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Rotorua Lakes High School “Mauria te pono - Keep steadfastly to the truth”

NEWSLETTER ISSUE No.1 - 2 FEBRUARY 2018

CHALKBOARD From the Principal – P. 1 News & Events – P. 2 - 4 Department News – P. 5 - 6 Sports - P. 7 Contact Us – P. 7 Community Notices – P. 8 Our Sponsors – P. 9 - 10

Dear Parents/Caregivers Kia ora tatou

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

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WELCOME BACK I would like to welcome you back for 2018. We especially welcome all our new students and their families. I hope your summer has gone well and you are refreshed and looking forward to the beginning of the new school year.

As we all know and appreciate, attending school and teaching is one of those rare situations for students and teachers alike where you get a clean slate every year. Our job as teachers is to empower the students with education and life learning skills. We want them to have the tools and resources they need to do great things and progress through life. While we may not be able to provide everything we would like, we feel responsible for doing all we can to support the students and their families. In turn, we trust that our students will take responsibility and ownership of their own learning and remember that, if in doubt, always ask for help.

I look forward to working with you all and to a very successful 2018 for our students. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS We welcome 5 new staff members: Mrs Marcy Stunell – Music Ms Morgan Aperahama – English / Media Studies Ms Sian Draper – Spanish / Maths Ms Ineke Smets - Science Ms Rachelle Smith – School Nurse Mr Revinathan Nair - Maths Yours sincerely,

NEWS & EVENTS TERM 1 KEY DATES 2018 Tues 6 February Wed 21 February Wed 14 February Wed 28 February Tues 6 - Fri 9 March Tues 6 March Mon 19 – Fri 23 March Thurs 22 March Tues 27 March – Thurs 29 March Fri 6 April Wed 11 – Fri 13 April Mon 16 April – Fri 27 April

Public Holiday (Waitangi Day) Athletics Day Prefects Investiture / Celebratory Assembly New Parents Evening 4pm – 6 pm Year 13 Camp Mid Island Athletics Summer Tournament Week Swimming Sports Day Yr 12 Sports Science Camp BOPSS Swimming Champs Year 10 Camp EASTER BREAK

TERM DATES 2018 Tuesday 30 January 2018 Monday 30 April 2018 Monday 23 July 2018 Monday 15 October 2018

Friday 13 April 2018 Friday 6 July 2018 Friday 28 September 2018 Tuesday 11 December 2018

11 weeks 10 weeks 10 weeks 8 weeks

___________________________________________________________________________ ENROLMENTS FOR 2018  We are currently taking enrolments for 2018. Enrolment forms are available from our school office.  We recommend you complete the enrolment documentation and return it to us as soon as possible. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

SCHOOL TIMETABLE The organization for the school day is: 8.45 - 9.05 9.05 – 10.05 10.05 – 11.05 11.05 – 11.30 11.30 – 12.30 12.30 – 1.30 1.30 – 2.15 2.15 – 3.15/3.25

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HOUSE GROUPS PERIOD 1 PERIOD 2 INTERVAL PERIOD 3 PERIOD 4 LUNCH PERIOD 5

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PUNCTUALITY It is very important that students arrive at school on time for house group at 8.45 am to be marked present at school on the attendance register and to hear the daily notices so they are aware of what is happening around the school.

Warning bell 8.40 am Into House Group 8.45 am _____________________________________________________________________________________________

PARKING AT RLHS We appreciate your cooperation with the following parking regulations at the school: Please do not park at the bus stop near the school main gate between 3.15 pm and 3.45 pm. It is illegal to park or briefly stop as this is a designated bus area only which is regularly enforced by the Police and tickets have been issued before.

Always single park (double parking causes accidents and traffic jams).

For afternoon pick up, please do not park in the bus stop, arrange with your child to meet further down the road.

For issues of safety, we will, if necessary, pass number plates to the Police. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT ABSENCES 

It is expected that parents phone the school absence line (345 6124, ext 244) before 8.30 am to let us know that their child will be away from school.  A written letter from home explaining the absence must be supplied to the House Group tutor on the student’s return to school if you have not phoned in.  We also have an ABSENCE LINE FOR TEXTING 027 765 4957. You may text your child’s absence.  Please give your name, your student’s name, House Group and the reason for absence.

