Spotswood College Newsletter
April 2023 Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Principals Message
Key Things to Note
School Lunches Programme menu for Term 2
Students at the Centre of Learning
Community at the Heart of who we are
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Ka nui te mihi mahana ki a koutou.
As we reach the end of another term, it's important to reflect on the positive values that have guided us throughout the past few months.
Our vision is to connect, strengthen and inspire each other to achieve personal excellence and build a better world for tomorrow. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and we strive to create an environment that encourages and supports this. We have seen countless examples of excellence over the past term, from students who have excelled academically to those who have achieved great things in sports, music, and other areas.
A key value that is important to us is students at the center and the community at the heart. We believe that a strong school community is essential for the wellbeing and success of our students. We encourage our students to get involved in school life, whether through clubs, sports teams, or volunteering opportunities. We are also grateful for the support of our parent and caregiver community, who work with us to create a positive and inclusive learning environment.
Another value that we hold dear is being inclusive and culturally responsive. We believe that every student deserves to feel welcome and supported, regardless of their background, abilities, or interests. We are proud of our diverse student body and the many ways in which our students come together to celebrate their differences and learn from each other.
Finally, we believe in the power of Manaakitanga (care), Whanaungatanga (family), Whakamana (respect), and Pono (authenticity). We encourage our students to treat each other with respect and compassion, and we strive to model these qualities ourselves. We have seen countless acts of kindness over the past term, from students who have helped each other, to those who have reached out to support someone who is struggling.
As we look back on the past term, we are proud of the positive values that have guided us. We look forward to continuing to work together to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all our students.
Finally I would like to acknowledge all of the work Tracy Eru has done for the school over the last 10 years and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Nicola Ngarewa
Principal
Key Things to Note
With colder temperatures around the corner, it is important to note that students are expected to wear the correct uniform, to, from and at school.
Non uniform items will be asked to be handed in until the end of the week, and parents will be contacted where appropriate.
Please ensure your child/children have the correct uniform items required for the autumn/ winter season.
The School Uniform Shop sells sweatshirts, jerseys, jackets and long pants.
The shop hours are 8.30am - 3pm during term time.
Stay Home if Students are Sick. Colds, influenza (the flu) and COVID-19 have similar symptoms and are easily confused with one another. There is a cold circulating at school at the moment. If your child(ren) has/have symptoms and they are feeling sick, please have them stay home and get tested. If the test is positive for COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, they must self-isolate for 7 days while they recover before returning to school.
A reminder to please phone: 067512416 and press 1 to report any student absences.
The Ministry of Education is in the process of refreshing the New Zealand Curriculum and strengthening NCEA. In consultation with NZEI and PPTA, they have allocated Accord Teacher Only Days to support the implementation of changes. There will be a Teacher Only Day on Monday, 1 May 2023 to continue this work.
Follow these links to find out more about the NCEA Change Program and Curriculum Refresh
Parent Teacher Evening
As you are aware, due to strike action our original parent teacher interviews were postponed.
We understand that these are an important connection between home and school and now have the new date and time of Term 2, Week 2 Wednesday May 3 - 2.20-4.20 in the school hall, break out office and rooms.
Note please due to ongoing industrial strike actions from PPTA, we cannot require staff to be on-site beyond 4.30
Staff
Principal
Whaea Nicola email: nng@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Deputy Principal
Mr Daryn Shaw email: dsh@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Senior Leadership
Mrs Hilary Takarangi email: hta@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Senior Leadership
Mr Darren Scott email: dsc@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 12 and 13 Dean
Mr Wayne Cribb email: wcr@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 11 Dean
Mrs Tulah Katene email: tka@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 10 Dean
Mr Cameron Hopkinson email: cho@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 9 Dean
Mr Airana Ngarewa email: ang@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
International Director
Mrs Nicola Healy email: nhe@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
STUDENTS AT THE CENTRE OF LEARNING
Koru Programme
Every student has unique gifts and talents that deserve to be recognised and nurtured. That's why we offer the Koru Programme to support our students in reaching their full potential.
Our Koru Programme is designed to challenge and engage our students, providing them with opportunities to explore their interests and develop their skills in a supportive and stimulating environment. This programme is tailored to the specific needs of our students, and is designed to help them achieve academic excellence, develop leadership skills, and explore their creativity.
