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RICCARTON HIGH SCHOOL
Te Kura Tuarua o Pūtaringamotu
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Issue 2
April 2015
Pasifika Celebration at Polyfest
The Pasifika Culture group participated at the annual Polyfest, held recently at Westminster Park. At this celebration of
Polynesian culture and dance our students performed with enthusiasm, energy and style.
Work Day 2015
Over forty families attended the Parents’ Work Day and helped out on a number of maintenance projects around the school. Work
completed included gardening, painting, the cleaning of the mini-buses, building a raised herb garden and the installation of seating in
the Drama department.
COMMITMENT
HONESTY
RESPECT
EXCELLENCE
From the PRINCIPAL’S desk
Issue 2 April 2015
who attended. What a great beginning.
We often refer to those connected with Riccarton High School
as the “Riccarton Family”. As a medium-sized secondary
school we are able to get to know our learners well and to
provide many opportunities for them. At the end of 2014, our
Year 9 and 10 students completed the Wellbeing @ School
survey which is administered by the New Zealand Council of
Educational Research. The survey looks at well-being in terms
of teaching and learning, school wide climate and practices,
community partnerships and pro-social student culture and
strategies. It also measures how aggressive student culture is.
We are very pleased that our learners continue to view Riccarton
High School as a positive place to be for their learning. In
nearly all of the questions asked, students rate Riccarton High
School better or much better than the National Reference Data
for the survey. (For the aggressive culture questions they rated
Riccarton lower than the reference data – this is good news.)
From 16-27 March, our Year 9 Contextual Learning Class
were based at Christchurch Airport each day for their learning
programme. I had the chance to visit them briefly and see
them finalising their presentations of the inquiries they had
chosen. This group showed great self-management skills and
were working well together in small groups. Thank you to the
group of their family members who were able to make it to the
presentation session on the last day and to Mrs Gravett and Miss
Post for facilitating this context for the students. We are also
very grateful to the many staff at the airport who willingly make
their time and expertise available for our students.
We believe the Riccarton Family extends beyond those who
are here during the school day each day and we are working
to further develop and strengthen links with our students’
families/whānau. Part of this work is in conjunction with
the Upper Riccarton Learning Cluster of schools and early
childhood centres, and part of it are our own initiatives. There
have been some significant community events for our school in
recent weeks.
On Saturday 21st March, our Pasifika Culture group performed
in the sPACIFICally PACIFIC Polyfest. In previous years this
has been held at an indoor venue during the week. This year,
organisers trialled holding the festival at Westminster Park in
the weekend. This enabled many more family and friends to
come along to watch and support the groups. It also meant
a good number of staff were able to go and see the students
perform. Our Pasifika Culture Group performed so well and
were a credit to the school. The Pasifika community which
surrounds our school contributed so much to getting the group
ready to perform. We thank all of them very much for their
generosity in giving their time and skills.
Our annual Work Day was held on Saturday 28 March. This is
an important tradition for the school. A group of over 40 parents,
students and staff members came along and a variety of tasks
were undertaken and completed. These ranged from painting,
gardening, carpentry, cleaning and tidying to putting together
proper theatre seats in the Drama department. The team of
volunteers were ably managed by our Executive Officer, Rebecca
Nicholson, Property Manager, Chris Parr and Groundsman,
John Steeds. Part of the day is about getting the jobs done but
the other part is the opportunity to meet and connect. Thank you
to everyone who came along to help or sent donations towards
the sumptuous morning tea spread.
Another way parents and whānau can connect with the school
is by joining our active Parent Teacher Association (PTA). They
are a very welcoming group whose meetings are lively. They
contribute and support school events and their main purpose
isn’t fundraising! The PTA is all about parent representation and
we use this group as a valuable ‘sounding board’ for reviews
and planning. They also organise events that are of interest to
parents of teenagers and some social activities too. Everyone is
welcome to attend the monthly meetings. The PTA AGM, which
includes a presentation by Dr Gail Route on her experiences in
Antarctica, is being held in the staffroom on Tuesday 21 April
at 7:30pm.
We held a Hui for the students in our school who identify
as Māori on Wednesday 11th of March. It was a fantastic
experience to bring together over 100 students and for them
to discover that it was their cultural background which was
the thing they had in common. A dedicated team of wahine on
the staff worked with the Māori students to pull together our
first large-scale Whānau Hui which was held on the evening of
Tuesday 24 March. A very good number of whānau members
came along. The purpose of the evening was for us to make
connections with whānau and to invite them to give us feedback
on what we’re doing well for our Māori students, what we need
to get right and what does success as Māori look like? I’d like
to thank the team of students and staff who organised and ran
the evening and, of course, everyone from the Riccarton Family
At the end of the first term all of our students will have received
interim reports by email. These reports are a good insight into
how students have settled into the year at school. They measure
how students are managing themselves in terms of being
prepared for learning and their approach to learning, how well
they are participating and contributing in class and relating to
others. Included with the information in reports is how to book
a time for conferences with their teachers in the first fortnight
of Term 2. We hope to see many whānau members at these
meetings so that we can get to know each other better.
