Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou e te whanau o Te Kura a Rohe o Whaingaroa!
Change is upon us. We welcome it. Recognising great things doesn’t come from comfort zones, we accept and trust the magic of new beginnings. While this does not come without its challenges, seeking to push boundaries demands a relentlessness to overcome those trials and tribulations. With short notice, Quenten and I have been faced with the challenge of accessing a specialist mathematics teacher this term. Currently, we have Campbell Till, a previous Head of Department for Mathematics at Fairfield College, starting on Monday. This process highlighted a vulnerability in being remote but illuminated our strong community connections to provide a solution for the now.
Action affects change. It’s the little things that count, hundreds of them, to advance in the direction of success. Our focus is exactly that; small things done are better than great things planned. Through the lens of Kaitiakitanga, our school value demonstrating responsibility for our environment and kaupapa, we are introducing Space Invaders. Consequently, outside spaces and inside spaces will be looked after by our moko. Initially, outdoor spaces will be swept and rubbish sorted. Little things. Kaiako have been charged with creating learning spaces that reflect our culture and heritage. Subsequently, a further sense of pride and ownership in our kura can be reflected through these little things.
Quenten and I would like to start a conversation with you, our whānau and our community. We invite you to our first hui on Wednesday 15th August to introduce ourselves and to discuss success. What does success look like to you? For your moko? For our kura? Later in the term, we invite whānau to two hui around our Restorative Practices.
Little things make big things happen. To all of you who are in our kura helping with laminating, photocopying, transport, making kai, fundraising, and more, thank you for your time, you are truly appreciated.
Be bold. Be kind. Be relentless.
Ngā manaakitanga
Aroha Hohepa and Quenten Browne
Kaitiakitanga: RAS value. To demonstrate responsibility for our environment and what we stand for.
Moko: In this case refers to students.
Kaiako: Teacher
Kura: School
Hui: Meeting
Kai: Food
Agricultural Day
Agricultural Days are an historical and valued annual tradition for rural families, their schools and communities, and we know the essential qualities it develops in our children. The arrival of Mycoplasma bovis has made us assess not only the logistics of managing biosecurity for Agricultural Day, but also the safety of the animals. After discussing all the information available to us, as a collective we agreed that our schools will NOT be holding Agricultural Day for 2018, but rather postpone it to 2019. Group Day will also be postponed until 2019.
We understand this may be disappointing for some families. This decision was not made lightly. The best interests of our communities are paramount. Consideration was given to the wellbeing of the animals, the biosecurity for our local farming communities and the industry as a whole.
Students can still enter a lamb or goat into the Waikato A&P show individually. We intend to keep researching best practise health and safety measures for Agricultural Day and return to these annual events in 2019.
Raglan Area School, Te Uku School, Te Mata School and Waitetuna School.
Raglan Super Value Sponsorship
Raglan Super Value is excited to announce this fundraising project in conjunction with Raglan Area School. This fundraiser will enable the school to purchase an outdoor domed marquee for sports events and other school activities.
Every customer who purchases goods over the amount of $25.00 will receive a token which they can then place in the collection jar. Every day the tokens will be countered, with the running balance shown on the in store thermometer.
When 1500 tokens have been collected Super Value will be donating $1000.00 to Raglan Area School for the purchase of the marquee.
Raglan Area School and Raglan Supervalue thank you for your continued support and invite you to participate in this fundraising event.
Financial Assistance for NZQA Fees
Domestic school candidates may be eligible for financial assistance, which subsidises the cost of NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship. Financial assistance applications must be made to schools using the Application for Financial Assistance form. Forms and accompanying fees must be given to the school by Friday 17 August 2018. The school needs time to process applications in its web entry or Student Management System (SMS) to meet the NZQA due date.
The purpose of financial assistance is to ensure that fees are not a barrier to participation in national qualifications for domestic students in low-to- middle income families. Each year the government provides limited funding for eligible students to assist with the cost of NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship fees. This means that eligible students will pay a reduced administration fee rather than full NZ domestic rates.
Eligibility categories
To be eligible for financial assistance, the applicant (normally the parent or guardian of the candidate) must be the fee-payer and must apply under one of the following application categories/types:
Benefit-based
This includes those already receiving a Work and Income or Study Link benefit. The fee payer must have provided their benefit/Work and Income (WINZ) Client number or Community Services Card (CSC) number in section C on their completed application form.
Income-based
This includes those that do not have CSC, but have a joint family income that would entitle the applicant to receive a CSC. The fee payer ticks the box in section D on the application form to confirm their income qualifies. For more information regarding the income limits for receiving a CSC, see Work and Incomes community services card income thresholds.
Family-based (multiple candidate)
This includes fee-payers with two or more children who are entered for national secondary school assessment, where the total fees to pay would otherwise be more than the $200 multiple candidate maximum. The fee payer ticks the box in section E to confirm the multiple candidates listed in section B are family* members.
Financial Assistance forms are available from the school office.
