Taupo-nui-a-Tia College 2019 Tauponapona Issue 60 Adams, Eleanor Ali, Jarvis Anderson, Andreanelli, Alice Aramoana-Puhi, Aramoana, Baguley, Jessica Georgia Kasey Hohua Balanay, Mary Barber, Matthew Bayley, Hugo Bishop, Thomas Blake, Dylan Bohan, Mia Bolina, Jagvirsingh Bowles, Jordan Bradley, Sarah Brinsdon, Isabella Briscoe, Luke Brown, Ariyah Burgess, Campbell, Riley Maria-Rose Carrie, Stephanie Carter, Jacob Chamberlain, Church, Leeroy Clark, Kayla Collins, Nathan Connon, Rebecca Matthew Corban, Soel Cordell, Alex Crofskey, Bailey Cryns, Amber-lee Cunningham, Cuthbert, Cuttance, James Jack Rayvonne Davis, Lorraine Del Grande, Doig, Atarau Dong, Leon Dunlop, Abbie Dunstall, Samuel Elliott, Grace Mattia Feuillade, Loea Figgins, Seffi e Fotu, Glory Fotu, Grace Fraser, Hayden Galicia, Bougette Gidlow, John Golebiowski, Golebiowski, Golebiowski, Gray, Tatiana Haika, Te Oranga Halpati, Krunal Hansen, Harai Hannah Lucy Sarah Harbidge, Lily Harrison, Jordyn Hawkes, Lucy Head, Caitlin Hilton, Olivia Hira-Kapua, Hofmann, Sophia Quantelle Hogan, Lachlan Howell, Hannah Hura, Maia Hutching, Tea Insley, Ben Isaacs, Mark January-Allison, Dylan-Nicole Johnson, Jarrel Jonen, Christoph Jones, Cory Jones, Lexus Jones, Samantha Julian, Caitlyn Kaehler, Jost Karauti, Matthew Keemss, Judith Keith, Cullen King, Terryn Kirkpatrick, Kirkpatrick, Tre Kremmer, Raven Madison Melissa Morris Year 13 Table of Contents Cover Art: Amanda Fechney Year 12 Another successful year for subjects being siloed and a lost opportunity to truly Taupo-nui-a-Tia College utilize the spirit of the New Zealand Curriculum. is quickly drawing to a Likewise, I would like to see ERO align their review close. I would like to begin process to the New Zealand Curriculum’s vision of by congratulating our students being confi dent, connected, actively involved Year 13 students for their lifelong learners opposed to their unrelenting focus on contribution to the positive “weighing the pig.” school environment. The Alongside the academic life of the college lie the leadership they have shown Wellbeing goals the college has focused on this in all aspects of school life year. While the term ‘Wellbeing’ has become a little has been impressive. This hackneyed, building a safe and caring school climate includes student wellbeing, environmental issues, that deters bullying should be the aim of every school house competitions and a range of sport and in the country. I was heartened to note that over cultural activities. More importantly this group of 90% of parents surveyed felt we are providing a safe students have modelled our Cornerstone Values and and caring environment for their children. In stating demonstrated “how we roll around here”. We share that, this survey results also indicated that there is still with you the many and varied achievements of our work to be done. The Wellbeing committee this year PRINCIPAL’S REPORT PRINCIPAL’S young people and I am sure you will be impressed has focused on promoting the college’s Cornerstone with the calibre of student Taupo-nui-a-Tia College Values and seeking student voice to develop and produces. promote strategy to prevent bullying. I would like to This year saw the introduction of 90-minute periods. thank Leeanne Mason and Heulwen Simm for the This was to enable plans for an integrated curriculum work they have done in this area. over the next few years. The feedback received from The Taupo Community of Learning (Kahui Ako) is this change was extremely positive with over 80% of in its 4th year of operation. There are now 15 schools students and parents liking the change and 75% of involved in this community and 17 Early Childhood teachers. Our teaching staff are to be congratulated Centres. Having our educational institutions working for adapting to this change and in particular changing together is very powerful and over time will benefi t the way they deliver their lessons. Survey results learners from the time they start preschool through indicated that this was greatly appreciated by our to when they leave secondary school. As an example, students. Next year we have dedicated a line in the the focus on oral language is a recent initiative. This Year 9 timetable to have a group of teachers offer involves Early Childhood teachers and Year 1-3 cross-curricular courses. This is the next step to teachers receiving specialist ongoing oral literacy providing an engaging, coherent school curriculum training. Research has shown that oral language is that empowers students to participate locally, the foundation for all future learning that takes place nationally and globally. Having to unbundle some in a young person’s life and currently this has been of the existing schools’ systems and structures identifi ed as an area of need in this community. is not easy but one that is necessary if we are to The cultural