Internal Excellences Rewarded

At assembly at the beginning of June the following students received a certificate for excellence in NCEA internally assessed standards. Congratulations to all students and we look forward to awarding more certificates next term.

Level 1

Alex Baker	Mathematics
Jasmine Baker	Mathematics (3)     Science
Justine Baker	Geography (2)    Mathematics    Science
Brittany Barker	Science
Grace Burroughs	Music
Paytn Cameron	Science
Enana-Louise Cash	Te Reo Maori
Nikki Collins	Health
Holly Dorne	History     Science
Sara Harrison	Home Economics     History (2)
Natida Jane	History
Ben Johns	Science
Hayden Kells	Mathematics (2)
Hannah McCallum	Fabric Technology     History (2)
Elizabeth Martin	English
Dylan Moore	Science     Health
Lightning Muraahi	Te Reo Maori
Teigan Parker	Science
Makayla Pitcher	English
Luke Ratu	English     Science
Katelyn Simpson	Health
Dale Stanners	Digital Technology     Science
Riley Taylor	Mathematics (2)     History     English
Estella Van Der Lee	History
Detroit Weston-Hoyes	Te Reo Maori
David Whareaitu	English

Level 2

Daerelle Edwards-Thompson	Te Reo Maori
Bailey Fleming	History (2)
Bailey Gavin	Mathematics     Chemistry (2)     Biology
Ashley Kowalewski	Geography     Chemistry (2)     History (2)
Jonathan Linders	Geography     Chemistry (2)     Biology
Christine McIvor	Chemistry
Harmoney Moffitt	Chemistry     Biology
Caitlin Reardon	Chemistry (2)     History (2)     Biology (2)
Tessa Smith	Mathematics    Geography     Chemistry (2)     Biology
Jade Stewart	History
Dylan Trott	Chemistry (2)
Renee Vincent	Geography
Freedom Walker	Te Reo Maori

Level 3

Kimberley Barker	Art
Jacinta Frost	Statistics and Modelling     Accounting     History
Georgia Gavin	Home Economics     Statistics and Modelling Accounting
Nicholas Hornby	Chemistry     Biology
Thor Howatson	L3 Accounting     L3 History     L3 Biology
Monica Jones	Chemistry
Sarah Kowalewski	Statistics and Modelling     History (2)
Sarah Malone	History
Caitlin Smart	Chemistry     Statistics and Modelling
Kody Simpson	Statistics and Modelling     Accounting     Biology
Katie Taylor	Chemistry     Statistics and Modelling
Steven Ung	Accounting
Alicia Venter	Statistics and Modelling     History (2)
Laura Ward	History
Beth West	Statistics and Modelling     Accounting

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear students, parents and caregivers

Ngā mihi o te wa ki a koe me te whanau

As we come to the end of term one 2015 I am conscious of how busy the term has been. Term one this year has been nine weeks compared to other years where we have had eleven or even twelve weeks, therefore we have had to fit activities into a smaller time period. In spite of this staff and students have been involved in many activities both inside and outside the school.

Since the last newsletter we have had several TSSSA sports events, our leaders have been to Palmerston North for a leadership seminar, our year 12 physical education students have been tramping on the mountain, year 13 geography students are off to Tongariro, students were involved in teens can cook and assemblies have celebrated sports and academic awards. Over the weekend a number of staff and students spent 24 hours walking around a track at the showgrounds for Relay 4 Life. They were great ambassadors for our school as have all students who have represented our school during this term.

Thank you to the large number of parents/caregivers who attended our Poutama goal setting day earlier this month. I'm sure you would have found this valuable, and the foundation and goals are now set for the year. The relationship that your son/daughter has with their academic mentor is a very important one in assisting with goal setting and monitoring achievement over the year. Students will meet with their academic mentor every three weeks and there will be key messages that will be delivered at various times, especially for seniors involved in NCEA. Our next round of Poutama interviews with parents and students will be at the end of term 2. We would welcome any feedback on the process undertaken this year as it differs from previous Poutama days.

All students will receive a report during the last two weeks of the term. Seniors will receive a progress report (parent interviews on Wednesday 1^st April) and juniors will receive their first graduation report with parent interviews to be held on Thursday 23^rd April. The critical part of this cycle are the report evenings and talking to your child’s teacher about their progress. An important aspect of your attendance at the report evening, is the message that it sends to your children that you and the school are working together to support them. Students should use the reports and interviews to reflect on their learning, and should then review and reset some goals, re-establish routines, and ensure a life and work balance.

We still have one week of the term remaining (school does not finish until Thursday 2^nd April at 3.15 pm) and it is important that students remain focused on their learning and the goals they have set. I am very conscious of our student’s efforts during this term and their desire to be the best they can be. I also want to express my appreciation to our great staff team for the work they do in serving and supporting a wonderful student community. I encourage students not to let their standards slip over the next two weeks. Be sure to aim high in all you do.

NCEA Results

The school has received provisional NCEA results. Congratulations to all students for their success. 

Overall participation based results: students who entered sufficient credits to achieve a NQF qualification by the end of year.

