From the Principal 23 October

Term 4 has commenced with a flurry of activity as we now find ourselves gearing up towards the end of the year with our senior students.

Given the short time-frame that we have had to address the academic needs of our students we have sadly had to make the decision to cancel the College Ball.  We are, however, hoping that this will be offset by a Leavers’ Dinner where Year 13 students will have an opportunity to relax, socialise and have their achievements over their time at Ōtaki College acknowledged.

At the commencement of 2020 we chose to experiment with the idea that NCEA Level 1 would not be compulsory to allow greater time for us to work with students to build their capacity in gaining Level 2 NCEA which is seen as the minimum leaving qualification.  This has met with mixed success so a decision has been made to re-introduce NCEA Level 1 next year, but with the idea that there will be an ongoing degree of flexibility around this qualification.

This does mean that some Year 11s will be undertaking external NCEA examinations in 2020 but it has raised the question around what other students will be doing at this time, so we are now looking at developing individualised Year 11 programmes which may require some further attendance at College beyond week five in order to gain maximum credits for the year.  Hamish Wood, Deputy Principal, will be in contact with caregivers regarding times and subjects where students are required to be at school.

While there has been a focus on maximising time around academic achievement, we have enjoyed a successful Pink Shirt Day, celebrated the Manukura GPS Guinness Book of World Records for the longest game of Four Square and continue to enjoy activities that are taking place at lunchtime.  These have been led by our current Heads of School but this now also brings us to the selection of next year’s Heads of School, who will be announced at Senior Prizegiving.  I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the Heads of School candidates on their speeches and interviews.  It is nothing short of a privilege to be able to listen to the achievements that these students have made over their time at Ōtaki College and I can only look forward to their contribution next year in Year 13.

I would like to take this opportunity to cordially invite whānau to our Prizegiving on Wednesday November 11th, which will commence at 7.00pm in the College Hall.