2019 student leaders announced - Stratford High School

Stratford High School: http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz Vol19 Issue 1

Stratford High School

February 2019

2019 STUDENT LEADERS ANNOUNCEDThe 2019 student leaders were announced at a special assembly on Friday.Head Boy, Sam Witeri and Head Girl Ashleigh Stanners will lead this team in school actitvities this year. The team is made up of Sports Captains Lauree Collins and Brendon Coupe, BOT Representative Boston Taylor, Arts Captain Bradley Cave, Kaitataki Reign Weston, and Student Council Chair Lani Pitcher. They will be joined by the house captains who are being voted on this week.

Stratford HigH ScHool: http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/Home Page 2

Greetings to you and your family. Ngā mihi ō te wā ki a koe me tō whanau.

Special greetings of the new year to you all, the families of our school. I extend a special welcome to those families who are having their first association with Stratford High School. I encourage you to keep open lines of communication with the school and contact us

directly if you have any concerns. We are sure you will enjoy your association with our school. Our newsletters are available at the beginning of each month. They are emailed to parents/caregivers, available on the school website http://stratfordhigh.ultranet.school.nz/WebSpace/358/. The start of the year has been very hectic but enjoyable and I would like to thank the staff for all their work in ensuring a smooth start to the year. It was very pleasing to see the large number of parents and whanau who attended our year 9 Powhiri. Your sons and daughters are entering an exciting and challenging time in their education journey and you can be assured that we have quality people here who will assist them to accelerate their learning and provide a range of other opportunities. The afternoon saw the year 9 and 13 students involved in tabloid sports. It was a time of great hilarity and allowed students to participate and the year 13’s to put into practice the leaderships skills they learned at camp. Our roll is around 510 with a number of new enrolments still to come. Along with new students to our school, we also welcome Mrs Ralph (Deputy Principal), Mrs Kern (Mathematics), Mrs Baird (English) and Mrs Herewini-Davis (HOD Te Rangimārie). Mrs Dent will be starting on 4 March to replace Mr Franklyn who is on leave for the remainder of 2019. Mr Graham is with us this term teaching Miss Lang’s mathematics and social studies classes. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those students who sat NCEA in 2018 for the results they achieved. I wish all the best to those going on to further education or employment. At the present time results are provisional. There were a number of students who gained merit and excellence endorsements and we will celebrate their achievement in assembly along with those who gained a course endorsement. Thursday is athletic sports and I encourage all students to have a go. There are many events for both competitors and non-competitors. Parents and whanau are invited to attend as well. There will be a mufti day raising funds for Jessica Caldwell and the Stroke Foundation. A reminder that a barbecue will also be operating for food. At the first full school assembly I spoke of three key messages: 1. Start as you plan to continue, 2. Set high standards, 3. Protect your place here. Every student at Stratford High School can achieve; this means being the best you can be. Make the most of the potential you have been given. This is attainable for all students. It is important to start Term 1 well, as during this term you will lay the foundations for success for the rest of the year. One of the most powerful influences on how well a student does at school is the student themselves. Students need to have a ‘can-do’ and ‘give it everything’ attitude if they

are to reach their potential. My expectations of every student are simple and I expect every student to:• Make learning their priority• Come to school each day prepared for learning• Take responsibility for themselves and their behaviour• Wear their uniform correctly and with pride• Look after the school property and learning environment• Respect themselves, other students and staff• Work hard to reach their potential The key to our continued success as a school is the partnership between school and home. If we work together and support each other, our young people get a huge advantage. Please stay in touch with what is happening at school and do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything you want to discuss. Together we can ensure that students fortunate enough to attend Stratford High School continue to receive the best possible education. Finally, I hope that the return to school has been a positive experience and that all students are looking to seize the opportunities that the school has on offer in academic, cultural and sporting pursuits, as well as in service to the school and its community. No reira tena koutou katoa.Philip Keenan, Principal

WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTSARE YOU NEW TO SCHOOL?Are you a parent of a year 9 student?Welcome and warm greetings. Settling into a new school takes time and can be a bit daunting at first. However, we have a number of supportive initiatives in place to ensure that our students have a good day at school learning.Some tips for new parents to our school:1. Ask your teenager how their day at school has gone. Ask

about their year 13 buddy and what activities they have taken part in together.

