PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora e te whanau,
Thank you all for supporting your students with their online learning programme this week. It is a challenging time for students, whanau and teachers, but it is made easier if we maintain contact with each other and try to keep students engaged in their usual learning. It has been heartening to hear from staff of the efforts that students are making to take part in learning and teachers have been delighted to see students online and catch up with them.
Access to devices and hard materials
This week on Tuesday, we were able to set up a contactless collection of Chromebooks, cords, Art folders, musical instruments and printed materials for students who have no internet access, from the front of school.It was great to see so many whanau collect the work they needed for students. Huge thanks are due to the office staff, IT manager, Heads of Department and Senior Management Team members who made this possible by heading into school to safely set this up.
We are aware that some of you may have missed this opportunity and we will schedule a second opportunity for a contactless pick up on Wednesday 1st September. If you need resources or devices for your student please contact your whanau ako teacher or email office@trident.school.nz by 5:00pm Monday morning so that we can collect the resources for you. You will then be emailed confirmation that we have the resources you need. Please do not come to school unless you receive the email.
NCEA Exams Changed Dates
As you will have heard, the Ministry of Education has worked alongside NZQA to adjust the dates for the external standards / examinations next term. Exams will now take place from 22nd November - 14th December. In addition, Art portfolios will also have an extended submission date. Whilst this allows students to be better prepared for their externals, and also more time to complete their courses, it will also have an impact on key events and dates for the school.
Two key dates are - Senior Prize-Giving which will now take place on 18th November and Junior Prize-Giving which will remain on Tuesday 14th December.
We don’t know yet whether the ministry will decide to offer the Covid credits that were part of last year’s assessment processes.
Student Board of Trustee Representative
The elections are currently open for the School Board student representative. This is a great opportunity to serve the school community and simultaneously gain great skills in governance, communication, collaborative decision making and managing meetings. The student representative brings student issues to the board and can advocate for them. A good example was our current representative Simon Prout advocating for the senior ball to go ahead last year despite Covid lockdown pressures. All board members are paid a fee for attending meetings of $55 per meeting which is an extra bonus to the role.
If you think this would be a good opportunity for your student’s personal growth and development, have a chat with them and encourage them to contact lawrencek@trident.school.nz for the details on how to apply.
Alert level Three School Guidelines
Later today we will learn what the government intends for the Bay of Plenty in terms of our lockdown status. We have already sent out a preliminary survey to see how many people might need to send their child to school as we prepare for the potential move to a limited onsite programme again. Please be aware that in level three there remains a focus on keeping as many students learning from home as possible; coming into school is the last option rather than a choice. Once we know details around - mask wearing, vaccination requirements if any, the size of the bubbles maintained in school, we will be able to see what we can staff at Trident.
Once again, many thanks for the work you are doing to support your child’s ongoing learning. Our teachers are putting in the mahi - both as whanau / ako teachers providing that first point of call, and as subject teachers managing the provision of meaningful online learning opportunities. If you have any questions or concerns about the programmes, the work load or the kinds of learning being offered, please contact your whanau ako teacher who will be able to help. And as I have previously said, if you have concerns around your young adult’s mental health and wellbeing please contact our counsellors or encourage them to set up an online counselling appointment with Mrs Barr or Mr Barr.
Kia tau te mauri ki a tatou!
Nga mihi,
Adrienne Scott-Jones
B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E
Principal
YEAR 9 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS FOR 2022
We are very pleased to announce that we are accepting enrolments for 2022.
On our website you will find all relevant information, application forms and links to book interviews as part of the Year 9 Enrolment process. https://www.trident.school.nz/enrolments
Please find our 2022 Prospectus - Ngā Tapuwae - by clicking the button below where you can read a collection of narratives that share journeys through Trident, from those who know us best. Through these journeys we have captured our people, our values and our school culture.
