Stratford High Times
August 2022
From the Principal's Desk
Tēnā koutou e whanau mā o te Kura Tuarua o Whakaahurangi
It is hard to believe that we are already in August. Winter sport is almost done, and spring is on the horizon. The days are getting longer, and I hope that we start to see more dry, fine days. It certainly lifts everyone’s spirits.
Our vision as a school is to develop well-rounded young people who are ready to excel in the world beyond school. Providing a wide range of opportunities for our students is an important part of developing well rounded citizens and the last month has included our Open Evening, Moana Jr Production, winter sport and our Taita Sports Exchange, as well as welcoming our Year 8 teachers and Principals from our contributing schools. Over the next month we have our annual Tough Guy Tough Girl competition and Winter Tournament week, as well ongoing assessments and practice examinations. Term 3 is busy, and it is important that we (home and school) support our tamariki as they navigate through to the end of the year, ensuring they move into the examinations ready to succeed.
At the end of week one, we invited our contributing schools to our Library to hear about the upcoming changes within our Junior Curriculum for 2023 and 2024 (There is more information on these changes and what they will look like, later in the newsletter). By understanding what the changes are and why we are moving in this direction, enables our primary schools to better support the students in the transition to high school. During this gathering, we spoke about the 2022 transition programme and the changes we have made for the upcoming year. An effective programme, that has all of us working collaboratively with the primary schools, will again enhance the experience for our tamariki as they prepare for year 9.
Our Moana Jr production was a brilliant showcase of talent of both students and staff and the efforts from everyone over the past few months has been extraordinary, given the current climate with covid and the flu. The quality of the production made for a great night's entertainment and to see the Kings Theatre packed on all four nights was testament to the quality of the show.
Taita College made their way up to us at the beginning of the week and we continued the long history of connection between the two schools. The opportunity for our students to reconnect with students from the previous year and to watch the competitive, yet well-spirited games being played was fantastic. The ability to interact and co-operate with students from outside the region is healthy and a great learning for all involved.
So often we see the same students involved in the opportunities made available, while others are happy to let these opportunities pass them by. The benefits of being involved in events such as Moana, or a sports exchange, offer students the ability to learn so many skills that may not readily be available in other areas of life. What I love about small communities like ours is the connected and supportive nature of those within. However, we are seeing pockets of those who are not involved in these events, bringing down others who are prepared to give things a go and particularly those who are excelling at what they do. It is important that we stand up to these individuals and call anyone out who behaves in this way. Being supportive and proud of other people's success is important and talking to our young ones about the value of congratulating others, even when we may not have had the same success, is crucial.
I look forward to seeing you on the 17th of August at our Parent Teacher Interviews.
Ngā mihi nui
Cameron Stone
Principal
Junior Curriculum 2023/2024 and Bring Your Own Device 2023
We had a total of 134 students through our Open Evening this year, 28 more students than last year. At the Open Evening we spoke about the changes to our Junior Curriculum and how we will embed these over a two year period. By the beginning of 2023 our curriculum will look significantly different to what we currently have in our junior school. Our year will be broken into two 18-week semesters and classes will be delivered in modules, with students completing 12 modules of their choice by the end of 2023.
To support this change, we have made the decision to move to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in 2023 also. As a school, we have a responsibility to ensure our students leave high school as digital citizens who can cope with the ongoing technological growth we are presented with in the 21st century. The digital technologies curriculum supports the development of digitally capable individuals. We strongly encourage all students to bring a device to school, preferably a Laptop, Chromebook, or Macbook. We understand that providing a device can be a challenge for some families and we will continue to have laptops available, as we currently do.
For more information on our BYOD program, please see our school website or click on the link below. This outlines the minimum specifications and possible locations for purchase.
Pastoral reminders Term 3
We are looking forward to heading into Term 3 and wanted to remind students, parents, caregivers and whanau about how we do things at Stratford High School.
Our SHS Uniform Process
Uniform is an important expectation at Stratford High School. For our students, it promotes a sense of pride, both in themselves and in their school, it gives them a sense of identity. While wearing our school colours, there is an initial outlay, it allows all students to look smart and seen within the school and our community. Recently we are finding some students are not wearing their uniform correctly or with pride. Hoodies, incorrect dress pants or shoes are being worn. For those students having difficulty with wearing our correct uniform please contact the school office, the dean or Mrs Ralph (Deputy Principal) for support.
Students are expected to wear the correct school uniform daily. This is explained at enrolment interviews and on our school website. Details for the uniform are below.
