your sons and daughters about these new rules and support the school as we comply with the regulations.

GoodSpace Survey - Year 9

Rutherford is using a web based tool with students to survey them about their wellbeing.  This tool is called Goodspace.  It takes less than 10 minutes for students to answer health and wellbeing questions. The survey is used by the Student Services team (that is the counsellors and the nurse) to ensure we are offering support to students as needed.  This is a part of our wellbeing plan to protect and enhance the hauora of our rangatahi. In the first week of term 2, we will be surveying all year  9 students.  The survey will be conducted during tutor time.  If you do not wish your child to do this survey, please email their tutor teacher asking them to be excluded from the survey.

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences - 9 May
In the second week of term 2, the school will be holding our Parent/Student/Teacher evening. This is an opportunity for you to engage with the subject teacher of your son or daughter for any of the areas that you would like to know more about. It is a great opportunity to ask about how you can assist your son or daughter improve results or focus on their academic studies. The evening is on 9 May from 2pm through to 8pm. Bookings will open in the second week of the holidays. 

Paid Union Meeting - 15 May

The PPTA has advised that a Paid Union Meeting is scheduled for 15 May from 1pm onward. The school will close early on that day at approximately 12.25pm to allow for teachers to travel to the venue. This means that all students will be released for the day. If you would like your son or daughter to be supervised for the afternoon could you please complete this registration form. Supervision will be undertaken by non-PPTA members but there will be no scheduled classes that day.

Have a safe and restful holiday break.

Kia kaha

Gary Moore