Te Karere
Edgecumbe College Newsletter, 7 April
From the Principal
Kia ora Koutou as the first term of 2022 draws to a close!
We were hoping for a settled start to the year after the lockdowns and Covid of 2021. However as you know, no such luck.
It has been a difficult term for the whole community as Covid has gone through almost everyone’s whanau and most of our tauira (students). At one stage only one third of our students were able to attend. Fortunately our teachers and support staff haven’t been hit too badly and we have not had to roster year levels home. Of course we are not out the other side yet but we do feel that things are improving.
Attendance is back up, around 79% at the time of writing and increasing, and classes are returning to normal. Students need to ensure that they attend regularly from now on to make up for lost time. Masks are still required to be worn inside, but restrictions are slowly being removed.
All of us here from the school wish our students a good Easter break, a chance to recharge and come back to us healthy and well.
All the best to all of our whanau, and thank you again for your support of our school.
Mike
Waka Ama!
Waka Ama has now started for our students and it is great to see them out on the water. The practices will take place on Monday afternoons, and a huge thank you to Mikaere Johnson, Hakahaka Hona, Ivan Hindmarsh for coaching, supporting and making this all happen. Students will need a signed permission slip to take part, and be aware of the class they miss on a Monday afternoon. If you see them on the river, give them a wave!
Property Update
The new classroom fit-outs are looking amazing, and we are just waiting for final clean up before we can move in the Science labs. The team at Williamsons are doing their best work for our students and a huge thank you to them, they are going the extra mile, particularly to Jamie our site foreman.
The team will move onto D block over the Easter holidays.
New Resources!
The $23,000 of new science equipment has finally arrived, and it comprises of Hominid skulls for senior Biology, a plastic human and chimpanzee skeleton and various plant and animal corss sections. They will be invaluable assets for the teaching and learning of science. We continue to apply for funding for equipment for teaching and learning in the classroom. Thank you again Lion Foundation.
Instrument Music Tutors
We are very short of people to give our students practical music lessons, so this is a plea, please for volunteer insturment teachers – guitar, piano, drums especially vocal coach, anyone interested in starting a school choir and or band we would dearly love to hear from you. Please just get in touch with the office and we will get back to you.
Easter Raffle
Our 2022 Ball Committee are running an Easter raffle to fundraise for this year's Ball. Tickets can be purchased for $5 from the Prefects. The raffle will be drawn under supervision at school Thursday 14th April.
A huge thank-you to the businesses which supported us with vouchers and products: FONTERRA
NIKO SUSHI
NICKZAUTOS
GORRIES
THE WAREHOUSE
and thank you so much to Rangitaiki Home Kills for your donation towards the actual night.
Covid Update
Remember please: if you have a student who is unwell they should stay home. If there is a Whanau / family / household member who has tested positive then everyone in the home needs to isolate for 7 days and test negative before coming back to school.
Hopefully we are over the worst of it and can move on and forward now!
Our school app
Our app can be downloaded from the app store (School Apps NZ). Once you have downloaded this, enter in 'Edgecumbe College'.
Its very easy to use and free. You can fill in an absentee form, see previous notices and newsletters, go straight to Kamar to access your student's records, see our school calendar, and receive emergency notifications if necessary.
Upcoming Events
7 Apr - 10OED Rock Climbing
8 April - Volunteer Day
8 April - Official Pool opening
13 April - Tourism trip
14 April - non-uniform day, Easter themed
14 April - end of Term 1
2 May - first day of Term 2
Edgecumbe College 60th Centenary Celebrations
We've postponed the celebrations but if you know any Edgecumbe College alumni - previous students, staff and board - tell them to come and join us on Facebook! We're reconnecting, sharing memories and photos and making travel plans for next years celebrations!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2453475114946764
You can find our school policies here:
The Edgecumbe College Board is currently reviewing their health and safety and emergency policies. Your input can be submitted on the SchoolDocs site.
Edgecumbe College Careers
Did you know we have a specialised FB page dedicated to Career Pathways? Go find and like our page! It’s called Edgecumbe College Careers. This page is regularly updated with a host of information about where to seek job vacancies, apprenticeships, preparing for jobs, careers events, Open Days, scholarship and grant applications, and heaps of photos celebrating our wonderful students. Nau mai, Haere mai.