I would like to end by thanking the students for the very positive
start to the school year and wish them well for a good balance of
learning and leisure over the school term break.
Shane Morrow
Acting Principal
We are one - He whānau kotahi tātou
2
BOARD News
I like to read the newspaper.
I read it online, but more
often I read the low tech
version that gets delivered
to my front door. Actually
it gets delivered randomly
anywhere within a 10 metre
radius of our front door,
requiring varying search and
rescue efforts to locate it each
morning. It all depends on the
aim of the delivery person.
Nevertheless I am happy to
receive it. I am not always happy when I read it. Newspaper
and media reports are often dominated by bad news such
as an overseas tragedy. When the news isn’t tragic it can be
irrelevant, like the crazy things people say on X-Factor.
Today though, I am delighted to say that I have news that
is neither tragic nor irrelevant. We have appointed a new
Principal for Riccarton High School. Our next Principal will
be Mr Neil Haywood who takes up the position on 18 May
2015.
Neil is currently Associate Headmaster of Shirley Boys’ High
School. Previously he was Assistant Principal at Rangiora
High School, Assistant Principal at Fiordland College, and
Head of the History Department at Wanganui Collegiate and
Head of History at Shirley Boys’ High School.
In recent years he has received a Woolf Fisher Fellowship to
study models of student leadership and the use of technology
in learning in Europe and Canada. He has also attended two
courses on leadership at Harvard University and presented a
paper at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition Conference
in Richmond, Virginia. He has coached rugby, touch rugby,
cricket and is currently rowing coach at Shirley Boys’ High
School.
This appointment represents the completion of several
months’ work by the Board of Trustees who started the
process before Christmas. I would like to thank the Trustees
for their efforts over this time. We were also greatly helped
by several external advisors who assisted us in various
aspects from planning the process through to shortlisting and
interviewing, and who all made a vital difference.
Assessing people for any job is fairly challenging, and the
bigger the job the bigger the challenge. We had a number of
excellent people apply for the role which was great, though
it meant we had to think very hard when it came to choosing
between people. Naturally, you look at the professional and
technical competencies offered by each candidate as well
their relevant experiences.
Additionally, there are a number of intangible factors.
Questions that I asked myself throughout the process were,
“Can I work with this person?” because if you don’t like
each other, life will be very difficult. Also as a parent I asked
myself, “Can I entrust the care and education of my children
to this person?” because that is the essential responsibility
of any educational leader. Obviously with Neil Haywood the
answer to those questions is an unreserved ‘yes’.
I am really looking forward to working with Neil and I am
feeling confident about this next phase in the life our school.
Alan Aitken
Board Chair
LIBRARY News
It is competition time again with ‘Every Story Tells a Picture’. Open to all
Christchurch secondary school students. Be in to win Westfield vouchers. Check
out the School Library for more information.
Many people have been busy working on a blanket of poppies that will be displayed
for ANZAC day in the Library. As well as this, Rannderdale and the Library have
created a display to commemorate ANZAC day. Do check it out if you are passing
by the Library the first week of Term 2.
For those of you who have primary school aged children, there is a great free After
School Club in the Library. Run by librarians, and with help from Riccarton High
School students, it is on every Tuesday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, and involves
making craft and reading stories.
Don’t forget Homework Club is on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Pop in and get
your homework done straight after school. There are always tutors on hand who
can help if you get stuck.
Comedian, actor and author, David Walliams, is visiting Christchurch. David will
read from his latest book, Awful Auntie, and chat about his novels. Thursday 14
May, 6:00pm at the Charles Luney Auditorium, St Margaret’s College.
3
Over the holiday break Mrs Chris
Baxter will retire. Chris is the
Christchurch City Council’s Team
Leader in the Upper Riccarton
Community and School Library / Te
Kete Wānanga o Pūtaringamotu. We
have valued very much Chris’ work
with our students and our school Library
Team. She is very knowledgeable and
experienced and will be missed. This
facility is the largest joint-use library
in an urban area in Australasia. It is a
special partnership between our school
and the Christchurch City Council and
Chris has been a strong link between
Riccarton High School and the CCC.
