Internal Review

End Of Term One Review

As a part of processing through our planning for this and next year we thought that it would be a good idea to gauge from staff their thoughts/views/insights over the first term.  

Here is a copy of the questionnaire that we handed out today...

 The hope here is to better streamline our systems here at the college.  All staff, of course, are warmly invited to bring ideas or issues to any of the SLT (we value your feedback and initiatives).

This post relates to RTC #1. "Establish and maintain effective professional relationships focused on the learning and well-being of ākonga."  And RTC #6. "Conceptualise, plan and implement an appropriate learning programme." 

Merry Christmas

Thanks For 2014 
Well this post makes the end of the 2014 academic year here at Waihi College.  This year has been a terrific learning experience for me as my first year in the role of Learning Leader here at the school.  I have tremendously enjoyed the experience.

I'd like to express my gratitude to the senior leadership team here at the College.  To Alistair for his open approachable leadership and encouragement in my work.  To Heather and Brendan for their support and encouragement over these three terms.

Here is the global years plan (as at mid December 2014) for next year.


I hope you all have a fantastic break, a festive Christmas with loved ones and we all return 2015 renewed and enthused for a great year ahead.

Cheers Justin.

Student Information For Prize Giving

Senior Academic Prize Giving
With this annual celebration fast approaching on the academic calendar I felt that it was time to examine the measures we place upon academic excellence.  I can recognise in myself that throughout my career I would fall victim to an over estimation of the 'value' of my subject.  I would unfortunately take pride in teaching Maths (one of the 'STEM' subjects). 

A while back read an interesting book by Sir Ken Robinson called The Element - How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.   In this book Robinson presents a reasoned argument against pushing students into 'traditional subject' education towards a more open learning where students learn what interests them most. 

Robinson puts it that "School systems everywhere inculcate us with a very narrow view of intelligence and capacity and overvalue particular sorts of talent and ability."  This left me wondering how much I've contributed to this? 

I think that we have come along way in our prize givings to recognise the talents of students from a full range of subjects.  I'm looking forward to the celebration of the diversity of learning here at Waihi College. 




Please book in Wednesday 5th November from 7pm (week four of the term).  In order to gather some information on how the students have been progressing through their senior programmes of work.  I've created a feedback form four teachers to fill in (one per class).  Here is a copy...

There are two key factors that we're looking for academic success (the top three from NCEA results) and those students that have put in extraordinary efforts - but not necessarily had this reflected in their results.

This post relates to RTC # 7. promote a collaborative, inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Senior Subject Selection Evening

Option Evening
The importance of our learners making their best choices for future learning cannot be underestimated.  It is vital that at this stage of the year we provide clear information so that the student (and their whanau) can set up their programme of study 2015. 

"When students find something they enjoy and can excel in, they do better in education."

Sir Ken Robinson Out of Our Minds

This year our option evening will be on Tuesday 21st October from 7pm to 8:30pm in the school hall.  It will be an opportunity for students to find out more information on the programmes of work available 2015 and how these will contribute to an NCEA qualification. 

The hall will be set up in an expo/display style (a la term three's careers evening).  Curriculum areas will have a section of the hall each and can provide some displays of the work/content/materials that are associated with their courses.  [Set up can be done from period four]

There will be letters home to all parents of students from year 10 to 12 to let them know of the events of the evening.  The Pouako's for those year levels will be expected to also contact (phone call or email please) home to let parents/caregivers know. 

The official subject selection booklet (which will be electronic this year) will be up on our school website - there will be a few printed copies but these are $6 each from photocopier so limited. 

The straw poll has now been completed so we have an appreciation of the relative size of classes for 2015.  The next step will be to form the lines around the actual subject selections of the students and arrange the timetable around their options (as best BCA can). 

At this stage students will be picking a time

• Year 11 Students - Six Subjects (compulsory Maths and English)
• Year 12 Students - Six Subjects
• Year 13 Students - Six Subjects

From the straw poll it looks like we will have more students accessing Trade Academy through Wintec which we'll need to plan through.  Thursday 23rd there is an open evening starting at 4pm Wintec Kopu Road Thames (we will be putting on minivan for this).  

This post is related to RTC # 6. conceptualise, plan and implement an appropriate learning programme.

Remainder of Year Overview

Waihi College 2014

Term Four - 86 HALF-DAYS

Seniors have 28 actual days until NCEA externals begin. That will be 16 School days (less Labour Day, and two days of study leave). Approx. 27 lessons with juniors and 11 lessons with seniors.

