It is really encouraging to see the large number of students who have returned to College following the latest Delta COVID-19 Lockdown. Most students have been able to quickly get back into school life and I am encouraged by the recent changes made by NZQA that acknowledge the disruption to learning, particularly in the Senior School.
I would like to thank whānau for their support over the Lockdown period to enable students to continue their learning. I am aware that a lot of pressure goes on during these periods and I understand that you have all done your best over this time.
Next week we have our derived grade exams and I wish to stress the importance of these exams for our students because, in the advent of further lockdowns or an inability to attend an external examination, the grades from these exams will be used to determine possible achievement. I wish all of our students the very best during exams and encourage you to give everything your very best effort. Kia kaha.
At the time of writing this we are all enjoying participating in our national Te wiki o Te Reo Māori. Moving forward I would suggest that we consider every week in New Zealand one in which we can celebrate Te Reo Māori. For those of us that are on a journey of learning, kia kaha ki te kōrero Māori. This is going to be an ongoing journey in Aotearoa New Zealand education and as such I have included an extract from the NZPF Principal Matters by Perry Rush, National President.
"Kia ora e te whānau
Kia kaha te reo Māori. Ngā mihi e te rangatira o Te Akatea, Bruce Jepsen, mo te awhina o te marautanga o te reo Māori. Kia ora o te wiki o te reo Māori.
We need a law change to recognise te reo Māori as a curriculum, the same as English | Stuff.co.nz
The following article is a sharp summation that captures the challenges we confront to grow te reo Māori. The issues are not insurmountable! We must treasure te reo Māori and afford it equal status to English. This is the only appropriate approach if we are to truly honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/126305106/te-reo-mori-teachers-in-game-of-tag-but-youre-always-it
So kia kaha te reo Māori; if you’re not prepared then get prepared because the opportunity to be a truly bilingual Aotearoa New Zealand presents."
In closing I would like to congratulate our Ōtaki Tama Tuakana Boys Basketball team who made the playoffs and to our Girls Soccer team who won their Northern Division Final, losing to Scots College in the Regional playoff. Congratulations on your efforts, you can be very proud of a great season.