Term 1 Issue 2 PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Mookori ano kia rere a mihi kia koutou katoa BOARD MEETING Welcome to all new students, staff and whaanau. Every year some teachers move on as do our senior students, but every Wednesday 31 March year we gain new and fresh faces amongst students and staff. I would like to welcome all of our new students, and 6.30pm the new teachers we were lucky enough to employ, who have introduced themselves later in this newsletter. ENROLMENT ZONE Covid-19 COMMUNITY We are all hoping that 2021 will be a year of progress – the bright new decade that we looked forward to last year, rather CONSULTATION than the disruption, anxiety and tension we all experienced in Maria Maniapoto from the 2020. However, COVID-19 is still around and we have to Ministry of Education will be available remain vigilant and mindful of it. We have been tested twice already this term, with two Level 3 Lockdowns for to answer questions. that impacted on us as border schools. However, our Auckland based teachers now all have passes and we coped with as little disruption as possible. We all hope that there are no further Lockdowns, but know that if this happens, we Reporting are prepared. We are returning to Engagement Reporting on student Parent and Community events progress through KAMAR and a follow up with a Report A number of new initiatives are underway this year. We tried evening when whaanau can discuss the specifics of the a new way of ‘Meeting the Teachers’ by holding a students’ progress with each teacher. Watch out for the Community Engagement evening and bringing in a guest interview booking emails soon. The end of term Catch Up speaker. There was a great turn out of people who enjoyed Day is designed to try to promote responsible attitudes to our student performances, the Team NZ sailing victory on study and task completion in our students. A big part of our our biggest screen, and an inspiring talk from David Letele strategic goal is teaching students to self-manage and (aka the Brown Buttabean). encouraging an approach to learning with academic rigour. CONT’ OVER PAGE

Kaupapa whakatauki: KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY " Amohia ake te ora o te Iwi" The wellbeing of the peo- ple is paramount. (said by Kiingi Tuheitia) Wed 31 March Mon 3 May Board Meeting TERM 2 STARTS Learning whakatauki: Fri 2 Apr Tue 11 May " Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, noona te ngaahere. Good Friday Writers Festival—Year 8 Ko te manu e kai ana i te matauranga, noona te Ao" The bird who feasts on the miro berry, theirs is the Mon 5 Apr Wed 12 May forest. The bird who feasts on knowledge, theirs is the Easter Monday Careers Evening Event world. Tue 6 Apr Fri 14 May Easter Tuesday Cross Country

Parent Teacher Interviews Wed 14 Apr Wed 19 May Wednesday 14 April Report Evening Teacher Only Day 3.30 — 6.30pm Fri 16 Apr Thu 27 May Appointments will be available online from 9th April TERM 1 ENDS Hearing and Vision Testing

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz Kahui Ako. PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE CONT’ The North collective of schools (which includes most Student Leadership of our main contributing schools, Te Kauwhata Primary, Our Year 13 students began the year with a Leadership Kimihia, Ohinewai, Mercer, and Waikaretu) is called Te Kaahui camp which challenged them in many ways. Natural leaders Ako Too Taatou Haerenga. They are all working together with emerged from this camp and the Head Students and other the College and the local Early Childhood Education Centres, Leaders were selected using the evidence gained from this to try to build seamless pathways for students through their experience. A similar process was used with the student learning levels. leaders of all the other year levels; this group now forms the Enrolment zone Student Council. A series of challenging activities, group- based tasks as well as interviews, ensures that we get the Consultation with schools affected by the establishment of an best student leaders for these roles. enrolment zone has taken place. We are discussing this at the next Board meeting, which is on Wednesday 31st March. If you Lunches have concerns or queries, please make a written submission We have been chosen as one of the schools to receive the to the Board. The Ministry of Education is making itself Free Healthy Lunches provided by the government. The aim available to discuss these, or to meet with interested parties at of this programme is not only to feed children, but to teach this Board meeting. If you wish to attend in person to meet them about healthy nutrition. We have an external provider with the MOE person, please let the school know on: who will manage this, so unfortunately our much-loved [email protected]. canteen will close. A letter about this is included further on in Ngaa mihi nui this newsletter. Deborah Hohneck