We wish her all the very best for her
retirement.
Issue 2 April 2015
STUDENT Success
Congratulations to:
Leah Albrow (Year 9) has been chosen to
represent New Zealand at the Future Problem
Solving (FPS) World Championships, which
will be held at the Iowa State University,
USA, 11-14 June. She will compete in the
junior division of the “scenario writing”
section of the competition.
Brooke O’Neill (Year 11) has been selected
for a St John scholarship - the parent and teen
course ‘Leaps and Bounds’ with Outward
Bound, from 20-27 June. Brooke is a Corporal
Cadet with the Halswell St John Division.
The New Zealand Young Physicists’ Tournament
The team, Nicholas Lam, Fredy Youssif and Aiden Yan, competed in
the regional NZYPT competition on 7 March, held at the University
of Canterbury. The competition involved Physics “battles” which used
presentation as well as debating skills.
The Riccarton team were very successful, and won the competition,
which consisted of seven teams. The Christchurch Girls’ High School
team were second.
This success meant that the Riccarton team went on to represent the
South Island in the national competition, which was held in Wellington
on 21 March. Plenty of hours of preparation were put in by all the team
members, and Ken Li, who readily assisted with the collection of data.
Mark Holdaway (Year 13) has been selected
into this year’s New Zealand Secondary
Schools’ Symphony Orchestra. He will
participate in a six-day orchestral course
in the second week of the school holidays,
culminating in two public performances.
At the nationals, the team came an admirable 4th, with the close loss of
3rd place to Auckland Grammar. The competition was won by Onslow
College.
Amelia Graham (Year 12) was selected to
play for the Canterbury Women’s Ice Hockey
National League Team. The team competed in
Dunedin 6-8 March and finished in 3rd place.
The students were superb to work with, and readily deserved the results
they obtained.
Ms Sue Napier
Leah Albrow
Brooke O’Neil
Mark Holdaway
Amelia Graham
The international IYPT is being held in Thailand this June, and Nicholas
Lam is on the shortlist of possible students to be part of the New Zealand
team. He should hear if he has made the team by Easter.
Young Physicists: Fredy Youssif, Nicholas Lam and Aidan Yan.
4
STUDENT News
Te Matatini
At the beginning of the month 45
teams representing the best Kapahaka
from New Zealand and Australia
competed over four days to become
the new Toa Whakaihuwaka and
win the title of national Kapahaka
champion. The competition itself is
the culmination of years of passionate
commitment, dedication and hard work
for thousands of Kapahaka performers,
their families and supporters.
Seven students went to Hagley Park
with Whaea Ripeka for the initial
pōwhiri on the Wednesday. On arrival
at the park, they watched Ngai Tahu
welcome the competing groups from
New Zealand and Australia in an
amazing performance of waiata and
haka. Unfortunately they had to be
back at school and missed sharing the
kai. Shannon said, “It was an amazing
experience to see all the groups and be
there for the powhiri. The powhiri was
so exciting.”
On Friday a large group of 30
Kapahaka and Te Reo students took
the bus to Hagley Park to watch some
of the competition performances. It
rained. Although we were all soaked
through, we enjoyed the stirring
performances, the beautiful waiata
and the powerful haka. It was a unique
experience to see such talent and
excitement from the Māori world.
As well as the competition, there
was a whole village of tents selling
souvenirs, offering a variety of services
and supporting the festival. The food
tents were well patronised, especially
since they were the only covered areas
on such a wet day. By the time we left
we were very wet, but it had been a
magnificent experience and everyone
had an amazing time.
Tyler Hutchinson, Shannon Taua and
Taylah Tukaki
Enjoying the stirring performances, the beautiful waiata and the powerful haka at Hagley Park. From left, Ruby Reiri-Mangai,
Melaine Aiken, Rhiannon Giles, Darcel Kite, Thea Mataiti, Eileen Dixon.
5
Issue 2 April 2015
ART DEPARTMENT News
Past pupil, Janna van Hasselt,
recently donated a painting to
the RHS Art Collection. Janna,
who finished high school in 1998,
studied printmaking at Ilam
(Canterbury University School
of Fine Art) before travelling and
doing residencies in Europe and the
US.
“Dreaming of late night shopping at Riccarton Mall” by Janna van Hasselt is on display in
the staffroom.
The students of 10GV at Kokiri camp.
6
After she returned to NZ, she
exhibited in Christchurch at The
Arthouse Gallery. The large,
complex and beautiful painting she
has donated was exhibited there
in 2010. Since then, Janna gained
a Fulbright Graduate Award and
undertaken MFA study in Chicago
where her printmaking and painting
practice was utterly transformed.
