June issue 4

TAWA COLLEGE

Issue 4

June 2018

Dear Parents and Caregivers We are now fast approaching the end of Term 2 and it has been a busy term thus far. Tawa College students are continuing to excel in many areas of school life.

We were delighted with the attendance at the recent Careers Expo. This was an informative and positive event and we received positive feedback from both presenters and attendees. Much credit must go to the Transition Department for their organisation of this valuable evening.

At the highly competitive Regional Barbershop Competitions the Tawa College Boys Chorus Acafellas was placed 1st for the 7th consecutive year and the Girls Chorus Maiden Tawa was placed 3rd. The Boys Quartet Ladrigals were placed 1st and the Mixed Quartet, Mixed Down were placed 2nd. This is the first time there has been a mixed competition held in the quartets.

Our auditioned choir Blue Notes together with The Dawn Chorus and the Early Birds Choir performed with distinction at the Regional Big Sing competitions this week.

I need to acknowledge the record breaking feat of Melie Kerr, who scored a world record 232 runs for womens cricket in one day internationals. She followed that up with five wickets for 17 runs and has become somewhat of an international star. She remains entirely humble and appreciative of the support and guidance provided

by Tawa College staff, family, wider community and the cricketing community.

Recently the college hosted the public launch of the NCEA Review. The Tawa College Kapa Haka group welcomed our visitors in the college hall, and were outstanding.

Caitlin Clarke our Head Girl gave a student’s perspective on the proposed NCEA Review which was well received. Students and staff also had the opportunity to ask questions of the panel which were all very perceptive. Parents will be invited to respond to the NCEA Review in a separate communication.

The Tawa College PTA have invited the community to a presentation by Kevin Braswell (the Wellington Saints and new appointed Breakers coach) to be held on Thursday 28th June 2018 at 7pm in the College Hall.

Murray Lucas Principal

PARENT PORTAL & SCHOOL APP

Students recently took part in the Manu Korero competitions and although we were not placed, our students represented the college in an outstanding fashion and gain much from the experience.

In sport, Toby Gualter and Noah Abbott ran with distinction at the Wellington Regional Secondary School Cross Country championships. Toby was placed 2nd in the Senior Grade and Noah placed 3rd in the 14 year boys section.

Our Boys Hockey 1st XI have gained promotion to the Premier 1 Division of the Wellington competition. This is the first time that they have reached this grade in 11 years.

Parent/Student Portal: portal.tawacol.school.nz The Parent Portal was introduced in 2015 and enables parents and caregivers to access information including: timetable, notices, check contact details are correct, attendance, reports, assessment information, mentoring and fees. The Portal opened to the students in 2018 and allows student access to all the same information.

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

Student Online Environment: https://e2learn.school.nz/ is Tawa College’s student online environment, linking to their learning through Hapara. It allows your student to have access to a number of important features from home as well as school. On the front page you will find important messages in the slideshow. The School Calendar and Daily Notices can be accessed from here.

College Website: www.tawacollege.school.nz This is the main site for information that prospective caregivers may need; particularly the Join Us page. The Notice banner on the main page is used in times of emergency.

School App Tawa College has a School App which you can download to your mobile device. The School App provides a quick and convenient way to communicate student absences. It also provides links to the school calendar, daily notices, portal, e2learn and staff contact details for Senior Leadership, Deans and Heads of Department.

Caregivers are encouraged to sign up for the notification alerts, as this is a main conduit of information in times of emergencies. The School App can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Cars entering / leaving college Caregivers are reminded that driving onto the grounds when students are entering and leaving college presents extreme dangers. These times are clearly displayed at the Duncan Street gate. Please time your arrivals / exits so as not to endanger our students.

REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES

If your child is going to be absent from college, please ring 232 8184 and push 1 for the absence line. Please state your child’s name, form class and the reason for the absence. Please also ring the college office if your child plans to sign out at any time during the school day for an appointment.

An automated text message is sent by the Absence Manager each day after Period 1. There is a significant cost to the school sending these texts. To increase our accuracy and reduce costs please ensure that you notify the college as early as possible if your child is away for any reason.

LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS YEARS 9-12 Some students are making their own arrangements with parents or caregivers to leave site and be collected during the day. If you make plans with your child, please ring the office to confirm in advance of their sign out.

This saves the office doubling-up on calls and ensures students are not held up when wanting to sign out urgently. Students must wait at the office until we have heard from parents. We cannot accept text messages from parents on students' phones to confirm signing out.

LOST PROPERTY

If your child has misplaced any items, please ask them to call at the college office to check to see if we are holding it. We have a number of school jackets, hoodies and mufti items that we would like to see returned to their owners. At the end of each term, any unclaimed items will be disposed of or donated to charity.

UNIFORM UPDATES

Updating Uniform The Tawa College Board of Trustees are currently conducting a review of all uniform items. Some items are being reconsidered and as a result we are currently not restocking certain products including the college blazer. We will update you as soon as new information is to hand.

