r e t t e l s w e N PC Term 1, Issue 2
10 April 2014
Message from the Principal
Inside this issue: Parent/Student/ Teacher Conferences
2
School Fees
2
Parents’ Assoc
2
Careers Expo
2
PB4L
2
Staff Successes
3
Student Successes
4
Shave for a Cure
5
PC Rugby Club
5
Community Notices
5
Tena koutou katoa With more than 100 stalls, performers and activities for all ages, this Saturday’s Paraparaumu College Fair is going to be an amazing event for the whole community. I invite you to come along and bring your neighbours, friends and relatives. As well as raising money for some specific school activities and events, we will be supporting our community partners Kapiti Youth Support and the Kapiti Foodbank. Don’t forget to bring a can of food or a gold coin to get you through the gate at 10am. The Fair is one of a raft of activities and projects which we will be rolling out over the next three years that are connected to our strategic goal of “enhancing the culture of learning, whanau and community at Paraparaumu College.”
We have had a very busy and positive term. We are delighted with the progress made by our students as indicated through the provisional 2013 NCEA results, particularly at Level One (where over 90 per cent of Year 11 students achieved the Certificate), in University Entrance (the highest achievement-rate on the Kapiti Coast) and New Zealand Scholarship (12 scholarship awards – again, the highest on the Kapiti Coast). It has also been great to see the launch of the College’s houses and celebrate the significant success of our students in leadership, the arts and in sport. This term has also seen the birth and growth of PC4Me – our online teaching and learning hub, which students are ac-
Principal—Gregor Fountain
cessing with their own digital devices both in and outside of school. Amongst other items, this newsletter celebrates the achievements of two teachers in our English Department, Helen Benson and Fiona Jeffries, who have recently received national awards for their excellence in teaching. We are delighted to have these two as part of our dedicated and capable staff team. I look forward to seeing you at the Fair. Gregor
OUR AMAZING FAIR! The date is looming for our amazing Paraparaumu College Fair (this Saturday!) and we are hoping that the weather gods will be kind to us. There are heaps of activities for people of all ages, with the adjacent flyer naming just a few. Please tell all your family and friends about the Fair which is raising funds for Kapiti Youth Support (KYS), the Kapiti Food Bank and also for some school trips and other school initiatives. Entry is by a can of food or a gold coin donation. This is the first Fair since the early 1980’s and we are delighted with the support of the College community and stall holders from within and outside the Kapiti Coast area. We look forward to seeing you all on the day!
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Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
School Fees
Parent/Student/Teacher Meetings will be held on Wednesday 14th May (surnames A to L) and Wednesday 21st May (surnames M to Z). All parents are invited to make appointments. For each day there will be two sessions of interviews, the first from 3pm until 5.15pm and the second from 6pm until 8pm
Thank you to all those parents who have paid the fees statement mailed out last month. If you would like to have a tax receipt in order to claim the rebate for the donation from IRD then please contact Mrs Newall at the following email address accounts@pcol.school.nz to have one emailed to you.
To make interview appointments go to:
If you have not been able to pay the statement yet, please can you give this your attention? Reminders will be emailed out shortly and will include any unpaid donation. If you would like the donation removed from your statement then again, please contact Mrs Newall on the email detailed above.
www.schoolinterviews.co.nz Log onto the site using H8QR3 (for 14th May) or 9MFT2 (for 21st May) as the access code and follow the on screen instructions. Online bookings will close at 9am on the day of the interviews. If you do not have internet access, appointments can be made by contacting the College Office on 04 902 5170 or Office@pcol.school.nz
Parents’ Association We would like to welcome all the new members who attended the AGM on Thursday 20th of March. This year all the office holders were re-elected: Debra Sparrow as Chair, Lynda Ramage as Secretary and Vanessa Simpson as Treasurer. The new members brought up some great new ideas for fundraising and the management of selling second hand uniforms so watch this space! The aim for this year is to raise additional funds so even more of our deserving students receive end of year prizes and the school can benefit from some new equipment. The Parents’ Association is also supporting the Paraparaumu College Fair on Saturday 12th of April. It promises to be a fun-filled day for everyone.
