Principal's Panui - 02 August 2024
Kia ora te whanau ō te Kōtuku
Supporting our rangatahi toward NCEA success
Background
At the start of term 3 we have looked at the data across the school and are identifying students at Years 11-13 who need to be doing something extra or different to support their mahi towards NCEA success this year.
When we look at the numbers, the data, we consider the number of credits attained thus far e.g. 30, the strike rate i.e. 30/ 30 or 30/60. The difference between these two sets of results is huge. A student getting every credit attempted compared to 50% tells two different tales. We will also look at attendance patterns and the number of credits still on offer to determine whether students are at risk of not completing requirements.
The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle is for us to look at each individual student’s attainment of the Literacy and Numeracy co-requisites that must be achieved to get Level 1, 2 or 3. If a student gains 80 credits but does not have reading, writing and numeracy then there can be no award of NCEA at that level. The importance of these co-requisites is a must do priority. If you are not sure if your son or daughter has achieved literacy or numeracy you can check on the school portal/schoolbridge under results this year.
Having identified the students in need of something extra or different - What next?
The Plan
- Identify 40 students at each level who are in need of something extra or different.
- Work with and alongside teams of teachers to get the identified students across the line. Right student/ right time/right approach.
- Each student to have a one on one kanohi ki te kanohi meeting with an academic mentor
- The mentor will make a phone call home to explain the process to whanau and to answer any questions you may have about the process.
- Academic mentors will be working with individual teaching staff to ensure that at class level teachers are using at least one one of the three agreed on schoolwide strategies to support improved outcomes and check in to see the impact.
These classroom strategies are:
- Exit tickets – a check for student understanding of the lesson(s)
- Encouraging Homework Centre attendance and contacting home and following up with teacher/ student and home to check if work got completed/submitted.
- Chunking. Next steps for students e.g. by date x, I will have done y. We can help the students by supporting them to plot on a 100-day planner week by week and keeping them accountable to the plan.
For students who do not have Literacy and Numeracy Requirements.
How to remedy this.
Focused support for those who not acquiring LIT/NUM will prevent NCEA success. i.e. Students with every chance (of gaining 60+ credits) or already have 60+ credits but not LIT/NUM requirements.
It could mean taking identified students out of some option lines to get additional help. It may include after school tutorials and full day focus if needed as we get closer to the September deadline.
Energy flows where attention goes. Below is the reality of the time left in the academic year.
- 32 teaching days to derived grades exams.
- 51 days in total.
- 4 further days in term 3 after DGEs
- 2 - week term break
- 13 teaching days in term 4
- NCEA exams start November 5th
Please download this document that I have shared with all Y11-13 students and some basic instructions about how they can take control of what they can control as they look to start from where their feet are now.
As parents, how can you help? Have a copy of the document on the fridge or somewhere similar. Talk about progress each week and acknowledge the work completed. With each step completed it becomes a question of now what from here.
For all students and whanau whose young person is not on the identified list for targeted support the use of this document or something similar will be helpful. For parents who want to know more then hopefully this is a conversation starter and I invite you to keep the conversation going.
PSST Conferences
We would encourage all parents who feel their son or daughter may need guidance or additional support to make an appointment to speak with one of their subject teachers on 15 August at Parent/Student/Subject teacher conferences. It is the ideal time to seek out additional strategies or find out more about how you can help on their journey to success. Appointments are open from 2pm to 7.50pm. Teachers get booked out fast so don't miss out. Bookings are open this afternoon. Click onto SchoolBridge/School Portal and then Term 3 PSST Conferences to make your selections. A coffee cart is on site from 1.30pm to 4.30pm for refreshments.
Careers Expo
While you are here for PSST Conferences, drop by the hall from 2 - 7pm to find out more about further educational opportunities or training providers. There will be a range of providers available to talk to.
Year 9 Hearing Tests.
As in previous years we are participating in the Hearing Screening Programme for Year 9 students in 2024. This is part of the National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDHH) Listen Up Programme.
Testing of our Year 9 students will take place between 18-20 September. Next week parents of Year 9 students will receive more information and a permission slip to complete if they would like their son or daughter to take part in this programme.
Enrolment Week
Now is the time to enrol for next year. If you have a son or daughter planning to attend Rutherford in 2025 as a Year 9 student, then please make sure you come along to one of the enrolment evenings we have arranged next week. Times are 3.30 to 7pm on Monday 5 to Thursday 8 August and then from 9am to 11.30am on Saturday 10 August. To find out more and book a time for your interview, please visit this page on the website. Out of zone enrolments close 4 September. Please enrol now whether you are in zone or out of zone.
Phones Away for the Day
Please remember that students should not be on their phones during the school day, and this includes break times as well. Before and after school they may access their phone if they need to keep in touch with you. Please review the rules about phones which was updated last term. These regulations have been put in place by the government and supported by the school. It would be helpful if parents reminded their sons and daughters of these new regulations and the potential consequences for not complying. Without phones in use, staff have noticed an increase in students enjoying lunch/interval activities and socialising with each other more. If you believe your son or daughter meets the criteria for an exemption of this rule, please speak with their Dean.
Term 3 Policy Reviews.
The school subscribes to SchoolDocs for all policies and procedures. Log in to complete a review or have a look around.
Anyone can review a policy or procedure, including students, staff or caregivers. This term reviews will be underway for the following policies:
- Concerns and complaints
- Media
- Performance Management
- Professional Development
- Protected Disclosure
- Staff Conduct
- Staff Leave
- Visit the website SchoolDocs
- Enter the username (rutherfordcollege) and password (kotuku).
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Start your review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type.
- Enter your name (optional).
- Follow the prompts to show that you've read the topic and enter your feedback if you'd like to comment.
- Agree to the privacy statement and click “Submit review”.
What's coming up?
15 August - PST Conferences and Careers Expo - Bookings open this afternoon
19 August - Applications open for Prefect Selection and close September 6 (year 12 students)
23 August - Rutherford Day - Students in Years 11-13 attend the ceremony and junior students will have an alternative programme for the day. School finishes for everyone that day at 12.30pm (approximately).
25 August - Applications open for Student Trustee on the School Board and Close 31st August at noon. (Available on SchoolBridge). Any student in Year 9 - 12 can nominate themselves.
Kia kaha
Gary Moore