Year	L1	Nat	L2	Nat	L3	Nat	UE	Nat
2013	53.3	76.4	60.5	79.2	67.4	74.6	58.7	64.9
2014	74.3	79.3	77.9	84.3	70.3	74.9	51.4	51.9

Literacy/numeracy

Year	Literacy	Nat	Numeracy	Nat
2013	83.9	78.6	82.1	80.6
2014	88.0	82.1	82.4	82.4

Certificate Endorsements

2013	L1	Nat	L2	Nat	L3	Nat
Excellence	7.1	11.9	4.1	9.2	3.2	8.8
Merit	42.9	26.1	14.3	19.5	25.8	24.7
2014
Excellence	8.6	12.5	11.3	10.6	3.8	9.9
Merit	25.9	27.6	30.2	19.9	23.1	23.5

As this is the last newsletter of the term, I wish you an enjoyable break with your family and friends and hope that you return refreshed and ready for another exciting and exhilarating term on Monday 20^th April.

Philip Keenan, Principal

NCEA Information Evening

NCEA Information Evening for Parents/Caregivers

Parents/caregivers of Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students are invited to attend an information evening on the basic workings of NCEA  in the school library at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 5^th February. Although this evening would be especially relevant to parents of students new to NCEA, a number of changes to NCEA have occurred in recent years and changes to University Entrance continue this year.

Wayne Smith

Principal’s Nominee

2012 Student Leaders announced.

The 2012 Student leaders were announced at assembly on Thursday 9th February. Congratulations to the following students.
Head Boy: Cameron Johnson
Head Girl: Nicole Booker
Sports Captains: Matt Simpson and Alana Mako
Arts Captain: Aimee Hinton
Student Council Chairperson: Melissa Coull-Herewini
BOT Representative: Andrew Hunger

We look forward to seeing them in action this year.
House meetings were held on Friday for students to elect House Captains who will be announced next week in time for the annual athletics and swimming events. Following on from this house will elect their student council representatives.

NCEA Endorsements 2012Mr Keenan (Principal) noted that it was pleasing to see that the 2011 student leaders and top students were among the Level 3 recipients and he challenged the school to improve on these results in 2012.
Students who sit the NCEA examinations are able to get their certificate endorsed with a Merit or Excellence if they receive at least 50 credits that are Merit or Excellence level. Last year, 47 students achieved this endorsement. Students were presented with badges and bars at the full school assembly on Thursday 9th February.


Students who received a Level 1 Merit (Silver) Endorsement are:
Malissa Alexander, Blake Cheer, Ryan Cooper, Cameron Cox, Deanna Crawford, Ila Earney, Cassey Edgcombe, Ryk Ferguson, Jarvis Gotty, Jason Hamlin, Jarrod Harris, Shayna Heal, Daisy Higgs, Emily Howatson, Grace Hunger, Sophie Jeffares, Lewis Marchant, Erin Rowe, Jessica Short, Katie Stanners, Alex Taikato, Amy Taunt, Quintin Trask, Phillip Vecchia, Laura Vernon, Sophie Wilson, Samuel Wyss

Students who received a Level 1 Excellence (Gold) Endorsement are:
Anjela Frost, Alexandra Merson, Kathleen Robertson

Students who received a Level 2 Merit (Silver) Endorsement are:
Renee Cave, Nikayla Johnson, Heather O'Neill, Rebecca Poole. Bars only were presented to: Shaymas Carroll, Hannah Martin, Sarah Rohe


Students who received a Level 2 Excellence (Gold) Endorsement bar are:
Cameron Johnson, Andrew Hunger, Matt Simpson, Matthew Sullivan-Brown

Students who received a Level 3 Merit (Silver) Endorsement bar are:
Taylor Bailey, Katelyn Craig, Jack Espin, Adrian Pitman, Natasha Sinclair-Taikato, Timothy Stanners, Hamish Walker

Welcome to 2012

NCEA Information Evening for Parents/Caregivers


All parents/caregivers of Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students are encouraged to attend an information evening on the fundamentals of NCEA in the school library at 7.00pm on Tuesday, 7th February. A number of changes to NCEA have occurred in recent years and changes to University Entrance begin this year.

Start dates:

Monday 30th January: Year 9 and peer supporters (8.50am to 3.15 pm.) Students will need writing materials and sports gear for tabloid sports in the afternoon. Any other new students to the school attend from 8.50am to 10.30am.

Tuesday 31st January: Year 9 and 12 students only. Year 13 at camp.

Wednesday 1st Feb: Year 9, 11, 12 students. Year 13 at camp.

Thursday 2nd Feb: All year levels to attend (8.50am until 3.15pm). Students must bring writing materials for class (i.e. pens, pencil, pad, etc).

Monday 6th February is Waitangi Day and the school will be closed for instruction.

Mr P Keenan
Principal

High School Corner - Prizegiving

Senior Prizegiving

The senior prizegiving on Tuesday afternoon was well attended by the SHS community. The school Kapa Haka and choir entertained the parents and students during the ceremony. Congratulations to all students who received awards, the full list will be in Peak magazine while others will be published in the paper.
The junior prizegiving will be on Friday 2nd December and all parents and caregivers are invited to attend this graduation ceremony for all junior students.

Good luck to all students who will be sitting NCEA examinations which start on Thursday 10th November. Seniors are reminded that there will be two book return days Thursday 1st December and Friday 9th December. All books and other school materials (including sports uniforms) are to be returned to the library. Any senior uniform items that are no longer wanted may be dropped in on these days in a clean, sealable condition. A price and seller’s details are needed. The second-hand uniform sale is on Thursday 26th January in the school hall and is a fundraiser for the SHS Australian rugby tour team.

P H Keenan
Principal