Stratford High Times

Tēnā koutou katoa, Talofa lava, Ni sa bula, Kumusta.

As the weather gets cooler and we move into Autumn, it signals the start of winter sport. This is an exciting part of the year as we wrap up warm and head to the sidelines to support our sons and daughters. Being involved in a sport has a number of significant benefits to a teenager. Just last week I read that a child needs 7-9 positive connections in their life to feel supported and have a sense of belonging. Being a part of a team and committing to a common purpose or goal is a wonderful way to build strong connections with others and give teenagers a focus outside of the home or the classroom. Too often we see students drop out of sport as they get to high school and this can have an impact on their connectedness and motivation in life. However, we know that sport is not for everyone. Being a part of a club or group, such as our Madhouse Production or the school singing group, provides the same opportunities for connection. It doesn’t matter what the interest is, but it is important to belong. As parents, please encourage your child to be involved in something throughout the year.

At about the same time last year I gave some guidance regarding online behaviour. As the days become colder and shorter, we spend more time tucked up at home and as a result spend greater amounts of time online. Managing a teenager's online behaviour (and therefore their online footprint) can be challenging, and by engaging in conversation with your child and being aware of their online use, we can support them in making positive decisions about what they do and post. By understanding and thinking about the three “Ws”, we know that a teenager's experience online will be more positive.

The three “Ws”

Encourage teenagers to spot check and ask themselves the three “Ws” before posting.

Who is your audience (and would you be okay if grandma saw this too?)

What is the message you are trying to send with this post, and is it in line with your core values?

Why are you posting (bored/angry/sad/happy/other?)

And....If this message/image/posting was publicly attributed to you, how would you feel?

Thank you for your patience around the strike action. Having the necessary resources and time to provide meaningful learning for all students is becoming an increasingly difficult task in the classroom. Teachers want to provide equitable outcomes for all tamariki. We will keep you posted should there be any further action.

Peter Hogan leaves us at the end of term 1. We are grateful for the quality service he has provided in the metal work room, and I know the students will be sad to see him go.

Lastly, term 2 starts on Wednesday the 26th of April. School is closed on the Monday. Take care and I look forward to seeing you on the sidelines in Term 2.

Ngā mihi,

Cameron Stone

Principal

LEGENDS!

This year, the school, for the 17th time, participated in the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraising campaign.

The school had a legendary team of 32 students and 5 staff. And what ‘LEGENDS’ they were too! The team raised a total of $17039 which all stays in Taranaki to help the people who need it most when Cancer strikes.

As well as collecting for themselves, the ‘legends’ banded together for some massive fundraising efforts. Pop-up Canteens, BBQ’s, raffles, and mufti days all added to the overall team total.

We owe massive thanks to CMK for the sponsorship of our amazing T-Shirts and helping us promote the SHS Legends Team. It made us all look connected and added to the sense of community that the event promotes. Also another thanks to New World Stratford for the generous donation of Easter eggs for a raffle prize.

Further thanks go to all the staff who helped in a variety of ways; Miss Kay, Mrs Hickford, Mr Woodd, Mr Hunger, Mrs Eynon and Mrs Visser for organising the team and making the day so awesome. Thanks also to Mr Savill for the LEGENDS banner, Mrs Terry for making sure our finances added up, and the staff for supporting us with mufti days and pop-up canteens. Big thanks goes out to the Jones and Gerrard whanau for tent set up on Friday evening! A special thank you goes out to Peg Smythe for being our personal pizza delivery driver, yet again!

The day of the relay (March 25) was amazing. The team, wearing the T-shirts proudly, were visible everywhere! On the track, in Relay Idol, Relay Dance competition, Zumba and line dancing all had the SHS Legends team participating.

The weather was slightly temperamental but the small showers and slightly longer bursts of rain, did not dampen the enthusiasm, spirits and energy of the team. As it is now traditional, the arrival of the pizza’s was met with great glee, and they were quickly devoured. The end of the day saw huge smiles and sore calf muscles and many students planning on being ‘Legends’ again in the years to come.

The staff involved would like to send a massive shout-out to the students who made the LEGENDS so legendary. You guys were amazing, and we hope that the Legends live on, well into the future.

Some of our year 12 and 13 students visited TET Stadium in Inglewood, along with two other schools to experience the Rotary Young Driver’s Association Workshop, looking at all aspects of road safety from car safety ratings to real life stories of crash survivors. The students who attended had a great time and learnt about distractions and how to stay safe on the roads.

