Newsletter 1 – Term 1 April 2021 Southland Boys’ High School - - Te Kura Tua Rua o nga Tai-Tama ki Murihiku Non Scholae Sed Vitae Discimus Dear family friends and Whanau of the school What an amazing start we have had to 2021, a hectic term full of Academic, Sporting and Cultural experiences and successes for our young men. Around the school site we have work coming to a completion on the turf and the long-awaited roofing and water tightness projects getting under way. Although these projects may cause a little disruption to some of our routes around the buildings, we are looking forward to the short term disadvantage turning into long term benefits to the working environments that we all use. We have recently held capping and Excellence assemblies that once again celebrate our young men's successes in our core business, education. We really enjoyed the showcase of having so many of our students recognised at this, the highest level of NCEA success. Well done to all of those recognised, and a very clear and achievable aim for so many this year, the challenge to continually improve on the year before you is clearly laid down. We have welcomed a number of new staff to our growing school and these people have all been able to bring a wealth of experiences and ideas to the working groups of our hub-based classes in Years 9 and 10. These classes have further strengthened the belonging of the boys to a cooperative and team learning environment which they are enjoying the rewards of. We have a fantastic prefect group this year led very capably by Max Milne with Vere Jukes and Aaron Withy by his side. They are proudly leading the boys and the newly braided house captains into a year of fierce house competition. I know plans are afoot to have the house shield held aloft by someone other than Coldstream! Please enjoy this newsletter, have a safe and restful Easter break with your loved ones and stay well. Simon Coe Rector 1 New Teacher Profiles Maria Alcock Maria Alcock comes to us from James Hargest College. She has experience teaching in English and Computing/ICT. Her interests outside of school include basketball and rugby. Maria is looking forward to a busy and exciting 2021. Hattie de Vries I am the new Head of Faculty for Social Science and am excited to be joining such a competent and enthusiastic team. I am teaching Year 9 and 10 Social Studies and Year 12 and 13 Geography. I have been teaching since 2003 and have spent a considerable time at a multi-cultural school in West Auckland where I was a Dean as well as having curriculum responsibility. Most recently I was the Teacher in Charge of Geography at Verdon College. I am interested in making the learning in the classroom relevant to the experience of the students and I look forward to working together with the teachers in my department to develop a stimulating social science curriculum with a local focus. I have a passion for teaching and learning to the extent that my family and I live in an old primary school which we are converting into a house. Yes, it does have a playground! Louise Hitchcock Kia ora my name is Louise Hitchcock and I am the new Catering teacher. I come from James Hargest College as a Food and Nutrition and Hospitality and Catering teacher and have a background in the baking industry. I am interested in sport, mountain biking, travelling and food Shaun Howarth Originally from Patea, South Taranaki where I spend my High School years before going to Massey University complete a science degree and teacher training. I taught in Hamilton for about 4 years before going on the Big OE, but rather than a usual two years overseas twenty years past by and numerous countries include a 2 year stint teaching Physics and Chemistry to year 12 and 13 students on a sailing ship around the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Very happy to be back in New Zealand and very happy to settle here in the deep south. Katie McCrostie Hi there! I’m thrilled to have joined the Maths Department, and to be teaching Mathematics in Years 9, 10 and 12. I have been teaching for a number of years around Southland in both Primary and Secondary schools, most recently I was a Learning Support Coordinator. I am a Southland girl who was part of the SGHS/SBHS Senior College initiative in the 90’s, which saw Year 13 students learn together across both schools. My family and I live on a small farm just out of Invercargill, so I’m pretty rapt to be a member of Coldstream House. Go Orange! It’s a real privilege to be able to work with your boys as they learn so I’m looking forward to being involved in this thriving learning community. 2 Michelle Roberts Kia ora koutou katoa, I am very excited to have joined the team in the Social Studies Department here at SBHS. I’m a born and bred Southlander and have been teaching for a number of years, rurally and in town. My family and I live and farm out of Invercargill. I am working with Year 9 and Year 10 Hubs this year and I am pleased to part of the Uttley House where apparently our strength lies in the Cultural Competition! I am thrilled to have become part of the SBHS community and look forward to supporting your boys in their learning. Coming Events Date Event Wednesday 31 March 4.00pm – 8.00pm Parent Interview 7-13 Thursday 1 April 8.45am – 2.00pm Parent Interviews 7-13 Friday 2 April – Tuesday 6 April Easter Break Wednesday 14 April Year 8 Social at SGHS Friday 16 April ANZAC Assembly Last day of Term 1 Monday 3 May First day Term 2 Tuesday 11 May Teacher Only Day Monday 6 June Closed for Queen’s Birthday Deans Corner Ko tenei te mihi kia koutou, nau mai, haere mai. Greetings all and welcome back. It is great to see so many of our boys returning to school so well presented. We have had some interesting haircuts and facial hair, but we have caught up with most of these boys and had a re set! Uniform - We will continue to challenge our boys on their appearance and making sure they are wearing the correct uniform and wearing it with pride. All non-regulation items will continue to be confiscated and will be available for pick up when you have received notification form the school. Hair (length/style) - All students who attend Southland Boys' must be cleanly shaven. Extreme haircuts will be challenged, and hair must not be any longer than the bottom of the school shirt collar. This rule exists for health and safety reasons. Students will be asked to tie their hair up. Multiple incidents will be deemed as continual disobedience and more formal measures will be taken by the school. Truancy/Lates - Our truancy statistics are looking much better due to the level of contact from whanau and caregivers when students are not at school and the tightening of our systems as a school. We have installed a new bell system which makes it very clear when students are deemed "late" for class. Contact home will be made for repeat offenders. If there is a genuine reason your son is going to be late for school, please ring the office and let them know. Once again, welcome back to what we hope will be a more normal year for us all. Please contact the school if you have any concerns at any time. Many thanks Ngā mihi Leon Dunn Kaiwhakahaere - Hauora Senior Master - Pastoral 3 Guidance Department Kia ora, Talofa lava, Kia orāna, Hello Farewell to the roller coaster ride of 2020 and welcome back to 2021 and its exciting challenges and changes. Our new school routines will give us certainty, consistency, and solidarity. To our new entrants and whanau Our Guidance Department can provide support, guidance, advice, and work closely alongside all areas within the school (students, staff, Senior Management) and outside of the school (parents, caregivers, whanau, and outside agencies). We provide counselling for students, and/or staff and parents. We network with outside agencies and will refer to these to support and guide our families. We often organize mentors to work with and support our students. Along with counselling support (which is offered by a registered NZAC trained counsellor), we can offer some support for students and families where there is a need around school uniforms, lunches, and a range of other ideas and strategies. Parents, caregivers, whanau are invited to contact the Guidance Department where they have concerns (no matter how small or worrying) for support and guidance. You can contact the main office, email me at [email protected]; phone me on 03 211 3003 x 869 or 021 203 7213. No problem is ever too small to be shared. To help your son experience success and enjoyment both at school, home and in the community, I would like to reinforce the value of routines, good sleep patterns, some exercise, become involved in a hobby, be creative, read or join a sports team. Make time for friends, family and living in the present moment. This is reflected by the idea of Te Whare Tapa Wha which symbolises the whare/house in helping us remember what and who our supports are to maintain a strong sense of wellbeing.