Free School Lunches Catch-Up Day

The government has created an initiative to Te Kauwhata College is introducing a new whole school initiative that is provide free school lunches to lower decile aimed at lifting the academic performance of our students and teaching them schools around . Te Kauwhata the importance of setting goals and completing tasks. This initiative is a Catch College has been selected as one of these -up Day. Catch-up Day will be held on the last day of Terms 1, 2 and 3. schools. The idea behind Catch-up Day will be to encourage students to complete all Last week, the school signed up with a tasks that are set during the term. If all tasks are finished, then students from company called Libelle to provide free lunches Years 9 – 13 will be allowed to have the last day of term off. Catch-up day for to all students in this school (this company will Year 7 & 8’s will work slightly differently. also provide lunches to Te Kauwhata Primary All Year 7 & 8 students will attend school on Catch-up day. However, the School). The free lunch initiative will start in the programme for this cohort will change on the day. The Year 7 & 8 teachers first week of Term 2. will plan a fun activities-based day for the students who have completed all of their work during the term. Students who have not completed work will be in Following the healthy food guidelines, Libelle class completing tasks. The Year 7 & 8 Homeroom teachers will contact you will provide lunches that cater for the dietary if your child is required to be in class on the day finishing incomplete work. needs of young people. They will also cater for Teachers will set very clear expectations that all work must be completed students who have special dietary throughout the term. Teachers will also communicate with home if this requirements. A form will be sent home for expectation is not met. If your child is not up to date with their schoolwork, families to indicate specific dietary needs very then communication with home will take place this term between the 31st soon. March and the 7th April. If you receive a phone call, email or letter from your child’s teacher, it will mean that they are expected to come to school on the In order to distribute the lunches and get them last day of term to complete their work during school time. An Engagement to our students so they are fueled for the day, Report will also be sent home prior to Catch-up Day and you will also have an we are going to shorten Period 2 by five opportunity to discuss your child’s progress at the Report Evening which will th minutes. Year 7 & 8 students will collect their be held on Wednesday 14 April. lunches from the Papakainga area and they There will be no bells rung on Catch-up day. Students who are expected to will be expected to eat their lunch in the Junior come in will set up times to work with their teachers. They can work at their playground area. Years 9 – 13 will collect their own pace and move to the next subject (if applicable) to complete tasks. If lunches from the canteen. There will be a line work is finished earlier than the end of the school day, students in Years 9 - set up for the Year 9 & 10’s and then one for 13 can arrange to go home. However, they must sign out before doing so. the Year 11 -13’s. Empty containers and food Catch-up day will also be a chance for our senior students to take part in scraps will need to be returned to the canteen workshops. These workshops will give senior students the opportunity to area, where pig bins and recycling containers spend a block of time working on tasks. These workshops will be of particular will be set up. value for senior students who take practical subjects. The canteen will no longer operate. If we want We hope that families/whanau will support this initiative and work with us to encourage the students at Te Kauwhata College to achieve their goals, lift this free lunch initiative to succeed, we need to their academic performance and complete tasks that are set throughout the teach our students the importance of healthy term. eating and encourage them to eat the food that is being provided at no cost. Students can still As I mentioned earlier, we will run Catch-up day in Term’s 1, 2 and 3. By bring their own food to school if they wish. The doing this it is hoped that the overall performance of our students will improve and we will imbed the idea that Te Kauwhata College has high expectations eating of the school lunches is encouraged but of all our students and that we want to work together in partnership with not something that will be enforced. It is the families/whanau, to achieve the very best results for our akonga. student’s choice. If you have any questions about Catch-up Day, you can contact the college There will be no need for students to go down on 8263715 and speak to one of the Senior Leadership Team members. town for lunch as the free lunch will be

provided.

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz Introducing our New Staff Brenda Buxton

Previous School/Job: Teacher Aide, Post Shop Manager Current role: Office Admin Assistant Career Highlight: Seeing students who I helped in year one move to TK College happily Enjoyed so far here at TK: Meeting all the amazing staff Looking forward to: Continuing to enjoy the job and people.

Rebecca Hunt Previous School/Job: High School. Also a qualified personal trainer who has run bootcamps and an online fitness platform Current role: P.E and Maths Career Highlight: Seeing students achieving and succeeding beyond what they thought was possible What you have enjoyed so far here at TKC: The people! Amazing staff and students, and the supportive culture of the school. What are you looking forward to while teaching/working here: Looking forward to getting to know more students every year.

Liz Macintosh Previous School/Career: Year 2-3 classroom teacher at school last year & Dairy cow vet at Franklin Vet Services TK before that. Current role: Mentor teacher R2, Year 7-8 Homeroom teacher and Year 9-10 Enterprise teacher. Career highlight: experiencing whanaungatanga in action within my classroom - a well functioning group of learners is so enjoyable to be a part of! Enjoyed at TKC so far: Becoming part of the TKC whaanau and taking part in extra-curricular activities Looking forward to: Further building positive relationships with my students to help them grow in who they are and what they can do.

Benny Pan Previous School/Job: Fraser High School in Hamilton What subject/ job you teach/do: I used to teach Junior and Senior Science at Fraser High School. Career Highlight: Walking in heavy rain with my students in the Maungatautari Forest Enjoyed at TK so far: Extremely supportive staff.

