From the Senior Leadership Team

A huge thank you to Tia Winikere, Head Coach of ANZ Premiership team the Mystics, for running a netball training session at school for our girls this morning. Our girls were so fortunate to have had Tia's expertise for the session and they thoroughly enjoyed their time with you. Ngā mihi nui.

Congratulations to all students who completed the Round the Loop race last week and a special well done to Morgan Bull and Denika Clooney for taking out the first place positions in the boys and girls sections respectively. Well done also to all those students who participated in the inter-iwi Mathex competitions that have been running all week. Whātua must have some budding mathematicians in their iwi as they have comfortably taken out the top spot in this event. All the best to our DOE gold group who head off to Taranaki this weekend for their prequalifying tramp.

A reminder that it is illegal to vape at school or on the school buses. We take a very strict approach to students who breach this law, which could result in stand-downs, or suspensions for repeat offenders. Many vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can harm brain development in teenagers, affecting memory, attention, and the ability to learn. Students who vape are putting themselves at risk of lifelong serious health issues, including the long-lasting effect of exposing their developing brains to nicotine. Please ensure that your child is not bringing vaping devices to school. For more information on vaping, please see this link. 

We are reviewing all of our Curriculum and Student Achievement policies this term.  Please click here to access all of our existing school policies. The username is 'otamatea', and the password is 'bickerstaffe'. Your feedback is most welcome.

A reminder that we have senior prizegiving on Friday 3rd November starting 1.30pm here at school. There will be no school for years 7, 8 and 9 on this day. We also have a couple of staff only days later this term - Friday the 24th November and Monday the 4th December. The last day of school this year is Thursday 14th December.

Year 10 camp this year will take place at Kaiiwi Lakes over three days December 11,12 and 13.  Students will be camping in tents and participating in a range of water sports and other activities.  The cost is $100.00 per student. Thank you to those parents that have already expressed an interest.  we are really keen to get as many  parents to be involved as possible  in this fantastic event please email me at adrian.cooling@otamatea.school.nz. Permission slips have been given to students on Friday please read them carefully, sign and return them to school as soon as possible.

Senior students (11-13) who are well on track to passing (or who have already passed) their NCEA, will be granted study leave from the 6th November onwards. Those on study leave will only need to attend school to attend their examinations, or to attend workshops/tutorials organised by their teachers. Those not granted study leave will be expected at school each day from the 6th November, where they will receive customised support to help them achieve the necessary credits for their NCEA. These students may only need to attend school for a few extra days, but may need to attend for several weeks, depending on their progress. From next week, students will start finding out if they have been granted study leave.

Today, senior students received their NZQA examination admission slips.  Students should check these for accuracy and see Mrs Coll if there are any examinations missing from this slip.  Students will not be able to sit their NZQA examination without this slip.  If they were not at the meeting this morning, their whānau teachers will give them their slips next week.

All senior students should have already set up an account with NZQA.  They must be able to log in to NZQA to sit their digital exams. If they cannot log in to NZQA on the day of their exams they may not be able to sit the exam.  They can call NZQA on 0800 697 296 if they need support to set up their NZQA login.  Please note that this is the students responsibility, not the schools.

Year 10 Students are now also required to register with NZQA as many of them will be sitting the co-requisite literacy and numeracy exams in less than two weeks.  Those who sat these examinations earlier in the year will already have logins, those who didn't, need to ensure that this is done asap.  Your english/maths teacher can help you with this but you will need to call NZQA on the above number if you have any issues.

If your child is going to be year 10, 11, 12 and 13 in 2024, they are required to bring a chromebook to school each day.  Soon, you will receive a form to fill out which will let us know if you are able to provide a chromebook for your child each day.  It is important that we have this information so that we can assist families to ensure that our students are prepared each day with a chromebook.