Week	Day	AM Meeting	Day Events	PM Meeting
Week 1   13-17 Oct	MON (day 2)	STAFF BRIEFING	Year 7&8 Rotation 4 Starts. Year 9 Rotation 5 Starts.
	TUES (day 3)			International Students Surfing
	WED (day 4)	STAFF BRIEFING		International Students Waitomo Trip
	THURS (day 5)		Horticulture Trip to Waimata	Cultural Awards Evening
	FRI (day 6)	STAFF BRIEFING	Year 11 Geo trip to Rotorua (BHY).

 

Week 2   20-24 Oct	MON (day 1)	STAFF BRIEFING
	TUES (day 2)		HPV Vaccination Year 8 Girls	International Students Surfing Senior Option Evening
	WED (day 3)	STAFF BRIEFING	Defensive Driving Course
	THURS (day 4)		Defensive Driving Course Drama Trip to Dust Palace Akld	Sports Awards Evening
	FRI (day 5)	STAFF BRIEFING	Year 13 Tours to Rotorua

 

Week 3   27-31 Oct	MON (day 0)	Labour Day
	TUES (day 6)			International Students Surfing
	WED (day 1)	STAFF BRIEFING	Defensive Driving Course	Volunteers Evening
	THURS (day 2)		Defensive Driving Course
	FRI (day 3)	STAFF BRIEFING	Principal's assembly Years 7-9

 

Week 4   3-7 Nov	MON (day 4)		STAFF BRIEFING		Year 6 Enrolments Due			Gateway Graduation Evening (from 5pm)
	TUES (day 5)							International Students Surfing
	WED (day 6)		STAFF BRIEFING		Calf Club			Senior Academic Prize Giving Evening
	THURS (day 1)				Year 10 Camp Training
	FRI (day 2)		STAFF BRIEFING		Calf Club Group Day
Week 5   10-14 Nov		MON (day 3)		STAFF BRIEFING		PB4L Team	NCEA External Exams		Year 10 Camp - Waharau
		TUES (day 4)								Intern Surfing
		WED (day 5)		STAFF BRIEFING
		THURS (day 6)
		FRI (day 1)		STAFF BRIEFING

 

Week 6   17-21 Nov	MON (day 2)	STAFF BRIEFING		NCEA External Exams	Formal Interviews for Year 6's with SLT
	TUES (day 3)		Year 7&8 Athletics			Intern Surfing
	WED (day 4)	STAFF BRIEFING
	THURS (day 5)
	FRI (day 6)	STAFF BRIEFING	AP/DP Day Tauranga.

 

Week 7   24-28 Nov	MON (day 1)	STAFF BRIEFING		NCEA External Exams
	TUES (day 2)
	WED (day 3)	STAFF BRIEFING
	THURS (day 4)
	FRI (day 5)	STAFF BRIEFING

 

Week 8   1-5 Dec	MON (day 6)	STAFF BRIEFING		NCEA External Exams	Activities Week & Year 9 Homunga Walk (1 class per day)
	TUES (day 1)
	WED (day 2)	STAFF BRIEFING	Documents Day.
	THURS (day 3)		Primary School Tour
	FRI (day 4)	STAFF BRIEFING	Primary School Tour

 

Week 9   8-12 Dec	MON (day 5)	STAFF BRIEFING
	TUES (day 6)
	WED (day 1)	STAFF BRIEFING		Year 9 & 10 Prizegiving from 9:30am
	THURS (day 2)		Last Day of School	Year 7 & 8 Prizegiving from 9:30am
	School Holidays Term One Starts with Teacher Only Days on Tues 27th Jan and Wed 28th.

 

Waihi College 2015

Term One - 100 HALF-DAYS

The year is divided into four terms. They are 10 weeks, 11 weeks, 10 weeks and 9 weeks (in order)

Week	Day	AM Meeting	Day Events	PM Meeting
Week 1   26-30 Jan	MON (day 0)	Auckland Anniversary Day
	TUES (day 0)	Teacher Only Day
	WED (day 0)	Teacher Only Day
	THURS (day 0)	STAFF BRIEFING	Year 7's only day.
	FRI (day 0)	STAFF BRIEFING	Year 7-10's only day.

 

Week 2   2-6 Feb	MON (day 0)	STAFF BRIEFING	Full School Day
	TUES (day 1)
	WED (day 2)	STAFF BRIEFING
	THURS (day 3)
	FRI (day 0)	Waitangi Day