Principal's Panui - 09 August 2024

Kia Orana

This week the school celebrated Cook Island Language week with lots of fun and educational activities for the students. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the Cook Island language and culture while also earning house points for their efforts. Big thanks to the organisers, house leaders and senior students who helped make it all happen.

The quick fix mentality can make us forget that good things take time and effort. Too often we want the result now and miss the connection between building relationships, doing the work and then reaping the benefit of genuine mahi. Success in the upcoming derived grade exams needs a plan of when you are going to study and what you will study in that allocated timeslot.

I believe we have lost track of the reality that good things take time. Tāne Mahuta did not just suddenly jump out of the soil. I wonder if it is because many of us were raised on a culture of TV, and movies where mankind can triumph over adversity in about two hours. In the past we learned about life through books, and we must use our imagination and our minds to create our own image or vision. 

When we only see the final product, the bit of the iceberg above the surface or a post on tic toc we can be fooled. We can watch World and Olympic Records being broken within moments and not fully understand the human struggle and sacrifice that took place over many years to achieve this.

We need to continue to value the time we spend in the work phase, not just the result. The result is a byproduct of the quality of the work done in preparation. In the remaining 29 teaching days (or 38 days in total) before derived grade exams, put your plan in place and make promises to yourself about what you are going to study and when. Over time you will learn to enjoy the struggle of doing the work, and the daily dose of satisfaction that comes from having taken control of what you can control, your own effort.

For our Year 11-12’s and 100% for those in Year 13 they must continue the struggle to complete NCEA to their absolute maximum. The five-year journey is now being counted down in days not years or months. It is time to put all your time, effort and concentration into running the last bend (completing all internals, preparing for derived grade exams to a high level) and leaving nothing in the tank as you look toward the finish line. (That final assessment).

Onward and upward.

Parent/Student/Subject Teacher Conferences - 15 August 2pm to 7.50pm - School finishes at 1.25pm for all students.

Next Thursday teachers will be available to meet with students and their whanau. This is for all year levels and primarily to discuss with the subject teachers what students can do to improve or to check on their progress in specific subjects. This is the ideal opportunity to talk about subject choices for next year if your son or daughter is unsure what direction to take. Please make an appointment by logging into the School Portal/SchoolBridge and clicking on PSST conferences to book your times. You log into the portal using your email address and the password you have for either Gmail or Microsoft accounts. The school does not issue passwords. A coffee cart will be on site from 1.30 to 4.30pm.  All students will be dismissed at 1.25pm to allow teachers time to set up rooms for the conferences.

Careers Expo - School Hall - 2pm - 7pm 15 August

While you are out an about next week, make sure you drop into the hall to have a look around at what career and training options are available to youngsters. This is not just for seniors but anyone who is needing some guidance on what their career might look like in the future or what they might like to study. There will be a host of providers there to answer your questions.

Junior Scholars Awards

This Friday at lunchtime we acknowledged our junior students who have maintained a 3.75 grade point average during terms one and two. We celebrated their achievement with lunch and awarding them their first academic badge. 

We know that many students are very close to that standard and we want to encourage all our students to strive for excellence. 

Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding hard work during terms one and two and thank you to the families who support their learning.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini

Ordering of Class and Group Photos

2024 School Photos can now be ordered on-line. Photolife ( the company engaged to provide the service ) would have emailed  you the  unique Key Code to go online to view and purchase them. If you have not received it, please check your trash / spam folder. Please note that ordered photos will be delivered straight to your home and not via the school. If you have any questions or queries, please contact Photolife on [email protected].

Rutherford Day - 23 August - school finishes at 12.30pm.

I spoke of Rutherford Day in the panui last week. To reiterate; the purpose of the day is to acknowledge and thank members of the community who help the school in various ways, showcase student talent by witnessing some amazing performances and listen to an aspirational speaker. This year Karen O'Leary is our guest speaker. The ceremony is attended by invited guests, Year 11-13 students with the Year 9 and 10 in class doing an alternative programme for the morning. The ceremony concludes at 12.30 approximately when all students will be dismissed for the day.

What's coming up?

12-16 August is book week, Option week, and PSST Conferences (15 August)
23 August - Rutherford Day
02-06 September - Winter Tournament Week
06 September - Mid term break - no school for students
17-23 September - Derived Grade Exams (senior students)
18-20 September - Year 9 Hearing Tests 

Have a good weekend

Gary Moore