Second Hand Uniform Sale Exchange The new facility for parents to manage the resale and purchase of second hand uniform items is now operational. Access can be obtained via the college website under the Join Us tab. Scroll down to download the form, complete and email. A list of items will be published on the college website and updated as required. The school will have no financial interest in the scheme and the sale and purchase of items will be managed by individuals themselves.

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

Terms 1. Only new style uniform items will be accepted.

2. All items are expected to be in good condition and clean when listed.

3. Buyers and sellers agree that by submitting or enquiring about second hand sales from the College, they agree that their details shown on the form may be passed on to enable them to make contact for a sale.

4. The school has no financial interest in the sale of second hand uniform items.

5. Users consent to their contact details being available on the website for potential buyers to communicate with them directly.

Process 1. Users will download the sale exchange form from the Tawa College website 2. The form will be emailed to Tawa College for listing on the second hand exchange page.

3. A list of sale items will be published on the Tawa College website and updated weekly.

4. Buyers can view items for sale through the above sit and contact sellers directly.

Sale of Puffer Jackets and Beanies We have a number of plain black puffer jackets and Tawa College beanies available for sale through the college office.

Fairydown

Size 10 & L only

$105.00

MacPac

Size 10, S M & L

$160.00

Beanies

One size fits all

$15.00

SUCCESS STORIES

Congratulations to Year 11 student Cam Patterson who has been accepted into the National Secondary Schools Brass Band, playing cornet. The NZSS Brass Band will be performing in Christchurch in the October term break.

We are pleased to announce that Year 13 student Trulani van der Heyde who recently took part in the Biology Olympaid was successful in achieving a Gold award at this year’s camp. As a result, she will travel with NZ International Biology Olympiad (NZIBO) as part of their Operation Wallacea’s Rift Valley Expedition in July.

Trulani will travel to Tanzania and Malawi to help foster collaboration among the international scientific

community to promote excellent in biological skills. This is an amazing achievement and opportunity and we wish Trulani all the best for this adventure.

A number of Tawa College students have been trained as peer guides for the Anne Frank “Let Me Be Myself” exhibition. They have conducted tours of the exhibition to visiting ambassadors from Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Israel and the US and performed readings from Anne Frank’s diary and spoke to the group on the message of this exhibition. We congratulate these students: Ben Keats, Katherine Love, Nathanael Pohl, Rachel Digney and Solveig Ramsay (pictured above) for the excellent way they have represented themselves and Tawa College.

Congratulations to the following students who received a Youth Award for outstanding service to the Tawa community at the recent Tawa Community Civic awards evening: Jess Hill, Elizabeth Jackson, Jake Keats, Davinia Riceman and Elizabeth Werner.

Congratulations to Year 11 student, Yolanda Latu who has been accepted onto a UN Youth delegation trip to Vanuatu called Pacific Project.

This annual project invites nine outstanding young New Zealanders who are keen to learn more about New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific. Yolanda and the delegation will travel to Adelaide to attend UN Youth AU’s National Conference where they will discuss domestic and international issues with a focus mainly on the issues the Pacific Nations currently face. They will then travel to Vanuatu to visit New Zealand’s High Commission and local social grounds where they get to interact with locals.

This is an incredibly high achievement, especially since over 2,000 students have applied.

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

Tawa College Father and Son taking on the World at Waka Ama This year Kailo Ngatai-Rimene will be representing Otaki Waka Hoe and New Zealand in the J16 Men’s division at the World Waka Ama Sprint Championships to be held in Tahiti. Matua Darell will also be participating in the event and will be representing Wairarapa Waka Ama Canoe Club and New Zealand in the Open Men’s division.

Kailo will be participating in the W6 500m sprint, and the W12 500m sprint. Earlier this year Kailo and his team competed at the Waka Ama Nationals where his team gained the Gold Medal for the 500m W12, and qualified 4th for the W6 500m.

Kailo and Matua Darell leave for the World Waka Ama Sprint Championships in the second week of the school holidays and will arrive back in the second week of Term 3. We wish them the best of luck at the World Championships.

TRANSITION AND CAREERS DEPARTMENT

Careers and Scholarships Careers Events: Find out about upcoming events on e2Learn. Click on the Careers tab on the front page and select events. Details of upcoming events and how to register can be found here including: Wellington Careers Expo Victoria University Year 12 Day Massey University College of Creative Arts Immersion Day

Massey University Open Day Engineering week Victoria University Open Day University Course Planning Days Scholarships: See the Careers Tab/Scholarships on e2Learn for more information.

Scholarships for most universities have now opened or will be opening shortly. Please see the university websites for more details. Other scholarships can be found on moneyhub.co.nz

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 7:10am to 7:50am a group of dedicated students, teachers and other members of the Tawa community meet at the front of the Tawa College Gym to socially participate in some physical activity. This is run by Chris Swallow on Thursday mornings and the senior students, Jake Keats, Rachael Lockhart and Jaimie Balmer on Tuesday mornings.