She is now a sculptor, albeit with
the same exuberant approach
to colour that is evident in her
painting. We look forward to seeing
where her imagination and skills
will lead her next, and are very
grateful for this beautiful addition
to our wonderful collection. We
also wish her and her husband well
for the imminent birth of their first
child.
Ms Robyn Webster
SPECIAL NEEDS News
On Wednesday 25th February the Tu
and Kg homerooms went to Living
Springs.
We all shared a bunkroom. I think the
other students went on the balance
bikes and we had an awesome time.
The students went to the farm where
there were lots of animals. I thought
that the food was yummy and that we
all had lots of fun.
Jamie Ellis
At camp when we had free time I
bounced on the trampoline and I went
swimming. We walked in the bush and
I saw a fantail and some other birds. It
was fun. Hayley Mason
I enjoyed the farm because I loved
the tractor ride and I milked the cow
and fed the animals. We had American
hotdogs with onions and tomato sauce.
I had four hotdogs and salads and we
had orange flavoured drinks. I loved
watching the sheep being shorn.
Jason Laurie
Oliver Lainchbury comes to grips with the
Balanzbikes.
Team building: Mrs Payne with Alex Hampton,
Micayla Reagon and Jason Beswick.
Hayley Butler lines up the bulls eye in
Archery.
Jamie Ellis being a monkey on the
trampoline.
At camp we used two different
weapons. One with a wooden handle
with a point on a long pole with a
circle–shaped ring at one end. “Eh,
what a beauty it is” said Tim. It was an
air rifle – a 22!
Then we chose another weapon.
“Eh, one does not shoot arrows like
Legolas”. Of course it was a bow.
Well bow and arrows and air rifles
were not too challenging for me. And it
was fun. Tim Gostomski
On Wednesday 25th February 2015 we
went to camp at Living Springs. We
went to share a room with a friend. I
shared with Amy. We went for a swim
in the pool and there was activities.
We did the Farm Park. I milked the
cow. We saw a sheep called Baaarbara
sheared of her wool. There was also
the monorail and balance bikes. I
enjoyed the food. I fed the animals.
We did ABL (team building) and it
was loads of fun. We watched a movie,
played the sock game and went home
on Friday. Olivia Thomas
Amy Zhang feeds a goat at the Farm Park.
7
Issue 2 April 2015
SPORTS News
Volleyball
This has been a very busy term for the
senior volleyball teams in the buildup to the National Tournament held in
Palmerston North in week 8.
The boys and girls started training well
before school started and had the bonus of
playing weekend tournaments in Tasman
before the schools’ competition started.
The commitment of the players and their
desire to achieve kept us competing.
The boys made a very strong showing at
the Mainland South Island tournament,
making it to the final. They battled hard
to lose the first set 29-17, but couldn’t
keep up with the Waimea team who
came out the winners. They then played
the Canterbury Champs over three days
and maintained their dominance by
winning all of the section games 3-0.
They went on to play Shirley Boys’ in
the semis, convincingly winning 3-0,
to meet Lincoln High in the final. Late
on a Sunday night they maintained
composure to get on top early, and stayed
to take out the final 3-0. Four players
made the tournament team: Matt Hansen,
AJ Salmon, Sven Mortsiefer, and Sam
Nielsen, who was voted M.V.P.
The girls went to Nelson and competed
in a Tasman tournament before school
started. They played teams from Tasman,
Canterbury and Wellington, and ended up
making the final and losing to Burnside.
Next came the Mainland Tournament and
a 3rd equal placing with Marlborough
Girls, with Burnside first and last year’s
National Champions, Waimea, 2nd.
At the Canterbury Champs they won
all of their games 3-0 leading up to the
Pictured (top): Matt Hansen and Jacob Mataiti block while AJ Salmon covers.
final, including the semi against Aranui
(Above): Sam Nielsen attacks while Alex Axis and Jack Davies cover.
who they had not managed to beat all
The girls had a third team in Division 2 at Canterbury
season. In the final they met Burnside again, who were
Champs - the development team - which is largely Year 11
just too strong, although Riccarton is definitely competing
students. They managed a couple of wins in their first senior
better against them at times. Four girls were named in the
competition, which will prepare them well for the inaugural
tournament team: Carla Butler, Carissa Gillies, Jade Jenkins
Satellite Tournament, to be held in Christchurch during
and Mabel Song.
tournament.
