Parent Newsletter – Term 1 Week 4: Wednesday 20 February 2019.

Tēnā koutou

Bells are a necessary evil in most schools, helping people to get to classes on time for what’s usually an explanation of how the lesson will work - miss this and time gets wasted or confusion sets in. We have had no bells this year (we ordered a new system in November last year but the local contractor let us down) and many students have been late to class. The bells should be up and running this week and we will need a renewed push for all students to be in class on time.

I’ve had some great conversations with senior students about learning recently, and enjoyed meeting the many new students. We do have a small group of students whose behaviours are challenging for everyone, and we’re working to address that, but the great majority of students have a really strong positive culture.

I’ve been reading “The Education Conversation” from the Ministry of Education and I’m impressed with the thinking. There is a very open commitment to large scale change in the school system and my reading at this stage is that it could be better for us by:

Improving resourcing overall with a focus on dealing with equity issues (eg low income households, isolation) which do affect us

Simplifying and supporting governance (Boards) so that they can focus on achievement

Dealing with alternative education and the problems of transitions between schools

Improving access to and quality of education for students with disabilities and different abilities

Improving teacher training and some aspects relating to recruitment and retention of teachers

Aiming to separate politics from education and improve the functions of some education agencies.

There are other aspects with less relevance to us, such as reducing competition between schools, and there is still lots of detail to read. But the Ministry are looking for feedback and the more voices they hear looking for support for rural/isolated schools the better. Check education.govt.nz for more.

Noho ora mai Andy England Principal

Important Dates Wednesday 20 February:

Year 11 Parents Evening in the Library, 7-8.00pm.

Tuesday 5 March: GHS Athletics Day.

What’s inside… Front page: From the

Principal.

Page 2: School Flag Protocol / 2019 BoT Elections / Double parking warning.

Page 3: School Calendar / Uniform Shop / PTA Meetings / Found.

Pages 4-5: School News.

Pages 6-8: Careers Education & Guidance.

Page 9: Sporting News.

Page 10: ‘Super Smash Bros’ information.

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School Flag Protocol – raising & lowering Mawhera Services Academy (MSA) is responsible for both the raising and the lowering of our New Zealand flag each day. The flag represents loyalty to our country, respect for fallen military service personnel and it is a symbol of our shared history.

When the flag is being either raised or lowered, we ask that school staff, parents and students who are in the school entrance area will be asked to stand still until this is completed. You will hear the phrase "carry-on" and at this point you can continue on your way.

If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to contact Staff Lomey.

Staff Lomey Mawhera Services Academy

2019 Board of Trustee Elections In the coming months we will be calling for nominations for our School Board of Trustees.

The NZ School Trustees Association (NZSTA) is working very hard to encourage parent and whanau participation on school boards in order to help shape and support the education of their children. To that end, NZSTA will be rolling out the Korari Programme for anyone interested in finding out about standing for the school board elections and having a say in the education of their children.

There will also be the opportunity to participate in NZSTA workshops for the Korari Programme in March/April this year.

Warning! Double parking outside the school is not permitted. It is not a drop off zone – it’s a cycle lane! We’ve had complaints about double parking outside the school in the cycle lane. Please don’t do this. Be warned, you could well be fined.

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School Calendar

February Wednesday 20 February Year 11 Parent meeting, 7-8.00 pm in the Library.

Thursday 21 February Year 13 Tourism visit to Jade Factory,

Tuesday 26 February WCSS Senior touch, Hari Hari.

March Tuesday 5 March GHS Athletics Day @ Anzac Park.

Wednesday 6 March 7.00pm GHS BoT meeting in Te Whare Akoranga.

Thursday 7 March GHS Athletics Postponement Day.

Monday 11 & Tuesday 12 March 9NZL Punakaiki Observation Trip.

Tuesday 12 March West Coast Athletics Day.

Wednesday 13 March 7.00pm GHS PTA meeting in the staffroom. All welcome.

Thursday 14 March 3.30-4.00pm Learning Support Coordinator meeting with Whanau re Reader/Writer in Years 9 & 10.

Year 12/13 History Trip to Shantytown.

Student Absences: 0800 GREYHIGH (0800 473 944)

Email: attendance@greyhigh.school.nz

Lunchtime Maths Tutorials starting this week. Every Thursday in Room 1. All students welcome.

Uniform Shop Hours

1.45pm to 4.45pm – Tuesday and Thursday.

School Jacket Pricing Unfortunately we have received a price increase on our jackets. We have therefore had to increase our jacket pricing to $120.00 effective from Monday 4 February 2019.

