Principal's Newsletter - Kelston Girls

KELSTON GIRLS' COLLEGE
September 2011
Principal’s Newsletter
Dear Parents
In most of my newsletters this year, I have reminded everyone that the
changed term dates would create pressure as we approached Term 4
and external exams. I thank parents who have supported their daughters
to be organised in their study, attend school regularly in order to keep up
to date and completed homework. Unfortunately, for a number of our girls, they are
now feeling the pressure. Teachers are also feeling pressured in their endeavour to
complete NCEA courses by the end of this term. A number of senior girls have
talked to me or their Level Dean about the stress they are feeling. Inevitably this
affects family life at home and their relationships with others at school.
Gaining NCEA is incredibly important. For our students, it is their ticket to a better
life. Please contact your daughter’s Level Dean, the Guidance Counsellor Mrs Lal,
or myself, if you are concerned about your daughter’s mental health and preparation
for NCEA examinations.
Binge Drinking
Recently I had the privilege of listening to Professor Sir Peter Gluckman speaking
on socialisation. He made the point that adolescents who have learned how to relate
to others in a healthy manner do not become binge drinkers or drug users in
adolescence. He spoke of the importance of socialisation of children in their preschool
years. In the first three years of life, children’s brain development means
they are receptive to learning how to relate to others, how to accept boundaries,
and acceptable and unacceptable emotional behaviour. Research in Britain shows
that parenting that combines warmth and discipline is the most effective in helping
children develop a healthy relationship with alcohol. Very strict parents or permissive
parents who fail to set boundaries are least effective in steering their children
away from the harmful use of alcohol and drugs. The study recommends that parents
should provide closer supervision during the teenage years and they should
not have a relaxed attitude to underage drinking and drug taking.
This same advice applies to the use of social networks, whether it is Facebook on
computers or texting on a mobile phone. Parents are advised not to let their children
have these tools in their bedrooms. Expect that they will share what they are
doing with you.
School Dropouts
Preventing students from dropping out of school is a challenge around the world.
Countries that are most successful at keeping young people in school until they

complete secondary school are countries like Norway, Denmark, Netherlands and
Austria. This is because they provide not only secondary schooling but also vocational
education and every young person is expected to do this because it will lead
them into the workforce. It’s not good for society to have a group of poorly educated
young people who don’t have skills and a pathway into the job market. Students
must stay in school until they have a credential.
If your daughter has dropped out of school or is in danger of dropping out of school,
please contact me on 827 9622, or the Careers Co-ordinator Mrs Morris on 827
9645, for an appointment to discuss the best way to help your daughter.
Senior Examinations
These start on Friday 16 September and conclude on Friday 23 September. Senior
students will be on exam leave during this time. They are expected to come to
school for their exams and stay at home and study when they don’t have exams.
We have advised the Community Police. They do not expect to see any Kelston
girls in the malls or hanging out on the streets.
As well as studying for their exams, students should also use the time to study for
their externals in Term 4, and to complete assignments due later in Term 3.
Year 13 Graduation
Parents, please put Friday 2 December in your diary. Year 13 and 14 students who
have reasonable attendance will graduate at a formal ceremony on that date.
Come along and celebrate your daughter’s completion of 5 years of secondary
schooling.
Linda Fox
Principal
From the Kelston Girls’ College Board of Trustees
Dear Parents,
Recently the school held The Arts Festival. Student artwork was for sale in the
school’s new Art Gallery and an evening concert gave singers, dancers and actors
the opportunity to display their skills. The Board acknowledges the work of The Arts
Faculty and the Student Arts Committee in organising the event.
From Friday 28 October to Sunday 30 October is the school’s biennial art sale, Art
West 2011. We hope to see many parents at this event over the weekend.
Apologies
On Tuesday 30 August and Wednesday 31 August, the telephone system at school
was not working. I wish to apologise to parents for any inconvenience this may
have caused. The problem was caused by a fault in the cable on Great North
Road.
Kind regards,
Dr James Prescott
Kelston Girls' College
Board of Trustees Chair