At the Mainland Tournament, the B girls competed in
Thanks to Kelly Elson, an ex student who has given freely
Division 3, finishing in 2nd place. They then competed at
of her time, and Asher Bennie-Slocomb, who assisted during
the Canterbury Champs in Division 2, and made a huge
Canterbury Championships.
comeback in their semi, winning after being 2 nil down, and
again finishing 2nd, this time to Burnside B. This team went
Thanks for all the parental support we get, most especially
on to compete in the National Tournament in Palmerston
to those parents who travelled to Palmerston North with us North. Congratulations to Roger Bleyendaal and thanks for
Sherie Jenkins, Lisa Adamson, and Jason Grose.
the time and effort that he puts into the girls team.
8
SPORTS News
Canterbury Secondary Schools
Athletics Championships
Kaikorai Sports Exchange
Congratulations to the finalists who competed
in the Canterbury Secondary Schools Athletics
Championships, held Saturday 21 March:
Lahana Reeves, Girls Under 14 1500m
Tamara Reeves, Girls Under 14 1500m
Katie Fantham, Girls Intermediate Shot Put
Maria Churcher, Girls Junior 1500m
Mikayla Gillespie, Girls Junior 1500m, Girls Open 1500m Steeple Chase
Girls Junior Long Jump
Tim Meynell, Boys Junior 400m,
Boys Junior 80m Hurdles
Koroko Izumi, Boys Senior 400m
Tyler Ingram, Boys Senior Discus
The following boys have
Under 15
Orion Chau
Under 17
Ozzy Yamit
Luca Reale
Samuel Keelty
Jacob Mataiti
been selected for the
Gators Basketball Club
teams who play in the
Saturday competition
during the winter season:
Under 20
Owen Chau
Brandon Pook
Geordy Shortus
Stephen Granada
The association with The Gators Club and
Middleton Grange is a beneficial venture for
Riccarton High School students. The extra
coaching and game time will further their own
skills and bring this experience back to the
coaching of the teams at Riccarton High School.
A recent addition to the club is the appointment
of a community coach who will be available to
assist coaches and players at local secondary
schools. The community coach role will be filled
by various Canterbury Rams players, including
new import and former NBA player - Mikel
Gladness.
Positions are still available in all grades. If you
would like to play on a Saturday afternoon
contact Mr Bennett’s mobile 021-0205203.
The annual Summer Shield exchange with Kaikorai Valley
College was held in Dunedin.
Results:
Riccarton won boys, girls and mixed touch; boys athletics, boys
and girls volleyball.
Kaikorai won boys, girls, mixed tennis, girls athletics, boys and
girls futsal.
The overall result was a draw and Kaikorai Valley College will
hold the shield first and return it to us when they come up in
June to challenge us for the Winter Shield.
The sports exchanges between Kaikorai Valley College and
Riccarton High School have taken place since 1964. They are
our sister school in Dunedin and opened in 1958, the same year
as us.
9
Issue 2 April 2015
STAFF News
A Taste of Antarctica
Dr Gail Route was one of only 16 scientists selected worldwide to participate in a Postgraduate course in Antarctica Studies
at the University of Canterbury. The course took her to Antarctica over the summer. Dr Route will be doing a presentation
on this recent visit at the Riccarton High School PTA AGM on Tuesday 21 April at 7:30pm in the staffroom. All are
welcome to attend.
Antarctica is the coldest, driest,
windiest and highest continent
on the planet and the world’s last
wilderness. It is an awesome place
and last December I was one of the
privileged few to visit there. As part
of my professional development,
I did a Postgraduate Certificate in
Antarctic Studies at the University of
Canterbury; this included a two week
field trip to Antarctica to experience
living and working there as a scientist.
Scott and his South Pole party of 1912
were somewhere out there buried in
the Ross ice-shelf moving slowly out
to sea! Glaciologists predict that the
bodies will be discovered calved off in
an iceberg in about 200 years’ time!
After an eight hour flight on a Ski
Hercules, I arrived at Scott Base –
New Zealand’s permanent research
base in Antarctica. It was strange
getting used to 24 hour daylight.
Work included projects on geology,
glaciology, a Weddell seal survey
near Mount Erebus, environmental
monitoring and meteorology. I also got
a chance to visit one of Scott’s historic
huts, Discovery Hut, near McMurdo
Station (the largest base in Antarctica
belonging to the US). The newly
preserved huts are the hard work of
the Heritage Trust and come complete
with ghosts!
My time in Antarctica was very busy
getting ready for field work - camping
on the ice-shelf off Ross Island. I spent
a week in the field - the best place to
experience the real Antarctica - whiteouts, sunshine, wind and amazing
views. It was also spooky to think that
Many people do not realise that
Antarctica is the engine room for the
earth’s weather and climate systems
and also drives the ocean currents.