Greymouth High School Parent Teacher Association ALL are welcome and especially our families new to Greymouth High School. PTA meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday of each month @ 7.00pm in the staffroom except during school holidays. Dates are as follows unless otherwise advised. 13 March 10 April 8 May 12 June July – No meeting 14 August 11 September October – No meeting 13 November

Found – a Baby G watch has been found at school in a classroom. This can be claimed from the School Office.

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School News School APP We now have a Mobile App for important School messages. To download the app click this link. http://greymouthhigh.apps.school.nz/share/ School app is very useful for sending student absences, permission for school trips, reading daily notices and newsletters.

International Science opportunities for Year 12 and 13 students. Greymouth High students can apply to attend international science and technology events, supported by a Talented School Students Travel Award. Science opportunities include US International Space camp, London International Youth Science Forum, Science camps in Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Norway and Israel.

Applications close Thursday 14 March 2019.

Apply online https://royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/talented-school-students-travel-award/2018-international-science-opportunities-for-year-12-and-year-13-students/

YouthEnviroleaders Forum 2019 applications now open! The Sir Peter Blake Trust is seeking 55 secondary students (Year 11-13) who are passionate about the environment and keen to make a positive difference to join them for a fully-funded, week-long leadership adventure in Waikato and Rotorua from 12-18 April.

Sponsored by the Ministry for the Environment, this year's Youth EnviroLeaders Forum (YELF) is a hands-on programme where students will learn about topical environmental issues, including climate change, marine and freshwater health and biodiversity decline, and develop strategies to address them.

Working with other like-minded young people from all over New Zealand, YELF delegates will develop new leadership skills while taking part in field trips, workshops, outdoor adventures and getting out on the water. They will leave YELF fired up, with improved leadership capabilities and inspired to create change!

Applications close at midnight on 22 February. Apply online https://sirpeterblaketrust.org/youth-enviroleaders-forum

Do You Have an Older Style Chromebook Bag - which you could donate to the school please? Our supply of bags for our bank of spare chromebooks in the library is dwindling due to fatigue. Please leave at the office if you can help.

Thank you Library Staff

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Mathematics Competitions The University of Otago Junior Maths Competition will be held on Wednesday 3rd April. This mathematics competition is for students in years 9 to 11. The competition lasts for one hour and in this time students answer up to six questions with an emphasis on problem-solving. Entries can be made at the school office by Wednesday 6th March. Cost $5.00 For further information, please see Mrs Cropp or visit https://www.maths.otago.ac.nz/jmc/

This year students will also have the opportunity to enter the Great Kiwi Competitions, ICAS and Australian Maths Competitions. Details to come in future newsletters.

Talent Show Grey District Council and Grey District Youth Trust are holding a talent show in Greymouth’s Town Square on Saturday 6th April. Student who are interested in participating, can pick up forms from the Student Office at school. Forms can also be found on the Grey District Council’s website and Facebook page.

Te Matatini kit e Ao (biennial nationals for kapa haka) Lisa Tau, Year 12, is a member of a seven strong group of performers from the West Coast who will be standing as part of Te Ahikaaroa from Christchurch, one of three teams representing Te Waipounamu (South Island). For the group this has meant regular trips to Christchurch to gain the disciplines associated with competing in kapa haka at this level. You can catch up with this event on Māori TV, February 21 @ 5.00pm.

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Careers Education & Guidance

Otago University on Campus Experience for Year 13 students of Māori descent Applications are now open for the On Campus Experience (OCE), which is a wonderful opportunity for Year 13 Māori secondary school students to explore the University of Otago and the city of Dunedin. The OCE scholarship provides each successful applicant with return airfares to Dunedin, accommodation, meals and activities.

Students will have the opportunity to attend lectures in their areas of interest, as well as meet academic staff and current students. They will experience life in a Residential College, and meet the Māori Centre staff, who provide great support for Māori students when they come to Otago.

All applicants should be students who are completing an appropriate programme at secondary school level, which will lead them to meet University Entrance.

Successful OCE students will be selected to attend one of two OCE programmes in 2019 (the one application will cover both dates).

First OCE 5 - 9 May 2019 (includes Tertiary Open Day)

Second OCE 9 – 13 June 2019. Applications are to be completed online:

http://www.otago.ac.nz/future-students/oce.html

Applications Close: 5.00 pm Friday 15 March

Career Central parent login instructions

Career Central is an online platform that organises and stores students’ career information in one place, providing 24/7 access on any device by parents, students, teachers and Careers Department staff. Career Central provides information to empower non-careers staff and parents to have career conversations with students.

Although we have a number of ways in which the GHS Careers Department engages with students, parents, families, whānau and the wider community, we are promoting Career Central as the main platform for doing this. Parents, guardians, families and whānau are able to access information about their children’s career development, career events such as career expos, university liaison visits, and the range of different career related opportunities that arise through the year. In particular, parents, guardians and whānau will be able to see the career goals their children are setting for themselves to help them to work alongside their children.

