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community news
sUNDAY march 1 2008 N
March 2009
Papanui High School
NEWSLETTER from the Principal Greetings, Tena Koutou Katoa What a wonderful start to the year it has been! Yet again our NCEA results have risen sharply and the numbers of students gaining NCEA at Level 1, 2 and 3 are highly encouraging. The statistical graphs on the second page of this newsletter clearly display the upward movement of academic achievement at this school. This continual improvement hasn’t happened by chance: It has happened because of dedicated hard work by teachers who have examined their practice so that they can provide every opportunity for success by the students, and because of increasingly motivated students whose self confidence is growing and who now know they can achieve. There are other factors too in this upward movement: the Engage programme at Year 11, the Credit Watch programmes, the development of courses which allow students to study at an appropriate level and, most of all, the professional development provided by our commitment to the RAFA programme.
stop!
But it was not just at Level 1 that the results skyrocketed. It was also wonderful to see the outstanding results of our top academic students in the Scholarship examinations. And the positive mood has been heightened by the opening of brand new facilities in the Technology, Art, Careers and Music areas which will further enhance the learning environment of the school. This is my tenth year as Principal of the school and I don’t know that I’ve ever felt such a positive tone around the place. The students have settled in extremely well. It’s going to be another great year for the school.
Welcome to new staff
Year 9 Parent Evening Tuesday, March 3 7pm in the Hall An opportunity to meet form teachers, other parents and receive valuable information regarding school routines and expectations. March 20, 6.30pm in the Staffroom A chance to meet other members of this growing organisation and tour the school. Contact alumni@ papanui.school.nz
Whanau Hui Monday, March 23 6pm in the Whare Kai
PTA AGM Monday, March, 23 7.30pm in the Staffroom A chance to be involved more closely in what’s going on at the school
NCEA Made Clear Wednesday, March 25 7pm in the Hall Parents new to NCEA can find out how it works
Attendance and punctuality
We welcome the new staff to the school this year. Pictured from the right are: Mr Knowles, Mrs Gadsby, Mrs McGowan Mrs Craw, Mr Scarth, Ms Enevold, Miss Sapwell, Ms Stewart and Mr Jordan. Absent from the photo were Mr Banks and Ms Bissland.
Should you be at?
Alumni Meeting
Denis Pyatt Principal
Head students Kelsey Berryman and Albany Peseta help Christchurch Central MP Brendan Burns cut the ribbon at the opening of the new Technology/Arts Block in January. The $1.8 million development of the Technology and Arts Block and the refurbishment of the Careers and Music areas will further enhance the learning environment for students.
One of our major goals for this year is to improve attendance. Students are responding positively to a “school starts at 8.45am” campaign and we are noticing big improvements. If parents know their child is absent from school for any reason we ask that you contact the school (Ph: 352 6119 Ext 818 or email: wtn@papanui.school.nz) on the day of the absence. The students should bring a signed note from their parents on their return to school.
Curriculum update
ERO visit
This term at school we will be focusing on two of the values from the new New Zealand Curriculum; Excellence and Participating in our school community. Excellence encourages students to aim high, persevere, do their best work and be their best self. Participating encourages students to get involved and to be an active member of the school community. Parental support in fostering these values would be appreciated.
The Education Review Office will conduct their three yearly review of the school starting on March 9. They will evaluate the quality of learning and teaching at the school and evaluate senior achievement. Their report will be released to the public later this term.
Careers/Transition
The newly revamped Careers Suite is now located at the centre of the school. Ms Cashion and Mrs Brodie are available to meet with students and parents by appointment. Ms Gemmell, our Employment Officer, is at school for This vaccination can protect girls three days a week and keen to network from the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), with Maori and Pacific Island families. the main cause of cervical cancer. In Canterbury this vaccine is being delivered FREE through General Practitioners Coaches and managers are needed for rather than at schools. More information is available at the school’s Netball teams for Wednesdays www.cervicalcancervaccine.govt.nz or and Saturdays. Please contact Ms Archer on 352 6119 ext 654 if you can help. calling 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863).
Cervical cancer vaccination for girls
Netball help required
The school has now joined the “Rock On” programme which is running throughout the country. Rock On focuses on hard line truants and involves interagency co-operation to ensure they attend school. Pictured above is the interagency team consisting of representatives from the school, Police, CYFS, Ministry of Education, Youth Specialty Services and District Truancy Services.
For your
Diary March
3...............Year 13 Conference Year 9 Parents Evening, 7pm, school hall 4–6..........Y13 Health & FNU Camp Outdoor Education 201Field trip 9–13........ERO visit 16–20 ...International Week 17–20.....Nat Col 201 Art 18–20.....GEO 201 Trip 20............Alumni meeting, 6.30pm, staffroom 23............Whanau Hui, 6pm, Whare Kai PTA AGM, 7.30pm, staffroom 23–27.....Year 10 Outdoor Education camps 25............NCEA explained 7pm, school hall Last day summer sport 26............Board of Trustees, 5.30pm, Boardroom
Read the Newsletter on Papanui High School’s website: www.papanui.school.nz
community news
4
sUNDAY march 1 2008 N
March 2009
Papanui High School
NEWSLETTER NCEA results rise again The upward trend in our NCEA results continued this year with another significant increase at Year 11 and improved performances at Level 3.
