From the Principal
Kia ora koutou, the year is now in full swing. Two weeks ago we had the Athletics Sports day and last week the Year 9 students travelled to Charleston for a full day of activity. This week we had the Swimming Sports on Wednesday, another highlight of the school year. It is great to once have these whole school events to build House spirit and generate friendly competition and rivalry. I want to acknowledge the work done by Ms Evans our Sports Coordinator. Her leadership is essential to ensure the success of these events.
On Tuesday 7 March between 4pm and 6.30pm, we will have conferences for our Year 9 students and parents. I hope that all parents take advantage of this opportunity to meet your child’s House teacher. The focus is on their transition into our school, any concerns or questions you may have and making a connection with the one teacher that will remain a constant for your child’s time at our school. We are aware that for some students, moving into a high school environment can be daunting, so if you have any suggestions for improvements to the transition process we would appreciate you bringing them to our attention.
At the last two assemblies, we have acknowledged those students who achieved a Merit or Excellence Endorsed NCEA Certificate in 2022. This involves achieving at least 50 Merit or Excellence credits. We also celebrated those students who received Merit or Excellence subject awards. We congratulate them on their achievements and look forward to further success this year. There were 40 Level Endorsements and 96 students gaining at least one subject endorsement which his very pleasing. Being “the best that you can be” does require hard work and diligence, these achievements are a recognition of this effort.
We continue to review our uniform so that it is cost effective for parents yet can still be worn proudly. Promo Safety are our sole supplier and to ensure that we keep the uniform at a reasonable price, we have changed the skirt from the tartan to black. We also have black school shorts and trousers for both boys and girls. The shorts are a school short so we would ask that you purchase these from Promo-Safety only. Please support us in ensuring that our uniform continues to be worn well and correctly.
Regular attendance is a key priority for the government. In Term 3 last year our regular attendance was only 38%, meaning that only 38% of our students were at school for a minimum of 90%. We need to do better. A recent study clearly linked attendance rates with achievement in NCEA. Even at 90% attendance, students are reducing their opportunity to achieve NCEA and on average will earn 10 credits less. This credit loss just increases as absences, justified or unjustified rise. Please help us help your children by ensuring that the yare turning up each day.
“Ka pakeke te haere, kaua e hemo”.
When things are difficult, don’t give up
I look forward to once again sharing more student and staff successes and would encourage all parents and the community to be involved in the many events scheduled this term.
Cell Phone Use at Buller High School
This year the school has taken a strategic approach to the management of cell-phone use in the junior school. Schools nationwide have struggled with the time students spend on their personal cell phone devices during classes. Time that has detracted from learning time and has also had the potential to create conflict in the classroom.
All classrooms have been provided with storage pockets. These are numbered for individual students. At the start of each lesson all Year 9 and 10 classes line up outside their classrooms. On entry they place their cell phones in the classroom pocket holder.
If students do not place their phone in the holder and then are found using it in the lesson, the phone is removed and taken to the school office. A parent or caregiver or whanau then has to collect the phone.
There has been a noticeable reduction in the time teachers have had to spend in discussion with students around cell phone management. The number of incidents of students interacting with other students during class time.
The rules for House Time remained unchanged for all students – no phone use in House Time.
Student Services Corner
Managing Anger:
Over the course of the next few newsletters, I am going to focus on unpacking the emotion of anger.
Anger is normal and natural and experienced by almost everyone whenever we feel threatened.
Anger can be a strong and powerful emotion. It sets off an alarm system known as the fight or flight response. This survival instinct automatically releases cortisol (stress hormone) that provides a burst of energy. Our body is primed for action and our thinking part of our brain (frontal cortex) disconnects.
This reaction is crucial when there is a real risk to our survival, as we need to react fast. However, this fight or flight response can be triggered when there is no immediate threat. This results in quick reactions which have not been thought out. Consequently, we do and say things that we wish we hadn’t.
Having an awareness and noticing signs of anger coming on, can be useful. It helps us to apply things that ‘may help’ in order to avoid getting into the higher zones of anger. The model below is a tool I use in my practice. Below are examples of some physical sensations that some people feel. Also, some ideas around coping strategies at each of the stages.
It is important to practice the “what helps” before you need it. For example, practice deep breathing
