Parent Newsletter – Term 1 Week 5: Wednesday 28 February 2018

Kia ora koutou

Congratulations to our Maths teacher, Miss Sandra Hyslop, who recently won the Wairoa Extreme Race (kayaking) in the North Island. This is a highly regarded race involving technical and dangerous whitewater and the standard of competition is always high. I know how hard Miss Hyslop is working on Maths and Student Leadership too - the recent Peer Support “fashion show” was an excellent example of senior and junior students working creatively with staff.

We have some significant challenges coming in property:

Recently, one of our two boilers failed a test and will have to be replaced. This is a massive job as a new one has to be built and installed. We have worked with the Ministry of Education under urgency but we don’t expect our new boiler to be operational until 25 May. Boilers usually start running from around the start of May so there may not be a big issue, but we are planning from now to minimise discomfort.

The storm damage to our swimming pool roof will not be repaired as several other significant issues need to be addressed to bring the pool up to standard for ongoing use. Given that we are so close to the Aquatic Centre, and we’re very much a community-minded school, we have decided that the financial investment is not sensible and we are better to support the use of the Aquatic Centre. This means that we are sadly working with the Ministry of Education to close and dispose of our swimming pool (a process which can take 2 months to two years). I’m aware that many people in our community will have contributed to the life of our school pool over time and may want to mark that in some way before it is demolished: I’ll keep you posted of the timeline and we’re happy to hear from you. The vacated area is expected to become off-street car-parking.

Our Board has committed funds to classroom improvements in rooms 7-14. These have been delayed due to so many other property jobs but are still planned for this year.

The news coverage of Tai Poutini Polytechnic this week has been alarming, although it also makes clear that the whole polytechnic sector is currently in trouble. We have a strong relationship with TPP, both through our Trades Academy and other ways, and we support the work they are doing to address the historic issues identified. It’s clear that many of our students look to TPP for ongoing training for work, or to support their next step in education, so we will always need a strong tertiary education option fully focused on and based in our community. While the planning for the future happens, we have confidence in the learning experiences our students are gaining at TPP and look forward to ongoing collaboration.

Ngā mihi

Andy England Principal

Important Dates Tuesday 6 March: School

Athletics @ Anzac Park.

Wednesday 7 March: GHS Board of Trustees meeting @ 7.00pm.

Wednesday 14 March: GHS PTA meeting @ 7.30pm in the staffroom.

What’s inside… Front page: From the

Principal / Important Dates.

Page 2: School Calendar.

Page 3: School News.

Pages 4-5: Sporting News.

Page 6: New School App.

Page 7: West Coast Te Rito Violence Network: Lesley Elliott visit, Tuesday 6 March @ 7.00pm in Coxon Hall.

Page 11: Hands Up for Hope: Mike King, 12 March, 7.00pm in Coxon Hall.

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School Calendar

March

Tuesday 6 March GHS Athletic Sports @ Anzac Park. Parents/caregivers welcome.

Wednesday 7 March 7.00pm – GHS Board of Trustees meeting in Te Whare Akoranga.

Friday 9 March NZ Army Band visit. Year 12 & 13 Driver Education

Tuesday 13 March NCEA Information Evening. More details later.

Wednesday 14 March West Coast Schools Athletics. GHS Parent Teacher Association, 7.30pm in the staffroom.

Thursday 22 March Year 9 & 10 Parent/Teacher meetings, 5.00-8.00pm. More details later.

Wednesday 28 March Year 11-13 Parent/Teacher meetings, 5.00-8.00pm. More details later.

Friday 30 March – Tuesday 3 April

Easter Holiday break.

April

Wednesday 4 April 7.00pm – GHS Board of Trustees meeting in Te Whare Akoranga.

Wednesday 11 April GHS Parent Teacher Association, 7.30pm in the staffroom.

Friday 13 April End of Term 1.

Monday 30 April Beginning of Term 2.

Student Absences: 0800 GREYHIGH (0800 473 944) Email: attendance@greyhigh.school.nz

Uniform Shop OPEN Tuesday & Thursday, 2.00-5.00pm during term time. Located in the gym quad off Marlborough Street.

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 @ 7.30pm in the staffroom except during school holidays. Dates are as follows unless otherwise advised.

14 March 11 April 16 May 13 June July – no meeting 15 August 12 September 17 October 14 November December TBA

Greymouth High School PTA Raffle We need helpers for a raffle at New World.

1-hour slots available from 9.00am to 7.00pm on Saturday 10th March, Saturday 17th March & Thursday 5th April.

Please contact Raylene on 027 2266 719 to confirm a time.

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School News Parent Teacher Association The PTA needs you! Come along to the staffroom on Wednesday 14th March @ 7.30pm. Drinks and nibbles provided. Email: michellekeene75@gmail.com if you want to know more about it, or just come along. All welcome. Hope to see you there. Breakfast Club Tuesday & Thursday, 8.30-8.40am in TEF. (This will be operating at the sports day in the morning).

Maths Competition The University of Otago Mathematics Competition will be held on Wednesday 4th April. Anyone in Year 9 to 11 is eligible to enter. Cost is $5 to be paid at the student office by Thursday 22nd March. For further information ask your maths teacher.

Careers - 2018 Liaison Visits and other Activities of Interest

Date Provider Venue Time Thursday 5th April University of

Canterbury presentation.

