Wisdom through learning : Akona to matauranga kia mōhio 23 MARCH 2017 ATHLETICS DAY RESULTS AND RECORDS EXPLORING PARIS! YEAR 13s DISCOVER HISTORY IN AKAROA YEAR 9 CAMPS PTSA News The mornings are getting darker and the days I would personally like to thank Nikki King I see it as I want the best for my children, so are getting cooler. One never seems to have for her fabulous years as Chairperson. She why not get involved and help make decisions enough hours in the day! This is the reason has dedicated a lot of time to this position that can deliver the best. we like to keep our meetings on track and not (without any children at the school), and For those of you who forgot the AGM date, go on for hours. The AGM has been and gone is always an honest, hard-working and (or were scared you would get voted on with the new line up as follows: committed person. In thanking Nikki, we must to a position you didn’t want!) and would also give thanks to her extended family whom • Chairperson: Rhonda Hamilton-Cross now like to be involved in some way, please she has also dragged along to give help! I am contact me on ph 0210676950 or email: • Deputy Chairperson: Sally Whitwell so glad that she is staying on the committee [email protected]. as her humour keeps the meetings light- • Secretary: Leanne Hughes hearted! The next meeting will be held on 16 May • Treasurer: Ann-Clare McGregor at 7.45 pm in the Darfield High School The PTSA is a major cog in the wheel of the staffroom. • Committee: Nikki King, Annemieke running of the school. It is the one place that Thomas, Sue Simcox, and David Galletly you get to hear the Board Report, Principal's I look forward to hearing from you. Report, students' concerns, teacher concerns • Teacher Representatives: Rhonda Hamilton-Cross and parents’ concerns all in the one night. We Camille Cartman and Penny Munro are the connection. • Student and Board Rep: Rachael Phillipson IMPORTANT NOTICE DHS DISPATCH welcomes any news or FROM DARFIELD POLICE: photographs you have from events our Outside the school on McLaughlins Road, is a no stopping zone. students have attended outside of school. We love to hear about and share successes We need parents to observe the ‘No Parking or Stopping Zone’ between the School’s front and interesting stories. gate and bus bay. To keep students safe, we need this area clear before and after school. There are signs indicating the restrictions. Please email: [email protected] Opposite Darfield High School on McLaughlins Road, car parks are marked out and broken Black and white paper copies are available yellow lines are painted outside residents' driveways. Please ensure you park within the from reception or Student Administration. allocated carparks and not in front of residents’ driveways. Colour and back copies can be ordered The carparks outside the school hall are reserved for staff and visitors coming by emailing the above address. Please into the school. enquire for cost. Your co-operation in this matter is appreciated. There is usually plenty of space around the Advertising: If you would like to advertise bend towards Bangor Road, or south-west on McLaughlins Road. in our newsletter, please email for more information. 7 McLaughlins Road PO Box 5 Darfield 7541 New Zealand [email protected] www.darfield.school.nz Phone: +64 3 318 8411 Fax: +64 3 318 8543 Copyright: You are welcome to reproduce material from the newsletter after gaining permission from the school. All reproduced material must be appropriately acknowledged. Photos of school events can be found on our website and may be downloaded for personal use only. There is a download icon at the right of each photo. 2 23 MARCH 2017 Principal’s Comments What do high achievers have in common? It is counter-intuitive, but high achievement is not strongly related to natural talent or intelligence. The attributes that feature most strongly in relation to outstanding achievement in any area are passion and perseverance. In the last newsletter I discussed perseverance. Passion, however, seems to be less well understood and leads to a concern about feeling inadequate if we don’t have something to be passionate about. We are often told to find our passion or follow our passion. Posters claim PAL’S AW “It’s not work, it’s my passion” or “Do what you love, love what you do”. NCI ARD PRI S The problem is that passion is often portrayed as being like fireworks—an intense and mind-blowing emotion. However, often we don’t experience it like this. In her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Lee Duckworth defines passion as: Congratulations to the following students • Enthusiasm and interest (but these are not enough on their