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

Student Council named; Excellence Honoured

As chairperson of the student council, I am thrilled with the high level of calibre among the students who showed interest in being on the student council. I am looking forward to an exciting year, carrying on some initiatives that began last year within our school, such as the garden run by the student council, as well as starting our own projects. Congratulations to this year’s student council, I am confident that we will have a successful year. The badges were presented in assembly this week.

The student councillors are:

Amess House: Callum Bendall, Jonathan Linders, Chelsee Renata, Tessa Smith, Dylan Trott, William Wakefield.

McAllister House: Bailey Gavin, Monica Jones, Christine McIvor, McKenzie Roodbeen-Old, Emily Short, Jessica Taunt

Trimble House: Jerrikco Dean, Hamish MacDonald, Caitlin Reardon, Rhiannon Rhodes, Caitlan Smart, Beccyann Walker

Tyrer House: Emily Bates, Jamie Chapman, Layne Cox, Ashley Kowalewski, Kylie Petch, Renee Vincent

Sarah Kowalewski, Student Council Chairperson

NCEA ENDORSEMENTS 2014

Students are awarded merit or excellence endorsements on their NCEA qualifications if they achieve 50 or more credits at merit or excellence level. Gaining an endorsement is a significant achievement and we have recognised these learners at our assemblies, where they received an academic scholars badge and/or appropriate bar.

Following the 2014 examinations these students have an excellence endorsement. At NCEA Level 3 2014 Dux Rachel Martin received a gold bar. At NCEA Level 2 these students were presented with a gold (excellence) bar: Kimberley Barker, Nicholas Hornby, Monica Jones, Sarah Kowalewski, Sarah Malone, Jayde Nahi and Kody Simpson. At NCEA Level 1: Matthew Anderson, Kimberley Barker, Bailey Gavin, Ashley Kowalewski, Jonathan Linders, Caitlin Reardon, Tessa Smith and Dylan Trott were presented with a badge and gold (excellence) bar.

2014 NCEA Medal winners

A further 23 students gained merit endorsements at Level 1, with 16 students at Level 2 and seven students at Level 3. These students are: Level 1 (silver badge with bar); Liam Anderson, Mitchell Best, Kate Booker, William Burnell, Jared Dodunski, Bailey Fleming, Abigail Ford, Coen Frost, Jordan Heal, Jeana Howells, Hamish MacDonald, Christine McIvor, Morgan McSweeney, Nicholas Merson, Harmoney Moffitt, Connor Muir, Michael Muir, Shayzaria Pirini, McKenzie Roodbeen-Old, Shaun Rowe, Jade Stewart, Renee Vincent and Krissie Ward. A Level 2 (silver bar) was awarded to Quintin Bailey, Emily Bates, William Burnell, Jacinta Frost, Georgia Gavin, Thor Howatson, Grace Pope, Emily Short, Caitlin Smart, Jessica Taunt, Katie Taylor, Steven Ung, Alicia Venter, William Wakefield, Laura Ward and Beth West. The Level 3 (silver bar) has been awarded to: Kimberley Barker, Nikita Dorne, Jason Hamlin, Robbie Howatson, Joshua Hunger, Noeleen Venter and Marline Vogt.

Leaders 2015

The student leaders have been announced for 2015. The year 13 students will be led by Head Boy, Kody Simpson and Head Girl Georgia Gavin.
Sports Capatins are Katie Taylor and Quintin Bailey.
Arts Captains are Emily Bates and Jason Manuel-Isaacs.
Student Council Chairperson is Sarah Kowalewski and Makaiyah Hughes is continuing as the BoT Student Representative.

2015 student leaders with Principal Mr P Keenan.

Scholarships awarded at SHS Senior Prizegiving.

The 2014 senior prizegiving was held on Thursday 6 November. Our guest speaker was Mr Jeremiah Trueman who as an ex pupil of the school spoke about the day in the life of a Perth Wildcats player. It was an inspiring speech and enjoyed by all. Also at this special event as a number of scholarships were awarded to our year 13 students who are heading off to various universities.

