As I write it's Friday of Week 10 with the end of Term 3 arriving ever so quickly. It has been an extremely busy term with teachers and students working incredibly hard, particularly in the senior school, to catch up on as much teaching and learning as possible after the disruptions of Terms 1 and 2. I would sincerely like to thank staff and students for their efforts but I do realise this comes at a cost, so I do hope that everyone has a restful two weeks to get ready for our final term.
You will be aware from previous newsletters that staff are working alongside CORE Education to implement New Pedagogies for Deep Learning utilising a project based learning approach. I am really excited about Term 4 as we move into trialling NPDL in Years 7-10. We will be experimenting with a complete redesign of the timetable and curriculum organisation, and trying some cross-curricular, problem-based approaches. The Deep Learning Competencies will provide the basis of much of this planning, allowing staff to build on the great work they’ve been doing in their respective departments over the past few years.
2024 will see further developments around NPDL in our curriculum and this will be developed alongside critical literacy, localising our curriculum and the development of Raukawatanga across all our Kāhui Tokotoko o Ōtaki schools.
This has been an outstanding term for many of our students, both in sports and other College related activities. A huge congratulations goes out to students who have participated in sports finals, the PCT Challenge and ePro8.
I would also like to thank staff and whānau who have supported their students in these activities. Your support and participation are hugely appreciated.
PCT Challenge Participants
Due to our longstanding association with the Merchant Navy, through our ongoing SS Otaki Commemoration Services, we were again invited to National Merchant Navy Day in the Hall of Memories at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. I am extremely proud to say that as a result of our relationship, Ōtaki College was invited to have two students participate in the service. I would like to thank Caleb Smith for the manner in which he delivered his reading and to Hannah Thompson, who laid a wreath on behalf of all young people in New Zealand. Following the Service I have received a number of recognitions for our students for the way that they conducted themselves during the Service and their interactions both before and after with other participants.
On Saturday 7 October Robert Gordon's College will arrive in Ōtaki with a party of 10 students and 3 staff including Robin Macpherson, who is the Headmaster of the College. Robert Gordon's College students are participating in the Global Alliance for Innovative Learning (GAIL) Conference in Auckland. They are then driving down to spend 7 days here in Ōtaki. During this time they will be welcomed with a pōwhiri at Raukawa marae, visit sites of significance around our town, have an overnight stay on Kāpiti Island and a day in Wellington at Te Papa, Weta Workshops and Government House. We look forward to hosting RGC students and staff in a continuation of what has become a very strong relationship between our 2 schools.