Any changes in these are felt first in
Antarctica. After learning so much
about Antarctica, I firmly believe it is
our responsibility and duty to protect
this breath-taking, awe-inspiring place.
Antarctica is truly the most amazing,
pristine and beautiful place on the
planet. Let’s keep it that way…..
Dr Gail Route
Celebrating success: A group of students supporting the school at the summer sports exchange at Kaikorai Valley College in Dunedin.
10
COMMUNITY Notices
Coming Events
Mon-Thu Apr 6-23
- Vietnam trip
Monday
Apr 20-
Term 2 begins
Tuesday
Apr 21
Tue-Fri
Apr 21-24 - 10NS to Kokiri
- PTA Meeting (AGM and Antarctica presentation)
Thursday Apr 23
- Riccarton Way Competition Prize Day
- Report evening, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Monday
- Anzac Day holiday
Apr 27
Garage Sale
Car Boot Sale
Tuesday
Apr 28
- 9LC to Kokiri
- Report evening, 3:30pm-6:30pm
Wednesday Apr 29
- BOT meeting
Friday
May 1
- Winter coach training
- Winter Sport Coach Support Programme
Tuesday
May 5
- RHS Pasifika Speech Competition
Tue-Fri
May 5-8
- 9CK to Kokiri
Wednesday May 6
- Attitude Presentations
Friday
May 8
- Careers Expo
Tue-Fri
May 12-15 - 9MH to Kokiri
Saturday 18th April
10.00 am – 2.00 pm
Riccarton High School Grounds
Tuesday
May 12
- SPACPAC Pacific Speech Competitions, Middleton Grange School
-
PTA meeting, 7:30pm-8:30pm
Wednesday May 13
- Summer Sports Awards assembly
-
Wednesday winter sports begin
Tuesday
May 19
Fundraising for the
World Challenge – Borneo
Stalls, sausage sizzle included.
Goods and donations being
accepted for Garage Sale.
Car Boot site or Stall $10.
- 9ST to Kokiri
Wednesday May 20
- SPACPAC Pacific Achievers Awards
Thursday May 21
- Information evening for Year 9 2016, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Tuesday
May 26
- 9JN to Kokiri
- School Tour 1, 3:45pm-4:45pm
Wednesday May 27
Please contact Jan Cooper on
jan.m.cooper@hotmail.com or
0272745241 to donate goods or
book a place for the Car Boot or
Stall area.
- Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:30pm-8:00pm
- Year 11 Parents' evening - careers and courses
Thursday May 28
- School Tour 2, 3:45pm-4:45pm
- Musical Extravaganza
Donated goods can also be left at
the school office.
Friday
- Newsletter published
May 29
The Prefects with their Dean, Mr Harlow, on Gala Day.
11
Issue 2 April 2015
CURRICULUM Matters
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Update:
Riccarton High School is known for being well-resourced for e-Learning across the curriculum and for being advanced
in the use of technologies in our programmes. Our aim is “blended learning”: using a mixture of electronic devices and
traditional methods as appropriate for the subject and student. We encourage students to bring electronic devices to school
to assist in their learning, but it is not essential to have one to be successful. Our school has a full wireless network across
the campus and the Library, and the numbers of students choosing to bring their own internet-capable devices is steadily,
and pleasingly, increasing.
Blended Learning often allows students to work at their own level and pace and for students to collaborate and
communicate with others in their learning.
We know that parents and caregivers often wonder about how young people use such devices in their learning and whether
they “need” to have one? We also know that parents and caregivers can be concerned about the costs involved. The
following information might be a useful guide:
What kind of devices can be used?
Smartphones, tablets and laptops can
all be useful for learning. We do not
specify any particular type or make
of device, although some will have
limitations on what they are useful
for. A physical keyboard is essential
for creating and editing decent sized
documents - this could be built in to
the device, or part of the case.
The latest or most expensive device is
not likely to be of any great advantage
for most tasks, although may be
useful in some specialist areas. If
you are looking at purchasing a
device for student use, some helpful
comparisons are available on the
school’s website http://www.riccarton.
school.nz/images/rhs/documents/
eLearning/devices.pdf
What does the school provide?
Any devices brought to school can
be connected to the school WiFi
network for internet access at no
charge. Content filters are used to
protect students from undesirable
sites. All students are supplied with
a Google account that gives them an
email address, a place to create and
edit documents, and unlimited storage
space. The school has also invested in
Chromebooks which teachers use in
class to supplement student devices.
What are the devices used for?