The table below shows our students’ achievement (PHS) compared to the average achievement nationally (Nat).
NCEA Achievement: percentages: Papanui High School vs all schools 1 July roll Year 11 students gaining NCEA Level 1 Year 11 Literacy st
Year 11 Numeracy Year 12 Year 12 students gaining NCEA Level 2 Year 13 Year 13 students gaining NCEA Level 3 UE
PHS Nat PHS Nat PHS Nat PHS Nat PHS Nat PHS Nat
2005 1327 49.3 56.2 72.2 72.7 85.8 79.0 46.1 60.0 43.5 50.7 27.5 47.5
2006 1393 64.6 59.9 84.7 75.8 91.7 82.9 53.3 63.5 34.3 52.4 27.6 49.5
Academic success
2008 1462 74.7 62.5 82.7 77.3 95.7 84.9 64.5 65.5 49.4 53.2 41.3 49.6
Scholarship winners
Right: Top achievers in NCEA Level 2, and Level 1 lower.
Papanui High School students doubled the number of scholarships they won last year. We congratulate our University Scholarship winners: Tom Wilkinson (Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Statistics (all at “outstanding” level) and History), Annalise Fletcher (Biology, English), Caitlin Gray (Biology, English, History, Calculus), Michael Gudgeon (Biology, Statistics) and Harris Williamson (Classics, English, History).
Off to the USA
Premier Scholar
We congratulate Tom Wilkinson who has been named as a Premier Scholar. His four Outstanding Scholarships and one straight scholarship mean that he is one of the 10 top students in the country. He will receive $30,000 over the next three years to help him with his studies in Dunedin.
2007 1443 69.6 62.7 80.9 77.0 96.9 84.6 70.4 65.0 43.1 54.0 39.9 50.8
Right: Mr Pyatt kept his word and provided a “shout” for the 600 students in Year 11 and 12 because they exceeded the targets of achievement he had set for them. We are most grateful to Northlands Pak’n’Save and to Frucor New Zealand Limited for so willingly helping out with the “treats”.
Caitlin Gray won four scholarships. She has been awarded a three-year scholarship to the University of Canterbury.
We congratulate • The 45 Peer Support leaders who spent three days at Hanmer Springs before school started preparing for the arrival of the Year 9’s. • Liam Dallimore and Ashleigh Davidson who have been selected as members of the Canterbury Kiwis Ice Hockey Team to travel to Japan. • Jamaine Taylor who competed in the 15 Year Old Canterbury A Softball Team in the South Island Tournament in January. • Jess Fiebig and Ashleigh Ooi who were successful late last year in having their work chosen for “Re-Draft”, a prestigious publication featuring the top young writers in the country. • Last year’s 10Pr who raised $520 for the guide dog training programme of the Royal Foundation of the Blind. One hundred and thirty five students from Year 12 Biology went on their annual trip to Lincoln University to do a unit standard assessment task on microscopes. Left, Danny Koko and Natsumi Mizuno focus on the task.
Tessa Bowler has gained a scholarship to Dickinson University in Pennsylvania. She will join three previous Papanui alumni who are completing undergraduate degrees at the University. Tessa will take up her scholarship at mid year.
Top touch teams
Cricket news The Merivale/Papanui High School Cricket teams are performing well. This year we have a team in the third grade 1st XI competition for the first time in five years and also teams in the Under 15 and Under 17 grades. The school defeated Cathedral College in the first round of the Gillette Cup with Alex Marshall claiming five wickets.
New Year 9’s welcomed
The New Zealand champion Girls Team after their final. Papanui High School is now the best Touch school in New Zealand. At the Secondary Schools Championships held in Palmerston North at the end of last year the Senior Girls’ team easily made their way through to the finals where they beat seven-times defending champions Papakura 7-3. The team is very young and this
bodes well for the next two years. The Boys’ Senior team equalled their previous year’s success with a third placing, only missing out by 1 touch down in the semi-final. We acknowledge support from local business: Muscle People Physiotherapy, Hirequip, Loadlift, Performance Physio, City Hire North, Brazier Scaffolding and Affinity Fashions.
Three hundred and twenty Year 9 students were welcomed into the school earlier this month with a powhiri in a packed hall. This began their orientation programme during which they were introduced into the school by the Year 13 Peer Support leaders. Their programme culminated in a newspaper fashion parade on the last afternoon, pictured above.
Read the Newsletter on Papanui High School’s website: www.papanui.school.nz