Te Pānui o Otamatea

School Notices 10 February, 2023

Calendar of Events
Tuesday 14 February	Year 7 Base testing in the school hall
Wednesday 15 February	Assemblies: Year 9 -13 assembly in the school hall / Year 7 & 8 assembly in the school gym
Thursday 16 February	Year 9 Base testing in the school hall
Wednesday 22 February	Assemblies: Year 9 -13 Iwi assemblies / Year 7 & 8 assembly in the school hall
Thursday 23 February	OHS Athletics Day for Year 9 - 13
Friday 24 February	OHS Athletics Relays Year 9 - 13 (Period 5 - 2.30pm)

View our full School Calendar here

Principal's News

Despite the flooding and road closures, we have enjoyed a settled start to the year at Otamatea High School. Last Wednesday our outstanding year 13s and prefects really impressed staff with their positive attitudes, and they learnt a lot about what the year ahead will look like for them as our student leaders. The following day we had a wonderful powhiri to welcome new staff and students to our kura, and with 180 new students starting this year it was a busy day. We are profiling our new teachers in today's Te Panui and they have all had a productive start to 2023. Please email them directly if you need to get in touch for any reason. All details are on our website. On Friday our year 9s had an exciting day getting to know each other, and getting to know what it means to be in the Otamatea High School waka.

This week we had all 680 students starting for our first full day of the year and it has been great getting out and about greeting students and finding out how they spent their holidays. We can no longer fit everyone in our school hall so Wednesday assemblies are now being held for certain year groups only. This Wednesday I addressed the year 7 to 10 students and went through some of our shared expectations. Please remind your child of the following:

Uniform: This must be worn correctly each day. Shoes, socks and any thermals worn under the school shirt must be black and black only. Students must also wear regulation school shorts and pants (with the school logo). If students do arrive at school in the incorrect uniform they should have a note from home and they are to go to the uniform exchange first thing in the morning.

Cell phones: There is a schoolwide cell phone ban for all year 7 to 10 students. This includes on the buses, before and after school. We are monitoring this carefully and will be contacting parents/caregivers if students are seen with their phones.

ChromeBooks: Well done to the year 10 to 13 students for remembering to bring their Chromebooks to school each day. We do have some loan devices available from the library should students need one.

Yesterday our year 7s and prefects went to the Otamatea Marae for their start of year camp. They will be returning later today. This is a wonderful opportunity for these students to get to know a little more about our area, our local marae, and to engage in some team-building and getting-to-know-each-other-activities. It is also an opportunity for our prefects to develop their leadership skills. There will be a lot of tired children returning home this afternoon.

Thank you for your patience with the new bus routes. This has been necessary with our growing roll. Thank you especially to those on the Glenmohr Road buses who have had to leave very early due to the Brynderwyns being closed. I am pleased that this road has now reopened and I hope the weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday doesn't cause any more issues for us. We will be monitoring this closely.

Dirk Smyth
Principal

School Notices

Parent Portal On Wednesday 1st February, all parents and caregivers were emailed information about using our parent portal. If you did not receive an email, please get in touch with Mrs Cadman at alison.cadman@otamatea.school.nz. Please check your junk/spam email address, as it may have gone there.

You can use the portal to check the daily notices, see students' timetables and attendance, financial information and the contact details we hold for your child.

Otamatea Athletics Year 9 – 13 Sports Day

Thursday 23 rd February. 9 am – 3.30pm

If you would like to support students by assisting with track or field events, please contact Tina Holst – tina.holst@otamatea.school.nz

The sports day is a mufti day for year 9 – 13 students. Students are to wear mufti suitable for competing in and to support their Iwi colour.

