Star Board Term Two Week Two

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou Whanau

The PPTA Industrial action has made all of our lives interesting so I thank you for your acceptance of those actions. I can with confidence tell you that the staff are working to ensure that there is no loss of learning for the students.

St Matthew’s Collegiate Supporters' Code of Conduct

I am following the same tack taken by Rathkeale in putting this out to our community.

New Zealand is a sporting nation, and we are all pseudo sports experts (I hasten to give respect to those of you who are actual experts) when we are sitting in our armchairs or standing on the side lines. So, no surprises but the Winter sports season has begun, and as always it is another opportunity to showcase sporting talent and enjoy the participation of our students in their selected sports. We would like to remind everyone of our expectations regarding conduct at sports fixtures, games, and matches. We have noticed that many sports codes are struggling to organize and officiate games due to a lack of volunteers. The main reason for this is often the inappropriate behaviour of supporters on the side lines.

St Matthew’s is signalling to our school community that displays of inappropriate behaviour during sporting events is unacceptable. We ask that you remain mindful of this- but in saying this, I do acknowledge that most always behave in a respectful manner.

If you have any concerns during a game, please address them with the relevant St Matthew’s coach or team manager. If the issue is not resolved at this level, please contact our Director of Sport and in the unlikely event that the issue is still not resolved, you may bring it to my attention.

Please do not make direct contact with volunteers, staff, or Principals of other schools if you have a concern over a sporting or any other extracurricular event. We have asked all Principals in the region to refer any such contact straight back to the appropriate school in the first instance and to not respond to the contact in any form.

Contact Details

Life is a movable feast and with that in mind human beings do take occasion to change address, change from Apple to Android phone – thus prompting a new mobile number, you know the rest, right? But can I ask when you do that, that you let the school know so we can ensure our details are an accurate account of where you live and how we can contact you.

Have a safe weekend.

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Around School

Boarding Note

With winter sport well and truly underway, it is all go in the boarding houses afterschool! It is fantastic to see girls running out the door with their footy boots, drink bottles, hockey sticks etc or simply heading outside to do some fitness of their own on the school grounds.

On the days girls are not fulfilling sports commitments, they may have an extracurricular activity to attend, or they might check out what afterschool boarding club is running, hangout with friends, or take town leave on their allocated day. On the whole, a day in the life of a boarder is busy as the options are endless!

Please note that boarding is open all term except for our two exeat weekends which are 13-14th May (once all netball girls have departed ) and King’s Birthday weekend. With the current Teacher’s Strikes, boarding will continue to be open at all times.

If your daughter is a part time boarder and would like to change her nights due to the strike action, please email me at jo.booth@trinintyschools.nz before 6pm Sunday night with your request. Although boarding nights are ideally locked in at the start of every term, we realise the need to be flexible during this time.

Have a great weekend.

Jo

Y9 Science Trip

Last term year 9 finished Te Ao Mārama – the Natural World, in Science. In this unit students look at how the earth has changed and is changing. What the earth is made up of and how each part affects the other. It has strong links with ecology and helps students see the interconnectedness of the world and its flora and fauna in a NZ context. On Thursday they ended this unit with a trip to Pukaha, Mount Bruce.

We focused on our NZ native trees and the ecosystem they connect with. An important part of this learning also included Mātauranga Māori of this local area. The girls had a great day, regardless of the heavy rain in the afternoon, completing activities as they explored the forest.