Boys winter uniform
Junior students: black and red fleece, black and red polo shirt, grey shorts or black dress pants, grey knee length SHS socks, black polishable shoes, black jacket
Senior students: red SHS jersey, white shirt, black dress pants or black shorts, black polishable shoes, grey knee length SHS socks, black jacket
Girls winter uniform
Junior students: black and red fleece, black and red polo shirt, junior SHS skirt or black dress pants, white ankle socks or black tights, black polishable shoes, black jacket
Senior students: red SHS jersey, white shirt, black dress pants or black skirt, white ankle socks or black tights, black polishable shoes, black jacket
Important notes about uniform:
- Shoes must be completely black, flat, with a lace up or buckle. Shoes must be able to take a polish. Canvas shoes are not acceptable especially in the technology rooms. Students can ask for an exemption especially if they have a medical condition.
- Dress pants: must be formal dress pants, no elastic.
- Jewellery: includes 2 piercing in each ear, only studs or sleepers, wrist watch, flat nose piercing. Year 13 can wear additional necklace and 1 bracelet.
- No extreme haircuts/colours. If you are unsure, please see Dean or SLT.
- Hat: the only hat allowed is a plain black cap - no additional colours, logos or markings.
- Junior students can wear a black long sleeved undergarment (plain) under the polo shirt.
- Senior students can wear a white long sleeved undergarment (plain) under their white shirt.
What happens if a student is not wearing the correct uniform?
- Students are expected to wear the correct school uniform every day.
- Please write a note if your child has any ongoing issues that prevent them from wearing their correct uniform. Students then bring this to the dean or DP to get a uniform note, outside the student office, before they go to Period 1.
- The subject teacher in every class will check all students are in correct uniform and ask them for their uniform note. If they do not have one they will be asked to go to the student office/DP to collect a uniform note.
- The DP or Dean will provide uniform for your child to wear for the day if we have some available, otherwise a uniform note will be signed and given to them. Ongoing uniform issues will be addressed with the student and parents will be phoned.
- Students out of uniform without a note, will have their name recorded and parents will be phoned or emailed about ongoing issues and items being worn. This will be done by the office administrator or their dean. The school will provide support to help resolve any uniform problems.
- Students will be sent to the Dean or DP if they are needing to shave. We will provide shaving foam and a razor.
For more information, please contact Karla Ralph kralph@stratfordhigh.school.nz
NZ Model United Nations Conference
On the 7th - 10th of July, I was privileged enough to attend New Zealand Model United Nations Conference held in Victoria University in Wellington. I attended 3 different committees and Plenary as a delegate for Cuba, and a judge in the ICJ ( International Court of Justice). My first Committee ECOSOC gave me a chance to discuss issues regarding media freedom and the question of media operations. My second committee DISEC1 focused on the question of small arms disarmament. On my third day I was privileged enough to be a judge in the international court of justice where we discussed the issues regarding Kashmir’s and Jammu independence. The last day of the conference, the delegates had the chance to thoroughly discuss and explore issues regarding climate refugees. In addition to these debates and discussions, I was also lucky enough to be chosen to meet with an ambassador of the country I was given. His Excellency Mr Edgardo Valdés López who welcomed me along with 2 volunteers from UN youth into his residence to further discuss Cuba’s policies and values to help me with my debate in the respective committees I am In. The conference has also given me the opportunity to meet and listen to The honorary Phil Twyford the Minister of disarmaments and arms control. The four days in which I spent at the conference has helped me gain more knowledge about the world. It was a truly incredible experience I will never forget.
Junior House Awards
2007 saw the introduction of the Junior House badges. The badges are awarded across 4 disciplines. These are Academic, Culture, Sport and Distinction. In order to be eligible for an award Y9 and 10 students had to be nominated by their form class teacher or house leaders. The house awards are given out twice a year. This year sees the 800th award given out since the inception of the junior house awards.
The graduation report assisted with the academic award as well as STAR, E-asTTLe and other academic events like Maths Week. Cultural awards centre around Kapa Haka, speeches, music, drama, art and languages. Sport features commitment and attitude as well as ability from either one particular sport or a wide range. The distinction award became the most highly sought after as it represents the all-rounder who participated enthusiastically, fairly, intelligently and skilfully in a wide variety of events.
If a student has previously been awarded a badge they will be presented with a bar to attach.
