Kia ora e te whanau,

This week on Tuesday the full school trialed online learning on site in the classroom to ensure everyone was confident in using our blended learning programme through Google Classroom. We will run a second day next week to build on the students’ skills and then later in March we will run a distance learning day from home for both the Junior and Senior School. These skills are important in the delivery of our curriculum, but essential in ensuring that Trident is well prepared in the event that we should need to go into a lockdown situation such as Covid-19 in 2020.

The development of leadership which sees community service as a fundamental attribute is core to our philosophy at Trident. It was wonderful therefore to see in The Beacon the photographs of our senior students running a sports event for the students at Apanui who have been displaced by the fire at the school. We have also supported them with a mufti day and Valentine’s fundraiser which combined raised over $1,500. The Prefects will liaise with the Principal at Apanui to see where these funds will be most useful, and our student school leaders will present their funds or goods bought through the funds, to the school.

Next week is Athletics Day which is a real celebration of the students’ “give it a go” mentality, as much as their athletic prowess. It is always lovely to see whanau there, so please come along and bring your tamariki to watch their siblings.

We also look forward to catching up with our year nine whanau again, and our year ten whanau for the first time this term, at our meet and greet evening on Wednesday night. This is a great time to meet with your student’s whanau ako teacher, find out what is happening in the classroom and see how we can work together to support your student’s learning. The junior years are so important in establishing good habits, learning new skills and developing positive relationships. These all have an impact on how our students fare when they get to the senior school and prepare for life beyond Trident.

Finally, thank you all for your support of the school in our rules around attendance, punctuality, bringing gear, uniform and lunches. Together we create a wonderful environment for our students’ to learn and grow in.

Nga mihi,

Adrienne Scott-Jones

B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E

Principal

Our Head Boy Ben and Head Girl Hinemaringi have taken some time to introduce themselves to our community and share their insight into what makes Trident so special. Please click the link to take you to our website.

https://www.trident.school.nz/prefect-profile

Head Boy - Ben White, Head Girl - Hinemaringi Scott

​Deputy Head Boys - Lukas Buchan and Holden Turner

Deputy Head Girls - Amelia Jefferies, Shakira McDonald

Pou Arahi Whetu - Lyrical Hohua Manu-Tapuke Waretini

SEC Prefects - Katie Addenbrooke and Neihana Henry

​Haki Grant, Awhina Murphy, Te Rauwaenga Tuhura, Salisa Page, Te Raku Paul, Malachi Gerrard, Kataraina Steadman, Dani Daw, Ellie Van Dusschoten, Ashley Pye, Emily Forsyth, Thea Rickard,

Ella-Rose Bain, Sasha Knight, Simon Prout, Niko Lillas, Draxell Hammond, Ben White, Sam Royal, Michael Esterhuizen, Ben Olifiers and Grace McDonald-Brown

We are excited and proud to announce that further to Tahliah Temple's Outstanding Scholarship in Photography, her folio has been selected to be a part of the Top Art Exhibition this year. This is a great honour, Tahliah and our school are very proud.

Top Art is an annual touring exhibition featuring a selection of the NCEA Level 3 portfolios that achieved Excellence in Visual Art in the previous year. Five streams are covered: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

Top Art provides an opportunity for secondary students and teachers to gain an understanding of what is required to achieve Excellence at Level 3. It also allows members of the public to see the high quality art being created in schools.

When a school in our community found themselves in a time of need it provides an opportunity to show our Trident spirit and lookout for how we can help others. One of the ways we are showing our support for Apanui School is through our 3PEU class who organised a Touch Tournament for around 80 of the Apanui Students and yesterday they did the same with a Football Tournament. Our 3PEU Growing Coaches Students planned the sessions, officiated and supported the Apanui students during the events and we could tell by the happy faces it was a success! Great work 3PEU and Team Trident!

Last Friday our Chess team were involved in a tutorial with two Grandmasters and former Number 1 Champion. We look forward to some more tactical chess players from Trident this year and look forward to sharing their success. If you wish to join our chess team please see Mr Williamson or Mrs Hay in the library.

Bailey Fredericksen has had a busy summer competing in Mountain Biking. He won Gold in the 65km Mountain Bike in the Saint James Mountain Sports Festival in Hanmer Springs in January, a great achievement! He went on to place third in the under 17 category in the last round of the Mid North Island Junior Series Mountain Biking in Tokoroa. Unfortunately Bailey's competing has come to a pause as he crashed in the North Island XC Mountain Bike Championship in the under 19s DNF and is recovering from his injury. We congratulate Bailey and wish him all the best for a speedy recovery!