Our SADD team visited Sacred Heart Girls' College for our first workshop of the year. We decided to wear matching SADD shirts and we are the school to beat as we were one of the most successful schools promoting safer September last year. We are looking forward to the SADD conference held in Wellington during the holidays.

Mrs. Lucy Gibbon

DVS Teacher

Nearly 100 secondary school students from across Taranaki came together to perform music for an orchestra day on Friday 31st of March in Hāwera's TSB Hub. From Stratford High School, Kauby Ngatai-Northcott (who performed an impressive solo with the orchestra to Six60's 'Pepeha'), Hannah Burroughs, Connor Barrow and Luke Mischefski along with Mr. Jim Park attended the event. Read more about their great day in the Stratford Press article.

Last Tuesday, two groups of Stratford High School students had a great experience at the TSSSA Paraswimming Event at the new Wai o Rua Stratford Aquatic Centre.

The event was organised by Parafed Taranaki and TSSSA for swimmers with disabilities from all Taranaki Secondary Schools. Manuel and Karla did a great job of keeping about 60 students involved and having fun.

Our Te Rangimārie students took part in a variety of activities with flutter boards, dive sticks, floating balls and bouncy balls. We also had a group of senior students in the pool assisting the swimmers along with their teacher aides. They showed amazing care and guidance toward the swimmers and ensured everyone was safe in the pool. The experience was enjoyed by all involved.

Te Rangimārie Students: Cearne Cameron, Deontae Gooch-Marr, Emily Grant, Hayze McGarvey, Isaac Giblin, Josef Haisman, Renee Eagar, Ruby Peters, Shannon Wyllie and Shania Taylor

Senior Volunteers: Jaxon Bolger, Hollie Eagar, Te Otiana Gerrard, Troy Gibbons, Skie Higgison, Olivia Marshall, Zara Murray, Kauby Ngatai-Northcott, Neve Payne, Peyton Powell, Meika Pulman, Kate Ratu and Heidi Sextus.

Did you know that if a student misses 5 days of school each term, or one day a fortnight, they will miss the equivalent of one year of school over ten years?

Stratford High School has high expectations for our young people because we know that they can achieve whatever they put their minds to. One of our expectations is that our students attend school EVERY day, because we know that regular attendance is essential for educational success. A growing number of students are missing three or more days of school each fortnight. This is considered chronic absenteeism and will have a negative impact on our students' ability to achieve their educational goals. Regular absences mean a lot of missed work and having to catch up, on top of their regularly scheduled schoolwork, adding unnecessary stress and pressure to our young people's plates.

We ask that our parents, caregivers and whānau support our school by ensuring that their young people attend school every day.

However, if your child is unwell or unable to attend school, please let us know - you can call the office, email us or use the school app to inform us of an absence. This includes if a student has tested positive for COVID. The government advice is still to remain in self-isolation for 7 days. You cannot end your self-isolation early, even if a later test is negative during the 7 days.

You can also contact your child's teachers to request class work that could be done at home.

If you need to speak with someone regarding your child's attendance, please contact your child's form teacher or Dean to discuss. We are here to support you and your child, so please get in touch.

Ms. Kelly Jennings

Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care

There are a variety of ways that you can make payments to cover school costs. The main office receives cash and EFTPOS payments and you can also pay online via direct credit. Parents can also set up an automatic payment to cover schooling costs. When setting up the automatic payment, consider a minimum payment of $15.00 per week, which is sufficient to pay for all school, curriculum and sport costs for a student during the year.

Payments will be automatically applied to “required payments”. Subsequent payments will sit as a credit on the student’s account. If you would like to have payments allocated to the “voluntary payments”, please email ts@stratfordhigh.school.nz with the details.

You can set this up by either using your bank’s online banking services or downloading the Automatic Payment Authority form and taking this to your bank. Please remember to use the students’ name for any payments.

Our Charter is now available to view on our website. The charter sets the direction for our school and identifies our priorities as a school community.

The Stratford Library has partnered with Ciena and the Spark Foundation to offer free broadband to students and whanau who currently do not have a broadband connection at home.

What does a family get on the Ciena fund?
• A free modem.
• 210GB of data every month until December 2023.
• Data is automatically loaded on the 1st of each month and does not roll over. Any unused data expires at the end of each calendar month. Once all the 210GB of data has been used up, the data will come to a complete stop until the next month.