ASHLEY AND SHARAYA GAIN SCHOLARSHIP TO PREPARE FOR UNIVERSITY LIFE
Ashley Pye and Sharaya Rangiaho took advantage of an opportunity presented to all Year 13 Maori students in our school notices to apply for HIWA - a week-long scholarship programme for Māori students who are in their final year of study at a NZ secondary school/wharekura. The purpose of this programme is for students to experience being a student at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, as well as living in Wellington City. Throughout the week students will attend different workshops with key staff on campus, explore halls of residence, connect with on-campus support, plus explore all the cool things you can do in Wellington (and they’ll get to attend Open Day). The opportunity to spend time at Victoria this year is exciting for both the girls as they look to move to our capital early next year.
Ashley is looking to study a conjoint degree in LLB and a BA majoring in English Literature and Film at Victoria University in 2022. She looks forward to learning to navigate Wellington, which she knows will be her home for 5 years during her studies. Ashley knows that being in the creative capital is important, especially for the film aspect of her degree, with WETA workshops and other creative industries basing themselves in Wellington.
Sharaya is looking to do a BA majoring in Political Science and International Relations with a minor in Psychology at Victoria. Having never been to Wellington, it is daunting to leave Whakatane for her, but so exciting and this opportunity will make the transition a whole lot easier as she will then know what she is getting into before the move. Sharaya is looking forward to getting to know about the halls, as this will be an entirely new experience living away from home and independently. Being in our country's political centre is important not only for Sharaya’s degree of choice, but also in surrounding herself with political minded people.
Getting to live university student life is a great experience for the girls, they will meet other Year 13 students who will join them in 2022. The girls know that they will be able to impart their new found understanding to their student peers at Trident, who we are sure will be keen to pick their brains on what student life entails. The girls are just 2 of the twenty students picked nationwide to attend this all expenses paid trip and the application process was a bit of a process. The application included a short essay on a couple of questions, discuss their accomplishments and goals, have at least Merit Endorsement at Level 2 and explain how they engage with marae/iwi and hapu. We look forward to hearing from Ashley and Sharaya on their return.
ONLINE LEARNING - SCIENCE AT HOME
FULL STAFF MORNING GOOGLE MEET
Full staff morning meetings via Google Meet are a good way for staff to connect and share experiences and information that we all use to inform our teaching practice.
It is great to see some of our teachers are using the background features on google meet and others chose to dress up in fun hats to make it fun!
Thank you to all of our amazing staff who are working hard within their bubbles, juggling family life with their commitments to our school and students. We appreciate all of you.
EBOP SECONDARY SCHOOL BASKETBALL FINALS
Monday 16 August was a great outing for the Junior Trident Basketball teams with all 3 teams making the finals of the EBOP Secondary School Competition. The Junior girls have played Te Kura Kokiri a few times already this season and knew it would be a tough final. Captain Serita Karauria was unable to attend after suffering an injury at Fridays Senior Bay Champs. Both teams came out strong and hungry for the win and the game stayed even for most part. At times one team would get a slight lead but then the other team would make a come back. The girls final went longer then the boys final so both boys teams were able to support Trident girls. Trident were able to gain the lead and were able to slow the game down a bit. TKK didn’t give up but Trident managed to hold on to take the win!
Trident Junior Boys Blue Team played a great team game last week to gain them a finals spot. Up against the Junior A boys they knew it would be hard work. The A team came out strong from the start and didn’t let up. Trident Blue didn’t give up and pieced together some good runs to score. Trident A came away with a good win in the end to remain unbeaten in the EBOP competition!
Congratulations to all 3 teams on your performance, behavior and support of each other. Thanks to our coaches, managers, TIC and referees for doing what you do. Thanks also to all of those that turned out to support our teams!
Contact Us
Email: office@trident.school.nz
Website: https://www.trident.school.nz/
Location: Arawa Road, Whakatane, New Zealand
Phone: 64-7-308-8159
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trident-High-School-News-420967477994039/