The following link takes you to the Career Central web page https://careercentral.school.nz/parents-and-caregivers/ for more details.

Parent login instructions

The following screenshots illustrate how to log in to Career Central. If you require further support to login, please do not hesitate to contact one of the following members of the Pastoral/Careers team as follows:

John De Goldi, Careers Advisor. Email; degoldij@greyhigh.school.nz

Kiri Russell, Kaitakawaenga. Email; russellk@greyhigh.school.nz

Access Career Central webpage through the GHS webpage by clicking on the tab called Careers Education and Guidance.

Step One – Click on

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Step Two – Click on CAREERS EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE

Step Three – Click on

You may also access Career Central via the GHS school App or directly by clicking on the following link https://careercentral.school.nz/parents-and-caregivers/

Step Two - Log in to Career Central via the Parent login Students log in using their own username and password however parents, guardians, families and whānau are encouraged to use the parent login.

Click the Select School tab and select Greymouth High School

Enter your user ID and password

Your User ID is the Student ID which can be found at the top of the screen when you log into the Kamar portal and the password is the same as for your Kamar login.

If you have trouble accessing these please contact the school and we can help.

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Considering taking a gap year and volunteering overseas in 2020? Lattitude Global Volunteering is a youth development organisation, offering New Zealanders the opportunity to take part in highly supported and structured international volunteer work placements. Specialising in placements for young New Zealanders aged 17-25, Lattitude Global Volunteering offer 4 different workplace roles in 11 countries around the world.

Here is YOUR chance to live life a little more extraordinary! Come along to the Lattitude Global Volunteering information night to find out more. Applications are now open for departures in 2020. First application round will close on the 29th April 2019 An information night will be held in Greymouth on 21st March at

CoRe 38 Albert Street, Greymouth, 7:00pm - 8:30pm https://lattitude.org.nz/useful-info/attend-info-night/ Link to register seats here: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/international-gap-year-greymouth-info-night-tickets-55728959819

Paper and Decorating Apprenticeship opportunity. A local painting and decorating firm is keen to provide a training opportunity for person willing and keen to begin a career in this sector. For further information about this please contact Mr De Goldi via Career Central or email.

General information about Painting and Decorating apprenticeships can be found by clicking on this link https://bcito.org.nz/apprenticeships/careers/painting-decorating/

Further Training opportunity - Cadetship at Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre The Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre is seeking expressions from students interested in the fulltime Cadet course. Further information is available on the Careers Education and Guidance website and also through Career Central app.

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Sporting News West Coast Netball Season Dates:

April 6th, 13th and 27th Grading NO Netball June 1st (Queen’s Birthday Weekend) Finals August 31st NOTE: Depending on the grade some teams will play throughout the school holidays, will know

this after grading.

Football/Soccer Registration In 2018 the men’s and women’s competitions saw 4 teams in each division battle it out for a very exciting season, if you would like to join one of the local football teams on the West Coast please register your details at www.westcoastfootball.org.nz or if you would like more information please contact westcoastseniorfootball@gmail.com

Tournament Week Information Are you interested in representing Greymouth High School during tournament week in 2019? This year we are hoping to send away teams in Netball, Basketball, Hockey, Football, Rugby and Rugby League. If any of these sports take your fancy please contact Maddy and register your interest. There will be trials for ALL teams and these trials will be advertised through the Sports Hub Facebook Page, School Notices and School Newsletter.

NOTE: Students can ONLY attend one sports tournament due to being at the same time in different location around the country. EXCEPTION: Junior Netball players can attend another tournament as this tournament is during the July school holidays. There are some other exceptions we do make for students to attend two tournaments, however this must be discussed with Maddy prior to trials.

Maddy Crawford Sports Coordinator

Suburbs Rugby League Registrations are this Thursday 21st from 4:30pm-5:30pm at the Suburbs Clubrooms, Karoro Domain. We welcome all players from all grades and if any players are unable to make it but want to play they can contact me by email or cell. Kayla.hibbs@icloud.com / 0276024824

Kotare Netball Club We are looking for Junior & Secondary players for the 2019 Season. We are a fun club with a focus on Player Development. Kotare Netball Junior & Secondary trials are being held at the Westland Recreation Centre on Saturday 23rd February-2019, 10.00am to 11.30am. Any enquiries please contact: Gina – 022 034 7409 Or Lisa – 027 361 4520

School Air Pistol Shooting Team 2019 Have you thought of taking up pistol shooting as a sport and competing against other students from other schools throughout New Zealand? If you are interested in joining for 2019, please collect an application form from the Student Office. Limited spaces available.

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