The amount of use will vary
depending on the student, the teacher
and the subject, but some common
uses for devices which students bring
to school include research, accessing
class resources, creating documents,
taking notes, working collaboratively,
creating graphs and charts, taking
photos and videos, and keeping
organised.
What are the costs associated with
computer and device technology?
We ask for a $45 donation as a
contribution towards computer use
from each student at school. This will
appear on students’ invoices and helps
us supply the range of technologies
and equipment that students will use in
their learning at school.
Printing
Each student receives a $30 print credit
at the beginning of the year so that
they are able to print as soon as they
start using the network.
Printing costs are 20c per A4 black
and white page and 75c per page
for colour. Double sided printing is
35c per A4 sheet in black and white
and $1.40 for colour. If they need
it, students can purchase a recharge
voucher ($5, $10 or $20) from Mrs
Roberts in the Student Services office.
Students can check their balance at
any time by going to the front page
of the Intranet and clicking on Print
Balance or directly at http://orion/gaia/
GPWebclient.asp
Internet
Riccarton High School provides
students with ultrafast fibre optic
broadband internet at no cost.
Students are welcome to bring their
own tablet, phone or notebook
computer to school and connect to
our wireless network. There is no cost
for our wireless service and students
are issued their own access code and
password. Students must make sure
they have appropriate and up-to-date
Antivirus/Malware Software on their
own devices. We can track student’s
use of the wireless network.
Free Software
We are providing “Office 365 Pro
Plus” free to all Riccarton students.
To get this for your home computers
visit http://Office.com/GetOffice365
Network and internet use at school
We have guidelines and rules around
computer and internet use at school.
These can be found in the Student
Diary which every student has.
(The diary incorrectly states that we
charge for internet use. Internet use
is, in fact, free for students.) There is
also information in the diary about
keeping safe online for students plus
a link to Netsafe which has very good
information for young people and
their families: www.netsafe.org.nz
Our student Quick Guide is available on the school website:
http://www.riccarton.school.nz/images/rhs/documents/eLearning/student_guide.pdf
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CURRICULUM Matters
Interim Reports
Report Evening Bookings:
Interim reports will be emailed to all
parents and caregivers on the last day
of Term 1 – Thursday 2 April.
Our report evenings will be held on Thursday 23 April from 5:30pm to
8:30pm and Tuesday 28 April from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. School will finish
at 2:40pm on Tuesday 28 April. Students are welcome to attend our Report
Evenings with their parents or caregivers.
Interim reports detail the Personal
Qualities that students have shown as
they have settled into their classes this
term. There will also be information
about their Step Up points and
attendance rates for the term.
We will be following up our reports
with Report Evenings early in Term 2.
This is a good opportunity for parents
and caregivers to meet teachers,
discuss students’ progress and be
informed of what is coming up. These
evenings are scheduled for Thursday
23 April between 5:30 and 8:30, and
Tuesday 28 April, between 3:30 and
6:30.
There is an online system for making
appointments for these evenings.
Information about how to make
appointments will also be emailed out
at the same time as reports.
We use an online booking system for our Report Evenings:
Step 1 Log on to http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
Step 2 Type in this code, 2BWQH, into the green box that says School Event Code and click on Go
Step 3 Follow the prompts to enter your name, email address, how many students you are booking for and their name(s)
Step 4 Select the teachers you wish to see. Teachers names are sorted under the subject they teach
Step 5 Select the times that suit you. Each interview is five minutes long and we recommend leaving a five minute gap between interviews
Once you have finished the process you will receive a summary of your
appointments by email.
If you do not have easy access to the internet, you can contact the school
office to make appointments; telephone 348 5073.
(Triple P) Positive Parenting Programme Group
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do you get stuck with your teen in endless debates?
Do you feel lost at times when trying to connect with and understand your teen?
Do you find yourself shouting at or avoiding your teen in exasperation and frustration?
Do you end up “nagging” your teen?
Are you tired of picking up after them?
Do you feel guilty for putting in consequences or or using threats to get your teen to listen?
The Triple P Parenting Group will provide you with:
• Skills to strengthen a positive parent-teen relationship
• Skills to encourage desirable behaviour
• Skills for teaching your teen new behaviours and skills
• Skills to manage problem behaviours including emotional behaviour
• Skills for teaching teens to avoid or to responsibly manage high-risk situations
With a focus on positive engagement and a solution focus, this course aims to equip parents with strategies they can
implement straight away.
• 5 sessions and 3 “phone coaching appointments” over 8 weeks.
• To be held on Wednesday nights starting 22 April; 7.00-9.00pm, Pukemanu-Dovedale Centre, Dovedale Ave.
