Yesterday our PPTA member teachers joined 50,000 other teachers around the country for a nationwide strike. Teachers are undervalued, have increasingly challenging classroom environments to manage, and have to deal with a never-ending onslaught of change that comes from central government (NCEA review, curriculum refresh etc) that it is little wonder they have resorted to industrial action. Please show your support for our hardworking teachers.

Well done to our year 13s and prefects who ran two separate school assemblies on Wednesday. With our large roll, we had to split the school into two, with Arawa and Whatua in the hall, and Maniapoto and Ngāphi in the gym. Our student leaders were well prepared and I was impressed with how naturally they found it talking in front of hundreds of their peers. They even injected a bit of fun into the assemblies with a dance off. One of their goals for this year is to raise over $10,000 for Relay for Life (that supports the Cancer Society) and they have been very proactive in arranging a number of fundraising activities and events to achieve their goal, including a Relay for Life charity concert - here at school next Thursday in the school hall starting 6pm. Please come along and support this event. It will be a fun and very entertaining evening.

All the best to our kapa haka students who have their weekend noho here at school this weekend, in preparation for the upcoming Te Tai Tokerau Festival in May. All the best also to our Duke of Edinburgh gold students who are off to Abel Tasman National Park today for their qualifier, which they will be completing over the next few days.

Buses: If you wish to make changes to your child's bus arrangements in the afternoon, we would ask that you do this BEFORE 3pm (1.30pm on Wednesdays).  We do not have time to notify your child if changes are made after these times.

Uniform: With the cooler weather on the way it’s time to start thinking about winter uniform.  We have a school jersey and school jacket available to purchase from Paparoa Drapery/ Students can also wear a long sleeved black thermal under their school shirt which must be tucked in. 

Our full uniform requirements can be found here .

Whilst out on duty, it is awesomeseeing student's taking part in a range of activities that are not planned for them by staff members.  It is great to see students from different core classes and year groups mingling with each other.  The cafe picnic tables are popular with students who want to socialise while enjoying a snack, the library has visitors in all weather who read, study, or play cards and board games. The astro turf always has a football match in progress and there are indoor and outdoor venues for basketball, table tennis and volleyball.  When students reach Year 10 they can also work out at break times in our weights gym. However, they must first complete safety training.  Our Year 7-8 students have their own outdoor play area which is out of bounds to older year groups.

"From the archives"
This week features a ball photo from 1997, featuring some very familiar faces!