2. Ensure that your teenager has eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night so they are ready for their next day at school.

3. If they are anxious, if they become quiet or seem not to be making friends, let me know as I can be of help.

PEER SUPPORTAll year 9 students have a peer support person from year 13. They will meet regularly with this person in a group situation. Together they follow a programme to introduce them to a new school, to support them as they make new friends and a listening ear to ensure that they know what the expectations are at Stratford High School. The peer supporter is there as a friend to encourage, motivate and care.

DEANSEach year level has two deans/staff who work alongside them. They are: Peta Apperley and Bill McGeoch (year 9), Melanie Visser (year 10), Jocelyn Baldwin and Richard Armond (year 11), Riejanne Campbell and Dan Kerr (year 12) and Wendy Walker and Jeff Walker (year 13). If you have any concerns, please contact them. They are always happy to help.

From the PrinciPal’s Desk

arounD the school:

Stratford High School: http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/Home Page 3

TE RANGIMARIE SUPER STARTThe students in Te Rangimārie have had a seamless start to their school year thanks to the professionalism and efficiency of the staff. There are three classroom spaces that make up Te Rangimārie. A very big welcome to our two new year 9 students, Renee Eagar and Manny Munroe, and to our new head of department Mrs Tracey Herewini-Davis (Whaea Tracey). Currently we have a roll of 17 students and we look forward to an exciting year full of great learning.

USEAGE OF THE SCHOOL POOLI would like to mention a concern that we as a school have which involves our school pool. A number of students and friends are climbing the fence outside of school hours to have a swim. This is particularly dangerous and under new Health and Safety rules could mean that the school will need to close the pool. Not only are these people trespassing on school property, some of the groups are damaging the outside of the changing rooms.

Bonjour et Bienvenue from the French Department. Our students are working hard to fundraise for our French exchange to New Caledonia. Please continue to support us. We are currently selling tickets to the New Plymouth Repertory production of The Vicar of Dibley, a stage show based on the popular TV show. It’s a great evening out with lots of laughs and a complementary cuppa and biscuits at intermission. To purchase a ticket for Saturday 27th April, or for more information, contact Rebecca Leafberg (extn 737) or email [email protected]. You can also buy them directly from our French students who are fundraising. Tickets $20 each.Please save the date for our awesome evening of guest speakers, food, drink, auctions and spot prizes. It’s Friday 29th March. Tickets on sale soon for this awesome event: Dream – Believe – Goal – Achieve. Merci à tous et à bientôt!Rebecca Leafberg, TIC French

Uniform DonationIf you have unwanted items of uniform that you would like to donate to the school, we would be delighted to have them. These can be left at the student office.

YEAR 13 LEADERSHIP CAMPIt was our privilege to take a motivated group of Year 13 students to camp for two days. Their main focus was looking at student leadership in our school and what differences they as year 13’s can make. The Year 13’s spent time on goal setting and what impact they can make in their individual form classes. At no stage did they complain about some of the physical challenges they undertook; ranging from blind and silent building activities to the mighty mud run challenge. What a fantastic year group and we are looking forward to a positive year ahead. See the dinner dressup photos on the front page.Jeff and Wendy Walker, Y13 Deans

CLASS AND FORM PHOTOSClass and form photos were taken on 11 February. Students and caregivers will have the opportunity to purchase these photos once they have been processed. Further information and order forms for these will be available from the school next month. Watch the daily notices and Facebook pages.