own) who have earned five Deans Awards. They are • Dreams and goals (future plans) presented with a certificate in assembly and • Intensity of commitment (forgoing other things to pursue an interest) receive a $10 voucher. • Endurance over time (sticking at it) This seems to be something more realistic and also something that can be developed. It can take time to figure out what we want to do with our lives. Andre A’Court A lot of things seem uninteresting until you start doing them and realise there are many facets you didn’t know at the start. “Passion for something is Brianna Longdin a little bit of discovery, followed by a lot of development, and then a lifetime Natalia Little of deepening.” Rebecca Manifold The process of interest discovery can be messy, serendipitous and inefficient. Before a passion is developed, we may need to muck around with a variety Kathy Muckle of activities. Many students will be at discovery phase and have a number of Charlotte Roberts developing interests; that’s OK. They should keep trying new things but be prepared to stick at some things for a while until a firm interest grows. Molly Batstone See also TED Talk: Tamzin Brunton www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_ Issy Kennedy perseverance Jessica Henderson Lachlan Daly James Morris Daylight Savings ends 3.00 am on 2 April 2017 Around School Congratulations! Spotted at the International BBQ lunch. You two have won an Around School Prize. See Mrs Watson on Monday. Clocks go back one hour ISSUE 3 / DHS DISPATCH 3 Class Councillors and Deputies Form Councillor Deputy The School Council was formed to provide a body through which students could take some part in the broader government of the 7SJ Quin Mitchell Grace Flett school. Its main focus is directly and indirectly the welfare of the 7CC Lily Payton Mason Thompson students, but it also takes opportunities as they arise, to help others. 7PL Abbi Wilson Louis Ridgen The School Council meets at least once a month; each class councillor 7KK Brooke Summerfield Isla Blaber-Hunt must come to the meetings or send the deputy if they are absent. 8MP Manaia Davies Millie Wilson The School Councillor and the Deputy School Councillor are people 8AJ Olly Blackburn Oscar Gosling who: 8KH Liberty Smith Wilson Bell • Are interested in the job 8JN Hamish Thornley Sophie Dance • Are prepared to attend School Council meetings 8CT Charlotte Moana Lexie Sinclair 8AN Tess Jenkins Molly Mannering • Are able to, and are prepared to, express their own views orally 9MC Arthur Oakley Devon Buck • Are able to, and are prepared to, canvass the views of their class 9ME Issy Kennedy Emily Cullen • Are able to, and are prepared to, represent the views of their class 9SG Sophie Clarke Isaac Earl at the School Council 9VR Matt Ashworth Campbell Barrett • Are able to report the views and decisions of the School Council 10BG Brianna Longdin Alex Jones to their class 10HA Rebecca Inch Ben Sharp • Are able to, and prepared to, take action to see through the 10 NK Cameron Mills projects that the School Council takes on 10MB Anika Fouchee Cameron O'Donnell • Are part of a team that takes action to enhance the school 10NV Harry Williamson Rozlyn Doherty environment 11GC Kate Morris Hanako Wilson • Have the respect and confidence of the majority of their class 11MI Brodie Wanhalla Maddie Beardsmore so that they will be supported as they do the work of the School 11EV Michelle Bruce Jemma Dalley Councillor 11PN Terry Robertson Tom Welch • Are honest and have integrity; are reliable, responsible and well 11PF Savarnnah Taylor Thomas Grafton organised 12RS George Brown Shae Read • Will help to set a positive school tone; have the respect and 12MJ Isaac Newbigging Kerryn Tomlinson confidence of their Form Teacher 12LG Adriana Cornelissen Laura Wong • Will support the policies and uphold the traditions of the school 12BA Natasha Young Esther Blain • Will represent the class and the School well when necessary 13SH James Thornley Hadyn Rose 13BE John Laws Tom Gullery This year's Councillors were announced in assembly this week and received their badges (below). 13CQ Brogan Baldwin Head Gus Thomas and Rachael Phillipson Students 4 23 MARCH 2017 Boxing Success at Teen Ag Competition Michael Marvin (above) has been training for three years with the Burnham Boxing Club and last weekend he took part in his first fight as a registered boxer at an event held at the Cashmere Club in Christchurch. Michael was very proud to be placed second in the Under 34kg Mini Cadet male final for Canterbury. His opponent on the day was Kwahli Beauchamp (son of Nort Above: Brooke McKay and Tom Welch Beauchamp—a NZ boxer with many titles to his name).