From the Principal’s Desk
Nga mihi nui kia koutou katoa. Welcome to the last newsletter for term two as we finish school for the holiday break.
International Students
This Friday is the last day for our six French students who have been with us for the past term. Thank you to the host families who have looked after our visitors and I am sure as our international students travel back to France, they will have many positive and exciting stories to tell friends and families about Westland High School and the wider Hokitika area.
School Ball
Yes, its ball season, and this Friday the last day of term sees the Annual Westland High School Ball taking place in the school gym. The ball will be preceded by a walk through of our students and partners in the school library, vehicles will enter the school from Hampden Street main entrance, drop off the ball attendees at the library and drive through the school to exit on Brittan Street. Parents and whānau are invited to the library to view the students as they walk through the library. Students have also been reminded if they are under the age of 18 they need to have made arrangements to be collected, from the Gym, after the ball by a responsible adult or have a note from parents to leave the ball if walking home. The ball is alcohol and smoke-free, and students have been reminded of their responsibilities, the local police will also be popping by as part of their regular town patrolling. Thank you in advance to the Ball committee and the parents and students from the Italy trip who are catering for the event.
NCEA (National Certificate Educational Achievement)
The Government has announced a number of changes to the way NCEA is to work in the future. Our school has recently received information from the Ministry of Education in the form of a “Change Package” this document summarises the next step and likely changes. There is a tremendous amount of work that will be required to implement the proposed changes. The proposed changes are.
1. Make NCEA more accessible
2. Mana Orit emo te Matauranga Maori
3. Strengthen literacy and Numeracy requirements
4. Have fewer, larger standards
5. Simplify NCEA’s structure
6. Show clearer pathways to further education and employment
7. Keep NCEA level 1 as an option subject
Further details can be viewed here:
https://conversation.education.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/NCEA-Change-Package-2019-Web.pdf
School Holidays and Next Term
During the school holidays, we have several groups participating in the SISS (South Island Secondary Schools) competitions, we wish our teams well and every success for the variety of teams travelling.
Next term we have students visiting from both Japan and China, these are short stay groups of 20 students who will be with us for eight days. If you have an interest in hosting a student please feel free to contact Jane Brownie our International director.
We will be visited by ERO in week six next term. ERO will be looking at all aspects of the school's operations; teaching, learning, Health and Safety etc. ERO was last at Westland High School in 2017.
Property
Property projects around Westland High School are starting to gear up. Over the next few months, we will start to see the DWC Sports Hub pre-work commencing, along with some preparation work around the gravel car park for the Hall and Administration rebuild. In term three a large proportion of the spouting will be replaced around the school and two derelict classrooms will also be demolished this year. A wing (Junior classes) will also be undergoing an upgrade later in the year subject to finalised drawings and consents being in place. The school is now in the planning stages to ensure there is minimal disruption to the teaching and learning programmes at school with the extensive building work starting soon.
I wish you all a safe school holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday the 22nd of July, refreshed and ready to start a term three.
Noho ora mai koe i roto i ngā manaakitanga katoa.
Iain Murray
Principal
Westland High School