We are proud of the achievements of our Koru students, who have excelled in a range of areas and believe that this programme helps to foster a sense of confidence, self-esteem, and motivation among our students, and provide them with valuable skills and experiences that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Some of the activities that are occurring this year as a part of the Koru Programme are trips to Wellington, Lake Rotokare, and Puke Ariki. We also have Guest speakers lined up for Term 2 and 3.
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE
Enviro
It is important to be aware of our impact on the environment and to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Environmental awareness is more important than ever, and we are committed to doing our part to protect our planet for future generations.
There are many ways in which we can all make a difference. We can reduce waste by using reusable water bottles and lunch containers, recycle materials whenever possible, and conserve energy by turning off lights and electronics when not in use. We can also choose to use environmentally-friendly products, such as biodegradable cleaning supplies and recycled paper.
At our school, we are proud to have a number of initiatives in place to promote environmental awareness. We have recycling programs in place for paper, plastics, and other materials, and we encourage our students to take an active role in these programs. We also have a school garden where students can learn about sustainable gardening practices and the importance of local food production.
This year the school has adopted the use of Green Waste bins around the Kura, these bins capture the student food and packaging waste from the school lunches which are sent away to a local wormwarm, diverting 4 wheelie bins per week away from landfill, with the potential to capture much more once the entire school is using the right bins. Given the Government's recent announcement for all businesses to separate out food scraps from general waste by 2030, our initiative is well on the way to meeting this goal.
Students from the Te Waka Manaaki classes are working hard to capture as much paper recycling as possible and recording against the Paper4Trees program, as well as managing the organic bins for contamination and brainstorming ways to make our Kura more sustainable. These students have taken on the role as Waste Warriors and are learning how small things can lead to big changes.
The Enviro Club has been busy the last two weeks spinning the honey collected from the school bee hives, whilst it is sticky business the students learnt the practical side of harvesting honey and just how much work it takes in honey production.
By working together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for ourselves and our planet. Let's continue to raise awareness about the importance of environmental responsibility and take action to protect the environment in our daily lives.
Sports and Culture
Sports play a vital role in the lives of many of our students. We have seen fantastic participation across a wide range of sports teams, with many students representing our school in local and regional competitions. Our students have shown great dedication and commitment, attending training sessions and putting in the hard work to improve their skills. We are proud of their achievements on and off the field, and we are grateful for the support of our coaches and parents in helping our students to reach their full potential.
TSSSA in conjunction with parafed held an athletic and swim event which provided an opportunity for students with additional needs to interact and engage with other schools from our area. We were fortunate enough to have some students from the Te Waka Manaaki class attend these events and are pleased to hear that there are more scheduled events in term 2.
Summer tournament week saw Spotswood College's Volleyball and Waka Ama teams taking part in the nationwide competition.
Our girls and volleyball teams played incredibly well, and our Waka Ama teams paddled with vigor and focus. Well done to them all and especially our Senior Boys Waka Ama team who came second in their division.
Cultural involvement is also an important part of our school community. We have seen fantastic participation in our cultural groups, including music groups, drama groups who competed in the Regional Sheila Winn competition and are busy working on our next school production, The Adam’s Family, and our kapa haka group who are preparing for the regional competitions. Our students have worked hard to develop their talents and put on some amazing performances throughout the term. We are proud of the way they have represented our school in the wider community and the way they have showcased the diversity of our student body.
We would like to thank all our coaches, teachers, and parents for their support of our students throughout the term. We look forward to seeing even more students getting involved in sports and cultural activities in the future.
Career News
MoneyHub has 10+ NCEA resources to help everyone attain merits and excellences - check it out and prepare for upcoming internals and externals with confidence.
https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/resources-for-ncea-students.html
Please make sure your teens are checking, opening and reading their emails. Opportunities are being missed.
Farewell To Our International Students
School Counselling Services
School Counselling Services are available to discuss academic, career, or personal/social support.
To make an appointment
Careers Officer Chell Lusk - clu@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Guidance Counsellors - manaakitanga@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Drop in Public Health Nurse hours - Monday 9.00 am - 2.00 pm.
