Newsletter
What a great term we have had!
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am very proud to see our students working hard in their courses, being kind to their peers and experiencing great success both in and out of the classroom.
Building Developments
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any of you will have heard that Nayland is likely to lose some classrooms over the next 12 to 24 months. When the school roll peaked ten years ago a number of new buildings were built to cater for those increased numbers. Now that our roll has stabilised, the Ministry requires us to relinquish the extra rooms that we no longer need. While this is a Ministry of Education decision, it has given the Board a wonderful opportunity to modernise our campus. We will be able to remove tired buildings that are past their useful life. As roll growth in our local primary schools moves through to us we will be able to design buildings that will keep us at the forefront of educational best practice. As I write this, the exact details are still being worked through and we will communicate this to parents and students later this year. In the meantime, plans are well underway for the modernisation of the lower floor of Block 1 that will see it brought up to a high specification that meets modern learning environment standards before the end of this year. The other good news is that the planning for the replacement of the Horticulture propagating house and the potting shed is complete. Tenders are being called for the construction of these two facilities that were destroyed by fire at the end of 2012. These new buildings
will enhance the great programme that is delivered in this area of our school. I can assure you that there will be no impact on students’ learning as a result of these building projects.
Senior Dress Code
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ou are all aware that Nayland does not have a uniform in our senior school. Sometimes we cop some flak about this but we have confidence that having a Senior Dress Code is the better way to go.
April 2014
dress. The little bit of fashion quirkiness and the occasional testing of the boundaries (in the name of fashion) that comes with this is part of the learning process. At Nayland we give students a safe environment where they can make the occasional mistake and learn along the way. Our students are individuals who take responsibility for their actions. So, students who do not comply are given consequences which do include being sent home to change. The constant feedback we receive from employers and tertiary providers is that Nayland students have a strong sense of self, are mindful of others and that they demonstrate a maturity not always evident among other school graduates. All that being said, we do appreciate you encouraging and reminding your teen of the expectations of what they need to wear to school.
Year 13 students dress up right
There are a number of compelling reasons for this. The first is that there is no link between learning outcomes and what students wear in classrooms. Many countries throughout the world do not require students at any age to be in a uniform. A second, and even more compelling, reason is that this is a learning opportunity for students. Managing self is a key competency that is highly valued by employers and tertiary institutions. When students leave the school environment they will find themselves having to make decisions about what is appropriate
Bring Your Device
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s you know junior students can choose to enter specific BYOD classes. What you might not know is that all students are encouraged to bring their device along to assist in their learning. There is huge potential for technology to enable new and different ways of learning which adds richness and choice. Our teachers are investigating innovative and creative ways to integrate technology into their classrooms. Students will always continue to use whatever tool, process or activity allows learning to occur.
Nayland College; Shaping confident, adaptable contributors
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