A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

The year is rapidly slipping away and we only have 2 newsletters left including this one! Next week is looking to be amazing with all the different camp and activities for the Junior and middle schools. Fingers and toes crossed for an improvement in the weather forecast! Most of this message is information for the end/start of year:

Kaikoura High School year finishes officially on Thursday, December 7th. In the morning students come to school in mufti for a final assembly and Prizegiving practice. We anticipate this will finish around 12 -12.30 and students will then be released to go home – we will supervise any bus students who need to stay. Prizegiving starts at 6pm sharp – we would like students back to lineup at 5.45. Students will be in full uniform with hair off their face and they gather on the tennis courts. Friends and whānau come in the roadside of the gym and take a seat. At the end of next week emails will go out to those receiving prizes so they know – just not what the prize is for! Prizegiving is a formal occasion and the students are here for the duration – it will be no more than 2 hours. If parents need to leave during the event please sit near a door, however, your child will be in the school group until it finishes. After prizegiving, there is a light supper served in the foyer of A block that we cordially invite you all to. Wednesday 6th December is also a mufti day as it is the last day of classes and some will be doing activities.

Start of year 2024 – School Uniform will be available January 23-25th 11am to 2pm and on Tuesday (23rd) and Thurs (25th) also from 4pm – 6pm. Once school is started uniform is still able to be purchased through the school during the normal day. A reminder that school uniform is available through the school office currently but some sizes may be limited – we will be doing a big restock in anticipation of the start of the year. You are welcome to come try sizes now and order a set size but students also seem to grow a lot over the 6 week break!!!! The actual start date for students is just awaiting a little more feedback as to time and will be confirmed by the end of school, but for Year 7 and new Year 9’s it will be Wedensday 31st January. For all other students, it is Thursday 1st February. Wednesday 31st of January we will also have a welcome back BBQ at 5.30 pm in the evening – a chance to drop in, meet teachers and board members, get to know the place if it’s unfamiliar and have a bite to eat.

There is a reminder of our cellphone rules later in the newsletter – please be aware these may change to no phone at school at all depending on what the new government brings in next year. There is also information on the Strategic Plan process – please take some time to read the questions and think about what we can look to enhance.

I look forward to celebrating some great student achievements on Dec 7th!

Just FYI – Kaikoura High is part of the Ministry of Education school donation scheme. This means you do not pay a general school fee – just for specific take-home components or extra activities.

WHAT’S COMING UP?

UPDATES

• Please return all Library books for stock-take purposes unless you are signed up as a ‘Summer Reader’. For information see Rhonda
• All school policies and procedures can be found on School Docs with every term a new one for review which parents can comment on. www.schooldocs.co.nz username: kaikourahigh password 7300
• It would be appreciated if you could inform the office if you have had a change in personal details so we can update our database.
• The fee bills were sent out recently (please get in contact if you have not received yours) it would be appreciated if these could be settled before the end of the year. If it helps you could set up an automatic payment for next year which would help with future bills.

YEAR 13 RAFTING

Talk about starting a new tradition! That is exactly what the Year 13 group did this year by doing the Clarence River Rafting’s three-day expedition at the end of October. The group put our rafts in at Quail Flat, getting there was an adventure in itself! At the time of the trip, the water level was very high and fast, which made for easy days on the river and meant we could see more of the area. On top of the obvious fun we had on the river, some of the highlights for the group were the time spent at camp. Time to unwind and chat about whatever comes up. There is something special about being so remote and removed from life, even if it is only for a short while. For the staff members who joined the students, it was a great time to get to know everyone on another level. Personally, this trip was a great way of sending off students I have worked with their entire time at Kaikoura High School. I couldn’t think of a better tradition for the school to start than doing something like this. I hope that future years see the value in this event and jump at the opportunity to attend. This tradition has been in the works for many years and has been funded by the proceeds of the Kaikoura Adventure Race. Thank you to all those who made this first trip such a success.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

Last week we were lucky to have two student doctors, two nurses, a psychologist, an optometrist and a physiologist come and visit our Year 9/10 students. They are from volunteers from the RuralHealth Network. They have come along to share what options can be studied in medicine and what their specific subjects/degrees have to offer as well as what subjects are good to take if they are interested. Thank youHauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network for visiting our students.

A REMINDER OF OUR CELLPHONE RULES

Cell phones must be turned off and kept in a bag (not a pocket) during school hours (8.45am-3.00pm) with the exception of lunchtime and intervals.
If a student breaches this rule, the cell phone will be impounded by the teacher or support staff. The teacher/support staff will bring the cell phone to the office where it will be logged and kept for safekeeping. If a student is compliant with this process the phone will be returned to the student at the end of the day. However, if a student is not compliant or has two or more infractions then the cell phone will only be returned to a parent.

STRATEGIC PLAN

As many of you will be aware the requirements around the school’s strategic plans have changed a bit and consultation is required on a more regular basis. We have much feedback from the community consultation around the new principal that will be used but now have some more specific questions relating to your child. Feel free to email feedback or take part in one of the sessions that will be happening over the next couple of months – the first is at the Youth Council Pool Party this Sunday 2 – 5 pm at the pool. There will be an opportunity at prizegiving, and again at the start of the school year as well as some others yet to be sorted!
1. Does our school meet your child’s needs?
2. How do you help your child to learn things?
3. What does your child look forward to at school?
4. What enhances the mana of your child? What diminishes the mana of your child?
5. What areas do we need to improve upon?

DENTAL CHECK UP!

Reminder to all rangatahi and their whanau that Year 9 to 18th Birthday “FreeDental” is available, book in with your dentist for your yearly check-up. Yearly dental check-ups are one of the best ways to prevent poor oral health and protect youthful smiles 😊
If you can’t remember what dentist you are enrolled with or have any questions, please contact the Adolescent Regional Coordinator
0800 825 583 /freedentalcare@cdhb.health.nz
Our Website has all the contracted dentists listed.www.cdhb.health.nz/teendental

NZ BREAKERS

Do your kids fancy themselves as the next Tom Abercrombie?
Take them along to a BNZ Breakers game and show them the best of New Zealand basketball.
There are 8 home games remaining in Auckland this season and every game will have epic basketball and entertainment for the whole family. Mark your calendar and get behind the BNZ Breakers.
Tickets on sale now at www.ticketmaster.co.nz