<p> 2015 Term Dates Virtue: Spirituality/Faith/Purpose Term 4 Tuesday 13 Oct – Thursday 10 Dec Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. Forthcoming Events Martin Luther King</p><p>Friday 6 November Message from the Director NZQA exams start Our senior students have been making good Thursday 12 November use of the study rooms provided for them and NCEA Information Evening, Y10 parents, 6.30pm the staff tutorials. It is disappointing, however, Room 5 (Music) to see so many turning up in incorrect uniform Tuesday 17 November and with their appearance not at all how we Parents’ Association Meeting, 7pm Staffroom should wish it. Please remind your sons and daughters that being in school for any reason Wednesday 25 November during exams is the same as being in school, New Entrants’ Day full stop. Uniform and appearance requirements are unaltered and we appreciate Monday 30 November your help in reinforcing this. Y7-10 Carol Service, 1.30pm St Mary’s Whitby</p><p>Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 December As we head towards the end of the year a Y12 Camp further reminder about attendance requirements for senior students after exams Thursday 3 December have finished. Leavers’ Breakfast, 7.30am, gym All senior students must be in school for the Tuesday 8 December final three days of this term, Tuesday 8 –  Prize giving rehearsal, morning Thursday 10 December inclusive. More details will follow soon but these dates encompass our  School closed in the afternoon Prize Giving and the final two days of school,  School Prize giving, 7pm, Te Rauparaha including the final assembly and the return of Arena, all students required to attend textbooks. Also, please remind your sons and daughters that all NCEA exams take place at Thursday 10 December Marsden Karori and they should allow plenty of Final assembly and end Term 4, 9.30-10.30 travel time. (approx.)</p><p>From the beginning of 2016 we are going to move from an optional BYOD system to making a device at school compulsory for all students from Y9 upwards. We will be sending out to parents shortly a detailed set of requirements for the device but it must have a keyboard option. Students in Y7 & 8 will be issued with a Chromebook to use during the day while they are in school. There will be an information evening held for parents before the end of this term. This move reflects not only the all-pervading use of technology in daily life but also the fact that all NZQA assessments, internal and external, will be done and marked online by 2020 and we want to make sure our students are equipped for this change in plenty of time</p><p>NCEA Information Evening Year 10 Parents</p><p>An information evening on NCEA for all parents with students currently in Year 10 is being held on Thursday 12 November in Room 5 at 6.30pm. It will cover what NCEA is and how it works. Students are most welcome with their parents. </p><p>NCEA Guide - Parents and students may also find this App useful. It provides quick and easy access to key information about NCEA and makes practical information about NCEA more easily accessible. The NCEA Guide App is free to download from the Apple App store and Google Play Store. Student Successes</p><p>Congratulations to Marsden Whitby Year 11 student Katie Daly who has recently been accepted to work as a Student Leader at the 2016 New Zealand Youth Leadership Summit. Katie attended the Summit in January 2015 as a student, and is very excited to have been invited back to help lead the programme in January of 2016. She is also one of the youngest ever to be appointed as a leader. Katie will work alongside talented young people from around the country such as Kiran Patel of the Young Innovators Collective, and Ben Dowdle, semi-finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year 2015. </p><p>Congratulations to Hayley Thompson and her Zone Elite Dance Team who achieved 3rd at the Dance’N’Cheer Rave Internationals. Hayley and Bronte Johnston’s Cheer Team (Zone Cheer Elite) came 5th.</p><p>More scholarship success for Ben Eagle who has been awarded the Secondary School's 2016 Hutt Mana Charitable Trust Energy Scholarship. This scholarship is specifically for students with an aptitude for, and interest in, energy matters, particularly in regard to efficiency, conservation and utilisation. In 2016 Ben will commence study towards a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at the University of Canterbury, intending to specialise in Mechanical Engineering. During his degree he is looking forward to in- depth learning about how we use and store energy, leading into a career in energy storage and conservation. Through his degree Ben hopes to learn about a variety of different fuel sources, and develop the technology to use these sources in efficient and environmentally friendly ways. Fantastic work Ben!