Parents are encouraged to attend to support their children. Please sign in at the office first before going to the athletics track down by the swimming pool

Introducing our new staff		Tenā koutou Otamatea whānau. My name is Jordan Stevenson and I am the music teacher for year year 8-13 in 2023. I have lived in the Hibiscus Coast of Auckland for most of my life, also spending some time in Hamilton, but I have recently moved north to the beautiful Mahurangi to start teaching at OHS. I am a beginning teacher in the national schooling system, having completed my studies in music and education in 2020 and 2021 respectively. However, I have experience working with teenagers aged 16-19 in alternative education and have been teaching itinerant music lessons for a number of years. I also work outside of school as composer in the film industry as a way of keeping my perspectives current. As a music teacher, my goal is to inspire students creatively, and to set them up for success for their future endeavors in music. I look forward to meeting the whānau of these awesome tamariki. Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou
Kia Ora. My name is Adrian Cooling. I'm excited to be joining Otamatea High School as a Deputy Principal with responsibility for Pastoral Care. I started teaching 16 years ago and have taught in several different areas including south Auckland, the Cook Islands and most recently Taipa Area School in the Far North. My specialist teaching subjects are Materials technology, Design and Visual Communication, Trades and Adventure Tourism. I’m married with three Children at home who are 12, 14, and 16 Outside of school I love spending time with my family in the outdoors, surfing, sailing, cycling, fishing, camping. When the weathers not good I can be found in my shed designing and building all sorts of projects.

Gidday, my name is Will Burnell. I am originally from further down the North Island but moved to Waipu 18 months ago to be closer to family. Most recently I have been dairy farming locally but have made the decision to return to teaching this year. Prior to farming I have taught science, maths, physics, agriculture, and sustainability at high schools in Northland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty. My passion in education is helping students achieve their potential and preparing them for life in the big wide world. I'm excited to be joining the Otamatea High School community and looking forward to a great 2023.		Kia ora, My name is Jessica Whitehead and I have joined the Otamatea High School team as the new Learning Support Coordinator. Having enjoyed time at many of the schools in our area as both a student and a teacher over the years, it is great to continue the connections I have made by joining the school community this year, as well as meeting new learners and their whanau along the way. Outside of work I enjoy gardening, reading, trips to the beach and yoga. I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning for 2023.

Abbey Barnes-Wright I'm a new English teacher here at Otamatea High School. This is my first year teaching in a school. I'm from Tomarata, where I have lived for many years. I went to Rodney College before attending university in Hamilton. I am a proud cat mum to my fur baby Domino. I have a passion for film, TV, and books and look forward to sharing it with my students. I am excited to join the Otamatea whānau and wider community.		Rebecca Bishop Kia ora. I am looking forward to teaching English this year and working as guidance counsellor at OHS. I have lived locally for just over a year after moving from Auckland. I enjoy making the most of being outdoors and going to the beach. In my spare time I like being with my family, my dogs and doing one of my many hobbies.

Kia ora, I am Anna Alison, the new ORS Specialist and Food Technology Teacher. It is a privilege to be joining the team here and I am excited to have the amazing opportunity to inspire and support the rangatahi at Otamatea. I have been a teacher for the past 17 years, in both the primary and secondary sector from Kaitaia to Auckland. I live over the hill in Ruakaka with my husband and 2 children where we all enjoy the outdoors, especially getting out on the water.		Kia ora, I'm Aaron Haines, one of the new science teachers. I will be teaching junior science and senior physics here at Otamatea High School. I have been teaching maths and physics in Whangārei for the past three years. I grew up in Paparoa and came here as a student. This is a rare opportunity, coming full circle, and I am excited to be back. Ngā mihi nui.

Kia ora Koutou I am Stephanie Hutchinson. I am a mum to three children. I enjoy sports,music and reading. I am looking forward to being a part of the Otamatea High School community and getting to know you all. I am a qualified Counsellor and will be working on a Tuesday and Friday. Please feel free to contact me		Kia ora, my name is Hollie Sweetman and I am the new social studies and history teacher at Otamatea High School. I am really excited to be a part of the school and local community. I have recently moved to Kaiwaka with my whanau from Tamaki Makaurau and have 10 years teaching experience. Supporting rangatahi to thrive is what drives my teaching, as well as helping them understand the complex nature of society.
	Tēnā koutou Ko Katrina tōku ingoa, Ko Whaea Whetū te karanga. I am excited and honoured to be working with your children and you all this school year. He uri ahau nō Ngati Apa Nga Wairiki, Ngāti Kahungungu. I have perviously been working in Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa. I am trained in Maori Visual Arts. I have a passion for te Ao Māori and will be teaching year 7 & 8 students Te Reo Māori. My philosophy in teaching encompasses the collaboration with teachers, whānau and the wider community to promote a sense of belonging and support. Nā Whaea Whetū