From the Principal's Desk

 

Welcome to Term 3, 2010. I am pleased to report that the results of the mid-year examinations showed that many of our students are achieving at a very high level. This is also reflected in our 2009 NCEA results where the school achieved above the Decile 6 National Standards in Level 1, 2, and 3. The number of Merits and Excellences earned by our students in external examinations was also high.


Our sports teams whave been performing to a high standard as have our individual athletes. Two boys, Whakamaharatanga Dunn-Ratima and Terry Baldwin have been selected for the Roller Mills Rugby team while Simone and Lachlan Sidwell finished in the top 10 of the New Zealand Secondary School Motocross Championships.

The upgrade of school facilities is ongoing with classrooms being re-furbished and more data projectors available in classrooms. Staff are busy 'getting to grips' with KnowledgeNet which will be 'rolled out' to parents in Week 3 of this term. KnowledgeNet will enable parents and students to keep up-to-date with work being covered in class and when classwork and assessments are due.

Senior staff and the Senior Management Team are currently working through how subject pathways will look for 2011 and if any new options will be included. Ten staff will be undergoing Professional Development to enable them to carry out Academic Counselling for our Year 12 students on Monday 6th September.

Mrs Olsson and I will be visiting Waipu Primary School and Mangawhai Beach School on Thursday 12th August to talk about enrolment options for 2011. Parents of students who are 'out-of-zone' must enrol before September 1st, 2010. Please contact Mrs Jill Olsson on 0800 682 628 if you are unsure of this process. I would like to invite all prospective parents and their children to our 'Open Day' on Friday 27th August from 11.00am until 12.30pm. Buses will be provided for Mangawhai, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto and Paparoa students and their parents. It would be great to see you there.

Finally, if you have any queries about Otamatea High School or the programmes that we offer then contact us on 0800 682 628 or ohs@otamatea.school.nz.

Regards

Haydn Hutching