Teacher Only Day / Senior Assessment Week

This Friday, 31 May, is a professional development day for the staff of Stratford High School. This day is allocated by the Ministry of Education for staff to work on NCEA alignment. School will be closed for classes.

A reminder that Monday is Queen’s Birthday holiday and the school will be closed. School resumes on Tuesday 4th June and it will be Day 6 on the school timetable.

Senior Assessment Week

Next week, Tuesday 4th June to Friday 7th June is our first senior assessment week. Exams are of one hour duration. Some subjects will have two exams, while others will have one exam. Some subjects will have no exam.
There is NO study leave for any student – normal classes will continue to run for all senior classes. All senior students will be issued with a copy of the exam timetable and exam conditions at the Deans Assembly on Thursday.
Mr Smith
Deputy Principal

Poutama Day, Student Council announced.

 A newsletter was sent home with students on Wednesday 9th March.

Poutama Day

Thursday 17th March is Poutama Day where all parents and students meet with teachers or Deans to set goals for the 2011 academic year. Your son / daughter should have arranged your interview time which will be confirmed in a letter to you this week. Mr Keenan is encouraging all students to set three goals; academic, personal and community. We look forward to meeting you on Poutama Day, 17th March 2011.

  

Student Council Announced
The 2011 student council was elected last week and elected members received their badge at Monday’s assembly. The reps are:
Amess House: Daniel Stieller, Laura Lambkin, Alex Taikato, Mhirron French.
McAllister House: Shade MacKay, Hayden Hendry, Josh Hunger, Kyle Stewart
Trimble House: Matt Simpson, Cameron Johnson, Faith Fleetwood, Jayde Nahi

Tyrer House: Logan Marks, Harmony Blake, Lewis Marchant, Shayna Heal

 

 

Congratulations

 Congratulations and thanks to all the students who participated in the recent school swimming sports. Amess House were the winners on the day while the Year 13 vs staff relay was hotly contested and narrowly won by the staff with a minimum of adherence to the rules. Trophies will be presented at an assembly later this term.

 Joshua Robins won the High Point Senior Youth Trophy at the American Quarter Horse Nationals. He also won the Senior Youth Reining competition and had numerous other placings during the event.

 Ryan Cooper: won the 200m backstroke with a record time at the NZ National Age Group Swimming Champs last week. As well, Ryan was a member of the winning Taranaki team in the 5 x 50m that set a new Taranaki relay record.

Congratulations to all students who took part in the TSSSA Beach Volleyball at Ngamotu on Sunday. The senior boys played well and were runners-up in the senior boys’ fours.

Congratulations to Simon Terry who was nominated as the Volunteer of the Month for the Lake Rotokare Restoration Trust.

 

Mrs Rachel Neild, who was a member of the Canterbury Masters Hockey team, that won gold at the recent NZ Masters Tournament in North Shore. Mrs Neild has also been selected as a reserve for the NZ Masters team.

Mr P Keenan, Principal


 

Welcome to the 2011 school year

Welcome to the 2011 school year. Our year 13’s returned from leadership camp with a plan for the year and a challenge for us all in 2011. This will be the footprint that they leave this year and hopefully others will grow on. It is one of teamwork and pride, which they hope all of the school family will embrace.
When I started thinking of what to say in our first assembly I felt it was like the ‘state of the nation’ speeches that our politicians give at the start of each year. It outlines what the political party hopes to achieve during the year. The year 13’s have certainly stated their intentions. As we start 2011 I do hope that you have all had a relaxing holiday and are refreshed and ready for the challenges that 2011 may throw your way.

I would like to welcome all new students to our school. I know that your time here at Stratford High School is one of achieving the goals that you set and also of participating in activities around the school. Along with new students there are new faces amongst our staff: Mrs Kuriger (Special Needs), Mrs Neild (Maths), Miss Sullivan (SS, Maths, Outdoor Education) and Mr Woodd (English). To all I hope that you enjoy your time at Stratford High School.

To those year 12 and 13 students who were involved in NCEA examinations last year congratulations on the results that you obtained. The school will over the coming weeks acknowledge those students who gained endorsements.

Well done to the year 9 and 13 students and staff who were involved in tabloid sports. It is always a great start to our school year and shows enthusiasm and teamwork amongst the forms. Congratulations to Amess who were the overall winners on the day. Last week some of you will have received PEAK and the homework diary. These showcase Stratford High School achievements in 2010. The challenge now is what do we want for 2011? It will bring what we want it to – our destination is in our hands. The year 13’s have shown what they want 2011 to be about.

As I have enrolled students over the holidays I have talked about setting goals (academic, sporting or cultural) and respect and getting it ‘right’. Respect means having respect for ourselves, others and the environment. This single work can cover all our school expectations; our culture is based on the word respect – the way things are done around the school is based on respect.

Some staff would say two words describe our school:

QUALITY AND RESEPCT

At the end of 2011 it would be great to say “We are the Champions”.
Do something positive and make our school a better place to live, learn and achieve in.

Philip H Keenan, Principal.

November updates

Senior Prizegiving
A reminder to all parents and caregivers that the senior prizegiving will commence at 1.00 pm in the Assembly Hall. We ask that parents are seated prior to this so a start can be made promptly. Senior students will have study leave on Friday in preparation for national exams starting on Monday 15th November.