For parents who are paying by regular Automatic Payment to the college, the statements are simply for your information.
Please visit our sausage sizzle stall where we will welcome you all. There will be a competition to guess the weight of firewood on display with the closest correct guess winning, donated and delivered locally by Monkey Man Tree Services. We will also be displaying the names of all our wonderful sponsors who contributed to the end of year prizegiving in December 2013.
Wellington Careers Expo
The Wellington Careers Expo takes place on Friday 16th May at the TSB Arena. All Year 12 students are strongly recommended to attend this event. As a result, there will be no Year 12 classes on this day. A letter will be issued to all Year 12 students at the beginning of Term 2 with full information about the event.
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) Paraparaumu College is developing a new framework for student behaviour to support our "Good Learner" profile which was developed with community input during 2013. The College has been awarded $30 000 over the next three years from the Ministry of Education's 'Positive Behaviour For Learning School-Wide' (PB4L) programme to develop the framework, with some of the money being spent on rewards for students. The framework involves the College specifically teaching students about the behaviours we expect in class and around the school, rewarding those who behave appropriately, and developing consistent outcomes for the very small number of students who do not. A team of staff and parents are leading the initiative and are receiving training and advice from an Educational Psychologist as the framework is rolled out. Part of the team's role is analysing data about student behaviour to ensure that the teaching of the behaviour and the rewards are targeted at appropriate groups of students. We will be using newsletters to keep you informed about this initiative as the framework is developed.
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Fulbright Scholarship We are pleased to announce that Fiona Jeffries is one of two teachers in New Zealand who have been selected to participate in the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme. The award was presented at Parliament by Education Minister Hekia Parata and Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education. The programme will involve Fiona living in the United States from August through to December. As part of this programme she will be enrolled in graduate level classes at a host university, as well as carrying out a research project and participating in team teaching and seminar work in local schools. Fiona’s research idea was sparked by our Good Learner Project and the direction we at Paraparaumu College are heading with the use of digital technology. She plans to investigate how digital tools are used in English classes in the United States, some of which have had BYOD for a decade. Her research proposal also involves her looking at achievement data to see if there has been a positive impact on reading and writing, as a result of using digital technology. The final part of her research will be to have discussions with US teachers and students as to whether using digital tools has had an impact on student engagement in learning. The aim of the Fulbright Programme is for educators to have the opportunity to learn about another culture, society and education system. As well as the two New Zealand teachers selected, the programme includes other teachers from Finland, India, Mexico, Morocco and Singapore. Fiona is thrilled and honoured to represent Paraparaumu College in this prestigious programme and we wish her every success as she takes on this challenge. We look forward to her returning and continuing to contribute to our professional development programme.
Asia/NZ Travel Award English & Media Studies teacher, Helen Benson, will be travelling to Shanghai in May as part of Asia New Zealand's professional development forum. Ms Benson was one of ten secondary school Heads of Department from throughout New Zealand selected for the programme. Delegates will be visiting schools and businesses with the aim of developing networks and a deeper understanding of the importance of Asia, and particularly China, to New Zealand's future. We are delighted that Helen’s application for this travel award had been successful. On her return Helen will be leading the college’s work in developing curriculum programmes which will help our students be more Asia aware.
Petanque Staff Success New Zealand have defended their open division crown at the 12th Trans-Tasman Petanque Challenge held in Rotorua during March. Staff member, Annick Le Guen, as No.1 ranked player in the Wellington region, was an integral part of the New Zealand team, with the open division coming right down to the wire with the Kiwis clinching the title in the last match.
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Otago University Pacific On Campus Scholarship Paraparaumu College’s Deputy Head Boy, Kevin Vaeluaga has won a Pacific On Campus Experience Scholarship from Otago University. During May, Kevin will be hosted by Otago University for two days where he will experience Dunedin Tertiary Information Day lectures, meet University lecturers and students and members of the local Pacific community. He will stay at one of the residential colleges. “Kevin is a perfect candidate for this scholarship”, Principal Gregor Fountain said. “Not only is he our Deputy Head Boy, but also he is an excellent sportsperson representing Paraparaumu College in volleyball, rugby and basketball, along with being a qualified referee for both volleyball and basketball. He also works part time with students with a disability and is an active church member, having been selected to attend a Young Catholic Leaders course earlier this year. Kevin gained NCEA Level 2 with Merit without dropping a single credit”, Gregor Fountain explained. Kevin is currently co-leader of the Committee organising the Senior Ball which will be held in August and is also involved in coordinating the Paraparaumu College Leavers’ Jerseys.