</p><p>Life Education Classroom</p><p>The 2015 Life Education seminar started with Year 7 students looking at making healthy choices to keep bodies in balance, linking body needs to stress, effects of stress on body systems and stress busters, and how to combat this. The Year 8 students’ focus was on making healthy choices and understanding the effects of substances on the body. They looked at the development of the human brain during puberty and its functions, the effects of taking drugs, strategies for making choices and the importance of delaying our decisions until our brains are fully developed. Both year groups were super excited to see Harold turn up on Friday and particularly enjoyed the new technology in the Life Education bus, including the disco light show, the stars and the new video screens. Whitby Old Collegians</p><p>An update this week from former Head Girl, Rebecca Good (2012). Rebecca started studying at Otago in 2013 but took 2014 off and spent the year working and living in Dubai. In Rebecca’s words “It was all an incredible experience! I worked full time in the Registrar's office at a university over there, which I loved, and spent a lot of time traveling. The highlight of the year was definitely a six week camping/overlanding trip I took through Africa, from Kenya down to South Africa. Overall, taking the year off was definitely the best decision I could have made and I would thoroughly recommend gap years to anyone who asks! I definitely grew up a lot, and have really settled into my own skin, and have slotted straight back into my studies!” Rebecca is now back at Otago happily continuing with law and politics. Yummy Stickers</p><p>Thank you to all our families that collected Yummy Stickers and handed them into the school office. With 1354 points we were able to purchase a 6 ball sports pack, a new ball pump needle and four whistles, totalling $143 for the school. But DON'T STOP NOW! We need everyone to keep collecting and over the holiday period too. With summer fruit out in the shops, please support your school in this scheme by collecting stickers you will find on your fruit purchased from Pak'n’Save, New World and 4 Square Supermarkets. Blank forms can be found here or hard copies are available from the school office. Once you have completed the sheet please bring it into the school office. We really appreciate your wonderful support. Every little sticker counts!</p><p>Study Leave for NCEA Examinations – Year 11, 12, 13</p><p>Students will be on study leave after Monday 2 November for their NCEA examinations. During this time Rooms 14 and 15 will be available as study spaces for students to use each day. Students are required to be in full school uniform and must sign in at the School Office when they are studying at school.</p><p>Staff will be available during their usual class teaching time to help students with their revision. Students should email staff a day or two before seeking help with revision during a normal class period to check that their teacher will be at school. Many courses and planning days occur over this time and staff may be elsewhere for the day.</p><p>In addition to this several tutorials are planned in specific subjects and a timetable of these is below - </p><p>Year 11 English (VS) Science (MN) Geography (FE) Maths (SC) Economics (HY) Tues 3 Nov p 4 Tues 3 Nov p5/6 Wed 4 Nov p1 Wed 4 Nov p2 Mon 9/16/27 Nov Unfam texts P1/2 Thurs 5 Nov p3 Essays Wed 4 Nov p5/6 Thurs 5 Nov p1 Thurs 5 Nov p4 Wed 11/18 Nov P5/6 Fri 6 Nov p4 Essays Thurs 5 Nov p6 - Friday 6 Nov p2/3 Fri 20 Nov p1/2</p><p>Year 12 English (BL) Maths (PO/KI) Economics (HY) Tues 3 Nov Tues 3 Nov Wed 4/11 Nov P3/4 P6 P5/6 Wed 4 Nov Fri 6 Nov P4 P1/2 Thurs 5 Nov Mon 9 Nov P2 P1/2 Fri 6 Nov P1 (KI only)</p><p>Year 13 Stats (KI) Physics (LI) English (BL) Economics (HY) Biology (MN) Tues 3/10/17 Nov Tues 3 Nov Thurs 5 Nov Mon 9/16 Nov Fri 13 Nov P1 P2 Rm 1 P5/6 P1/2 P1/2 Thurs 5/12 Nov Wed 11 Nov Fri 20 Nov P4 P5/6 P5/6 Fri 6/13 Nov P5 Wed 11/18 Nov P2 NCEA Examination Reminders</p><p>All students sitting NCEA examinations have had a briefing outlining the procedures they are to follow and the PowerPoint used is attached. All NCEA examinations are held at Karori and Mrs Grant is the Principal’s Nominee there if a student has any issues and needs to talk with her. Students must have their admission slip and photo ID for all examinations. If a student is sick and unable to sit an exam please contact the Whitby School Office as soon as possible. If a derived grade is needed please speak with Sharron Morgan regarding this. A medical certificate will be required. Any other questions please contact me at [email protected]</p><p>National Excellence in Teaching Awards</p><p>The closing date for the ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards has been extended to 20 November 2015 if you are still interested in nominating a teacher. The awards provide an opportunity to say a special ‘thank you’ to inspirational teachers, directors and principals who demonstrate effectiveness, innovation and excellence in their profession.</p><p>Nominations can be made at www.asg.co.nz/nominate or call NEiTA on 09 308 0576 or visit www.asg.co.nz/neita.</p><p>Community Notices</p><p>Paremata Boating Club Want to try sailing? Kids learn to sail with Paremata Boating Club! Our popular learn to sail courses are designed to introduce children aged 10-14 years and their parents to the sport of sailing. Our next course starts on 23 January 2016 and runs over the three days of Wellington Anniversary weekend plus the following two Sundays (5 days in all). Optimist boats, buoyancy vests and helmets are provided. Check www.paremataboatingclub.org.nz for more information and to register or see poster attached.</p><p>Mana Little Theatre presents ‘Seasons Greetings’ written by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Sue Mortimer. Performances 18 – 28 November. For ticket sales please email [email protected] , phone/text 021 0257 7648. For more information go to http://www.manalittletheatre.org/</p>