Amess House
Academic: Jordyn Buckland, Justin Salisbury; Culture: Aimee Joubert, Darcy Keenan
Sport: Lexi Maketoni, Khan Rangi; Distinction: Zeta Barber, Addison Whitikia
McAllister House
Academic: Darwish Ridzuan, Tessa Slater; Culture: Kaydence O'Callaghan, Hayley Webb
Sport: Slade Lowe, Kemp Nickel
Trimble House
Academic: Charis Harvey, Alivia Kells; Culture: Akemaua Gerrard
Sport: Tessa Coulsen, Ethan Perrett; Distinction: Madeline Hobo, Brianna Roberts
Tyrer House
Academic: Jade Bright, Saphire Brady; Culture: Indy Single, Billy Green
Sport: Ben Sextus, Olivia Jones; Distinction: Maddison Walsh
Tough Girl Tough Guy Challenge
It’s that time of year where we participate in the Tough Girl Tough Boy challenge. This event will be held on Wednesday 24 August. All students will meet in our stadium for a safety briefing at 1pm. We encourage all our students and staff to be involved. They can do one lap (social) or two laps (competitive).
We have 23 obstacles for 2022. The 13 PE class are busy building obstacles and working with Brad Gibbons Builders to create 3 new obstacles around our school and demo farm.
Sport Taranaki are completing a case study on this event in 2022, as our school has been identified as creating large school popular and fun events to get our students active.
What they will need on the day
· A complete change of gear
· Shorts /leggings / Old pants
· Old tee shirt or thermal (polyprop is the best to keep them warm)
· Old shoes (we have a box of second-hand shoes that we will loan out)
· Towel and a change of warm mufti clothes for afterwards
What we will provide
· A hot drink and BBQ sausage in bread
· Changing tents after the race.
· Soap and buckets of water to get off excess mud
· Heating in the stadium for after they have raced.
· Every lap will give the students a point for their house.
· Pizza lunch for the best form class participation.
Attendance and Winter Wellness
Winter Wellness Guide for Tamariki
With a rise in COVID-19, seasonal colds, flu and other respiratory infections in our communities, this guidance is to help you manage your child’s illness.
KEY WELLNESS INDICATORS
· Healthy young children can have up to 8 to 12 colds or upper respiratory tract infections each year. These are a normal part of childhood.
· A child should stay at home if they appear unwell or if they develop any of these symptoms: new runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, they are off their food and drink or show signs of feeling miserable.
· If a child becomes increasingly unwell and/or you are concerned about them, call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116. A child who is refusing to drink anything is likely to be very unwell.
· If an in-person appointment is required, follow your GP’s processes, which will include everyone wearing a mask if they can safely and practically do so.
· If you or a child you are caring for develops difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, fainting or becomes unconscious, call 111 immediately.
Find reliable information on how to manage colds and flus on KidsHealth and Health Navigator.
Information about health and wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi – KidsHealth
COVID-19 Guidance
· If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, the child and anyone in their household with similar symptoms should be tested for COVID-19.
· If any household members are COVID-19 positive, other household members are at high risk of becoming infected. Everyone should isolate for at least seven days from the day that the first person receives their positive test result or becomes symptomatic (whichever is earliest).
· All household contacts, including children, should take a rapid antigen test (RAT) on day three and day seven, or sooner if they develop symptoms. A person who has had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, does not need to isolate again as a household contact.
· Anyone who experiences symptoms 29 days or longer after previous COVID-19 infection should test and will need to isolate if they test positive.
If your child:
· has been isolating with COVID 19 and is feeling well after seven days, they can return to school
· continues to be unwell and/or has symptoms after their seven-day isolation period has ended, they should remain at home to recover until 24 hours after their symptoms end
· still feels unwell or their symptoms are worsening after ten days, they should not return to school. Call your GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for medical advice.
Find detailed information about COVID-19 symptoms on the Ministry of Health and Unite Against COVID-19 websites.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILD SHOULD STAY AT HOME
· If a child has been unwell with an illness other than COVID-19, they can return to their school 24 hours after they have significantly improved and are behaving/eating normally.
· If a child still has a runny nose or dry cough without any other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea, they are unlikely to be infectious and could be considered well enough to attend school. They should not be required to provide a doctor’s certificate or clearance to return.
· Any child who has a runny nose after a change in temperature – for example, moving from outdoors to indoors – or sneezes due to obvious stimuli (such as the sun or dust) does not need to be sent home.
· Hay fever and other allergies can show similar symptoms to the common cold such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose and coughing. If a child has a history of allergic symptoms and shows one or more of these symptoms, or an itchy face (especially around the eyes or throat), consider if hay fever or an allergy could be the cause. You may want to check with the child’s caregiver to confirm.