From the RAS Sports Coordinator
What’s happening and how you can get involved this term. Miniball is starting on 31st July at RAS gym. This is for year 5/6 and 7/8 students who are in Raglan and the outlying areas. Rules are on the Facebook page ‘Raglan Miniballers’. Mountain biking is on a Tuesday lunchtime – $8 per student. We are limited to 10 per session, but if we can up our numbers a second group can run on a Friday lunchtime.
Skateboarding – We are wanting to set up a skateboarding group from Term 4. We would escort the students to the pump track/bowl. Message Nikki if your child is keen, or if you are willing to volunteer your time to teach the students skills and to keep the cost down. We are hoping to be able to supply the boards, helmets, pads etc. through funding.
Running – Would anyone like to coach a running team at the school? It would be great if we could look at entering some local running events in locations such as Huntly or Hamilton next year – I am happy to run the session but am not fast enough to push the students (I can definitely bring up the back!!). It would be great to develop some of our keen runners and get them running for the school.
Yoga is coming to RAS – Stephanie Kennedy has kindly offered to provide Rainbow Yoga sessions at the school. This is a fun based yoga practice aimed at children. We are initially running it amongst Year 8, 9 and 10 students within their learning time, but if we have enough interest through the whole school, we will start running lunch-time sessions with a small koha requested.
Let me know if you have any questions or ideas.
Nikky (sport_coordinator@raglanarea.school.nz)
Media Survey Results
Last Term, the Media Crew distributed a media survey to RAS whanau in an effort to find out more about how our school community interacts with school media, and what preferences people had in terms of content and delivery platforms.
Response Rate
We had a 50% response rate. The majority of that response came from the 0-6 syndicate, followed by the 7-10 syndicate.
Current Media Engagement
51% of our whanau are connected to Facebook, 76.4% receive the fortnightly newsletter, 42,9% are connected to School App, and 19% use the school website.
Currently, the most relied upon source of information is the fortnightly newsletter, with 40.4% of respondents reporting this as their main source of school news. This is followed by Facebook at 27.2%, and School App at 22.1%.
Preferred Media Platform
The most preferred source of information is School App, with 32.1% of respondents preferring this platform, followed by Facebook at 26.8%, and the newsletter at 26.3%.
Content Preferences
The main content that our whanau are interested in is key dates at 21%, followed by school life at 20.2%, student work at 17.5%, teacher notices at 16.6%, sports news at 14.8%, and admin at 9.2%.
Delivery Preferences
44.2% of whanau would prefer to receive a digital newsletter, while 37.2% would prefer to receive the existing print newsletter. 11% would be fine with either option. Within the digital platform, the preference for access is Facebook at 32.4%, followed by School App at 29.1%, and the Website at 15.5%.
Where to Next?
Many of you indicated that you were interested in a digital newsletter, and we listened!
We are releasing a digital companion to the existing print newsletter via School App and Facebook. It will contain the same content, plus extra articles, photographs, and videos.
A Word of Thanks…
We are so grateful for your feedback, we appreciate the time you took to fill out and return our survey. We have published a selection of the graphs below.
Year 0-6 Update
Year 0-2
We welcome Jane and Charlotte Edgar to our team. They will teach a Year 1 class in D1. Jane teaches on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Charlotte teaches on Thursday and Friday. Pop in and say ‘Hello’ if you get the opportunity.
Every Wednesday this term, D Block will be going down to the peninsular for an exploration time. We really enjoyed our first time last Wednesday. Children built huts, rolled down the hills and made up stories as they explored little tracks through the trees.
Last Term, our learners made kites as part of our Matariki learning.
Year 2-4
This term is all about rethinking the way that we use plastics and other single use products, and how we can reuse them to extend their life cycle. Keep an eye out for events throughout the term.
Luca, Cassius and Sage are making the most of some new seating in E3 class as they write.
Year 5-6
Trip to Hamilton Observatory
As we peered through the telescope, my jaw dropped in amazement. There it was…. beautiful Saturn shimmering in the darkness like a firework. ‘Whoooooooo!” I said under my breath.
I had seen loads of planets that night but Saturn was by far the best. I had only seen Venus so far in its half-moon glory. It looked like there was a rainbow going through it, or maybe it was my imagination? Lost in thought, I tumbled down the stairs into the courtyard. When I got to the first telescope I looked in awe at the moon. In awe of its noble craters, I must admit, Saturn was better. Mars was next. It was the closest it had been to earth in 15 years! But it was kinda a rip off cause of the monster dust storm that will go on for the next four months! Next came Jupiter one of the best ones. Yes, it was kinda boring but the addition of the black lines that were its moons was truly outstanding!
Year 7-10 Update
Year 7-8
Pete’s class was super lucky last term with our student teacher Whaea Emily giving us wicked experiences. One really special experience was weekly dance in the town hall where the students choreographed group dances. This was so successful and so much fun that we have decided to continue with a less coordinated dance teacher, Matua Pete.
Year 9-10
An awesome group of Year 10 students were selected to take part in an exciting day of abseiling, caving and flying fox fun with Matua Joe. This was in conjunction with the Blue Light programme. Students were asked to step out of their comfort zone to overcome a variety of challenges. An exciting and action packed day.
