TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
June 2017
Tauranga Girls’ College Pauline Cowens, Principal
Message from the Principal Dear Parents, The first four weeks of Term Two have been as busy as ever, with many extra-curricular events to celebrate, as well as the curriculum milestone of senior assessment week, and its subsequent feedback to Years 11 to 13 behind us. The hard work and talent of our girls, supported by the expert teaching they receive, produces successful (and enjoyable) outcomes for our girls, as profiled in this newsletter and on Twitter, (@TGCPrincipal) accessible through the school website at www.tgc.school.nz, as well as Facebook. This time of the year sees fundraising as a focus, and our PTA deserve sincere thanks from the whole community for the organisation and staging of the annual PTA Fashion Parade in week three. On the same theme of service and contributing Tuesday June 6 gave every student the chance to also contribute to fundraising with our annual Workday and thank you to everyone who has supported their efforts by providing work. We are the only college I know of where workday funds are spent entirely in
the way that students choose to enhance their school environment, this year their choices being information technology, water fountains and air conditioning. A group within the school who have not been fundraising but whose efforts have definitely enhanced the environment are the kuia working on the tuku tuku panels for the interior of Whare Mereaira. Many hours have been spent on this work, particularly this term, and with the panels now being installed we look forward to celebrating this upgrading of Mereaira in the very near future. Another milestone of this early part of Term Two has been my giving notice to the Board of Trustees of my intention to retire at the start of 2018, allowing the Board time to go through the process of finding a replacement before I depart. It takes at least two terms for the process of advertising, short listing, interviewing and the incoming Principal giving notice from their current role. Finding the person by the end of year whose vision will
progress the student centred, collaborative, research-based teaching and learning journey here through efficient and effective use of digital based technology requires due process. As I stated in the Principal’s letter last week, it has been as privilege to lead a school whose community, staff, students and whanau contains such talent and dedication and whose culture of offering opportunities for success is so well developed. Thank you to everyone who contributes to that culture as we move through ‘business as usual’ for the coming seven months before the end of the year.
Head Girls Left to Right, Mikeely Ivil: Deputy Head Girl, Jerushah Keightley: Co Arts Director, Madison Randall: Head Girl, Caitie Farley: Co Arts Director, Caitlin McGeorge: Sports Captain