• Rachel Martin received a Victoria University Excellence Scholarship and TET Scholarship. She will be doing a co-joint Bachelor in Law and Commerce. She was awarded 1st Accounting, Raewyn  Lightoller Accounting Award: Commitment, Contribution & Competency in Year 13 Accounting, 1st Economics, 1st English, A.H.R.Amess Cup 1st Year 13 English, 1st History, 1st Statistics and Modelling and the Stratford High School Dux Medal 2014 presented by the SHS PTA.
• Robbie Howatson, 2014 Proxime Accessit received a TET Scholarship and Priscilla Sandys Wunsch Scholarship for his study in surveying at Otago University. He also was awarded the H.C. Johnson Memorial Challenge Trophy for Senior Mathematics & Science), jointly awarded the Kimber Trophy Year 13 Geography and Sextus Family Trophy for Proxime Accessit.
• The Tag Oil scholarship was awarded to Matthew Kowalewski who will be studying at Waikato University. This award was presented by Rodney Hosking from Tag Oil.
• Jessica Graham (studying psychology) and Aria Nicholls (social work) received a Priscilla Sandys Wunsch Trust scholarship for 2015 for their studies at Otago University next year.
• A number of our senior students have also been awarded scholarships from the Taranaki Electricity Trust for their studies in 20154. Recipients to date are: Nikita Dorne, Caleb Egan, Jessica Graham, Joshua Hunger, Matthew Kowalewski, Mary-Louise Madden, Aria Nicholls, William Rohe, Danielle Vickers, Lara Williams
• Hannah Slater is the recipient of a $5000 Scholarship from the Alexander & Gladys Shepherd Scholarship Trust presented by Bryce Kaiser from Federated Farmers and Jade Terrill from Perpetual Guardian. Hannah will be attending Lincoln University to study agriculture.
• Lara Williams received a $5000 Massey University Academy of Sport scholarship. She will be studying a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise in 2015.
•  The Roodbeen trophy is given to the best all round senior student who shows dedication and commitment to the general life of the school. The recipient for 2014 was Noeleen Venter.
• Harmoney Moffitt gained Diligence in Geography and Science, Distinction English A, 2nd= History and 2nd Textiles Technology at Level 1. Harmoney received the ‘Te Kai Poutama Whetu’- top academic Maori Student in the senior school. This was the first time that this trophy has been awarded. 
• Bailey Gavin gained Distinction Mathematics, 3rd Science, 2nd= Geography, 2nd English A and 1st Drama and Physical Education. Bailey received The Hermann Family Trophy for Best Year 11 Academic Student.
• Kody Simpson gained Distinction in Mathematics, 2nd= Chemistry, 2nd Physics, 1st= Accounting, 1st Biology and 1st in English A. Kody received The Cusack Cup Academic Excellence: Year 12.

Excellence Awards

Excellence in internal assessment rewarded
At the assembly on Tuesday 28 October, students who have gained an excellence grade in an internal assessment were given a certificate to mark the event.
The following students received certificates for their excellence grade in NCEA Level 1: Aorangi Amohia-Lykles, Liam Anderson, Matthew Anderson, Kate Booker, William Butler, Tia Coull-Herewini, Jericko Dean, Daerelle Edwards-Thompson, Bailey Fleming, Abigail Ford, Bailey Gavin, Jeana Howells, Makaiyah Hughes, Alice Hughes-Bruce, Whetu Karaitiana, Samule Kieft, Ashley Kowalewski, Jonathan Linders, Cullen May, Christine McIvor, Harmoney Moffitt, Connor Muir, Michael Muir, Jonas Padrutt, Emma Paton, Kate Phillips, Shayzaria Pirini, Caitlin Reardon, McKenzie Roodbeen-Old, Anjelica Schumacher, Tessa Smith, Jade Stewart, Dylan Trott, Alexa van In, Renee Vincent, Freedom Walker, Crystal Yeates.

NCEA level 2 students are: Quintin Bailey, Kimberly Barker, Emily Bates, Dylan Blair, Quinlin Bosson-Thompson, Liam Burnell, Jacinta Frost, Georgia Gavin, Nicholas Hornby, Thor Howatson, Emma Huckstep, Monica Jones, Sarah Kowalewski, Courtney MacKintosh-Tairaki, Sarah Malone, Jason Manuel-Isaacs, Deane Mason-Loveridge, Greg Matthews, Regan Mitchell, Alexandra O’Hanlon, Megan Old, Ezekiel Oliver, Trinity Page-Stevens, Grace Pope, Chelsea-Rose Renata, Anjelica Schumacher, Kody Simpson, Caitlan Smart, Jessica Taunt, Katie Taylor, Steven Ung, Alicia Venter and Beth West.

NCEA level 3 students are: Dayle Bailey, Nikita Dorne, Robbie Howatson, Rachel Martin, Jayde Nahi, Noeleen Venter, Marline Vogt, Lara Williams and Saphire Yeates.

We wish all students the very best for the upcoming national examinations.
Mr Smith, NZQA Principal's Nominee,

Senior PrizegivingThursday 6 November at 1 pm in the assembly hall.

All senior students are expected to attend this event. Parents and caregivers are cordially invited to join us for this occasion where we celebrate the success of our senior students. We ask that you are seated by 12.50 pm for a prompt start. Senior students are reminded that correct uniform is expected. Afternoon tea, in the stadium, will follow the prizegiving.

The prizegiving is a celebration of achievement and is a formal occasion where we expect a high standard of dress from the students. Please assist in ensuring your child is dressed in correct school uniform, including shoes, and that their appearance is tidy.

Junior students (Y9 & 10) will not be required at school on senior prizegiving day unless they are in the choir, Kapa Haka or have been asked to attend as an usher or server.

Free evening with Karen Boyes

Advert from Stratford Primary. Please contact them for more details.

Stratford Primary School BOT and Staff are pleased to offer all parents the opportunity to hear Karen Boyes speak on Thursday 23rd October from 7pm to 8.30 pm.

Karen is an internationally recognised speaker, educator, author and publisher. She gave workshops to our students early this year and this is another opportunity to hear her speak.

Please go to the Stratford Primary School office for directions on the night.