Check that Jump is available at your home address at skinny.co.nz/jump

If your address is eligible, please fill in the following form for office staff to prepare an application form for you Free Broadband for eligible students

Tell us about your school sport experience and go in the draw to win one of five $50 prezzy cards.

School Sport NZ is proud and excited to confirm that it has been selected by Sport NZ as a partner organisation in its Strengthen and Adapt programme. The programme is in its fourth and final wave and will support School Sport NZ to investigate how it can scope, prioritise, and resource initiatives that will have the greatest impact for the school sport sector, and strengthen the organisation to achieve its outcomes.

To do this it is imperative that we engage with the sector, and none more so important than the Rangatahi at the centre of our purpose.

Follow the link to fill out the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SSNZRangatahi1

As we begin the new year I thought it best to send a reminder about how students can access counselling. Due to the high demand and to ensure equitable access, I run an appointment system.

Appointments can be requested by:

1. Email: lalbers@stratfordhigh.school.nz
2. Text: 0223185158
3. Instagram message @ heart_shs
4. or you can fill in an appointment slip and drop it into the locked ballot box. (both of which are directly outside my office door).

When I receive a request, I fit the student into the next available slot and the student is then notified via the way they contacted me or an appointment card is given to their teachers. I can only allocate an appointment time when there has been a direct request by a student or parent, or if an SMT/Dean or teacher has asked me to touch base with a student.

Liza Albers

School Counsellor

MCouns (Honors)

Click on the photo to the right to expand our bell times for the school week. A reminder that Wednesday's look a bit different to the other days of the week due to school starting later on that day.

Please ensure you notify the school office for each day that your child is absent. You can do this via the school app, absence phone line (option 1 when you call the main line), or KAMAR Parent Portal.

If students have dietary requirements that have not already been advised to the school, please email mail@stratfordhigh.school.nz. Please note, Compass Group (provider) only cater for students with a dietary requirement, not for those who dislike certain foods. Lunches are distributed during form time each day.

University Liaison Visits are information sessions for Year 12 & 13 students who are interested in finding out about diploma & degree level programmes.

Parents/caregivers are always welcome to attend these info sessions.

You must sign up on the list on the Careers Notice Board in the Library & get permission from your teacher before attending.

First Round

Venue - Library

Lincoln Uni - 05 April 11am-11.45am

- Viv Milner, Careers Advisor

All year 9 students at Stratford High School are offered a free health and wellbeing check, with the Public Health Nurse or Youth Worker.

This is intended to identify any health needs that your child may have that may affect learning and behavior in the school environment. It is also an opportunity for your child to start the process of understanding and contributing to getting their own health needs met.

The assessment will include measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure as well as a basic assessment of your child’s hearing and vision.

Other topics will be discussed, such as:

· Enrolment with GP

· Health factors related to home, school and friends

· Nutrition and exercise

· Interests outside of school

· Drugs, alcohol and sexual health

The health assessments will be completed over the course of the year, commencing at the start of term one.

Consent will be presumed unless parent or caregiver chooses to opt out. If you wish to opt out of the health assessment, please contact the school office

- Public Health Nursing Team

The Public Health Nurse will be at school every Wednesday for any health needs. Clinic is confidential and free.

• Health and hauora (wellbeing checks)
• General health concerns
• Contraception
• Condoms and pregnancy tests
• STI checks and the morning after pill
• Vision and hearing

To book an appointment, see the school office reception or contact the Public Health Nurse, Bridget Powell on 027 263 4996 or 06 753 7790 or email bridget.powell@tdhb.org.nz.

Dates to add to your diary

We continue to encourage students to bring along their own devices to school this year to support our BYOD programme. If there are any students who are unable to bring their own device, you can speak to classroom teachers to support you in acquiring a borrowed device from school.

Lost your printed timetable? Download KAMAR and have it at your fingertips any time you need it! You can also get access to academic results, attendance details, school notices, student details, and finance information through the portal.

Have you downloaded our school app yet? Moving forward, our app will be the one-stop-shop for communication between school and home. Download it and check out the features that are available!

With the School holidays fast approaching the team have pulled together some awesome activities for the kids to enjoy.

Highlights include:

Inflatables Fun at Wai O Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre:

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday’s during the School Holidays 11am – 2pm

Stratford Easter Hunt:

6 - 24 April – hunt for clues on Prospero Place and Broadway and go in the draw to win one of three $100 Easter hampers.

