Dear Parents and Caregivers, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Talofa Lava and Greetings.
BEREAVEMENT:
It was with great sadness that we recently lost a popular member of our student fraternity. Rangi Wilson passed away on Sunday 18 September. Rangi was involved in many sporting and cultural activities, including the 1st XV and debating team. Our whole school community was devastated by his passing. Rangi lay in state on our school marae and his funeral service was conducted by Bishop Nooroa Manu, who was also a teacher and coach of Rangi. I extend the love of our school to the Wilson whanau during the loss of their precious child. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you all. E aroha nui atu ana I tenei wa.
ACADEMIC:
Our thanks to the parents/caregivers who attended our senior report evening last Wednesday 28 September. A year ago, I alluded to the fact that maintaining links between teachers and parents/caregivers is vital in meeting the educational goals of our students. Our young people are now entering a highly competitive workplace, in which employment is based upon academic achievement and experience. As a school, it is imperative that we persist in finding further opportunities for success. Developing an understanding of the learning community a child has at home and in school will be strengthened by the information shared in these report evenings. I thank those families who continue to extend and share their knowledge and ideas to support the education of their child.
Our senior students are finishing off internal assessments and gearing themselves up for the NZQA external examinations which begin in November. I want to emphasise that it is important for our senior students to realise that Term Four ends on November 8 and therefore time will pass very quickly. However, I would like to encourage those senior students who are not involved with external exams to remain at school in order to complete internal assessments. Arrangements can be made with individual teachers who will only be too pleased to support the learning needs of our students. Many of our teaching staff have conducted extra study lessons this term and some will hold tutorials during the holiday break.
SERVICES ACADEMY:
The Ministry of Education asked the Education Review Office (ERO) to prepare a series of reports on the quality of education at the 16 New Zealand secondary school Services Academies. Tokoroa High School received an excellent report. Among the areas of strength identified in the report were leadership, educational outcomes, programme design, programme evaluation and review and full integration of students into learning. The Education Review Office concluded that many students in the Tokoroa High School Services Academy enjoyed significant educational success. The well designed programme and effective leadership of the director are significant factors in the success of the academy. This service academy is performing at a high standard and is responding effectively to the diverse learning needs of its students.
NGA MANU KORERO:
Our congratulations go to Turoa Tepana for placing third in the Te Reo Maori section at the National Nga Manu Korero Speech competition last week. His accomplishment is even more meritorious due to the fact that participants in the Te Reo Maori section are always from total immersion schools. Well done, Turoa!
PRIZE GIVINGS:
Our Extra Curricular prize giving will be held this Wednesday 5 October starting at 1pm. Next term, our Senior Academic prize giving is on Tuesday 8 November, 7pm start. I welcome all parents/caregivers and members of our school community to attend these ceremonies.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR:
Extra curricular activities continued, earlier this term, at an elite level when Tokoroa High School was represented at national tournaments for Hockey, Golf and Rugby League. The success of our Professional Sports Pathways course was evident with the semi-final placing of our 1st X111 league side. The team will be hosting the Penrith Panthers under 17 team this week with a scheduled match on Wednesday at 4.30pm.
STAFFING:
We farewell Mr Atilla Kiss and Mrs Kelina Maea this term. Mr Kiss has been teaching mathematics, social sciences and computers since the start of the year. We wish him well in his move overseas. Mrs Maea has been our acting executive officer since July. Mrs Maea goes on maternity leave and we wish her well as she continues her studies towards a teaching degree next year. We welcome Ms Piki Kelly as our new executive officer. Ms Kelly arrives with vast experiences from her previous work at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Hiringa.
Finally, I want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. I look forward to seeing our school community return on Tuesday 25 October.
Regards