2017 School Start Information

Tuesday 17th of January 2017

Parent & Caregiver Information for 2017 School Start

Dear Parents, wh?nau and Caregivers

Welcome back to 2017 and a very warm welcome to our new students and staff who are joining us. We hope you have all had an enjoyable holiday break. We have a busy year ahead of us and we hope the following information will help in the start-up phase over the next three weeks for students at Te Aroha College.

School Opening

The Te Aroha College Office opens for operation on Monday the 23rd of January.

Dot Elgar - Principals Secretary is available via email to make appointments should Parents or Caregivers need to meet with the leadership team. She can be contacted on: [email protected]

NCEA Results

NCEA results are due out from NZQA on Tuesday the 17th of January. Congratulation to all those students who successfully completed their 2016 NCEA programme. A special congratulation to those students who excelled and received full course endorsement.

If there are student or parent questions or concerns please contact the year level dean and for those in Year 11 or Year 13 last year please email Wayne Stringer, Deputy Principal responsible for the leadership of NZQA – [email protected] or Rachel Scott NZQA Principals Nominee – [email protected]. For 2016 Year 12 students, Torina Halford is available via email - [email protected].

Deans and leadership will have a full copy of results as soon the NZQA secure site upload is available. This is usually a day or so after the students receive their results. Deans, leadership and the pastoral team will be meeting to discuss and coordinate a support plan for any individual students requiring further assistance for NCEA completion on Tuesday 24thof January.

New Staff

We welcome Grant Atkin, teaching Geography and taking on the roles of Year 12 Dean and academic manager for senior school. Many of you will know Grant from his years as Principal of Paeroa College. He has spent the last few years teaching in an international school in Singapore and comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

We welcome Patrick Aislabie teaching Physical Education, Health and Outdoor Education.

Patrick joins us as a new teacher from Rotorua with a keen interest in Rugby and the Outdoors.

We welcome Rose Brandon teaching Mathematics. Rose joins us from time overseas teaching at an international school in Korea. She has previously worked at Matamata College and is an experienced teacher of Mathematics and Music.

We welcome Sharon Oliver teaching English. Sharon is very experienced and has come from Okaihau College in the North. She has extensive experience in small rural Northland schools and will be a real asset to our English team.

Returning Staff

We also welcome back David Masters from his extended leave in Japan.

Key Dates for Week Zero 23rd of January to 27th of January

Monday 23rd of January

The Te Aroha College Office reopens for 2017.

The Senior Leadership Team and Deans are available for enrolments or any meetings throughout the week of the 23rd of January. Please book with Dot Elgar via email on [email protected] or by phoning 07 8848625. Please also be aware that the school computer servers have an upgrade planned for Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th of January and this may effect email on on these days if you are making any early bookings or enquiries.

Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th January

Year 13 Leadership Camp at Sapphire Springs Katikati. All Year 13 students to attend. Torina Halford – Year 13 Dean coordinating.

Thursday 26th January

Subject confirmation and Course Changes 11.00am - 1.30pm: Wayne Stringer coordinating with available Deans and HOD’s.

Friday 27th January - Teacher Only Day

Student Start dates for Week One – Tuesday 31st January to Friday 3rd of February

Monday 30th of January – Public Holiday\

Tuesday 31st January - 9.00 am:

All Year 13 to attend

Tuesday 31st January - 6.30pm:

Formal Welcome and Powhiri to Year 9 and all new students and families and new staff and families at the Te Aroha College hall.  School uniform is to be worn by all attending students.  BBQ & refreshments to follow. All attendees please be ready at 6.15pm.

Wednesday 1st February - 8.40am:

All Year 9 and Year 13 attend.   A BBQ lunch will be provided for all students.  Students to

bring swimming gear.

Thursday 2nd February - 8.40am:

All students attend. Assembly at 8.40am.    Timetabled classes begin for all year levels after assembly.  Students are required to have equipment for each subject and swimming gear.

Friday 3rd February - 8.40am:

All students to attend for timetabled classes.

Operating Day Structure for Term 1.

From parent, student and staff feedback at the end of 2016 we have made the following refinements to the shape of the day for term 1, 2017. This will be in operation from Friday 3rd February. The later start has been to address bus arrivals to ensure we are all able to consistently begin on time each day.

8.40 – All students at school

8.45 – 10.25 Period 1

10.25 – 10. 35 Form

10.35 – 11.05 Break

11.05 – 12.45 Period 2

12.45 – 1.25 Break

1.25 – 2.15 3A Junior *Period 3 Senior

2.15 – 3.05 3B Junior *Period 3 Senior

Uniform  

Uniform items can be purchased at the College in B Block from Wednesday 25th January to Friday 27th January from 12.00pm to 4.30pm. Cash or cheque transactions only.  No eftpos available. Uniform must be 100% correct for first day of school. Items should be named. Te Aroha College uniform is also available at Harry’s Menswear & Surf – 226 Thames Street, Morrisville.  

Buses:

School buses will run at normal times from Tuesday 2nd February.

Please contact us if you have any further questions or enquiries. Further information will be sent to each year level over the coming weeks that relates specifically to their learning programmes.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone for a great year of learning to come.

Heather Gorrie

Principal