Northern Southland College

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Kia ora koutou

The last few weeks have been busy with many students giving speeches in class and going on to represent NSC at our local and regional competitions. Public speaking is not an easy skill. I am encouraged by how students embrace the challenge and do their best.

Senior students are currently sitting mock exams for external (exam) standards. We decided this year to complete these assessments in class instead of sending seniors on study leave. This has meant that they have been spread out over four weeks, beginning last week and going through until the end of Week 2 in Term 4. If your child has mock exams to sit, please encourage them to prepare the best that they can. These results will be used if a student has a valid reason (eg. injury/illness/lockdown) that causes them to miss an NZQA exam.

Speaking of NZQA and results, now is a great time to discuss your senior child’s progress. You will be able to see all standards and results on the Kamar portal and can also go onto the NZQA website to see results that have been uploaded. Our students also receive Learning Recognition Credits (maximum of 8 for Year 11 and 6 for Year 12 and 13 students) to relieve some pressure from lockdown. If you need help deciphering your child’s progress please contact us at the College.

A reminder to let us know if you have issues with internet connectivity. The Ministry of Education allow us to make applications to help families in need. If you currently have little or no access to the internet at home please get in touch with the school office so that we can make an application for assistance.

Best wishes to our Clay Target Shooting team. They were scheduled to fly to Auckland to compete in Hamilton at the National Secondary School Championships. Covid changed the tournament venue, so now they are travelling all the way to Invercargill to shoot this weekend. Although at Covid Level 2 there are restrictions on who can attend and watch the students, at least they get to compete. Many thanks to the parents and staff who have supported the shooters throughout the season.

Finally, if you are aware of deeds worthy of nomination for the NSC Respect Trophy please contact us at the College. We are looking forward to seeing who is awarded it at the beginning of Term 4.

Ngā mihi

Pete Wilkinson

Upcoming Events

Term 3 ends - Friday 1 October
Term 4 starts - Monday 18 October
Labour Day - Monday 25 October
Options Afternoon Y10-12 - Wednesday 27 October
Colour Run - Friday 29 October
Grass Kart competition at NSC - Saturday 30 October
Junior Exams Thursday 4 November - Tuesday 9 November

Upcoming Camps - Police Vetting

With the upcoming Year 8 and 10 camps, any parent help is always greatly appreciated. All parent helpers and parent drivers need to be Police Vetted. The forms can be found at http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/businesses-and-organisations/vetting/forms-and-guides (use the ‘NZ Police vet only’ form). Refer to the Guide as to the 2 forms of ID needed. The forms must be completed and brought back to the College Office, with 2 forms of ID by Friday 22 October 2021 by the person being vetted. This is a requirement of the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014. If you have previously completed a check with NSC and are not sure if it is still current, please contact the Office. Forms are also available from the Office.

Senior Students - Academic Reports

Senior student End of Year reports will be emailed home at the end of Week 1 Term 4. These reports will contain an up to date list of how many credits each student has, along with mock exam results and the number of learning recognition credits they have gained. Please email jordana.norrish@nsc.school.nz if you would like a printed copy of the report.

Senior students

Due to Covid interruptions, we have decided to run our mock exams within double periods in class time this year. This allows us to spread out the exams to reduce pressure on our senior students, but still gives an opportunity to have a derived grade. We encourage our seniors to prepare well for these mock exams, as those grades will be counted in we have another lockdown that affects the end of year NZQA exams. All seniors have been given a copy of the mock exam timetable earlier this week, along with the rules. You can see these at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BGK3TZN0fkbSstrP- nLflEtcxF8Bbk5H/view?usp=sharing

Get to Go

This event is run by Hillary Outdoors who want to encourage students to get into the great outdoors by providing Adventure Racing activities for students to participate in. We had one Year 9/10 team comprising four boys and four girls. We went to Kelvin Heights in Queenstown where we completed a kayaking and mountain biking challenge. Then we headed to the Shotover housing development to do an orienteering rogain activity. The goal of the day was to display teamwork by looking after each other and having fun. The day was a huge success. In 2022 we will be entering two teams in the competition.

A Grade NSC Riversdale.

MVP: Elliot Gilkison ( Elliot plays for Riversdale NSC, but got the NSC MVP)

MIP: Ollie King

Great season boys, you two will excel at rugby on a higher level, we wish you all best, and can't wait to hear how you do.

Ski Trip

On Saturday the 18th September 28 hardy skiers/snowboarders hit the slopes at Remarkables Ski Field. It was all a bit chaotic with Level 2 restrictions but we eventually all got through rentals and up on the slopes. Even though the forecast was for blue sky and sunshine, it was pretty overcast and cold, even a few flakes of snow. Due to Level 2 restrictions, fewer skiers were allowed on the slopes so there were very few queues for chairlifts. Everybody enjoyed their day skiing and fortunately there were no serious injuries. Thanks to Mrs Cullen for organising and driving one of the vans & Mr Reeve for driving the other.

Contacting the College

If you need to contact the College about a student absence or for a query please either;

Ring 03 248 7121 and follow the prompts, text 027 248 7121, or use the absence feature on the school app.

Parents/Caregivers are also required to give the College notice if students are leaving early. Please do this by either phoning, using the app or texting the above number.

Hockey

NSC B Team had their finals hockey game last night against JHHS. They finished 4th for the season. A huge thanks to the Clark Family and Athol Hunting And Fishing for sponsoring the van every week, it was very much appreciated. To Rodney Jackson from Aparima and Aylese Clark from Athol, thank you, for your dedication coming to practices and time you spent travelling to games. The teams wouldn't be able to do it without you..... to the NSC A and B Hockey players, well done on a great season everybody, you all played extremely well see you all next year!

Hockey 7/8

Our Y7/8 Hockey team faced strong competition against James Hargest in their play off for 3rd/4th tonight and narrowly lost 4-5. This team can be proud of their dedication, determination and huge growth this season. Thank you to all the parents for their sideline encouragement each week.

Chrome books

The College provides Chromebooks for the use of all students. We have just had 21 of these repaired as they have had keys pulled off by students. Students are reminded that the chromebooks are for the use of everyone and to please respect College property. If they continue to be damaged we may have to look at removing the damaged chromebooks which will reduce the number available for students to use.