Kia ora e te whānau,
The last week has been a real highlight of the year. Winter Tournament wrapped up last weekend, with our staff, students, coaches, managers, supporters, and whānau scattered across the country. I had the privilege of watching some of our teams in action, and I continue to be impressed by the grit and passion they bring to their sport. Just as importantly, I was struck by the care and compassion they show for one another — and even for their opponents.
Several of our teams are still young, and their performances at this stage show enormous promise. If this is the level they are already playing at, I am excited to see what they can achieve with a little more experience behind them.
NCEA Reforms
You may have seen recent discussion around the Government’s proposed changes to NCEA. There is a significant amount of information to take in, but in short, the proposals suggest:
- Year 11: Replacing NCEA Level 1 with a new Foundational Award, based on a single external literacy and numeracy assessment. Passing this would be a prerequisite for moving on to senior qualifications.
- Years 12 and 13: Introducing new senior qualifications — the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) in Year 12, and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) in Year 13. Students would need to take five subjects and pass at least four of them, moving away from the current credit-based system.
- Assessment: Replacing “Achieved, Merit, Excellence” with letter grades (A, B, C, D & E) and associated scores out of 100. The number of assessments would be reduced, making them more important, while also aiming to enable more time for in-depth learning.
Some elements could be beneficial for our students, while others raise concerns. That’s why it is important our community engages in the consultation. Please note, however, that the Ministry’s video resources tend to present the proposals in a promotional style, which may influence responses. I encourage you to think critically about each part of the proposal before completing the survey.
You can read more and make your submission here: Ministry of Education consultation site.
Board Elections
A big thank you to those who have stepped forward for our Board of Trustees elections. Strong governance is vital to the success of our kura, and it’s encouraging to see such commitment from our community.
We encourage all parents to take part in voting. If you haven’t received an email link or are experiencing issues with online voting, please contact the school office for assistance. Voting closes at 4 pm on 10 September, with results confirmed on 16 September.
Senior Students
As our seniors approach the final stretch of the year, we recently held a special assembly to share some important reminders. We ask parents and caregivers to help reinforce these messages at home:
- Keep externals on your timetable. Even if you already have enough credits to pass, completing external exams shows commitment and challenge — qualities valued by employers and tertiary institutions.
- Plan to exceed requirements. If you are at risk of not gaining enough credits for NCEA or University Entrance, act now. Every year, some students find themselves short of the entry requirements for tertiary study. Don’t let this be you.
- Derived grade exams matter. These are vital practice, but also may be used if a student is unable to sit a final exam due to illness, accident, or extreme events. Prepare as if they are the real thing.
- Year 12 results count. Universities use Year 12 performance to make early entry and accommodation decisions, as Year 13 results are not yet available at the time. This makes Year 12 a very important year academically.
Kapa Haka Regionals
On Saturday, 16 August, our Kapa Haka group took to the stage at the Aurora Centre in Christchurch. The quality and variety of their performance were outstanding. Our rōpū devoted many days and nights to training, and their hard work and commitment shone through on the day.
A huge thank you to Benji, Nicole, and T for their expertise and dedication in guiding our ākonga to new levels over the past few months. Their leadership has enabled our group to flourish and deliver a polished, powerful performance.
Our team will continue to perform at a number of public events throughout the year. If you get the chance, I strongly encourage you to go along — their passion and talent are truly inspiring, and you will not be disappointed.
Thank You
Term 3 has been an especially busy one, filled with sporting, cultural, and academic opportunities. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our whānau, staff, and community volunteers. Thank you for the countless hours you contribute to supporting our students — it makes all the difference.
Kia tino pai tō wiki — have a great week.
Ngā mihi mahana,
Jason Reid
Principal
