Taihape Area School Monday 3rd November, 2014 Term 4 – Newsletter Number 4 Phone 06 3880130 Email [email protected][email protected]Website http://tas.spikeatschool.co.nz “Leading me to lead my Learning” Tena koutou katoa Welcome to another very busy week. For the next few weeks, the School will never really close, with students turning up at all hours to receive tutoring, complete assignments, or complete assessments. The weekends are particularly busy as people work hard to prepare for their external examinations, and ensure that all end of year requirements are met. For teachers we have entered without doubt their most busy period of the year. As well as maintaining on-going programmes, and completing the usual end of year tasks such as report writing, we are also in review and planning mode. As a staff, and individually, we have begun reviewing our performance, and the performance of the school, through-out the year. When the review process is complete, planning for 2013 will be stepped up to ensure that next year we are able to continue to move forward. This planning process involves setting priorities and preparing a school budget, which is a major task. Our sole focus is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in our school – that is, add value to what we do. To this end we will do everything possible to maintain momentum, and to ensure that our school is a progressive and dynamic place. In any school change is great for everyone, as long as it has relevance, is planned, and has a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning. The BOT is also reviewing its operation, and the operation of the School. If you have any ideas for improving life here at Taihape Area School, please contact the School, or a BOT Member. We would appreciate any feedback or suggestions. The School Charter provides the foundation for our operation. Our Charter is currently under review. Each year an Annual Plan, based on the goals of the Charter and Strategic Plan and the data collected from school reviews, is developed each year. Copies of these documents are available from school – they are displayed in the foyer. The start of November, and we enter the business end of another year. For our senior students the next few weeks are extremely busy as they begin their examinations. External examinations for our Students begin next week (10 th
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Our sole focus is to improve the quality of Taihape Area ... 4 Week...Our sole focus is to improve the quality of Taihape Area School Monday 3rd November, 2014 momentum, and Term 4
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Our sincere thanks to all the students and whanau who attended the Year 9 Learning
Conferences and the Year 10 -12’s that came in on the 16th October to select possible
courses for 2015. The staff thought it was a great day. If a student who will be in Year 11-13
next year has not selected a possible course for next year please ensure that you make
contact with the Dean to do so.
Again many thanks for a great day.
Year 11 – 13 Course Completion and Study Leave
All Year 11 to 13 courses finish on Friday 7th of November in preparation for students who are sitting external exams which begin on Monday 10th November. A timetable has been sent home along with a student admission slip that is needed for each exam.
Students will not be required to attend school from Monday 10th but should they wish to they may come to school, for revision classes and to re-sit or finish internal assessments, this is by appointment and negotiation with their teachers who will continue to be available to assist them (during what would have been normal class blocks) until the 26th November.
Students can come in mufti and will be required to sign in and out at the office as part of the usual health and safety procedures. School rules regarding food and energy drinks will still apply.
Students who are not engaged in learning will be asked to leave as the remainder of the school is still involved in learning and do not need distractions.
Year 11 -13 students are expected to attend for Top Town on Wednesday 3rdh December and
for Prize Giving (in full school uniform) on Friday 5th December at 1pm.
Leavers Forms
All students who intend leaving at the end of the year need to complete a ‘Leavers Form’.
This needs to be signed by all teachers. Please see Whaea Janice for a form.
Classes remain the same for Year 9-10 students until Friday 5th December – the last day of
school for the year. End of year reports will be sent out before 12 December.
Best wishes to all students sitting externals – study hard and do the very best you can. Kia
kaha.
TAS 2014 SPORTS EVENING
In recognition of our valued coaches, managers and volunteers, who generously give up
countless hours to not only coach but support, encourage, motivate and provide
opportunities for our sporting teams and athletes.
WHEN: 7th November 6.00pm – 7.30pm
WHERE: Multifunction Centre – TAS
BILLY GRAHAM
Currently New Zealand’s Number 1 platform speaker. Enthusiastic, Bold, Passionate and
Energetic.
4x former New Zealand and Australasian Welterweight Boxing Champion.
Billy is an exceptional speaker with a proven track record, speaking internationally and
nationally, inspiring corporate groups, schools and sports teams including the All Blacks and
State of Origin teams.
Billy’s stories reinforce that anyone can do anything if they set their sights high and get on
with it, stressing the importance of combining a healthy body with a healthy attitude and
making the best of every opportunity.
Taihape Area School has this fantastic opportunity to have Billy Graham attend
and speak at our 2014 Sports Evening.
Being from a rural community it is not often that the opportunity arises to be inspired by
such a great man, so TAS would like to extend this invitation out to the community and
encourage them to come and be a part of what intends to be a great evening.
If you would like to come along there will be a small door charge of $5 to go towards the
cost of the evening.
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Term Four November
Wednesday 5th Scholastic Book Club Issue 7 Closes
Friday 7th Country 7’s
Celebration Assembly
Year 11 – 13 Courses End
Sports Evening
Monday 10th NCEA Exams Begin
Tuesday 18th – Friday 21
st Year 9 Camp- Whakatane
Thursday 20th – Friday 21
st Room 1 Zoo Trip
Friday 28th Year 7 & 8 Softball Tournament
December
Tuesday 2nd
NCEA Exams End
Wednesday 3rd
Top Town
Friday 5th Prize Giving
End of School Year
External Exams If students do not attend the external exams then on the official ‘Record of Learning’ that
employers want to see, students will have an absent against that exam which does not look
promising for an employer who is looking for academic success and reliability. If they attend
and do not write in the book they get a not attempted therefore it is imperative that all
students are studying now and do attend the exams.
Although many students have either their 80 credits or are close to it, several sitting
externals do not have the pre- requisite number of credits needed to enter next year’s
courses – another reason why sitting and passing the external exams is important. All of
this will help set up students for their future learning pathways.