Please contact our Attendance Officer, Mrs Paula Short, if you have any concerns 345 6124, ext 266. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

SIGNING OUT OF SCHOOL DURING THE DAY The system is: The student brings a note written and signed by parent / caregiver The House Group Tutor signs the note at House Group time in the morning The student presents the note to leave class The student presents the note to the Duty Dean in the Duty Dean’s office next to the Canteen to sign out of school The student signs back into school at the Duty Dean’s office when they return. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENTS LATE TO SCHOOL 

If students are late to school they must either bring a note from home to explain the lateness, or an appointment card from their Doctor/Dentist/Optician, etc., or parents may phone the school to explain lateness.  Before 9.05 students go straight to House Group with their note. After 9.05 they must report to the Duty Dean in the Duty Dean’s office on arrival to sign in and be issued with a late pass. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

LUNCHTIME All students are expected to remain at school for lunch, they are not permitted to leave the school grounds at lunchtime.

If for any reason there is an occasion that a student must leave school at lunchtime, they will need a written note from home to excuse them and sign out as above.

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CHARTER BUS All Charter Bus students must have purchased their bus passes by Friday 9 February 2018.  

A term pass costs $180.00 A 10 ride pass costs $30.00

Payable at student reception ____________________________________________________________________________________________

THE SKOOL LOOP APP

You may have noticed …..THE PARENT TEACHER CALENDAR APP is now THE SKOOL LOOP APP. The same app just a new look.

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NCEA

New to NCEA? New Zealand's National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) are national qualifications for senior secondary school students. Students who will be sitting NCEA assessments this year will be issued an information booklet that helps to explain key areas. NZQA also has made a video to help parents understand NCEA. Go to their website (www.nzqa.govt.nz) and search for "How NCEA works video". There is also a mobile app available (search for "NCEA Mobile app").

DEPARTMENT NEWS _____________________________________________________________________________________________

YEAR 13 CAMP The camp for year 13 students will be held at the Ohope Christian Camp, our favourite venue for 30+ years, mid-day on Tuesday 6 March –

Friday 9 March 2018 The aims of the camp are to: Develop unity in the Senior School Develop leadership and initiative skills Motivate students to set goals and work towards achieving them.

Review their year 12 progress and set targets for Level 3 (or where appropriate Level 2) NCEA - future planning Start the House Spirit ethos for the year.

Activities will include Motivation and Goal Setting, Future Planning, Leadership, Team Building and House Spirit activities, Time Management, Beach Education. A letter with further details will be sent to all Yr 13 parents shortly.

Tues 6 March – Friday 9 March Leaving school @ 12.45pm Return to school @ 1.30 pm (approx.)

Cost = $185 approx Bus travel provided Open to all Year 13 Students

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH HILLARY AWARDS NEWS Congratulations to the many students that worked on their awards over the summer break:  Holly Forbes and Amy Wilson completed the Gold Training course, which included a full Outdoor First Aid Course and certificate, and a River Safety Course, in the Kaimais.  Euan Robinson and Eve Battersby: Gold Qualifying Journey, four nights on the Round the Mountain track, Mount Tongariro National Park.

 Skye Cox and Sariah Sefuiva: Bronze Qualifying Journey, Silver Training and Silver Practice Journey. One week at Lava Camp, Mt. Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park.  Apache Davidson, Hunter Thompson and Sam Davidson, 4 days Kaimanawa Forest, Bronze/Silver Practice and Qualifying tramp.

