Wairoa College
Newsletter 27th May 2022
PRINCIPALS MESSAGE
Term 2
We have started Term 2 with lots of energy as we get back to more of a normal school routine. It is so good to see our students back engaging in their learning, sports, Kapa Haka, our music mentor programme and the Careers Expo based at Wairoa College.
Our Year 7 and 8 Bilingual class is thriving this year with Ngapera Tiopira, Reg Keil and supported by Roxine Habib who are doing an amazing job. Students are learning in Te Aka Matua and our Emarina.
Junior Kapa Haka
Our Junior Kapa Haka group has already started practising for our Kapa Haka Festival which is to be held at Wairoa College this year during Term 3.
Careers Expo
Our Careers Expo was a huge success. I would like to thank EIT and WYAT and all the stakeholders that supported this event taking place at Wairoa College. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the event and learnt alot about a wide variety of careers.
Term 2 Sports
We have had an amazing start to sport in the last few weeks. We have had many wins for all our teams and some have been undefeated. Students gain so much out of playing sports. Friendship, teamwork skills, resilience and manaakitanga are all part of developing a young person with the skills, attributes and values for life beyond school. I would also like to thank our coaches and managers for supporting our students to be able to play.
Senior Practice Exams
Senior students are currently sitting practice examinations. This is all part of supporting students in their preparation for their examinations later in the year. Some students are also completing internal assessments during this time. I wish them all the best. It is an opportunity to learn from them and develop next steps in their learning journey.
Progress in NCEA Achievement
Progress in achievement over time has been very positive particularly at NCEA Level 2. Below are graphs for 2015 and 2022 comparing our achievement with other state schools in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti District. You will notice that Wairoa College is now above Decile 1, Decile 6 and National averages for NCEA Level 2. This is also the case for NCEA Level 3.
In 2021 our Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 pass rates were above Maori national achievement rates. Our Level 2 pass rate for Maori students was 86.4% compared to a National average of 68.3%.
Localised Curriculum
Part of this improvement in results is due to engaging students better. We have been developing our Localised Curriculum over the last four years. All of our Year 9 and 10 programme is based around cross curricular units and local curriculum. Matauranga Maori and Cultural Responsiveness are built in as a component of our Localised Curriculum (cross curricular units) at Year 7-10 recognising the importance for all students to have a common understanding and the significance for Wairoa and Aotearoa regionally, nationally and globally. Examples of our Cross Curricular units:
● Hangi
● Local history- Mahia
● Whakaki sustainability and planting
● Mangaone caves
● Morere hot pools
● Transport- from waka to trains
● Navigation- Hawaiki to Aotearoa
● Matariki
● Reti Boards- Mohaka river
● Myths and Legends Waikaremoana
● Energy Tuai power plant and our eel migration.
● Kaitiaki- our river and beaches
● Bees and our Bee industry
● Sustainability
Year 9 Cross Curricular
On Wednesday May 18, 9C and 9K social studies classes went for a walk along the river to reinforce their learning about the history of the awa. The first stop was near the ski/rowing clubs. The students had an historic map and they were to locate old pā sites, the Lockwood Store and Takitimu Marae, by taking photos. The group crossed over the Wairoa Bridge identifying the Ferry Hotel. At Memorial Park the students completed a worksheet to answer questions about Memorial Park, Sir James Carroll, the Flaxmill Wharf and the Freezing Works. The walk continued, with the students identifying the Pihatatonga pā site and then stopping at the ti kōuka tree that marks the birthplace of Sir James Carroll. The students identified various sites on the southern side of the river including the Block House and Court House Jail, the Wairoa Hotel and the Manukanui Pa site. The current cross curricular topic is sustainability and the students were asked to photograph the different native trees and plants along the walkway. At the end of the walk, the students enjoyed their lunch of hot chips and a drink sitting on the riverbank appreciating the beautiful awa. As a follow up, the students will identify the native trees and plants and ascertain why they have been planted along the river bank. Included in their powerpoint the students will research the fish species and other food resources the river once provided and what is still sourced from the river today.
Leaving School During the Day
Students may not leave the school grounds during school hours except by special arrangement – for example, a parent request (verbal or written) for the student to attend a medical appointment. The student must sign out at the office.
Exceptions are:
Lunch passes: Permanent, for students who travel to their own home for lunch each day, and one-off, for students who need to be out of school at lunch time on a particular day. Issuing of this pass is managed by the Office Manager, and requires a note from the student's parent/caregiver.
