Fri 11 Apr - Last Day of Term One
Mon 28 Apr - First Day of Term Two
View our full calendar here.
Week beginning 17 March
Kauri: Neveah Cornelius
Mataī: Anahera Roach
Rimu: Max Beauchamp
Tōtara: Mia Isabella
Week beginning 24 March
Kauri: Ella Carpenter
Mataī: Leah Shipp
Rimu: Matthew Hall
Tōtara: Whatumanawa Rikihana-Tukerangi
Week beginning 31 March
Kauri: Leo Ngan
Mataī: Amelia Rauhihi Marino
Rimu: Carol Luu
Tōtara: Braeden Butters
Week beginning 7 April
Kauri: Olivia Fogden
Mataī: David Dai
Rimu: Charlotte Hailwood
Tōtara: Harriet Georgetti
There is a proposed amendment to our current enrolment scheme to include our new Special Programme:- Te Reo Māori - Te Wharekura o te Kāreti o Ōtaki.
Great news for our students. There are changes happening for our 290 Metlink Bus service.
The Wellington Regional Council has changed the time for the 290 service to coincide with our school finish time. From Term 2 onwards, the 290 service is now scheduled to leave college at 3:27pm. This means that students will not be missing out on learning time.
Our thanks to BoT Chair, Penny Gaylor, for her work in bringing about this change.
In order to adhere to the No Phones in School Policy the following has been agreed:
No wireless earbuds/pods are to be used during school hours. Only headphones and wired earplugs will be allowed in classes for school-related purposes. Some classes may not allow students to use headphones and wired earplugs - so students must listen to their teacher to hear the expectation for their class. No headphones or wired earbuds are to be worn outside of class time. They must be put into bags. Failure to adhere to these expectations will potentially see these items being held in the school office.
At its recent meeting The Board of Trustees granted a student petition to have the option to wear slides as well as sandals and to be able to wear socks with either slides or sandals.
The outcome was that black or brown sandals or slides (Birkenstocks or similar style) can be worn by students at College except in the technology areas where shoes are required to be worn.
White or dark (blue or black) socks can be worn with all footwear.
Students are not allowed to wear crocs, jandals or scuffs.
The updated Uniform Requirements can be read here.
Please note that students should be dropped off and collected from Mill Road, not from the top of the College driveway.
Parents should not be driving down the driveway immediately before or after school.
This is an important safety issue and we are grateful for your compliance with this procedure.
John Mills who repaired the ropework on our flagpole in the leadup to the SS Otaki Commemoration. John said this to the Principal:
"I am pleased that I was able to assist with the replacement rope work and enjoyed the challenge of recalling past skills from my navy days.
On another note, I was impressed with the College, the interchange with staff and on a couple of occasions, impromptu chats with several of the students. I found them polite and enjoyed learning a few things from them.
Well done to you and staff for creating this environment for our future workforce."
Welcome to the last newsletter for Term One. As I intimated in the last Newsletter, this has been a whirlwind term - full of events that have certainly elevated the enthusiasm of students around the College House Competition.
I was immensely proud of all the students who took part in Relay for Life, which raised $8,000 for the Cancer Society. My sincere thanks to Jo McInerney, members of the Ngā Ringa Whero Team and the Manukura GPS boys who all contributed to the effective running of the event.
One of the highlights of our school year is the College Ball, which again ran incredibly smoothly thanks to the organisation of Anne Hagan, other staff members who participated on the night, and the Student Ball Committee. Huge thanks to all the students who attended for the way in which they involved themselves and conducted themselves throughout the night.
As I write this on Thursday morning, we are looking forward to the College Variety Show, which I am certain will be another great event that showcases the many talents of students at the College. I look forward to seeing a number of students on stage tonight.
Please be aware that next term will be incredibly important for students, particularly those working on their NCEA credits. During this term many students will commence major assessments and so their ongoing commitment to study and attendance will be critical to assist achievement. Thank you to all whānau who have supported our efforts to lift attendance. We are certainly seeing the benefits of this over Term One.
I would like to thank Marion Lumley for stepping in this term to cover Mrs De Kock's classes while she was on bereavement leave. I would like to welcome back Mrs De Kock, who will commence teaching again in Term Two.
I would also like to thank Natasha Simpson who has been covering classes in the continued absence of Penny Quinn. Natasha is returning to her study and in her place we will have Julie Downey and Whaea Tash Mills continuing to cover these classes in Term Two.
I wish all our students a good break and we look forward to having them all back in Term Two, refreshed and ready to learn.
In closing I would like to also acknowledge that later today at 3.00pm the second reading of the Treaty Principles Bill will see it stopped and put to an end. While it should never have gone ahead in the first place this is a historic moment and validates the efforts of all those that gathered together to push back against this bill. I want to acknowledge the amazing work that the Toitu Te Tiriti movement have done over this time to activate against this bill.
Today at 3.00pm staff and students at the college will join together to perform the Haka, Ka Mate. The push back against this Bill commenced with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clark and others performing this haka in the house and it is only fitting that the defeat of this bill be celebrated by again performing this haka to acknowledge it going in the bin where it belongs!
Ka mate, Ka mate, Ka ora, Ka ora, Whiti mai te ra!
It's time to channel your inner explorer and join the Staglands Treasure Hunt!
Every correct entry wins a prize and there are heaps up for grabs!
To enter download the Treasure Hunt Sheet from our website or ask for one at the Ticket Office when you visit.
Take your completed sheet to the Ticket Office to claim your prize!
Don’t forget to enter our bonus draw too for the chance to win a Staglander Annual Family Pass valued at $220!
*Offer runs 12h – 27th April 2025 (*excluding Easter Long Weekend 18th – 21st April)
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award equips rangatahi for promising futures by challenging young people to develop skills and tools to improve themselves – and their communities.
For information about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at College contact Carrie Yaxley on carrieyaxley@gmail.com or Kent Pollard on kpl@otakicollege.school.nz.
KAPITI WELLNESS RETREAT 20th-22nd June
Are you an over-worked, under-appreciated Mum looking for some time out?
Join us for two days of abundant self care...
Treat yourself to a weekend of yoga, spa, massage, sound healing
and abundance techniques in a beautiful garden setting, all meals included.
Come join a group of gorgeous women in a weekend of soul healing (and dancing!).
$595 queen solo room or $495 shared single.
Limited spaces available