Entry forms at the library or stratford.govt.org.nz

Sport Taranaki Rugby and ball skills sessions:

Session 1: Thursday 13 April

Session 2: Thursday 20 April

10am-12pm – Primary aged children

1-3pm – Year 7 and up

Free movie at TET Kings Theatre – Super Mario Brothers:

Sunday 16 April, 3pm

free for the 100 kids and youth aged 18 and under.

Library Activity:

• Rock painting
• Make your own music instruments
• Make some tasty treats
• Make slime
• Create a scented candle

For more information on these activities or to see what else we have on offer, grab a booklet from the Stratford Library and Visitor Information Centre or download a copy from the Stratford District Council website - https://www.stratford.govt.nz/

I am offering after school art classes for children 6-9 years, 10-13 years and secondary students. Classes will run for 8 weeks, starting in week 2 and finishing in week 9. Term 2 will have a focus on painting and drawing. Lessons will vary depending on age group and individual needs.

Materials provided

Cost: $240 per term

Contact Robyn on 0297770043 for further information

Rob Cope is running a session on Cyber Safety on Thursday 8th of June at Stratford High School. Rob is a fun and engaging speaker who has an important message to share. It would be great to see lots of community engagement from our school. Click on the PDF to the right for more details. We look forward to seeing you there!

We are promoting 2 trips during the school holidays to help Akonga complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Journey or residential trips or just to experience something new and exciting. See the two posters below for details.

I am a registered social worker, who has also studied Child Centred Play Therapy, as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. In addition, as a solo mother I have experienced the gauntlet in range of emotions a parent could face, and behaviours a child could exhibit. Probably the biggest lesson I have learned is how heartbreaking parenting can be if you don’t get it right. Hence my website www.nextchapterparenting.co.nz.

In addition to the resources on the website, I offer individual or group parenting classes for parents of preschool and school age, as well as a course for parents of teenagers.

Brigid Carkeek

Does your child require further support, over and above what can be offered at school?

Would your child benefit from bespoke and nurturing learning sessions from a highly experienced teacher designed to accelerate learning and boost confidence? We would love to help. We are a team of dedicated teachers, specialising in English and Maths support, for primary, intermediate and college students. Visit www.boostyourlearning.co.nz for more information or contact Jenny 021 223 3349 to book a free consultation.

I am an experienced singing teacher formerly from New Plymouth, now residing in Stratford. I am available to teach contemporary and musical theatre and vocal private lessons at the address below.

All enquiries please phone 0211905054

Mrs Mary WIlliams

38a Flint Road West

Stratford 4332

This course is available to youth aged 15 - 18 years. The focus of the programme is to prepare youth for their future, such as gaining confidence in the job application process, setting goals and learning how to budget and prepare various meals. Further information and enrolment forms can be picked up from the school office.

Give your mobile phone another life, keep it out of landfill and donate to Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust at the same time through the Re:Mobile phone recycling scheme!

Drop your old cellphones into the drop box in the school office reception area.

Advanced after-school coding lessons available for ages 9 - 18. To give your child the opportunity to learn how to programme technology apply now at codingnz.com/signup

Please find below key contacts for staff at school.

Senior Leadership Team

Principal: Mr Cameron Stone

Deputy Principal Curriculum: Dr Michael Taylor

Deputy Principal Pastoral and School Organisation: Ms Kelly Jennings

Assistant Principal/Academic achievement: Ms Allana George

Principal's PA: Diane Lithgow

School Board Secretary: Amanda Hill

Principal's Nominee

For all enquiries regarding NZQA or Te Kura

Mr Dirk Vermeulen: extension 707 or email

Deans for 2023

Year 9: Mr Jeff Walker

Year 10: Miss Jodie Sullivan

Year 11: Miss Peta Apperley

Year 12: Mr Colin Franklyn

Year 13: Mr Bill McGeoch

Guidance Counsellor: Liza Albers

Learning Support Coordinator: Lisa Dent

For all other enquires please contact the school office 06 765 6039

Have you moved recently? Have you changed your phone number or email address recently? Please fill out the following form to advise us of your new details. Also fill out this form if you have not been receiving emails from the school. There are a number of families who we don't currently have an email address for.

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.

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

Fern Energy - FUEL for SCHOOLS

The Fuel for Schools sponsorship programme has helped put over $1.6 million dollars of resources into more than 600 rural schools in the last fifteen 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 Fern, meaning that for every 100 litres of bulk fuel they purchase, 50 cents is donated to SHS. 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 99 99 89 or visit their website fernenergy.co.nz/community/fuel-for-schools