Year 13 passes: Year 13 students who meet the criteria can be issued a pass to leave the school during lunch times. The pass can be withdrawn if the student abuses this privilege or their attendance doesn't meet 85%.
AT HOME LEARNING DAY
Pink Shirt Day
Laughton Kora
Kiwi music legend Laughton Kora visited Wairoa College on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th May as part of the New Zealand Music Commission’s Mentoring in Schools Programme. A group of 17 Year 10-13 ākonga who take Music as a subject got the opportunity to work with Laughton and learn more about the art of song writing. Over two days, the group spent time learning creative ways to write lyrics, then they structured lyrics into songs, set lyrics to music, recorded instrumental and vocal tracks, and built a fuller sound during recording and mixing stages. At the end of the second day, students were able to listen to the songs they had created and reflect on the entire creative process. Our ākonga should be really proud of the efforts they put into their songs. They worked hard and it has paid off. Students will be able to further refine their song's in class time, practice preforming them and gain NCEA credits in songs writing, performance and technology. Later in the term, students will have the opportunity to video call with Laughton to get feedback on their upcoming song writing projects.
Feedback from students included:
“It was really cool to have the opportunity to work with younger students who I didn’t know at all.
Now I’d consider them a mate, and I’d happily work with them in future”
“I didn’t know I could play any instrument, I just had to try”
“I realised I had a large vocabulary, I just didn’t know how to use it in a creative way”
“I have learned to trust my peers and my teachers a bit more, when they push me in future I will take
it as a challenge”
Services Academy Basic Leaders
On Monday 16 May 2022, Rawiri Haliburton, Lexus McRoberts, Bradley O'Sullivan and Owen Verner represented Wairoa College Services Academy by attending the leadership course held at The Royal New Zealand Airforce Base, Ohakea. A perfect opportunity to reconnect with military staff and other Services Academy students since attending Induction Camp in Term One. The course was held over a five day period under the supervision of the Youth Development Unit (YDU) comprising of Army, Navy and Airforce instructors. The aim was to provide students with the basis from which to develop the confidence and competence to effectively undertake basic leadership roles within the community.
Well done team, always moving forward, never backwards.
Hemi Karauria
Director
Services Academy
Driving License
Karen Hayward
The Intermediate Netball Tournament
Year 10 Netball
Our Year 10 netball team is playing in the Hawkes Bay Secondary Netball competition at Hastings Sport Park on Saturday mornings.
The competition started Saturday 7th May with a grading round. Wairoa College Year 10 ( with 2 x talented Year 9 students) comfortably won their games against Sacred Heart (2-22) and Central Hawkes Bay (7-14).
Montana Kirby was named Player of the Day for her outstanding defence.
The following weekend Wairoa College played Hastings Girls High School once again coming away with a win with the final score 25-18 to our girls. Te Awhina Waihapi-Nia-Nia was Player of the Day.
Last weekend our girls played Napier Girls High School 10B1 and were outstanding. They dominated the mid court game from start to finish and our shooters we consistently on target despite the gusty wind conditions. Half time score was 25-4. Coach Czhaay tried out a few players in different roles during the second half of the game and our team adapted well. Final score 37 - 9 to Wairoa College.
Player of the Day was Carmen Hayes
A huge thank you to coach and driver Morgana Nathan, coach Czhau and to whanau who came to support the team in Hastings.
My Mahi
Luke Kopilovic
Lincoln Peka
Core Values
Caring for each student (Manaakitanga),
Working together (Kotahitanga),
Respect (Whakamana),
and Resilience (Aumangea).
Upcoming Events
- Defensive Driving Course starts on the - 31st May
- Rocket Lab & NASA Visit - 1st June
- At Home Learning Day - 3rd June
- Queen's Birthday - 6th June (school closed)
- East Coast Cross Country - 8th June
- RYDA Road Safely Education for all Year 12 and 13 - 14th June
- Booze Bus Visit - 16th June
- Girls in HI-VIS - 17th June
- Matariki - 24th June (school closed)
- Services 5-day Bush Craft Camp - 27th June
Contact Us
Email: info@wairoacollege.school.nz
Website: https://www.wairoacollege.school.nz/
Location: Wairoa College Lucknow Street, Wairoa 4108, New Zealand
Phone: +64 06 838 8303
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wairoacollege