IDEAS FOR KEEPING CHILDREN HEALTHY THIS WINTER
Follow this guidance to help keep children and whānau stay healthy during the winter months.
Provide children with healthy and nutritious food to eat. Healthy eating supports immunity and helps our bodies to work well and feel good.
Food, activity and sleep – Ministry of Health
Support children to get enough sleep. Sleep is important for restoring energy, maintaining mental and physically wellbeing, learning, and aiding healthy growth and development.
Helping young children sleep better – Ministry of Health
Encourage and create opportunities for children to be active. Being active at home, at school, at play during the weekends and in the community helps children maintain good health and wellbeing.
Activities for children and young people – Ministry of Health
It is a good idea to encourage children to play outdoors – they just need to be dressed warmly during the winter months!
Being outdoors helps to boost children’s immune systems through exposure to fresh air and enables them to make vitamin D from exposure to the sun.
Our Attendance Process
As mentioned in the last newsletter attendance is key to helping our students achieve at school. It is linked to student wellbeing, achieving at school and developing their social skills.
Student wellbeing is a key priority at Stratford High School. We know that attending school regularly predicts the best outcomes for student wellbeing for our school surveys and data and your child's regular attendance may be the greatest factor influencing his/her academic success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to pass their assessments than students who do not.
Not only will your child learn subject content, but they will also learn new skills, including social skills. The skills and knowledge that they learn at school will help them now and in later life as they start work. Good attendance shows potential employers that they are reliable.
PB4L - HEART Ticker Rewards
We are excited that your child is gaining Heart tickers since the beginning of Term 3. Heart tickers are given to all students who promote our school values and school expectations. These are given in subject classes, during EOTC activities, field trips, sports, cultural, arts, practices and events. Other ways of receiving a heart ticker are as follows: being an upstander, helping another student, picking up rubbish.
Please ask your child to show you their progress through the MyMahi app either on their phones or from their SHS Computer log in. Logins are through Microsoft and students use their names and own password.
A few things to know:
Students are beginning to redeem heart tickers for prizes.
The canteen will is open to collect prizes once a week on Thursday lunchtimes.
Hot Food Prizes are available in week 5 and week 10 each term.
Chocolate bars, school equipment are ready now.
Students who meet 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 milestones for heart tickers will have a KAMAR email sent home to whanau acknowledging their efforts.
Exciting news
We have been encouraging students to take the quizzes and activities on the MyMahi home page. There are some great prizes up for grabs. We have some winner already from Stratford High School. Well done to the following:
Heidi Sextus won a $50 Hell Pizza voucher in Term 2
Aidan Taylor won a $50 Prezzy card from the weekly MyMahi quiz week 1 Term 3
For any further information please contact Karla Ralph, kralph@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Parent Elections for School Board
Nominations have closed for parent representatives for the School Board. The electoral roll will be held at the school and can be viewed during normal school hours.
Voting papers are currently being printed and will be sent out soon. Voting closes at 4pm on September 7th.
Amanda Hill, Returning Officer
Contacts
Please find below a number of contacts for the staff at school. Your child will have their class teacher or form teachers email address on the Microsoft Teams pages.
Senior Leadership Team
Principal: Mr Cameron Stone - sc@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Deputy Principal Curriculum: Dr Michael Taylor - MTaylor@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Deputy Principal Pastoral and School Organisation: Mrs Karla Ralph - kralph@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Principal's PA: Diane Lithgow - dl@stratfordhigh.school.nz
School Board Secretary: Amanda Hill - Amanda.h@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Principal's Nominee
For all enquires regarding NZQA or Te Kura
Mr Dirk Vermeulen: extension 707 or email: dvermeulen@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Deans for 2022
Year 9: Mr Jeff Walker wj@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Year 10: Ms Peta Apperley ap@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Year 11: Mr Colin Franklyn - fc@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Year 12: Mr Bill McGeoch - mw@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Year 13: Miss Jodie Sullivan - sj@stratfordhigh.school.nz or
Miss Danica Beaton bd@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Academic Dean: Mrs Riejanne Campbell cr@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Guidance Counsellor: Liza Albers – lalbers@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Learning Support Coordinator: Lisa Dent – ldent@stratfordhigh.school.nz
For all other enquires please contact the school office 06 765 6039
Taranaki Careers Expo - Year 11
Mon, Aug 15, 2022, 11:30 AM
Pukekura Raceway, Welbourn, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Key dates for Term 3
13 August: School ball - "A Night in an Enchanted Forest"
14 to 15 August: Taranaki Careers and Training Expo, New Plymouth. All year 11 students will be going with the school.
