Newsletter - Term 4, Week 1

Monday 24 October: Labour Day Holiday

Wednesday 02 November: Last Day for Year 11-13 students & Board Meeting 7.30pm

Thursday 03 & Friday 04 November: Year 9 and Year 10 exams

Monday 07 November: NCEA External Exams start for Years 11-13

Kia ora koutou

I'm sure you all had a fantastic holiday. It was great to see the sunshine for the Spring Challenge event and the snow a few days later reminding us that summer is still a few weeks off.

The term has started with our Y11-13 students engaged in their NCEA derived grade exams. With their formal exams starting in a couple of weeks, these exams provide an excellent opportunity for our students to show off their understanding as well as providing an opportunity to find out the areas they will need to improve on for the final exams.

Head students

Yesterday I messaged all of the Y12 students inviting them to apply for the four head student positions for 2023. I'll use the same process as has been used in previous years at Fiordland College, with students expected to write an application for the position, with shortlisted candidates then presenting at assembly on why they will be a great head student. This is followed by an opportunity for students and staff to give their feedback, then formal interviews of candidates will take place. As is the tradition, I'll announce the head students at the prizegiving at the end of the year.

PTA AGM - 7pm 25 October Library

The PTA has its AGM next week. It would be fantastic to see some new faces at the meeting to grow the PTA. It's an awesome group of parents all offering their time and expertise to generate funding for a variety of opportunities for our students. If you've got some great ideas or are just keen to offer some time to support the initiatives that are developed, it would be great to see you.

Ngā mihi nui

Steven Mustor

The Year 8 team entered the Kids Lit Quiz for the first time this year at the end of Term 3. They had been practising all year with quizzes and making sure they had been reading a wide variety of books. There were rounds on wands, Dr Suess, mythical creatures etc they had to answer. There were quick-fire questions for the audience and spot prizes to be won. It was a fun quiz and day out and the Year 8s are keen to help train the next year's team to do well in the quiz!

Fiordland College sent a team of seven riders to the championships in Bluff (Motupōhue) on the 13-16 October. The races were held on the tracks that the Southland MTB Club is developing in the area above the township.

On Thursday, six students took part in the Enduro. In the different categories; Libby Excell gained 2nd U13G, Will Excell 4th U14B with Jack Williams, Ashton Hyde, Harry Excell and Bailey Taylor all completing the course. Jazz Braaksma also competed well but did not complete the race.

On Friday and Saturday in the Downhill, five students raced well despite crashes and mechanicals. Libby Excell gained 3rd U13G, Harry Excell 9th U16B and Will Excell 10th U14B and Ashton and Bailey completed the race.

The Cross country race on Sunday had six students compete with Jazz Braaksma 3rd U14G, Libby Excell 6th U13G, and Jack Williams 9th U14B. Will Excell and Bailey Taylor finished, with Riley Wilson unable to complete the race after breaking his saddle and bars.

As well as the individual race medals, there is a competition for the best overall - students who enter all three formats. This year Libby Excell gained 2nd in NZ for the U13G, a great performance.

A surprise for all of us, was to be awarded a brand-new cup. Fiordland College Y7/8s were the Top Junior School in New Zealand for 2022.

On 28 September four Year 7 students and four Year 8 students competed in the Southland Mathematics Association Competition (SMAC) at Southland Girls' High School. They competed against 30+ teams from schools all over the district, answering quick fire questions about a variety of mathematical concepts.

A massive well done to both teams who placed in the top 10 teams in Southland. The Year 7 team came joint 7th with a score of 55 whilst the Year 8 team came joint 6th with a score of 75. Excellent work!

Congratulations to Micaela Puyat, Caitlin Ludlow, Erin Murdoch, Beth McBride (U16) and Sophie Wright (U14) who represented Southland at the South Island Football Tournament in Christchurch.

The week long tournie involved a game every day and our team members were outstanding by all reports.

Issue 7 of the Scholastic book club is now out - this is a bumper issue with lots of bargains in time for Christmas. Why not get ahead with your Christmas presents and support the College in the process?! There's some great books for all ages starting at $3.50, with many books for $7 and under e.g., Horrible Histories, The Babysitters Club, Goosebumps, The Hunger Games & more. Catalogue online or students can collect from the library.

“Thrive te pae ora is a free professional counselling service provided by ADL Limited, for young people (rangatahi) aged 12 to 24 and their family (whānau) living in the lower South Island. This can be accessed via face to face as well as online and telephone counselling. It’s safe, non-judgemental and completely confidential. If you're experiencing some difficulties with mental health or substance use, then we may be able to support you.”

https://thriveservices.org.nz/