Book return day will be Friday December 10th. All seniors will need to return any school materials, uniform for sale, etc on this day in the school library.

Junior students are advised that there will be no classes for them on Thursday 11th November. Junior Prizegiving will be held on Friday 3rd December with activities week for juniors from Monday 6th to Thursday 9th December.

ICAS Maths results
Students were presented with certificates for Proficiency, Credit and Distinction at this weeks assembly for their performance in the ICAS Mathematics competition. Distinction was gained by Jason Hamlin (Y) and Anjela Frost and Kathleen Robertson (Y10). A full list will be in the next newsletter.

Farewell to librarian
It is with sadness that we farewell Mrs Marie MacGregor who has ably worked in the library for the last two years. Her successor is Mrs Riejanne Campbell. Mrs Campbell has been operating the school canteen this year and is well known to the students. The canteen will still be operated by Mrs Campbell and her family.

P H Keenan
Principal

Farewell to Mrs Potter

Senior students with Mrs Maria Potter in her new office as Principal of Opunake High School.

Staff Changes

Changes at the Top!
Congratulations are in order to Mrs Maria Potter who has been appointed to the position of Principal at Opunake High School. Mrs Potter has been at SHS since January 2004 when she was appointed as Deputy Principal.
She is an avid supporter of student lead activities and has encouraged the student council to take the lead in improving student facilities. She will be missed by the community. Further information about a farewell for Mrs Potter will be via the school newsletter.

Mrs Barbara Gall has been appointed to the Deputy Principal vacancy, created when Mr Keenan was appointed as Principal. She will take up this position on 3rd May 2010. Mrs Gall was appointed HOD Mathematics at SHS in June 1999 and was appointed Assistant Principal in January 2004. She is looking forward to the challenges and changes that this appointment will bring.

 

Congratulations to the following students for their success over the past weeks;

Ryan Cooper selected by Swimming NZ for 2010 Age Development camp in Palmerston North.
To senior leaders who represented the school at the various ANZAC Day celebrations in Stratford and Eltham on Sunday. To the House leaders who devoted time to making the school wreaths on Friday. To Astyn Buckland, Melissa Watts, Alison Matthews, Brad Savage, Tim Stanners, Sian-Marie Utton for selling poppies during Friday in town.

New Principal Appointed

Press release
9th March 2010

The Stratford High School Board of Trustees would like to announce that after a thorough appointment process we have appointed Mr Philip Keenan to the position of Principal of Stratford High School. Board of Trustee’s Chairperson Alan Frost said that the appointment of Mr Keenan as Principal at Stratford High School is an exciting one for the school. He has been Acting Principal since the start of the year after Warren Purdy resigned to take a position in Qatar. Mr Keenan has been at Stratford High School for 17 years and brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position. Mr Keenan will commence as Principal on Monday 15th March.

Mr Frost also stated that the school is going through some exciting times with a new principal, a new Board of Trustee’s starting shortly, upgrades of two school blocks being completed and the opening of the Teen Parent Unit and Kindergarten on the school grounds in term two. We went through a very precise process to make sure we got the right person in the job and we are confident that the appointment is the correct one.

A Frost
BoT Chairperson

School Peak magazine

The school magazine Peak will not be avialable for students to collect until the week of 25th January 2010. The students; Sarah Cooper, Sarah Robertson and Rachel Weren have worked extremely hard over the past ten days and many design aspects of the magazine are completed. Over the next week, the colour pages and text will be placed and the magazine should be at the printers by the end of next week.

Any students who wish to submit work for next year will need to have it into the committee by the end of term three for general articles so the magazine may be ready before the end of the school year.

The covers will be sent to the printers on Monday for test printing.

New Year 2009

The new year is shaping up well with no changes in the administration staff for the school.

Mrs Terry, Executive Officer is available from 9am daily to answer queries about automatic payments. If you currently have a school account and wish to access these funds to pay for school items (stationery or school uniform) you need to see Mrs Terry for a school order form.

Parents are reminded that they need to be vigilant about ringing the school for student absences. This will save the school ringing you needlessly. We are hoping to set in place a system for texting absences in but you are reminded that you can email the school fi@stratfordhigh.school.nz or mail@stratfordhigh.school.nz with this information by 8am in the morning, if you cannot phone.

During term 4, 2008 the school changed student management systems and there may be changes during this year with receipting of money through the student office. When this change happens we will notify the school community via the school newsletter.

Administration Team

The Stratford High Administration team has had several changes of staff this year but we are pleased to welcome Mrs Ina Fouche and Mrs Penny Bloor to the Admin team.

Ina is our friendly receptionist and the person behind the desk in the main office. She will be in contact with parents as she is responsible for the pupil absence system.

Penny is the Staffroom and Administration Assistant. She provides much needed assistance to staff with photocopying, keeping our staff room humming and also assisting in the student office with student records and dealing with students while the School Secretary is out of the office.

Mrs Susan Terry is the Executive Officer for the school and as such is responsible for property and finance for the school. If you need to make a booking for school amenities please contact Mrs Terry.

Mrs Patricia Seator is the School Secretary. She is in charge of the Student Office, where you can pay for school items, students receive first aid and staff are able to get assistance with administration.

Miss Diane Lithgow is the Principal's PA. You need to contact Diane if you would like to make an appointment to see the principal, if you have a matter you would like brought before the SHS Board of Trustees or confidential information about a school issue.