Upcoming opportunities: (Dates are subject to weather conditions and may be altered)  Bronze/Silver Practice Journey: Saturday and Sunday, February 24/25th. Eastern Okataina Walkway to Humphries Bay, remote camping, then hike to jetty at outlet. Water taxi back to The Landing at Tarawera. Parent helpers required to shadow and assist, and tramp and camp with students, 1 per 5 students. Cost only for water taxi fare, TBC with company. (Applications close February 19th).  Other Opportunities with Gerry Purcell (Outside Provider): AJ = Adventurous Journey  2-6 February (long weekend) - Service Opportunity assisting with maintenance at the Scouts Ruapehu Mtn Lodge, Mt. Ruapehu.  2-3 March (overnight) - Silver level AJ training course, Tauranga/Kaimais (Applications close 18 February)  10 & 11 March (not overnight) - Bronze level AJ Training Course, Tauranga (Applications close 28 February)  17 & 18 March - Gold level Training Course (Risk Management and River Safety), Tauranga/Karangahake (Applications close 28 February).  24-25 March (overnight) - Bronze level AJ for those did their training earlier.  30 Mar - 2 Apr (Easter weekend) - I am shadowing a Gold practice Journey. Could have a separate party of Silver or Gold level doing the same Journey.(likely be in the Kaimais)  April school holidays - If there is enough interest I can arrange a Lava Camp at Mt. Ruapehu, where participants can do Silver level AJ Training and get one/two of their AJs completed.

NEW CANDIDATES: If your son or daughter would like to join this amazing award, please just email carlans@rotorualakes.school.nz.

All new registrations will now be “on-line” and paper books will no longer be issued to candidates. (Payment for the award must be in full at the time of registration, as it is made online when registering, direct to Head Office.)

There are opportunities to do “Direct Entry” to Silver or Gold level, if you are above 15 or 16 years old. You have until you are 25 years old to complete the award.

Students can sign up for the award in the academic year that they will turn 14 years old, allowing them to work in their peer groups as a cohort. This is a new rule as of 2018.

EXISTING CANDIDATES: All students currently working on your awards, please be sure to finish off all your bits and pieces, get it all signed off and bring your documents into Mrs. Carlan-Riddell. Let her know what trainings or journeys you need to do so we can get them organized for you early in the year while the weather is milder.

GOLD CANDIDATES: Remember all your trainings and journeys need to be approved well ahead of time by the National Office, so please get your groups organized (must be the same group for all stages), and work out your dates for the year, to be sure you complete your award. You also have to do a residential project, which must be approved. There are many available, and we have lots of advice to help you get started!

It is YOUR AWARD, and you must plan and organize it all in your groups, without adult support. Supervision on the tramps will still be provided, but all other aspects must be done independently. See the Duke of Edinburgh website for full details on the award.

SPORTS _________________________________________________________________________________________

NETBALL 2018 There are some exciting changes happening for secondary school netball this year. Rotorua Netball have resurfaced the top 12 courts with a rebound surface, reduced them to 8 with a designated umpire run, and lights are being set up to accommodate these 8 courts. With the ability to now play at night, they are moving all secondary school netball (Year 9-13) to Wednesday nights. The times of games are yet to be confirmed. This will be a great opportunity to have all our school teams playing around the same time, where they can watch and support each other.

With Wednesday nights being the playing night for all, team trainings will either be on a Monday or Tuesday night. In term 1 trainings will be 3.30-5.30. At trainings all teams will participate in a 20-30 min theory session, a skill session for 45 minutes with Mrs Insley, and will then finish with a 45min session with their team coach. We really want to build every player's game knowledge this year as well as work on individual basic skills. This will ultimately lead to better play, enjoyment of the game, and team success.

The trial process for selecting teams will begin in week 3, with teams finalized by the end of week 5. RLHS will also be selecting an Academy Squad this year at the completion of the school trials. Along with their team commitments, the Academy players will be involved in a further weekly training which will include physical and mental skill development, nutrition, skill analysis and game analysis. The players will also be attending additional tournaments during the year.

If you have any queries or would like to be involved with netball at RLHS either as a coach, manager or sideline first aid/ physio please do not hesitate in contacting me at insleyk@rotorualakes.school.nz We are really looking forward to a fantastic season and building on our successes from 2017.

Kimiora Insley - TIC Netball

CONTACT US

Phone: Email: Website: Mail:

07-345 6124 office@rotorualakes.school.nz www.rotorualakes.school.nz Porikapa Rd, PO Box 7002 Te Ngae, Rotorua 3042

COMMUNITY INFO

Thank you to all our Sponsors