He Pito Mata
He Pito Mata
1 September 2023
1 September 2023
Embedded Files
From the Principal:
From the Principal:
College Notices:
College Notices:
Important Dates to Diary
Important Dates to Diary
Course Counselling Afternoon - 3.30 - 6.00pm Tue 5 September, College Hall, whānau welcome
Senior Exam Week - Begins Mon 11 September
Last Day of Term 3 - Fri 22 September
Real Talk - Sat 23 September
First Day of Term 4 - Mon 9 October
Sports Prizegiving - Thur 26 October
Senior Prizegiving - Thur 2 November
Teacher Only Day: College Closed (NCEA Exams will run as usual) - Fri 17 November
Teacher Only Day: College Closed (NCEA Exams will run as usual) - Mon 20 November
Last Day of Term 4 - Tue 12 Dec (this differs from the date previously advertised)
Year 9& 10 Prizegiving - Tue 12 Dec, 10.00am
(Yr 9&10 students may leave after prizegiving)
Year 7&8 Prizegiving - Tue 12 Dec, 1.00pm
College finishes at 2.30pm
2024
Thur 1 Feb
Yr 11-13 Course Counselling/Yr 7-9 meet their Homeroom/HMT/Kaiārahi teachers
Mon 5 Beb
Pōwhiri and full school return (at different times according to Year Level)
Congratulations to our PB4L Prize Draw winners:
Congratulations to our PB4L Prize Draw winners:
Week beginning 14 August
Kauri: Skye Heenan
Mataī: Danielle Wong
Rimu: Daemin Berkland-Norris
Tōtara: Sam Georgetti
Week beginning 21 August
Kauri: Ihaka Cameron
Mataī: Lucy Rasmussen
Rimu: Tai Turu
Tōtara: Lance Filimaua
Week beginning 28 August
Kauri: Bill Brookman
Mataī: Athena Morgans
Rimu: Raninui Telford
Tōtara: Kimihia Cook-Porter
ŌTAKI POSTER.pdf------------------------------------------------
Catch up classes available
Catch up classes available
In light of the disruption to learning that students faced earlier in the year, below is a link to a document listing the NCEA catch up classes that are being made available for students. We would urge you to discuss this with your child so that they make the most of the opportunities on offer.
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NCEA Changes for 2024
NCEA Changes for 2024
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Derived Grade Exams - Week 9
Derived Grade Exams - Week 9
Please see the Timetable Link for full details on exam timings, study leave during exam week, uniform requirements, equipment etc.
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Course Counselling 2024:- Tues 5 September 3.30 - 6.00pm.
Course Counselling 2024:- Tues 5 September 3.30 - 6.00pm.
Afternoon for Students & Whānau. Whānau are also welcome to attend the assembly held prior to this at 2.20pm where the 2024 courses will be explained to students.
Afternoon for Students & Whānau. Whānau are also welcome to attend the assembly held prior to this at 2.20pm where the 2024 courses will be explained to students.
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Ōtaki College School Board
Casual vacancy for a parent representative
A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.
If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.
Request for a by-election should be emailed to:
Penny Gaylor, Chair
Ōtaki College Board at
vwt@otakicollege.school.nz
or posted to:
Penny Gaylor
Otaki College Board Chair
Ōtaki College
PO Box 36, Otaki
by: Thursday 28 September
News and Events
News and Events
Congratulations to ...
Congratulations to ...
Scott Eastwood, Te Maia Edwards-Steel and Leo Ngan, Principal's Award Winners.
Scott Eastwood, Te Maia Edwards-Steel and Leo Ngan, Principal's Award Winners.
These three students have received over 50 Kia Kaha recognitions in 2023 and, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the College's RŌAR values, were taken to an award winners' lunch at Riverstone Cafe on 30 August.
NPDL (New Pedagogies for Deep Learning)
NPDL (New Pedagogies for Deep Learning)
NPDL: New Pedagogies for Deep Learning Update…
Meet the Lead Team:
Making big changes at a school level takes a lot of extra planning and work behind the scenes to support staff as we move to shift our teaching to more student-led and student-centered teaching and learning. The Ōtaki NPDL lead team members began work in 2021 - Whaea Siniece Williamson, Matua Sam Ward, Whaea Tamsin Dashfield-Speight and Matua Te Tahi Takao - supported by Matua Andy Fraser and our senior leadership team. In 2022, Whaea Jess Torley replaced Whaea Tamsin. This year Matua Te Tahi is taking on other responsibilities at our kura and Whaea Valerie Lees has joined the team. These school leaders have been learning, meeting, preparing teacher support materials and leading staff in professional development workshops over the last few years to help our whole staff prepare for the shifts we are making as a school. In addition, we have been supported by Derek Wenmoth and Rebbecca Sweeney from CORE Education New Zealand.
Radio Show
One example of the gradual introduction of deep learning in the college comes from the English Department. In 2023, our Year 10 English classes have each produced a 30-minute radio show to be broadcast on Coast Access Radio's The College Spot. Students have developed their skills in the NPDL competencies of Collaboration, Creativity and Communication through this project to showcase our learning here at Ōtaki College. The final show is currently under production by Jess Torley's 10T English class, and will go to air on Saturday 16th September at Coast Access Radio 104.7 FM.
Great effort, good team work, loads of learning and huge confidence-building! Have a listen to our awesome rangatahi here, it's ŌC Pride at its best:
Coast Access Radio Station Manager Nikki Carroll working with Zach Heenan at the studio in Levin, editing sound recordings for the 10I radio show.
Next up …. Cool things happening in term 4!
Keen to find out more? In case you missed it in the last newsletter…
Check out this brief introductory slide show:
Student & Whanau Intro to Deep Learning
And the Global Deep Learning Website at
Watch this space for regular updates!
Community Notices
Community Notices
Calling all parents and guardians this one's for you! Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Calling all parents and guardians this one's for you! Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tickets are on sale now. A centuries old penny dreadful tale, gripping and grisly, will give audiences a thrill at every turn. When the lights go down and the curtain goes up, you won’t dare look away. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is onstage at the historically iconic Civic Theatre in Ōtaki. 24 August - 9 September. Civic Theatre, Ōtaki www.otakiplayers.nz
Totara Park flyer.pdf
Pile up your broken bits for the next Ōtaki Repair Café.
Volunteers will host workshops on:
sharpening garden tools
sewing repairs basics (think buttons, hems, holes)
what to check when your electrical goods aren't working (beyond ‘Is it switched on at the wall?’ ‘Yes, obviously. Oh hold on…’).
Please email otaki.repaircafe@gmail.com with details of what you’d like mended. Koha appreciated.
Resident expert (and Repair Café tools sharpener) Matt Brenin continues to help Ōtaki 'warm up' more efficiently - see above!
Do you know anyone who might benefit from this home help?
Can you share this with them?
Thank you to the volunteers, funders and sponsors who make each of Energise Ōtaki's projects possible.
Want to join us? Nau mai haere mai. All welcome!
Recognise anyone here?!
Climate change organisation 350 Aotearoa is releasing a documentary on home-grown energy projects.
Filming with Energise Ōtaki lead to filming Whakahiko Ōtaki-Energy Fund recipient projects...now immortalised in art!
Top left is Māoriland māra kai/ food garden's Elishka Graham.
Ōtaki College students Scott, Lance and Steph are front and centre with their gardening kaiako/ teacher Rosa Yates.
The documentary will be shown in hosted screenings nationwide then released online. We can't wait to share it.
Warm Up Ōtaki Text 1.pdfWarm Up Ōtaki Text 2.pdfInfoForECE+School_WinterWellbeing_August2023 (1).pdf
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