17 August: Parent teacher interviews. Appointment information emailed via KAMAR
22 August: MOE Staff Professional Development day. No students on site this day.
23 - 25 August: Option interviews for year 9 students
24 August: Tough Girl , Tough Guy challenge. Primary schools will come during the day
29 August: Tournament week
5 September: Mid Term Break
7 September: Lions Music Awards
14 September to 20 September: Derived grade examinations
21 September: NCEA Numeracy Pilot
22 September: NCEA Literacy Pilot
ACCESS TO FREE FACE MASKS
More masks are being provided in the community to help stop the spread of COVID-19. You do not need to have COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms to get free masks.
Both medical masks and P2/N95 particulate respirator masks are available (with people at higher risk of severe illness being prioritised for P2/N95 masks).
Find out about higher risk people: Higher risk people – Ministry of Health
You can get free face masks by:
· picking them up from testing centres and collection points alongside your free rapid antigen tests (RATs)
· visiting a participating pharmacy
· talking to a participating GP or alternative community healthcare provider.
To order RATs online visit the Ministry of Health website.
Rapid antigen testing (RAT) – Ministry of Health
Alternatively, if you’re unable to order RATs online or visit a participating healthcare provider in person, call 0800 222 478 and select option 3.
For a list of testing locations with free face masks visit the Health Point website.
Kamar Access
We have been having a number of calls regarding access to KAMAR. Below is a step by step instruction to access the KAMAR website:
- Go to SHS (Stratford High School) website
- Click on KAMAR blue button at bottom of front page
- This will take you to website - stratfordhigh.school.kiwi
- Logon at top right hand corner using your Kamar login
- Click on Details - this is a drop-down box which has various options (including financials)
You can go directly to the website without going through SHS website.
By using the website portal you will have access to financials, reports, subject selection, and other important information. The app will only give basic contact information.
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR CONTACT DETAILS?
Have you moved recently? Have you changed your phone number or email address recently? Please contact the school office and update your details.
It is very important we have the correct information for your child in case there is an emergency and we need to contact you immediately. If any contact details change throughout the year please let the school office know.
New Parents Information
Please click on the link below to go the start of school information for 2022.
Within this link you will find information titled "Jan-New Parents Information" which will give you an outline of key organisational information at Stratford High School. This information is also useful for any students who are still starting at our school.
2022 School Policy Reviews
This year the policies for review are our Health and Safety Management policies. See below for instructions to provide feedback on this policy.
- Visit the website Stratford HS Policies and Procedures (schooldocs.co.nz)
- Enter the username (stratfordhigh) and password (swansearoad4332)
- Click on the tab for current review and it should show you the latest policies for review.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type "Parent".
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
- If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
Stratford High School
Email: mail@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Website: www.stratfordhigh.school.nz
Location: Stratford High School Swansea Road, Stratford, New Zealand
Phone: 06-7656039
Facebook: facebook.com/SHSTaranaki
Instagram: @shstaranaki @heart_SHS @shs_SADD_team
Sponsorship for our school.
We would like to thank NZ Carbon Farming who funding the following Stratford High School teams.
- Senior A Netball Team for uniform, accommodation and travel.
- Senior Basketball Team for uniform, accommodation and travel.
- Stratford High Swim Team for uniform, accommodation and travel.
NZ Community Trust have given $22,000 to the school to assist our teams attending tournament week. We have students involved in netball, swimming and basketball tournaments.
Other supporters of our school have assisted the recent production of Moana Jr as well as developments within the school environs and activities for our students.
Northfuels - FUEL for SCHOOLS
The Fuel for Schools sponsorship programme has helped put over $1.5 million dollars of resources into more than 400 rural schools in the last fourteen years. Just a reminder of how SHS has received this donation...
SHS has been nominated by a local business/farm that receives bulk fuel deliveries from Northfuels, meaning that for every 2 litres of bulk fuel they purchase 1 cent is donated to their nominated school. We would like to take the time to mention who those members of the community are that have contributed to SHS. They are listed as follows:
- Makino Deer Ltd
- Palmerdell Trust
- G & M Collins Family Trust
- Cornwall Park Farms Limited
- Amberhay Limited
Rural communities and schools everywhere can enjoy the benefits of the Fuel for Schools programme. For more information about the programme, call 0800 4 THE KIDS (0800 484 3543) or visit their website www.northfuels.co.nz