2014 Rugby Girls Sevens Champs! For the second year in a row, our Girls’ Rugby team are the Horowhenua-Kapiti Secondary Schools Girls’ Rugby Champions beating our neighbours, Kapiti College, 10-7 in the final. Congratulations to the following girls who took part in this event: Mackenzie Baird, Kylie Barriball, Kita Cook, Chenye Law, Jacinta MacDonald, Hayley Makinson, Renee Marshall, Aimee Mckenna, Holy Meek, Janelle Schreiber, Kayla Shipp and Emily White.
Gymnastics A huge congratulations to Ethan Reti on being selected to the New Zealand Squad travelling to Australia at the end of May. Ethan is the only Level 7 gymnast to make the squad with the rest all being Level 8. To get to Australia, Ethan needs to raise $3,300. If anyone has any fundraising ideas that can be activated in a short period of time, or if you can help in anyway, please let the Sports Office know and we will pass these on to Ethan.
Equestrian Bonnie Luijk and her pony “Red Jazz” won the U21 Training Wellington Zilco series. This was held over a number of months from October last year, competing in 4 eventing shows, culminating with the final one at QE2 Park in March. Each event consists of Cross Country, Dressage and Show Jumping.
Kapiti Junior Touch Congratulations to Jack Manu who was awarded the Kapiti Junior Touch Highest Achiever Referee Trophy recently.
Golf Congratulations to Glennie Hayward on being invited to play for a Wellington Golf team for the Julie Murphy Jug Event. This annual competition is an 18 hole match between teams of 8 players from the Wairarapa and Wellington areas. Even though Wellington lost, Glennie won her match 3/1 and was named Player of the Day for the Wellington team!
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olle C u aum r a p Para Mazengarb Road P O Box 288 Paraparaumu 5254 Phone: 04 902 5170 Fax: 04 902 5171 E-mail: office@pcol.school.nz
SHAVE FOR A CURE Our brave shavers packed out the Auditorium on Friday lunchtime as stylists from O’range, Coastlands and staff members took the razors to their locks! Nearly $6,000 has been raised with some of the girls donating their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Our brave shavers: Alexandra Gray, Jules Esther (staff), Helen Piercy, Harriet Foster, Katrina Thompson, Juan Nothnagel, Angus Macaulay, Brent Thomas, David Langdon, Callum Morgan, Austin Bly, Cullen Manley and Britney Bridgeman.
“A school at the forefront of learning that maximises students’ potential.”
Before
We are on the web: Pcol.school.nz
After
Paraparaumu College Rugby Club We are looking at a new initiative to support and drive our College Rugby. Any parents who are keen to be involved in a meeting to look at the structure and the set up of this club please email Julie Meiring at sport@pcol.school.nz
Community Notices Life Flight Open Day Sunday 13th April 10am—2pm
At the Life Flight Air Rescue Centre (behind the Warehouse, Lyall Bay) Adults $5 suggested donation Children are FREE Spot Prizes all day and kids’ dress up competition at 1 pm. Win a flight on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter just by attending. For further information please visit www.lifeflight.org.nz/openday
Your Help is Appreciated Paraparaumu College Parent, Jim Dryburgh has asked us to encourage all parents to complete this online survey which will assist him with his postgraduate study through Victoria University. The survey gauges the interest of parents of 8-11 year-olds in a proposed product which aims to minimise the cyber-bullying among children. All responses are anonymous. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C9DJBSH
Beachbrook Stables Bookings are now being taken for the April school holiday programme for the 2nd week. Catering for all abilities, activities include a beach trek, river ride and swim, a sleep out under the starts to name a few. Contact 06 364 0302 or visit beachbrookstables.co.nz