EXPECTATIONS OF JUNIOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES* To take an active part in all lessons and therefore become

physically educated.* When someone is talking to the class, everyone is

listening.* On the sound of the whistle – stop, look and listen.* Students are required to wear correct PE gear. This

includes black shorts and a Stratford High School PE shirt (appropriate shoes are optional). If for some reason this gear is not available students are required to bring a note (from a parent or guardian) explaining the reason for the incorrect gear. In this case it is important that students bring alternative gear, so they can still take part.

* It is our philosophy that if a student is too sick to do physical education then they are too sick to be at school. If students are unable to participate due to injury a note is required from a parent or a guardian. After a student is unable to participate for three consecutive lessons a Doctor’s Certificate is required.

* It is expected that on swimming day’s students bring both swimming togs and PE gear, as the weather dictates what we do.

Denise Kay, HOD Physical Education

COUNSELLORI am the school counsellor at our school. I meet with students and parents to support them during times when there may be concerns or problems. I am here to help and support your child to have a really good day at school. Counselling is always confidential. We value your support and involvement in your child’s learning. My role as counsellor is to support both you and your teenager; to ensure our students have a great day at school learning. I can be contacted on 06 7656039 ext 722.Janice Vermeulen, Counsellor.

RELAY FOR LIFE 2019On Saturday the 30th March Stratford High School will be participating in the inspiring community event Relay For Life. This year marks the first year at the exciting new venue – TET Stadium in Inglewood. Students eager to sign up for the event will need to attend meetings at school within the next few weeks. Relay for life is for all ages and fitness levels. Team members take turns relay-style walking/running/skipping around a track for 12 hours while enjoying a carnival atmosphere of music, entertainment and fantastic community spirit.

This year we have set ourselves the challenge of becoming a Dream Team raising more money than ever. We welcome family/whanau, community organisations, local business and corporate groups to get behind our school team and donate. All funds raised will be used to support the work Cancer Society of NZ does with cancer patients and their family/whanau in the Taranaki region.

We are very proud of our continued Relay For Life involvement and look forward to our students participating once again in the 2019 event.

CYBERSAFETYWe have found some advice to parents on how to support and monitor their child’s use of social media and digital technology, especially over the holiday break when many children are at home.1. Become your child’s “friend” in any social network environment.2. Maintain easy access to your child’s profile via their log in.3. Ensure that you can always have access to your child’s phone to help them stay safe…check the quality of how they are communicating with others; talk about how they connect and communicate with friends. Is it consistent with the values of your family?4. Educate your children about the importance of protecting family and friends’ images.5. Try to always maintain open lines of communication with children. Do not over-react if you see something that alarms you or makes you angry…share your concerns, and always talk about the issues and how they relate to them and their friend’s safety. 6. Agree on a time in the evening to stop using the technology within the home…that’s everyone. Remember, what we model today will either come back and embrace us or bite us tomorrow 7. Talk/ask about their friends and social activity to reduce the opportunity for cyber-separation to develop… encourage to

be open about new friends and what they are up to, and who their parents are. When in doubt, call the parents and introduce yourself. 8. Teach your children to protect their online identity, to future proof themselves for employment… we need to nurture and protect them online and teach them how to protect themselves as they engage information technology.

BYOD AT SHSAlthough it is not compulsory in the junior school to have a device, it is very helpful during some lessons. Taking care of and using a device in the junior school will also help develop and prepare students for assessment work in the senior school.

Appropriate devices:The school runs a Microsoft system so Windows devices are preferred. Netbooks, laptops or tablets with a keyboard attachment are the most suitable devices with a minimum screen size of 8inches. If you have a device that you have been using at Primary School please don’t hesitate to get in touch to see if it is suitable. For up to date offers about purchasing a device please like our facebbook page ‘SHSTaranaki’ as we will post special deals from local suppliers who also offer payment deals such as interest free and deferred payments.

