Director of Learning

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Whaia te iti kahuranga ki te tuahu koe me he maunga teitei

Aim for the highest cloud so that if you miss it,
you will hit a lofty mountain

As we start the 2012 academic year it is a fitting time to reflect and acknowledge our successes from 2011. 

Academic Assembly

On Thursday, 23 February we had much pleasure in congratulating students on their successes from 2011 in internal and external examinations and assessments. In addition, we awarded academic colours and letters to those students who had accumulated enough excellence credits - 50 for letters and 100 for colours (with another 50 for re-awarding of colours). This is also a wonderful opportunity to use this occasion as a goal setting and motivational event for girls for their projected 2012 achievements. I encouraged the girls to grasp the whakatauki above and to aim high. 

Scholarships

It was announced with great excitement in Week 3 that four candidates had gained six Scholarships. 2011 Year 13 students received scholarships in English, biology, chemistry, classical studies and history.

Our 2011 Academic Prefect gained scholarships in English, classical studies and history. (Gaining three scholarships means that she also gains a Scholarship Award:  $2,000 each year for up to three years as long as a 'B' grade average in tertiary study is maintained. This is an outstanding achievement.) 

Many thanks must go to the staff that ran early morning, lunchtime, after school and evening tutorials to support the girls. Thanks to the staff involved  for the time, energy and effort in preparing these girls, and others, for the external examinations in November/December.

Year 10 Contemporary Issues Course

This year we will be offering our Year 10 students a new NCEA course called ‘Contemporary Issues’. This is a course made up of a variety of NCEA standards in their core, option and extension classes. All Year 10 students will be working towards standards in English, social sciences, mathematics and science. The extension mathematics class will be aiming to sit an external to make this course eligible for course endorsement. This is an exciting initiative that encourages exceptional student achievement, in terms of extension and exposure to NCEA for our Year 10 students. 

The standards being offered have been communicated to the girls and last week parents received an email that included a schedule for internal assessments in Year 10, NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 for Term 1, 2012. This information will be sent on a term by term basis for you to support your daughter in being prepared for assessments and to plan for any non-justified leave. Should you have any queries or concerns please contact your daughter’s teacher in the first instance, secondly the Head of Department concerned and then myself.

Mrs Dionne Thomas
Director of Learning