THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18

 PRINCIPAL’S NOTICE

Tena koutou whanau ma – warm greetings to all.

Well, we have certainly had a quick start to the year. We are already at the close of week four and there doesn’t seem to be any sign that things are becoming less busy.

Legal matters

I want to bring you up to speed with several things that are happening in and around the school in the near future – some of it as our response to new laws and some of it our response to the commitment to continuous improvement.

The change of government last year has brought a change in expectations about how schools manage learning, and this is most visible to our whanau in two areas. The first is the legal requirement for schools to teach one hour reading, writing and maths each school day. It is important for us to understand that in our case, this will not mean much of a change in what you see happening here because we (like most schools) already have a strong emphasis in these areas. There are however, important things we can do to improve our learning programmes more, particularly to engage whanau more to support our reading and maths learning. We have a challenge before us to work together to get the very best results for our rangatahi and the impact of whanau support in things like home reading cannot be overstated.

The second thing is the new law that in essence bans students from having cell phones in class. The school needs to formulate a policy about this and the Board of Trustees is attending to this matter currently. We already do not permit students to have cell phones in class and it is likely that we will just proceed as normal in this way. For clarity, if students do bring a cell phone to school, they are asked to hand it in to the office at the beginning of the day, where it is then locked in our safe for protection. Students needing to contact whanau are always able to use the office phone, and whanau needing to contact students can be assured that by phoning the office, messages will be promptly passed on to students as necessary. The policy that we are required to have will reflect these basic processes.

Stewardship

I also want to ask for your support as we work together, encouraging our rangatahi into greater personal responsibility with regards to looking after the things we are blessed with. Most of our students, most of the time, demonstrate how careful they are to take care of resources and environment. Some however need more help to show that they value what is provided by those agencies who support our kura. For example, Kids Can resources (snack bars, fruit cups, shoes, jackets), Ka ora, Ka ako (School Lunches), Fruit In Schools (fresh fruit twice a week) and Kick Start Breakfast (Bread and Milk). We want to show how we value these things that are provided for our children by respecting food that is available and by looking after the things that are supplied, something that is unfortunately not happening well at the moment.

1 Timothy 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude.

Camp

Coming up in late March is a Year 7 to 13 Camp on Urupukapuka Island. This is an awesome camp for our students and teachers and is a valuable event that helps us draw close together and build stronger relationships in a beautiful part of God’s Creation. Look for the camp documentation that will be coming your way.

Psalm 146:6-10

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them—

    he remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed

    and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,

8     the Lord gives sight to the blind,

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,

    the Lord loves the righteous.

9 The Lord watches over the foreigner

    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever,

    your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Nga mihi mahana

David Rogers

KEY DATES:

IMPORTANT SCHOOL DATES

SCHOOL TERMS

 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Minutes: 

• Minutes 13th February 2024
• Minutes 17th October 2023
• Minutes 28 November 2023
  

TEACHERS NOTICES

PERMISSION SLIPS 

Reminder Parents & students 

Year 7-13 were given a notice/Permission slip for a camp at Urupukapuka Island for Monday 25th March and return Wednesday 27th March. We are asking if students please can return their permission slips in to their teachers as soon as possible. The sooner they are in the sooner Mr Prickett can confirm activities, transport and groupings.

Many blessings

SURVEY

Kia ora whanau,

Students in our Middle School are working this term to evaluate and redesign our school newsletter so that you are kept up to date with the learning and events etc that take place in our school. Please complete the 5 minute survey by clicking on the link below.

Feedback Survey!!

TOURISM ACADEMY

Congratulations to Danielle and Ocian, who have both been accepted into ITC’s Business of Tourism Academy, which is a year long course (one day a week) held at NorthTec Whangarei.

The course includes aviation industry training, adventure tourism, tour guiding presentations (cultural awareness and communication skills), sales and career preparation. They will also earn 30 credits towards their NCEA! (Perfect for two aspiring Flight Attendants!)

Bless you both on your learning journey – we are SO proud of you!

SPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEETBIX TRY CHALLENGE

On 12th March we are hosting the Weetbix TryChallenge which will be held at Lindvart Park. This is the event with the inflatable obstacles and breakfast at the end etc. We need 6 volunteers to help out between 9am and 10am. Our school students will be taking part in the event during this time period so it is a good opportunity for supportive whanau.

Thank you

Mike Shaw

CEO Celebration Trust

PO Box 235 – Kaikohe

Phone +64 9 405 3996

Cell     +64 21 842 302

www.heartofthenorth.co.nz

WHAT ARE ATTENDANCE DUES?

The Ministry of Education does not fund building related costs at our School. Attendance Dues are only used to pay for building related costs. They can not be used for any other purposes.  Paying Attendance Dues is a condition of enrolment for all students attending our School. Attendance Dues are compulsory – there is a legal requirement for parents and caregivers to pay Attendance Dues under the Education and Training Act 2020. They are not a donation.

Mike Shaw

CEO Celebration Trust

COMMUNITY NOTICES

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8-9