Library Annexe 9.50am – P2

Monday 16th May Otago University Liaison visit.

Library Annexe 9.50am – P2

Gateway Students Activities of Interest 2018 Date Activity Venue Time

Monday & Tuesday 26th & 27th March

Health & Safety Course.

C3 9.00am – 3.00pm

Gateway Placement. There are places available if you wish to do a Gateway Placement. Please come and talk to Jo Russell if you are interested.

Knitting Club Come and join in with some staff and students on Monday’s at lunchtime from 1.15pm in the Library. If you would like to learn how to knit, we can teach you and can even supply some wool and needles to get you started. All welcome. Bring a friend too if you like. It’s great fun to learn something new.

International Science Opportunities for Year 12 & 13 students Students who are genuinely interested in science and want to go on to study science at a tertiary level then we have some wonderful international science opportunities available. Please visit: International Science Opportunities for Year 12 and Year 13 students Applications close on 14 March.

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Sporting News

Basketball Team Announcements

Senior A Girls (Tournament Team) Coach: Cameron Birchfield, Asst Coach: Jye Dey. Training: Tuesday 6.00-7:30pm. Ella Bennett, Jenna Stenhouse, Jenna Williams, Jessie Trevathan, Mila Rose, Ruby Roberts, Teighan Heney, Tess Beirne, Tyra Jamieson, Zoey Markland. Senior/Junior Girls (GHS Rata) Coach: Bailey Williams, Asst Coach: TBC, Manager: Tanya Williams. Trainings: TBC Brooklyn Arnesen, Emma Boddy, Jordyn Solomon, Kayla Topliss, Keely Gorrie, Lana Gorrie, Mackenzie Dawson, Puni Moananu, Rubie Williams, Seani Eastman, Tierley Wilson, Vanessa McCallum. Junior A Girls (Tournament Team) Coach: TBC, Manager: TBC Training: TBC Aleece Harris, Allie Vaughan, Ashley Mallett, Ella Beirne, Ella Rae-Wood, Jamelia Kitchin, Kiesha MacDonald, Madison Rihari, Samara Uriao, Samantha Friend. Senior A Boys (Tournament Team) Coach: Matthew Wood, Asst Coach: Euan Barrow. Training: Tuesday 3:30-5:30pm. Bailey Russ, Cory Kurth-Brown, Kaia Sinnott, Jack Olsen, Matthew Robbins, Phaze Dry, Tyrone Mahia, Sam Selcraig, Sam Welsford, Zeal Mikaere-Calvert. Senior Boys (GHS Bucks) Coach: NEEDED, or someone to run them on game night. Training: TBC Alex Le Vaillant, Ben Willman, Francis Chapman, Fred Christian, Jared Cutbush, Kaha Matenga, Lance Wylie, Mason Hunt, Riley Pascoe, Ronan Bradford. Junior A Boys (Tournament Team) Coach: Liam Williamson, Manager: Cindy Newton. Training: Thursday 3:30-5.00pm Aiden Simon, Jono Palmer, Joseph Cotterill, Kaia Beal, Kieran De Klerk, Luke Morgan, Nic Campbell, Ryan Newton, Sam Johnson, Theo Barnett. Junior Boys (GHS Thunder) Coach: Jack Olsen, Manager: Monny Robbins. Training: Monday 5.30-6.30pm MAC Gym Alex Fraser, Dayton McStay, Dominic Cate, Lakin Sutton, Liam Efford, Jack South, Jayden Topliss, Joshua Robbins, Reuben Dibben, Peter Bradley-Key. Junior Boys (GHS Warriors) Coach: Ruby Roberts and Tyra Jamieson, Manager: Jody Jamieson. Training: Monday lunchtime, New Gym Cam Malloch, Connor Henderson, Gage Jamieson, Niko Barnett, Liam Barrett, Isaac Kirk, Jayden Smith, James Crooks, Joel Dumelow. GHS Junior Netball Trials When: Monday 5th March Time: 3:10pm (max of 2 hours) Where: New GHS gym

If you cannot attend but wish to be considered for a team you must contact Maddy asap (either in office at new gym or via email: sport@greyhigh.school.nz

There will be a second trial date (day and time to be confirmed)"

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A Grade Men’s and Women’s play Friday evenings and B Grade Men’s and Women’s play Wednesday evenings. All games are played at the Westland Recreation Centre. All players are expected to have a turn at refereeing (B Grade or primary level depending on level they play at) if you cannot referee the week you have been put down for you must find a replacement for yourself. We will be running compulsory referee sessions to get all players more confident and up to speed with refereeing. Please note fees are $80 per player, these fees must be paid to the school by the 4th May. If you would like to sort out a payment plan for the fees please contact the school office.

Team Sign Ups Please keep an eye on the notices for various team sign up announcements, to be considered for a team you first MUST sign up first at the new gym. Some teams, like tournament teams will be having trials to pick the strongest team to represent Greymouth High School away - unfortunately this means not everyone will be chosen. Please do not take offense as it is very hard to pick players for these teams with the many talented students we have at school.

Payment and Consent Forms for Trips For your child to attend a trip the payment and consent form MUST be paid and returned by the date stated on the parent letter. Without both of these your child will not be attending. There are various methods to how you can pay for trips, please contact the office to find out about these. Maddy Crawford Sports Coordinator

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New School App for you to download.

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