From the Senior Leadership Team

We had a very successful Open Day at school on Thursday. Each year we open our doors to students who are looking to attend Otamatea High School the following year, and we do this while regular classes are running. It means students, parents and whānau have an opportunity to see us live, in action. It is a huge logistical exercise but the day ran very smoothly. Our visiting students thoroughly enjoyed all the activities that were on offer and they were buzzing with excitement when they finished up at 2pm. We are expecting a roll of 740 students next year, and as can be seen by the graph below, this is a continuation of the very rapid roll growth we have been experiencing over the past few years. Congratulations to all our student leaders, both in the junior and senior school, for doing such a wonderful job looking after our guests. You certainly showed everyone what it means to be in the Otamatea High School waka. All enrolment information can be found on our website.

Congratulations to all Year 10s who successfully found a placement for their work experience day yesterday. The feedback I have received both from students and those who looked after our students for the day, has been excellent. Year 10s will be making their first senior option choices for 2024 later in the term, and this is the time to start thinking carefully about the career direction they are interested in pursuing. 

This weekend we host Reporoa College. This is the 59th annual exchange between our two schools and we believe it is the longest running exchange of its kind in New Zealand. We will welcome our guests with a powhiri on Sunday afternoon, and over the next day and a half, will see our two schools compete in basketball, rugby (at the country club), kapa haka, futsal, netball and volleyball. Our visitors will be staying at the Maungaturoto Country Club overnight Sunday and Monday, departing for home on Tuesday morning.

Vaping: 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 and 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. 

Save the date!  Our annual options afternoon will be held in the school hall on Wednesday 6th of September. This is to help our Year 10-12 students to choose their 2024 options. Students will have set times between 12:30 and 2pm to attend with their year group. Caregivers may either attend during that time or from 2-2:30pm or 4-4:45pm. Please be aware that the hall will be closed between 2:30 and 4pm this year. More details will follow later in the month.

If you have any concerns or queries about your child’s learning you are advised to email their teachers directly. All our teachers' email addresses are on our website in the 'Our Staff' section.