Principal's Weekly News 3rd February 2023

Kia ora,

Welcome to the first edition of the PapaCommunity News for 2023.  I hope the holiday period has provided an opportunity for students to have a restful and enjoyable break.  The newsletter is emailed home to parents/caregivers, and students each week.  Its aim is to give up up-to-date information on a weekly basis about the general happenings within the school.  We will also use this forum to highlight recent student achievement, and significant up-coming events. 

We are now well underway as we close-out Week 1. I would particularly like to welcome our new Year 9’s, transferring Year 10 -13 students, adult ESOL students, staff, and (for the first time in two years), international students, to the school.  We are excited that you are all here, as part of our school, and wish you every success during your time here.  Equally a bit welcome back to all our returning students and staff. 

Last Tuesday we held our traditional pōwhiri.  This is our way of formally welcoming all new students and staff to the school.  I would like to thank the large number of family and whānau who were present to support their child into high school.  Following this we moved into our Year 9 orientation programme, which is particularly important for transitioning our Year 9 students.  I am very grateful to the Year 13 Peer Support leaders for their involvement in supporting the Year 9’s. The initial three day programme is about integrating the students into the school’s systems, culture, and expectations.  The Peer Support programme  continues on throughout the first term.

Part of the orientation programme was the Year 9 Wednesday ‘meet and greet’ bbq evening.  This gave an opportunity for an informal gathering where family and whānau met the Form  Teacher, and subject teachers of their child’s class.  This was very well attended, and I thank those who were able to be there.  We are hopeful that this year we will be able to engage in our full range of face-to-face events which forms a critical part of our community connectiveness.

Wednesday and Thursday saw the remaining year levels return to school, briefly, to allow us the opportunity to welcome them back, and start the process of analysing our student numbers.  Student numbers are particularly important because we need to assess class sizes and viability as we move to finalise student timetables.  Our returning numbers have been very good, with more students deciding to stay at school and build on their success.  Next week we will see a settling in process, and firming up of timetables and changes.

I look forward to the year ahead.                          

Ngā mihi

 

Jeff Smith

Principal

 

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