Rosemary Pritchard Previous School/Job: Rototuna Senior High School, Art teacher Current role: Art and English Career Highlight: Becoming HOD in my first teaching job at St Johns College, Hamilton Enjoyed at TKC so far: The support of my colleagues and the enthusiasm of my students to learn Looking forward to: Growing my professional knowledge and enabling students to strive for excellence in Visual Art, Photography & English.

SCHOOL HEALTH CLINIC Free Period Reminder for Students: Products Students have access to our School Health Clinic supplied via Pinnacle Midlands Health Network at Te Kauwhata College. Te Kauwhata College is part of a Government initiative to The School Nurse is on site Wednesday and Thursday, or can be contacted supply free period products by mobile/email on: to the school. Ph: 027 240 7919 Email: [email protected]. These products are available from the Student Centre. The Doctor is available on Wednesdays 10.30am to 12.30pm by appointment through the School Nurse or Student Centre.

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz Te Kauwhata College Community Meet the David’s speech to the community was inspirational and gave the audience an insight into his life journey. He told us about Teacher Evening his work with the South Auckland community and how it has changed the lives of many. Not only has David influenced The weather certainly played ball for the Te Kauwhata many hundreds of people to lose weight and get fit, but he College Community Meet the Teacher evening that was held has also provided food bags and support to many families on Wednesday 17th March. Thanks to the blue skies and who are struggling to survive on a day-to-day basis. The wonderful entertainment that was provided by students and ‘Good’ that David is doing in his community is something that our guest speaker, David Letele, the consensus from the we can all aspire to. many who attended was the evening was a great success. The goal for the evening was to bring the community Te Kauwhata Primary School Kapa Haka group were the first together. From the large number of people who attended, we group to entertain the crowd in our schools Main Street area believe that the school was able to achieve this goal. where they performed a variety of waiata. The audience thoroughly enjoyed their performance. We look forward to many more community evenings where everyone can come together, catch up with teaching staff and In between acts, a large TV screen was set up so that enjoy the talents of our wonderful students. America’s Cup race fans could watch what we hoped would be the final race. To the delight of the crowd, it was. The Angela Wallace jubilant crowd were then treated to a performance from our Deputy Principal very own Elvis Presley aka Jarrod Shirtcliffe. His rendition of Blue Suede Shoes had everyone tapping their toes.

The college’s school band O’Too performed a vibrant version of ‘Twist and Shout’. This was followed by solo vocal performances from Emma Donaldson and Eden Lowe.

Two Pasifika groups then took to the stage and wowed the audience with their dances and vibrant costumes. The Te Kauwhata College Kapa haka group also displayed their talents on the Main Street stage. The group then set up on the hall stage where they welcomed in our guest speaker, David Letele aka ‘The Brown Buttabean’.

Student Council - A Great Start to the Year for the Te Kauwhata College Student Council On Thursday, 18th March 2021, the Te Kauwhata College Student Council, which is made up of selected student leaders from Years 8 to 13, took part in the DHB Pathway Project. This is a course run by the Health Board that is designed to help student leaders grow, achieve goals, and make changes that will benefit the wider school community. This was the first meeting for the group as a council and the programme gave the students a chance to do team building activities and bond as a group. The students all agreed that this was an excellent way to start the journey as a council. All members now have a clear idea of what they want to achieve for their kura this year. As a group, the council created a colourful mural called ‘The Path to Success’, which has mapped out the steps that they will need to take in order to achieve their goals for 2021. The school is looking forward to seeing the group achieve the goals that they have set for the year.

By Kudrat Mast and Stephanie Butler

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz

TKC Swimming

TKC Athletics

The Big Day Out was held on the 19th February at the Te Kauwhata Domain. The day was about team work and making new friends. There were heaps of things to do and all of the students had so much fun. The activities included a waterslide, Capture the Flag, Zorb Balls and we played mixed games like Pick -Up Sticks, Jenga and Four by Four. We played Bat-down and made flax arrows. When we came back to school we had a sausage sizzle and a swim in the pool. It was a great day out. By: Te Maika, Gabriella and Riley-Jean

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE CONT’

PO Box 24, Te Kauwhata 3741 [email protected] @tekauwhatacollege

07 826 3715, Text (incl absences): 027 960 1750 www.tkcoll.school.nz

Free Dental Care for Secondary School Students

Contact information:

Huntly Dentist 07 828 7472, 156 Huntly Main Street, Huntly

Te Kauwhata Dentist 07 826 4557, 12 Main Road, Te Kauwhata

Ngaruawahia Dentist 07 824 9550, 3 Jesmond Street, Ngaruawhaia

~ Wheelie Bins ~ Front Load Bins ~ Gantry Skips ~ Huka Bins ~ ~ Yellow Bags ~ Recycling ~ Enviro Solutions ~ Te Kauwhata College is grateful to EnviroWaste for their support. Freephone: 0800 240 120 Tel: 07 850 2110