Acting Principal's Notes

Support Staff Week: The 8th - 11th June was Support Staff Week in New Zealand schools and we celebrated our amazing support staff with a teacher catered morning tea on Friday. We have incredible support staff, including our teacher aides, admin team and many others. They are one of the reasons we are such a successful school. They always go the extra mile and put our students first. 

School Social: Congratulations to our year 13 ball committee students for organising the successful social on Thursday night. It is always wonderful seeing our students enjoying themselves in a safe environment. The social helped raise funds that will go towards the school ball in July.

B-Block: I had a site visit to B-block on Friday and I am very pleased with the progress being made, despite some supply issues that we have had. We are on track to having this finished by the start of term 4. With five classrooms, the library and four toilets unavailable, as well as storage and office space, we have been using every spare nook and cranny so far this year to accommodate everyone. I have been very impressed with how our staff and students have simply "got on with it" despite the challenges that many teachers have had having to move from room to room multiple times during the day.

Cross Country: Next Tuesday is our very popular annual cross country event. The full race distance is compulsory for year 7 – 9 students as this is part of the school PE curriculum. If you have a child in years 10 - 13 please encourage them to enter and participate. The start/finish is across the road from the school bus turning bay and you are most welcome to come along and support your child.

Gateway: We have a very successful Gateway programme at school, run by Samara Foster. Gateway allows students to participate in structured work place learning, and provides opportunities for senior students (years 11 to 13) to explore job options while studying towards NCEA. Please contact Samara (samara.foster@otamatea.school.nz) if you think Gateway could be an option for your child.

Uniform: Please remind your child to be in the full, correct uniform each day. This includes wearing the correct socks. Plain black socks with no extras (stripes, logos etc) are the only socks allowed. Please support us by checking your child's uniform before they leave for school in the morning.

Dirk Smyth