Keeping Yourself And Your Whanau Safe In Our Digital World: Bullying And Harassment
Digital platforms can be useful tools, but in this time and age, there is a significant risk that social media platforms can be used by students to bully each other or spread rumours about others. We are asking for the support of this community to come together in addressing this.
The Spotswood College’s Responsible Use of Technology Policy is below.
As part of the enrollment process, an agreement is signed by both the student and the caregiver regarding the appropriate use of the school's ICT systems. The school offers a monitored internet connection and a safe environment for the students.
Unfortunately, students’ personal cell phones are not covered by the protections that the system offers. These devices can easily be used to cause harm including the form of unconsented recording or photography.
To prevent this, it is important that as a community we understand the Harmful Digital Communication Act and the impact that this form of bullying and harassment can have on the victims. In this digital age rumours and jokes can have lingering consequences.
The Netsafe organization is the best place to get help either by starting a conversation with your child, seeking advice to help create a safer home internet connection or getting support if you are already suffering from online abuse.
Skool Loop
Spotswood College will be using Skool Loop to send out notices and information to our whānau. This is a free app available on Apple and Android devices. You can also access newsletters, contact the school about absences and find helpful links as well as quick access to Kamar.
Website
Kamar Portal
Attendance
We have a school attendance target of above 90% for every student. To ensure that together we reach this, it is important that if you know your child is going to be absent from school, that you please contact the school by using one of the following options.
Option 1: Telephone the school on 06 751 2416 and speak to the receptionist (Kara) or Attendance Officer (Jenine).
Option 2: Send a text to the Attendance Officer (Jenine) on 021 023 93060
Option 3: send an email to the Attendance Officer (Jenine) - jpr@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Option 4: Use the school app to log attendance.
Option 5: Leave a message on the Attendance hotline by calling the school on 06 751 2416 and press (1) to report a student's absence. Record your child’s name, parents' name, contact details and reason for absence.
Based on our attendance data system we will send an automated text to parents of any students that are absent, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
If for any reason you are concerned about your child’s attendance, you can speak with the Attendance Officer (see contact details above) or she will pass you on to the DEAN or your child’s Learning Advisor.
Student Wellbeing Services
Sick or injured at school
The sickbay is closed for any sick-related issues. If your child is sick, we will contact home and ask for them to be picked up immediately. Students should not arrange this themselves as we need to know where they are at all times.
The sick bay is open to help with injuries.
A public health nurse is available for you and your caregivers if you have any concerns. This could be a rash, not sleeping well, regular headaches, ongoing health issues etc.
Please ask to talk to her privately. Consultations are confidential, offering information and advice. Health resources are available, with a choice of providers for referrals to agencies.
Terms and Holidays 2023
TERM 1
30/01/2023 - 06/04/2023
Friday 7th April = Good Friday
TERM 2
26/04/2023 - 30/06/2023
Monday 24th April = School is closed
Tuesday 25th April = ANZAC Day
Monday 1st May = Staff only Day - NCEA
Monday 5th June = King’s Birthday
TERM 3
17/07/2023 - 22/09/2023
Teachers only Day = Friday 8th September
School exam week Wednesday 13th September - Tuesday 19th September
TERM 4
09/10/2023 - 8/12/2023
Monday 23rd October = Labour Day
Senior Prizegiving Wednesday 1st November
NCEA Exams start Monday 6 November - Thursday 30 November
NCEA Accord Day = Wednesday 22nd November
Upcoming Key Dates
Term 2
Week 1:
24th April - School closed for the day
25th April - ANZAC Day
Week 2:
1st May - Staff only Day (NCEA)
TSSSA Golf Croquet
3rd May- TSSSA Cycling
Week 3:
10th May - TSSSA Netball
Week 4:
16th May - TSSSA Cross Country
18th May - TSSSA Indoor Bowls
Week 5:
24th May - TSSSA Junior Futsal
Week 6:
29th May - TSSSA Skateboarding
1st June - TSSSA Snr 3x3
Week 7:
PRIDE WEEK
5th June - Kings Birthday
6th June - Semester 2 Begins
8th June - TSSSA Jnr 3x3
Week 8:
CAREERS WEEK
12th June- TSSSA Squash
16th June - TSSSA Snr Festival
Week 9:
23rd June - TSSSA Badminton
Week 10:
27th June - TSSSA E-sports
30th June - Whole School Hui