side of life continues to thrive. Music, provide our students with the skills and dispositions dance, kapa haka and drama in the school has identifi ed by this community in the school’s Learner provided an avenue for a wide range of students Profi le. Some have said our rate of change is too to develop their talents. In all disciplines, we have fast while others have said the rate of change is too students performing at the highest level provincially, slow – in Goldilocks parlance this says to me it is just nationally and on the international stage. It is through about right! I would like to acknowledge the work the passion of the staff involved in these activities of Richard Murphy and Emily Olsen in leading the that many of our students view a career path in the revision of the curriculum. Arts. I am also pleased that we have a culture in the At a national level we await the outcome of a myriad college that enable students to feel confi dent enough of educational reviews (18 at last count). This includes to perform in front of their peers. the introduction of Education hubs replacing Boards It has been another strong year for sport under the of Trustees, a review of school property and a review guidance of Sports Coordinator Simone Stewart. of NCEA. The NCEA review was, in my opinion Traditional team sports are competing at a pleasing hijacked by a number of infl uential schools that high level while our equestrian team and shooting balked at the idea of allowing more fl exibility with this team have made an impression at national level. On qualifi cation. This has meant the reinforcement of the international stage Hannah Howell maintained 1 our impressive record in triathlon by performing A number of staff are leaving us this year REPORT PRINCIPAL’S with distinction at the World ITU Sprint champs in • Sam Dearlove has secured a promotion to senior Switzerland. This year the services of Sport Bay of dean and head of PE/ODE at Murchison Area Plenty have been enlisted to do a strategic review of School sport in the college. The purpose of this is to ensure • Stephen Ross has taken up consultancy work for we have the capacity and systems and structures Waikato University after giving 16 years of excellent to ensure we are providing high level sporting service to the College experiences for as many students in the college as • Chris Marshall after 13 years at the college has possible – from social level through to competitive gone back to his former profession as a journalist for level. the Taupo Times • Megan Marshall leaves also after 13 years at the Thanks must go to the senior managers - Brenda college to turn her hand to horticulture Ronke, Cath Mackintosh, Alistair Froggett, • Bevan Thompson leaves to put his entrepreneurial Richard Murphy and Stephen Fowler. This team skills into event management work exceptionally hard, doing a multitude of tasks • Susan Henshall returns to teach in Auckland, and and their job can be thankless and very demanding. • Carmen Harris heads to Dunedin to enjoy the We are lucky to have them, and I appreciate their balmy climate loyalty and support. Cath Mackintosh has made the • In the offi ce Nellie Hooper will leave us to become decision to step down next year to spend more time a fulltime mother in the class room and I thank her for the great job she has done. Richard Murphy will fi ll her shoes and has I wish all these staff members the very best of luck. been promoted to the Deputy Principal position for 2020. To our Year 13 students – it’s well known that the path to achieving education and career goals is no longer I would also like to thank the deans for caring for the a straightforward, linear track. Unlike a few decades pastoral and academic needs of our students while still ago, many of you will re-train, change tack and switch meeting their responsibilities in the classroom. The careers, or start studying long after your school days professionalism and collegiality amongst this group is are behind you. Learning is a lifelong pursuit and a genuine strength in this school and one that should I hope we have given you the foundation to go out never be taken for granted. into the world and seize the opportunities that are out there. Taupo-nui-a-Tia College has always been blessed with very competent and supportive boards and this year Kia kaha has been no exception. I fi rst would like to thank Kia maia Sharon Griffi n who has ably led the board for the Kia manawanui last couple of years. Sharon has the ability to wade Be strong, be brave and be steadfast through the multitude of administration boards face to run an effi cient meeting that focuses on what No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa counts in a school – people! Sharon leaves us next February, but we have a worthy replacement in Kevin Insley who will take over in early 2020.