• The course is FREE
• For queries or registration; Margaret.brown@canterbury.ac.nz or ph 3667001 ex 8691.
• For further information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_P_%28parenting_program%29
http://www.triplep-parenting.net/alb-en/positive-parenting/five-steps-to-positive-parenting-teenagers
13
From the GUIDANCE Team
Issue 2 April 2015
With the retirement of our Head of Guidance, Frank Wood, at the end of last year, we have welcomed
a new counsellor to our team. Steven Shaw joins Lara Grocott in the Guidance Department. Both
are fully trained with Masters of Education (counselling) and are members of the NZAC.
Students can make appointments themselves; or can be referred by the Dean, a teacher, friend, or
parent.
Ms Lara Grocott
Students are able to come to the counsellors for up to one period a week. Some might only come
for a one–off session, others more regularly. Students who do come more regularly, are taken out
of different classes each week to avoid missing too much of any particular subject. They are marked
on the roll with an “I” for an internal appointment and this does not affect their attendance record.
We prefer that students come alone but there are times when a friend can be an important support.
Students are kept with the same counsellor as much as possible as it is best therapeutic practise.
In accordance to the NZAC code of ethics, counselling is confidential - we acknowledge that this
can feel difficult for parents at times. We believe that family support when possible can often bring
the quickest and best results - we encourage students to allow us communication with parents when
it seems appropriate.
Wellbeing and safety is always the most important thing. When there is a serious concern for safety,
confidentiality is no longer upheld and the appropriate people (usually parents) will be informed.
Mr Steven Shaw
You are welcome to contact us if you have any questions around our systems or if you have any
concerns about your child.
Ms Lara Grocott and Mr Steven Shaw
Understanding your teen - a road map through adolescence
Wednesday 6th May, 7pm in the Riccarton High School staffroom.
A guide to understanding your child’s changing world and how to make the most of your role as their guide.
Topics include the teen brain, bullying, alcohol and building self-esteem.
James Beck from Attitude will be talking with Riccarton High School students about topics relating to youth on
Wednesday 6th May.
James will also host a presentation for parents on understanding teens. James’ talks are always very informative
and entertaining and well worth attending.
14
Field Trips
Year 11 students measure river profiles in the Selwyn River.
Biology Students heading up to Bill’s Basin (~1700 metres above sea level) as part of their ecology field trip to Temple Basin to study
alpine plants.
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Issue 2 April 2015
RICCARTON International
I have recently returned from a marketing trip to
Thailand and Germany. Thailand was a favourite holiday
destination of mine while I was living in Japan and I have
visited countless times. It worked out to be cheaper to
fly to Thailand and scuba-dive for two weeks on a remote
island than it was to stay put in Japan. The cost of living
was just so dramatically different between those two
countries.
Stefan went on to say that all new employees that start an
internship must work in three different company offices in
the first three years. All placements will be in a different
country. So the young, freshly graduated engineers and
designers are entering a world where your employer may:
• be from a country different to their own
• employ staff from a world-wide pool of applicants
• require you to live in several different countries
• require you to speak numerous languages
That dinner conversation made me think of how the world
has changed. Our students at Riccarton really are entering
into new territories – employment environments that are so
different to what mine was. It was quite exciting to think
that employment parameters will be borderless, and also
great to think that having international students here at
our school will assist Education New Zealand’s Education
Strategy by growing international linkages and encourage
Riccarton students to think globally.
As for Germany, it was my third time to visit. I have only
ever been there on business for Riccarton International
so my time consists of trains and hotels. But even so, it is
interesting and enjoyable. One of the more memorable
and educational events took place at one of our soon-toarrive German student’s homes.
I was invited to dinner at their home in Cologne to meet
the family. Our new student’s older brother had just
returned from America after a six month exchange. Our
student will be arriving at Riccarton High in July of this
year.
Craig Rosengrave
International Student Director
Our student’s father, Stefan, is an engineer of some
description. He works in
Cologne for a French owned
company. The head office is in
France and they have offices all
over the world. The company
he works for employs highly
specialised engineers and
designers for some of the very
technical structures being built
in Hamburg’s port district. The
company employees come from
every part of the world. All
with different first languages but
all communicating in English.
Stefan actually doesn’t use
his first language, German, at
work. Despite a sizable portion
of the company’s workforce
being employed locally, English
is the language of choice (or
necessity).
I noted this on the trains.
German business people seemed
to use German for conversation
but as soon as they answered
their cell phones the language
immediately became understood
by me.
English was everywhere in
Germany. And as I have said
in previous articles, the level of
English is exceptionally good.
The Dom - Kolner Dom - Cologne Cathedral
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