Kia ora whanau and families of Te Kura a Rohe o Whaingaroa, Raglan Area School
Welcome back to Term Four of 2017. This will be a very busy term which will see the completion and sign off of classroom upgrades and new classrooms and a number of minor works including the new sand pit for the juniors (see photo).
On that note again I am grateful to all of those who came to the ‘Working Bee’, the last Saturday of the term and with the weather holding off a great deal was achieved. Thank you very much for your time and support.
A warm welcome back to Linda Cahill who has been on leave and is working part-time this term with Celia looking after our growing population of New Entrants.
The environmental programme that has been piloted is under consideration for a senior option that may well initiate an academy in Environmental Studies and Earth Care Science. The students are very engaged and we are enjoying huge support from the local community and particularly from their lead team along with support from ‘Papa Taio’.
Staffing positions have been advertised for 2018 and they close this week. There are, to date, applicants for all of these positions and these will be shortlisted for appointment interviews within the week.
The swimming club is looking to start up this term and for further information please contact the club committee. I understand that swimming lessons for students will again be available and again details for this can be found through the Swimming Club.
Senior students have begun being advised of scholarship awards for university attendance and to date five students have received financial scholarship. Details of these will be announced shortly. Congratulations to all of these students.
Nga mihi, Malcolm
Board of Trustees Update
E ngaa mana, e ngaa reo, e ngaa karangatanga maha o te hapori o Whaingaroa, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
The Board of Trustees would like to welcome and introduce Tara Wrigley and Joe Hassell as co-opted members of the Board. One of our strategic goals is to improve access to, and the use of, e-learning and e-portfolios at the school. We are also working to create effective electronic communication strategies for improved communication and collaboration. Both Tara and Joe bring with them extensive industry experience, skills and knowledge in digital communication and tools. It’s important we build the capability to communicate via multiple channels to improve communication between the board, school and our community.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the members of the community that have taken the time to make contact with the Board of Trustees. We are in the process of responding to those people and would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our community to keep you updated and informed as we work through recommendations the ERO has provided us with. We’d also like to invite those who made contact, as well as all community members who’d like to have input into our school, to our Charter 2018 Community Consultation session, please read more information below.
We have a new email address so if you would like to contact the Board of Trustees please email: boardoftrustees@raglanarea.school.nz.
Have Your Say! RAS Charter 2018 – Community Feedback Session, Sat 4 Nov, between 10am-12noon
The School Charter is a planning document that sets out the strategic objectives for the school for the next 3-5 years. It also contains Annual Planning information on the specific actions the school will take to achieve these objectives. The School Charter is formulated by the Board of Trustees to reflect the community’s goals and aspirations for the school. The School Principal then formulates the annual plan on how these longer term strategic objectives will be achieved. The Charter guides teaching and learning programmes at the school.
We are currently developing the Charter for 2018 and would like to invite our community to have input into this planning process. Please come along to share with us your aspirations and future focus for our school and for our students.
Please join us on Saturday 4 November (venue to be confirmed). Feel free to drop in anytime between 10am-12noon. If you’d like, bring a packet of biscuits or some baking to share along with a cup of tea that we’ll provide. “Whanau that eat together stay together.”
We’ll also be providing all questions in an online survey, and paper based survey so if you can’t make the session but would still like to contribute, or if you have any questions at all, please email: boardoftrustees@raglanarea.school.nz.
You’ll find our current Charter on the Raglan Area School website, www.raglanarea.school.nz. Go to the “About” section then select Board of Trustees page, the Charter is provided as a link on that page.
No reira, nei ra te mihi mai te Poari o te Kura a Rohe o Whaingaroa.
Tena tatou katoa. Mel Brydon, Board of Trustees Chair
A quick view of what’s coming up
24 October Year 10 NCEA Parent Evening
27 October Disco
3 November Western Cluster Tabloid Sports
6 November Senior Sports Awards
6-8 November Year 9-10 Camp
10 November Ripper Rugby
10 November Year 11-13 Sign Out
10 November Senior Prizegiving and Leavers Dinner
17 November Year 7-13 Athletics Day
2017 Prizegiving Dates
6 November – Senior Sports Awards, 6pm at the Town Hall
10 November – Year 11-13 Prizegiving, 6pm at the School Gym/Hall
7 December – Year 7-10 Prizegiving, 11.30 start in the School Gym/Hall. Please note that this year, the prizegiving and certificate assembly are combined.