Passion Learning
Term 2 for Year 7-10 ended with an outstanding programme of Passion Learning. Over 150 students spent two days in a variety of passions including, skating, yoga, ki-o-rahi, surfing, fishing, art photography, cooking, bushcraft and much more. Passion Learning is an important part of our Year 7-10 syndicate and is loved by our students and teachers. A big thanks to all the amazing parents and community members who shared their expertise with our students. If you would like to support our Passion Learning this term please contact Matua Joe: 022 175 1378.
Drama Performance
At the end of Term 2, students from Year 9-10 and 11-12 drama classes put on in their mid-year performance at Raglan Town Hall.
This provides a great opportunity for our students to perform to a live audience, and also for our Year 11-12 NCEA students to receive the necessary credits for the course.
The evening started with the Year 9-10 performance of Cagebirds in which audience members commented that the play was ‘deep’ and ‘thought-provoking’.
Emily & Joel then performed a beautiful musical interlude after the first play, which was then followed on by Year 11-12 performing an extract from The Pink Hammer.
Audience members commented that is was ‘funny’ and overall they were ‘talented teen performers’.
Drama teacher Whaea Ruth comments that ‘both classes confidence has grown so much through the year, especially after their mid-year performances’.
National Area Schools Competition
Over the Term Two holidays, a group of Year 10-13 students headed to Christchurch to compete in the National Area Schools Competition.
Over the three day tournament, the Central North Island teams played teams from other regions of the country. From there, several of our students were selected to play on the North Island team, which played against the South Island team.
The Central North Island (CNI) team won the tournament, and therefore hold the NZ Area Schools cup, which is currently on display at the school office. Over the course of the year, the cup will travel to other schools who had students in the CNI team.
Our students should feel really proud of themselves, they played well, and represented the school with exemplary conduct.
Well done team: Adi-Grace Mooar, Emma Blakie, Shay Cornes, Karewa Irvin, Te Kaha Broadbent-King, Keylin Walker-Pitman, Sasha Kirkwood, Rudy Regnier, Tommy Ford Westrupp-Kearns, Jack Ellison, and Awatea Dillon.
A Night to Remember in Neverland
‘Second star to the right and straight on til morning’
The Raglan Area School Ball 2018 was held on Friday, July 6th, capturing the theme of Neverland where the senior students of the school and other youth in the Raglan community enjoyed a magical night of dance, great food, and celebration.
This year we had an awesome group of seniors who wanted to create an extra special night for our senior students. Emily Wiki and Joel Newport took charge of sourcing our entertainment, DJ Octaves was a huge hit. Ngaramai Rooney and Adi-Grace Moar were responsible for fun activities, somehow they managed to fit a full size pool table into the town hall supper room. Lily Bradley was our all-round admin legend, making sure the photo booth delivery was on time! Sequoia McCabe designed the tickets/advertising and sourced the special prizes for the King/Queen, best dressed etc. Ocean Kereopa was the boss of the food! Charlie Irvin had a an idea to create live flower wall, and made it happen.
As a ball committee having to plan such a huge event at times was challenging, however, we have learnt valuable skills which will benefit us in our future endeavours.
We are grateful to our amazing community for their continuous support for us rangatahi helping to ensure we had an epic night. Special thanks to Poihakena Marae; Waikato District Council; Raglan Foursquare; Raglan Flowerbuds; Lisa Thompson; our caterers Whaea Naomi, Whaea Pauline, Nardia, Maureen, Nga Manu Tioiori; Sound & Lighting – Matua Dave and Nick.
We also had some amazing RAS staff who helped to bring our vision into reality. Whaea Kerry is a artistic genius and Matua Glen is a legend with the hammer and nails. Finally, we would like to say a special thank you to our teacher in charge Whaea Naomi, for her dedication and commitment to making our night a very magical Neverland night to remember.
– Grace Mindoro, Student in Charge of the 2018
RAS Ball Committee.
Extra Curricular Activities
| Activity | Year Level | What Day | Teacher In Charge |
| Basketball
|
Year 9-10 | Tuesday Games
Thursday morning training Friday afternoon training |
Matua T |
| Miniball
|
Year 5-8 | Tuesday | Matua Joe |
| Volleyball
|
Year 7-10 | Monday | Matua Joe |
| Soccer
|
Year 9-13 | Saturday | Whaea Lisa Thompson and Sarah Johnson |
| Sea Dogs
|
Year 7-13 | Wednesday | Mr C |
| Kapahaka | Wednesday | Whaea Chanel runs this extra curricular option that practices after school, in preparation for the Western Cluster Kapa Haka Festival.
|
|
| Mountain Biking | Year 4-6
|
Tuesday | Whaea Nikky |
| Theatre Sports | Year 7-10 | Whaea Ruth | |
| Science Club | Years 1-9 | Mr C | |
| Man Hunt | Year 7/8 | Monday and Friday lunch times | Matua Pete and Matua Te Whaiwhaia |
| Inter-house Social Sports Comp | Year 7-13 | Thursday lunch time | Whanau Teachers |
| Golf | All Year Levels | TERM 4 only, Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 | Matua Peter Aim and Matua Glenn |
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