E ngā reo, e ngā mana, rau rangatira mā, ngā matā waka, tēnei te mihi nui atu ki ā koutou katoa. Ko te wawata me te tumanako ka noho ora mai koutou katoa.

It has been an incredibly busy time since the last newsletter. We had the privilege of hosting our annual Senior prizegiving recently to our departing year 13’s, prize winners and parents in the hall and online. I felt privileged to host important guests and celebrate success at WHS. My congratulations goes out to every prize winner, head student and their family. Thank you for being you, for allowing us to teach you, learn from you and get to know you. We are proud of who you are and who you have become. There are a few photos shared below, and more on our Facebook page.

To our departing year 13’s , you still have your exams, but the reality is that you leave us to step out into the real world. Whatever the future holds for you, you will always be part of this school, always welcome back here. We look forward to learning about your future successes. Travel safely and have a full life, lived one day at a time and lived for others.

Thank you to the staff who organised the Prizegiving, so many hands make light work!

After prizegiving the senior students set off on study leave, I wish them all the best for their external exams. We have been hosting a full revision program that is available here. In addition there have been many students in school as part of our achievement support program who have been working with teachers to complete final assessments. Thanks to all those teachers who have continued working hard to make this happen and support our young people.

It has been great to see the seven teams from WHS compete at the BOPSS Volleyball over the last few weekends. There have been some great results and learning as a team. Our Senior Boys ‘A’ Volleyball will be competing in the Australian Schools Champs in December, good luck to them! Appreciation goes to the coaches, managers and parental support who have helped make this happen.

As we prepare for 2023 at school it is important to talk to the community about what is happening at the school.

In regards to Property we will see the L Block toilets get a refurbishment and a big new shade sail being built outside of B-Block as welcome shade for everyone, these are BOT funded. The BOT has also committed to over $250,000 of capital item purchases to put the best equipment in front of our young people. These include resourcing equipment like mountain bikes, stand-up paddle boards, tents and rucksacks for the growing Outdoor Education program. In addition to two new computer suites to replace existing ones which puts the latest technology in front of our students. Thanks to the BOT for their commitment to the school.

Staffing / recruitment for 2023 has been happening for the last two terms. We farewell Mrs Gail Zonneveld (again), Ms Gael Harper (again), Mrs Judith Graham, Mrs Linda Bonne, Ms Youngman, Mrs Matrix, Mrs MacFarlane and Mr Robinson. Mrs Jones and Mrs Blakeway will be on study leave in 2023. Ms Shanks is embarking on an OE next year and Mrs Wright will be on Maternity leave. To replace them we welcome:

We look forward to welcoming these new staff and know that we have new staff that will add value to our curriculum and wider life of the school.

In 2023 we have modified our current timetable based on self-review and consultation with staff. You will see in the examples below that we have made the following changes:

• More 90 minute periods. We feel that longer periods will offer more opportunity for deeper learning and understanding, greater opportunity for students to explore their ideas and thinking and will be beneficial for subjects that naturally lend themselves to longer periods. For example the Science department will benefit by being able to complete experiments and have time for the write up and reflection in longer periods. You can see that there are still one hour periods.
  
  We also believe that lesson time is lost as students transition across the school. Longer blocks and less movement over the school day will mean we have more learning taking place. We have been working with staff on adapting their practice over the course of the year and into next year.

• Changing Mentoring time to before Interval. We know that mentoring is crucial to supporting young people, but organisationally by shifting it to before Interval will allow for important notices and information to be shared before Interval. In addition we know that students' priority is to get to school and straight into class. Mentoring time also enables us to run scheduled assemblies where we celebrate success, establish our expectations and acknowledge our values.

I will share more about our strategic aims and our goals for 2023 in the coming weeks. Enjoy the warmer weather and I look forward to seeing you at the beach!

Martyn Knapton

Principal

The WHS Junior volleyballers were in action again over the weekend with most teams playing in new pools. The Junior A boys started their 2nd weekend strong with wins over the WHS B boys 2-0, Tarawera 2-0 and Te Puke 2-0, before going down in a tight game against TBC 9B 1-2. The Junior B Boys had losses to Tarawera 1-2, Te Puke 0-2 and Western Heights 0-2. The Junior C boys were in action at QEYC over the weekend with a win over John Paul College 2-0 and losses to Western Heights B 0-2, Otumoetai Y9 0-2 and a close 3 setter to Opotiki 1-2.

In the girls side, the Junior A girls won 2 close 3 setters against Trident 2-1 and Bethlehem 2-1, The A girls also won 2-0 against Tauranga Girls A, and took a 0-2 loss against Western Heights.

The Junior B girls had a successful weekend with 4 wins from their 4 games - Taupo 2-0, Otumoetai 2-0, Te Puke 2-0 and Aquinas 2-1. The Junior Y10 girls team had 2-0 wins against Katikati, Mount Maunganui 9Black and Western Heights Development, and loss 1-2 against Western Heights C. The Junior Y9 girls team celebrated wins over Otumoetai 9B 2-0, Mount Maunganui 9Red 2-0 and losses to Opotiki A 0-2 and John Paul College R 0-2.

All teams now have 1 more pool game before playoffs next weekend.

Well done to all players, coaches and volunteers.

Health services provided FREE in school:

• School Nurse: daily except Wednesday morning
• School Doctor: Tuesdays P2