8 December – Western Cluster Athletics
13 December – Year 0-6 Prizegiving
Please Note: Senior exams begin on Thursday 9th of November and Year 11-13 students will begin the process to sign out of school for exam leave or for completing their academic year. As parents you should have seen and discussed subject choice and received a copy of your child’s sign out form to confirm they have officially finished.
Year 10 NCEA Preparation
Raglan Area School has an excellent academic mentoring programme for our Year 10 students to ensure they are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to be successful in NCEA Level 1. This mentoring programme will begin this term with Lee Copson, (Year 11 Dean), Whaea Jeanette (a Year 11 whanau teacher) and myself, introducing key NCEA information during whanau time and offering some classes on how to succeed next year.
This term each core subject; English, Mathematics and Science are offering students the opportunity to gain NCEA Level 1 Achievement Standards. This is a way of giving our students a head start, and so they are familiar with NCEA type assessments, and how to achieve merit and excellence. Whilst it is great if students achieve the assessments, the real goal is that NCEA becomes familiar and achievable.
Students will be working towards our Year 10 exams in Weeks 7 and 8. It is essential your son/ daughter is prepared for class, is doing extra work in the evening and also developing the necessary study skills to succeed in NCEA Level 1.
NCEA Information Evening
We would also like to invite all Year 10 parents to an NCEA information evening, in Week 2, Tuesday the 24th October, in the RAS staffroom, from 6pm-7pm. This was a very successful evening last year. We covered how to read an academic record, important dates, option selection and possible Wintec courses. We highly recommend you attend this important evening.
Gwyn Brodie, Assistant Principal Yrs 7-10
International High School Exchange – For Seniors
STS now has applications open for high school exchanges with departures in August and December 2018 and January and August 2019. Choose from year, semester and 2 or 3 month exchanges to 16 countries.
- Learn a new language and a new culture with our high school exchange programmes.
- First country choice
- Over 50 years of experience in student exchanges
- Make memories and friends that last a lifetime
With our short term exchanges to Europe you can also go over the summer holidays. This is a great opportunity to have that unique experience abroad, but not miss too much school at the same time.
Contact us now for a brochure and start planning your STS experience now! We are also looking for host families, try our Host And Go, host an exchange student for one year and enjoy up to a $1500 discount off your programme fee!
Contact STS: Ph: 0800 991 991, 478 Dee Street, Invercargill
Email: sts@stsnz.co.nz, Web: www.sts-education.co.nz
FLIPT – For Junior School Students
Surfside Church is running their FLIPT programme for primary school age children again this term. This is a fun programme with games, craft and some values based teaching via DVD. The children will also receive a healthy snack on arrival. It will run once a week on a Wednesday afternoon for 5 weeks starting Wednesday 25th October until Wednesday 22nd November. Start time is 3.00pm and finishing at 4.15pm. It is to be run at the Surfside Church facility at Te Uku. Parents are invited to give a Koha towards the cost of running the programme and the craft their children will bring home when they drop off or pick their children up.
A Surfside van will be available to transport children from Raglan Area School at approx. 2.35pm on the day. Please let us know if you require this service. Only those children who have registered with us will be transported. This van is also available to return your children to Raglan homes afterwards if required. Again please let us know if you require this service. If your child requires a booster seat please make one available for us to use. You may contact us at the numbers below to co-ordinate handing over the seat if required.
Any enquiries and registrations to Surfside Church office on 8255199, email info@surfside.co.nz or the FLIPT Coordinator, Janet Peart on 8255855, email janet.peart@surfside.co.nz or txt 0211040245.
Term 4 Golf – For all ages
Term 4 golf coaching commences on Wednesday 25 October till December 13th 2017. Sessions are from 3.30-4.30pm and costs non members $20 which gives the golfer an annual subscription. All equipment is provided. Cancellations will be rung in by 1pm on the day.
Peter Aim, Raglan Golf, 0276547625
DK Surf School After School Programme – For 10 yrs+
DK Surf School 8 week surf programme offers Kiwis the opportunity to learn how to surf, stand up paddle as well as ocean safety skills to be confident in the ocean with Ultimate Waterman Daniel Kereopa.
Here’s details on our upcoming, 8 week surf programme in Raglan in October-December 2017.
For complete beginners, to intermediate surfers, Children, Youth & Adults.
- Thursday 4.00pm 10-12 years / 5.30pm 13+ years
- Friday 4.00pm 7-9 years / 5.30pm 10-12 years
- Sunday 1.00pm 7-9 years / 2.30pm 10-12 / 4pm 13+ years
$200 per person for 1 x 75min lesson per week
Bookings txt: 022 435 7873, Email: dksurfnz@gmail.com, www.dksurfing.com
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