Absence ProceduresAbsences from school have been proven to have a major impact on student learning and achievement. The process for all students ( Year 9-14 ) is as follows:Parents/Caregivers ring in to the school in the morning letting us know that a student will not be at school.On their return to school, the student must bring a signed note from the parent/caregiver identifying the period of absence and clearly stating the reason for it.On the morning of their return, the student will collect an “ Explanation of Absence Slip “ form from either the student office, their form teacher or their first period teacher to which the note will be stapled. The student is then required to show this to their class teachers and get the teachers signatures. On completion of this, the slip is then given to the form teacher.For NCEA students, this process is very important, especially for absences during assessments ( see the section on this in the NCEA Handbook). If students are away for three or more days for medical reasons during an assessment, a medical certificate is required.Students with known absences ahead of time ( eg going on family holiday, national swimming champs ) are required to bring a letter addressed to the Principal two weeks beforehand requesting leave.Your full support with our system will be much appreciated.

Stratford HigH ScHool: http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/Home Page 5

nZQa & ncea newsNCEA NEWSThis year the role of Principal’s Nominee (for NZQA matters) is Mr Wayne Smith. Please contact me with any queries regarding NCEA/NZQA matters either by email ([email protected]) or by phone (7656039 extn 706). Congratulations to all the students who had a successful year in 2018 in gaining NCEA, University Entrance and course endorsements. We will be celebrating their academic success in assembly in the weeks ahead.* “NCEA – A Handbook for Parents and Students” will be

issued to all Year 11, 12, 13 and 14 students next week. The students will have to sign on receipt of their booklet and the expectation is that they are taken home to parents/caregivers. The booklet describes the key features of NCEA, includes a timeline of key events and outlines the policies and procedures practised at Stratford High School. You and your students are advised to read through this booklet so that you are familiar with our requirements and expectations (especially regarding attendance). Keep it in a safe place for reference in case any issues arise.

* Several classes are beginning or moving towards internal assessment activities and it is important to impress upon your sons and daughters the need to be present before and during assessment, to attempt every part of the assessment, to complete them on time and to do the best that they can. If they are offered resubmissions they need to turn up at the times allocated by their teacher.

* There are a number of students involved in Distance Learning programmes this year – STAR, Correspondence School, Trades Academy, 3+2. Credits from their courses contribute to their NCEA results. This learning is self-directed and the students involved must remain committed to completing their units of work on time to gain the credits available. The students have time and a room allocated at school to do this work but some time should be allocated for homework as well.

* Students will have received their 2018 exam papers back from NZQA. A reminder that the opportunity for a review or a reconsideration of any results closes on Tuesday 26th February. If students are having concerns or queries they should bring their papers in and ask their teachers for their opinions.

NCEA Information evenings for Parents will be held in our school library at 7.00pm on Wednesday 13th February and at 7.00pm on Tuesday 19th February at Eltham Primary School.Wayne Smith, Principal’s Nominee, Deputy Principal

TABLOID SPORTSLast Thursday we held our Tabloid Sports day for our year 13 and new year 9 students. Tyrer won the House Points competiton and the top individual form classes were Miss MacDonald’s and Mr Daysh’s. It was a great day for the year 9’s to get to know their senior peers and form teachers and a fun way to start off the year.Get ready for our school athletics and swimming days coming up this month, all entries receive a participation point for their house!SHS Athletics Thursday 14 FebSHS Swimming Thursday 28 Feb

TSSSATerm One is a busy one with numerous TSSSA events coming up. Sign up outside the sports office in T Block and watch for notices each day.Sunday 17 Feb Beach VolleyballThursday 21 Feb TennisTuesday 26 Feb Senior TouchThursday 28 Feb Lawn BowlsSunday 3 March Mountain BikingMonday 4 March Golf Croquet (South Taranaki)Thursday 14 March AthleticsMonday 18 March OrienteeringTuesday 19 March Girls and Snr Boys Rugby LeagueFriday 22 March DressageFriday 29 March TriathlonWednesday 3 April RogaineTuesday 9 April Golf (competitive)

PLUSSunday 14 April Naki Run A Muck. (This is not a TSSSA event but we can enter in the secondary schools section)Philippa Merson, Sports Coordinator