Congratulations!
9A Netball team were runners up in the Waitakere Netball Competition.
Arlen Bernardo, who was in Year 13 at KGC in 2010 is one of the performers
for the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony on Friday 9 September.
Big ups for Reitu Warren and Haidee Tiffen for organising a Staff World Cup
tournament on Friday 9 September! Some mean footwork was on display!
YES students have enjoyed recognition for their entrepreneurial skills and
imaginative product creation.
Kool-lows company consists of:
Kealey Curchin
Runa Leiataua
Amanda Fuimaono
Monique Pokoina
Amete Kirifi
Sara Kapaiwai
Alepese Iosefa
Unexpected company consists of:
Emma Setiu
Leaisa Graffe
Glenda Faafetai
Uimatua Moala
Jrurie Samisoni
Sharlene Samisoni
The girls will meet Carmel Sepuloni and David Parker, MPs for Labour, on
Thursday. Well done girls!
THE HOMEWORK CENTRE
Who is it for?
ALL Kelston Girls’ College students are welcome-Juniors and Seniors
Why Go?
Term 3 is a critical term for all students. Term 4 is VERY SHORT. You will need
this term to:
Complete internal assessments for NCEA credits.
Start revision for external Achievement Standards.
Organise notes and folders.
Complete assessments/homework/class work.
Prepare for senior practice examinations and Junior examinations.
Get extra help from teacher and students.
Read to improve literacy.
Senior Students, Teachers and Members of the Academic Committee will be there
to help you.
NEWSFLASH!!!
The Homework Centre will be open at the following times:
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 3.30pm – 5.30pm. ALL TERM

IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday 8 September
7pm
Friday 9 September
Wednesday 14 September
Friday 16 September—
23 September
Thursday 22 September
Thursday 22 September
Thursday 29 September
Friday 30 September
Saturday 1 October
Wednesday 5 October
Wednesday 5 October
Music Concert, Islay Anderson Auditorium
Nagoya Kokusai students leave
Westie Mufti Day (fundraising for FYD Foundation)
Senior “Mock” Exams
Math NCEA CAT exam for all Level 1 students. All Level
1 students must attend. No resits.
BOT Meeting (Committees)
KGC BOT Meeting 5:30pm
Senior Speech Competition
Auhia Prizegiving
KGC Mini World Cup
Kelston Pride Concert KBHS
Friday 7 October Last day of Term 3
Senior Reports posted home
Quiz Invite—What do you know about broadcasting standards in New Zealand?
If you would like to take part in a short quiz about broadcasting standards in New Zealand
please visit www.bsaquiz.net.nz The quiz is fun and informative. It will test your knowledge
of, and also let you know more about, broadcasting standards in New Zealand.
The quiz is being run on behalf the Broadcasting Standards Authority. We hope that you
get lots of answers right and also learn more about broadcasting standards in New Zealand.
Kind regards
The BSA quiz team

Dear Parent/Caregiver
If your teenager is learning to drive (or about to start), please read on. This can be a stressful
time for both of you. But don’t worry, help is at hand.
www.safeteendriver.co.nz is a new FREE website to help parents and caregivers
like you.
The resource was put together by the NZ Transport Agency in collaboration with a
parent/teen relationship psychologist and an expert in driving psychology.
The website has lots of great tips to help you connect with your teenager and tools to
teach them how to become a safer driver.
The Graduation Driver Licence System (GDLS) is a three-step process. So the things you
need to teach your teenager will change as they process from Learner through the Restricted
phase to their Full Licence.
At the Learner stage:
Teach them the practical driving skills (in a range of conditions and situations) using
the tools on the website.
In February 2012, the restricted driving test is getting harder to encourage around 120
hours of supervised practice.
At the Restricted stage:
Young drivers are most at risk during the first 6-12months of driving solo.
If your teenager has friends in the car with them, they’re ten times more likely to be
involved in a fatal crash.
Learn how to manage the risks using the tools on the website.
It may be convenient for you to let your teen break their Restricted Licence conditions
but:
Your insurance may be compromised if they breach their Restricted Licence
and cause a crash.
They could be fined $100 and receive 35 demerit points (licence suspended for
three months if they get 100 or more demerit points within two years).
Your teenager still needs you
It can be hard communicating with teenagers. But you’re still a positive influence on them,
even though if might not feel like it at times.
So it’s important you get involved with your teenager’s driving education and stay involved
until they have a Full Licence. Visit www.safeteendriver.co.nz to use the tools and help
your teenager become a safer driver.
If you don’t have the internet, you can order hard copy resources. For the Learner phase
call 0800 772 284 to sign up to Practice. For the Restricted phase, call 0800 822422 for a
Safe Teen Driver pack.