Te Pānui o Otamatea

School Notices 8 December, 2023

Calendar of Events
Monday 4 December	Staff Only Day EOTC DOE Gold Qualifier to Gillespie Track
Tuesday 5 December	EOTC DOE Gold Qualifier to Gillespie Track Year 10 Career Carousel
Wednesday 6 December	Full Board of Trustees meeting EOTC Learning Centre Swimming Evolution EOTC DOE Gold Qualifier to Gillespie Track
Thursday 7 December	EOTC DOE Gold Qualifier to Gillespie Track
Friday 8 December	EOTC DOE Gold Qualifier to Gillespie Track
Monday 11 - Wednesday 13 December	EOTC Year 10 camp Kai Iwi Lakes EOTC Year 8 camp Ruakaka camping ground EOTC Year 7 camp Adrenalin Park, Mt Parahaka, Aquatic Centre EOTC Year 9 camp
Thursday 14 December	Junior Prizegiving 10.30am start

View our full School Calendar here

From the Senior Leadership Team

It has been another busy year for our students, but we have finally made it to the final week of term 4. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday our year 7 and 9 students will be participating in their exciting year end day activities, while our year 8s and 10s enjoy their end of year camps. The weather is looking good with plenty of cloud cover, with the possibility of a few afternoon showers. Please remember that students not attending camps and activities are expected at school.

It was lovely seeing our year 10s so engaged in the hall on Tuesday for the Careers Carousel. What a wonderful opportunity to hear from locals about the possible career options available to them when they leave school. In a similar vein, our year 7s had the experience of visiting our local workplaces in Maungaturoto to better understand the role of employers and employees. Thank you to all of those who volunteered to make these days possible for our students. The feedback we have received has been very positive.

Our 2023 Junior Prizegiving will be held on the last day of school, Thursday 14 December. We would like to welcome you to come along to celebrate the many achievements of our prizewinners this year. Only prizewinners are able to attend school on this day. Your child will have received a letter from their whanau teacher if they are a prizewinner. If you are attending prizegiving please arrive and be seated by 10.15am so that we can begin at 10.30am. It is important that prizewinners attend school as normal in the morning so that they are aware of proceedings for the day. Parents and prizewinners are invited to afternoon tea after the prizewinning ceremony. Buses will run at 12.30pm.

School News

Tuesday afternoon marked a delightful milestone for our literacy support group as they commemorated a year of learning with a lively BBQ and refreshing swim. Throughout the past year, these dedicated students have actively participated in our literacy support program, diligently working to enhance their reading and writing skills. The aim? To equip them with the essential tools for success in their academic journey. What makes this celebration even more special is that some of our incredible students took the opportunity to express how the literacy classes have been a crucial pillar of support in their educational endeavors this year. Their voices truly highlight the impact and significance of our literacy support initiative.

“I get one-one extra support from the teacher. I learned how to sound out words and read. I like that I am not put under pressure.” Dakota year 7.

“The literacy class helps me with my writing and spelling. I think I am doing better in my writing and the class is small so it helps me more. I like the fun activities we do to celebrate like Pictionary and making hot chocolates and smoothies.” Ari year 7.

“I get help with my spelling and the meanings of words more. I like less kids in here so its easier to learn and not be as shy.” Tanusika year 7.

“Literacy have helped me with my writing like writing better sentences and spelling words correctly. I like the celebrations at the end of each term.” Sam year 7

“We do steps which helps spelling and reading and that helps start off my reading each lesson. We made ice cream too.” Makai year 8.

“It's not too loud and it is a smaller class. The worksheets and activities are easier for me to do. I liked doing the worksheets with the new words and colouring them in. I liked The Song Lyrics activities.” Harper Year 9.

Kaipara Basketball recently held their annual awards and many of our Otamatea learners gained awards, as well as some adults who help. A huge congratulations to the following:

Year 7/8
Mia Asuncion Most improved player
Kael Donaldson Most improved player
Sam Bond Most valuable

Year 9/10
Harper Dowson Most Improved player
Jade Ferrari Most Valuable player
Jade Ferrari Defensive player of the year
Jordan Davis Most Valuable player
Liam Asuncion Defensive player of the year

Secondary
Trinity Ulisala Most Valuable player
Caitlin Heke Defensive player of the year
Luke Weber Most Improved player
Jesse Goodfellow Most Valuable player

Secondary Rep player of the year Isaiah Pere
Coach of the year Don Lawson
Referee of the year Ezra Pere

Careers Carousel Year 10

On Tuesday 5 December all Year 10 students had the opportunity to learn about the various vocational pathways people can take after school. "
24 people from the community put aside their work for the morning to make themselves available to talk to our students. Students went around the tables and asked questions about the jobs, training, how people started and which ways life has taken them.
There was a great variety of careers represented, for example, community workers. tourist operators, journalists, foresters, artists and farmers. Also a chef, an engineer, an university student and an equine manager. They represented various organisations and businesses, such as the Ministry of Primary Industries, the Kaipara District Council, NIWA, Fonterra, Huband Contractors, Tai Tokerau Trades Training and Ray White.
The school is really grateful to these people and organisations who were willing to give students an insight into the World of Work. They were talking about some jobs that students didn’t even know about and telling them about local opportunities that they can consider. All this help students becoming more ‘Ready for the World’ which is our school’s vision.
Elizabeth van den Berg Career Adviser and Helen Anderson Gateway Coordinator

Year 7 Workplace Visit

The Year 7 students were divided into four groups for the trip into Maungaturoto town to gain information about the careers people are involved in.
Every group visited a service organisation and a business. Beforehand students prepared questions and had them written down. Teachers were proud of how students behaved and listened to the information.
The service organisations that were visited are the Fire Station, Police station, Ambulance station and the Vet Centre. Students saw the different equipment used in each situation and were able to understand what they are used for.
The businesses who were involved are the Motorcycle shop, the pharmacy, the Four Square and Shar Shultz Professionals. Students were interested in how the businesses were run.