Te Pānui o Otamatea

School Notices 10 June 2022

Calendar of Events
Monday 13 June	Collegiate hockey at Whangarei 3.30pm Authors visit Period 4 in the library
Tuesday 14 June	EOTC WPCA to Wero Whitewater Park Auckland 9.30am -5pm EOTC Yr 11-13 Basketball to Whangarei 8.30am - 4.30pm
Wednesday 15 June	School Assembly OHS Cross Country EOTC Mid week football Boys and Girls
Thursday 16 June	EOTC 2022 Prefect trip to GRIP conference in Auckland 6am - 6pm EOTC Yr 9 & yr 10 Arts to Inside Dahli Spark arena 7.30am-5.30pm
Friday 17 June	Yr 7 & 8 Matariki celebration in hall Period 1 and Period 2
Sat 18 - Sun 19 June	EOTC DoE Bronze to Pinnacles 6am Saturday - 5pm Sunday
Monday 20 June	Collegiate hockey at Whangarei 3.30pm
Tuesday 21 June	Matoma cup netball at OHS 2pm EOTC Yr 11,12,13 Driver Licence test in Dargaville 8.50am - 3.30pm
Wednesday 22 June	EOTC Mid week football Boys and Girls
Thursday 23 June	Staff Only Day
Friday 24 June	Matariki observed holiday - school closed
View our full School Calendar here

Principal's News

Attendance: We have averaged over 200 students away each day this week. Most of this is due to the seemingly never ending combination of bugs, colds, the flu and of course COVID (and its isolation requirements) which is still circulating in our communities. Nationally, school attendance has been steadily declining since 2015 but this has been made worse by Covid. Across New Zealand fewer than 60 per cent of students currently attend school regularly. This can have a very damaging impact on a child's education, limiting student achievement and their career prospects. The Government has now launched a new strategy in an attempt to lift these low attendance rates. Remember, unless your child is unwell, they need to be at school.

Signing your child out early: Parents/caregivers are please reminded to always sign out your child if you are picking them up early from school. We have had some instances of parents waiting in the car for their child, without signing them out first. Signing your child out at the office ensures we have accurate records of who is at school at all times. This can be done at the Student Centre or at the main admin area by the hall.

Enrolment Scheme: A reminder that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is currently working with the Board of Otamatea High School to implement a new enrolment scheme, to be put in place for 2023 student enrolments. This has become necessary due to the rapid roll growth we are currently experiencing. Enrolment schemes are needed to help manage the risk of overcrowding at schools. It will mean that only students living in the defined 'home zone' will have an automatic entitlement to enrol at Otamatea High School. A clear and transparent process is then followed for any additional out of zone enrolments. Before a home zone is implemented, the MOE is undertaking a consultation process with our communities. Please click on this link to have your say on the proposed establishment of this new enrolment scheme. Consultation closes on the 17th June.

Bream Bay Exchange: Today our annual year 7 and 8 exchange with Bream Bay went ahead, despite some wet and windy weather. Students participated in netball, football, turbo touch, hockey and basketball. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to compete against our neighbouring school, learn the importance of participation and fair play, and hopefully make some new friends in the process.

Staff Only Day: Please make a note in your diaries that Thursday 23rd June is a staff only day. This is the day before the new Matariki public holiday on the 24th June.

Ngā mihi
Dirk Smyth

School Notices

Part-time Head Cleaner required for 20 hours per week. Must be physically fit, a team player as they will be responsible for the daily supervision of a small team, ensuring work is completed to a high standard. A reasonable level of computer literacy is required to organise stock control of cleaning products, implement cleaning schedules and respond to cleaning requests. Ideally be available to cover for other team members when required. This is a permanent role and dependent on a clear Police check.

Application process: Apply in writing (CV and completed support staff application form to richard.reed@otamatea.school.nz) by 4pm, Friday 24th June 2022.

Sports this week

Monday No hockey due to the public holiday

Tuesday Five boys travelled to Whangarei to play in the Northland Secondary School Novice table tennis tournament. Approximately 100 students took part in the tournament. Congratulations to Rikki Beazley who made it to the top 4 and Leo Cannon who came second overall. Both Leo and Rikki have been invited to the Table Tennis Championship day later this term.

Wednesday Football The boys played Bream Bay at home. Bream Bay won 7 - 4. The girls travelled to Bay of Islands College and came away with a 6 - 0 win.

Thursday 3X3 basketball. Two teams travelled up to the Northland Secondary School year 9 and 10 festival day. All students thoroughly enjoyed their day.

Thursday after school The Otamatea AIMS netball team played Mangawhai Beach School year 7 and 8 team. The end score was 15-8 to Mangawhai Beach School.

Friday Year 7 and 8 Bream Bay Sports Exchange. Bream Bay came to Otamatea High School to play multiple sports. It was great to see so many students out enjoying the many team sports. Otamatea won the Year 7/8 team 1 netball game, basketball and football. Bream Bay won the hockey, Turbo Touch and the Year 7/8 team 2 netball game was a tie.

It was great seeing our senior students assisting with all the sports with either reffereeing/umpiring or coaching teams.