PE SHIRTSIf any year 10 or senior student would like to donate their old coloured pe shirt to the school, it would be appreciated. All students will be wearing the new shirt from this year. Please leave with your name in the student office.Denise Kay, HOD PE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWSCongratulations to the new student leadership team. The board members enjoy working with our student representative and look forward to this relationship continuing. 2019 is the year for BOT Elections and we would like to ask any members of our school community if they would be willing to stand for the next term 2019 - 2022. Mrs Ina Vincent has been elected as the new board chair for the remainder of this term. All parents and caregivers are eligible to vote and this information will be sent out later this term/early next term.

NEW BELL TIMESFrom WEDNESDAY 6 MARCH staff professional development will take place every Wednesday. Students will go directly to their period one class at 9.00am on this day and they will have form class or assembly later in the day.The new bell times are as followsMONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY FORM CLASS 8.45 – 9.00 WED: STAFF PROF DEV

FRI: Form class8.15 – 9.008.45 - 9.00

Period 1 9.00 – 10.00 Period 1 9.00 – 9.55Period 2 10.00 – 11.00 Period 2 9.55 - 10.50INTERVAL 11-00 – 11.30 INTERVAL 10.50 - 11-20Period 3 11.30 – 12.30 Period 3 11.20 - 12.15Period 4 12.30 – 1.30 Period 4 12.15 – 1.10LUNCH BREAK 1.30 – 2.15 LUNCH BREAK

ASSEMBLY1.10 – 1.451.45 - 2.20

Period 5 2.15 – 3.15 Period 5 2.20 – 3.15

Stratford High School: http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/Home Page 6

MUFTI DAY TO SUPPORT JESSICA CALDWELLStratford High School is looking to support Jessica’s efforts in raising money for the Stroke Foundation by having a mufti day.When: Thursday 14th February – Athletics Day.Cost: $2 (or if you wish to donate more you are most welcome). Students are to bring their money to form class at the beginning of the day. If you can remember to wear mufti please also remember to bring your $2.Wear your house colours with pride to honour Keith “Pinky” Caldwell.

Photo supplied by the Stratford Press

EDGE PARENT PORTALOur caregiver/parent portal is now available on MUSAC EDGE. The parent portal enables authorised caregivers to see core information about their child including up-to-date attendance, school reports, NCEA summary timetables etc. Later in the year there will be the facility to make online payments for school donations and other charges.

Access the MUSAC EDGE parent portal from this link https://parent.musac.school.nz or download the MUSAC Edge App or click the parent portal link on our website. Use the email address the school has on file for you. Set or reset your MUSAC EDGE password via “forgot password?” If we do not have your email address or if you wish to update your email address, please contact the school to update your details.All students should be making use of the EDGE App as this has their timetable on it.Karla Ralph, Deputy Principal

INVOICESAll students will be receiving an invoice for their subject costs for the start of the year. Please check your invoices that you have been charged for the correct subjects. You will need to advise Mrs Terry of any changes.If you have an automatic payment you can ring or email Mrs Terry ([email protected]) and ask that the amount is taken from your account. It is not too late to start an automatic payment and if you do we advise that $15 per week is a suitable amount for a single student especially if they are intending to participate in extra curricular activities.Invoices can be paid at the student office where EFTPOS is available to parents and students. Students will be given a receipt at the time of payment so that they can advise the subject teacher the item has been paid.Internet banking is available. The school account is 15-3947-0328379-00. Please use the student name as the reference.Mrs Terry, Executive Officer

TOMORROW’S SCHOOLS REVIEWHear more about the future of our schooling system from the Independent Taskforce and share your views.This meeting will be held at the New Plymouth Boys High School on Thursday 14 February from 7 to 9 pm. You can also submit feedback via Conversation.education.govt.nz/tsr or leave an oral submission at 0800 FOR TSR (367 877) #EdConvo #TomorrowsSchools #TSR