Halls of Residence Applications Applications open on 1st August and close on 1st October. Students can start the application process now by requesting a CCRF, Common Confidential Reference.

This needs to be completed by the school as part of your application for a Hall. You can request this at ccrf.dotnous.com Tawa College Careers Department and Facebook A reminder that the Career’s Department have their own Facebook page for all students and families to “Like”.

This is proving to be a great communication tool for the students to keep up to date with what is going on with short courses, career visit dates and open days etc.

These are planned so that every morning a different activity is done, pushing your physical fitness in a range of different ways. The sessions range from the McLellan street stairs to tabatas around the field to bush runs.

AM Mayhem is for all-comers and suits any ability level, so if you're keen to freshen up the start of your day before school or work please come along. Rain or shine, would love to see you there!

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

TC Beanies We are open in the PPTA Centre (behind the canteen) from 8am to 9am on Wednesdays and Fridays. We have had great feedback from college and intermediate students, staff, family and friends. Please come and try the great coffees; $2.50, with a flavour shot add an extra .50c. Kath and our students have been trained and are ready to put their training into experience.

Future Pathways Career Expo Another very successful Careers Expo was held on Wednesday 30th May. The event was attended by a great a number of both junior and senior students and their families/caregivers. Over 60 exhibitors attended and chatted throughout the evening with our students and their parents. It is wonderful that many local providers are willing to give up their time for the future of our students, ESR, Cheyne Sissons Chiropractic Clinic, KDOne Beauty & Makeup, McDonalds, Hand Rehab, Harcourts Real Estate, and thanks to the Universities, Polytechnics, Industry Training Organisations and others that came from afar and put in a great effort to be a part of our biennial event.

We know that the students get a great deal out of the Careers Expo and this helps with their subject choices for the following years. If you missed attending the Tawa College Expo, you can still visit the Wellington Career Expo on the Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June at TSB Arena, Queens Wharf, from 10am to 3pm. Please follow this link; https://www.careersexpo.org.nz/visitors/

Tawa College Careers Expo

Tawa College Careers Expo

TAWA COLLEGE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

The Term 3 Programme is now available on the website tawacomed.co.nz New courses for Term 3 include Life Stories (get inspiration from others stories from around the world), Hatha Yoga, Singapore & Malaysian Food, Upholstery Weekend Workshop, Cake Decorating Layer Drip Cake, Collage Art, Metal Jewellery (welcome back to tutor Kristelle Plimmer), Crochet Day of Relaxation (spend a Saturday relaxing and creating a new project with Monique), Computer Basics (all day Sunday course) and Recycle & Produce Bags (make bags to replace the single use plastic bags).

One night Seminars include Overcoming Anxiety, Stress & Depression, Change Your Thinking: Change Your Life, Sleep Workshop, Family Trusts, Wills & Powers of Attorney, and Parents as Driving Coaches.

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY�

A new beginner level 1A New Zealand Sign Language class will be starting on Monday night. Te Reo will be continuing with Level 2 and Level 3 this term. Genealogy classes started in 2018 also remain popular as students learn how to find resources from the net.

Any questions about Community Education Classes please contact the coordinator Judith Havill comed@tawacollege.school.nz

Bigair Gymsports Tawa Cartwheels, Walkovers, Flips, Kongs, Handstands, Barrel Rolls, Handsprings - it’s all here at Bigair Gym! Kids love learning a vast range of skills in Gymnastics, Trampolining, Tumbling, Parkour and Cheerleading! We have classes to support children of all levels and interests, and these classes are designed to increase children’s strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and fitness.

COMMUNITY EVENTS and NOTICES

To find out more, call Bigair Gym Tawa on 2323508 or email office@bigairgym.co.nz

BYOD and E-LEARNING Information Evening Monday 27 August 2018 at 4.45pm to 6pm Tawa College Hall There will be an information evening for incoming Year 9 students and parents to outline our E-Learning programme and to display commonly used devices.

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

Massey University is conducting a study looking at the different types of asthma in children aged 8-18. The aim of the study is to improve the understanding of childhood asthma and develop better treatment options for all asthmatics. The study involves a lung function test and a short questionnaire. If your child is between 8 and 18 years old, the researchers would be very grateful if you could take part. They are looking for children with and without asthma to participate.

Please contact: Jean Feary McKenzie 05 08 ASTHMA or asthma@massey.ac.nz

UPCOMING EVENTS (can be subject to change)

Please refer to the school calender for a full list of all events on the e2Learn website June 2018 Tuesday 26 Wednesday 27 Thursday 28 Saturday 30

Sports and Cultural Photos June Tunes PTA Event: Kevin Braswell Hall 7pm Formal

July 2018 Tuesday 3 – Thursday 5 Mosaic Dance Showcase 6.30pm Friday 6 End of Term 2, early closure 1.20pm Monday 23 Start of Term 3 Friday 27 Year 11 Market Day August 2018 Friday 3 Sunday 5 & Monday 6

Regional Polyfest Havelock North Exchange (at home)

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”

TAWA COLLEGE “DO JUSTLY”