Newsletter August 2011 - Kamo High School

Dear Parents
Kia Ora tatou.
At the beginning of this term the school welcomed our new Assistant Principal,
Ms Jacqui Tyrrell (pictured right). Jacqui comes to us from Rotorua Girls’ High
School and her key portfolio pertains to student welfare. I know that you will
ensure that Jacqui and her partner are welcome in our community. We are very
fortunate in having gained her services as she has an enormous amount to offer
our school.
Events can creep up on us very quickly. The World Cup Rugby Final is on 23 October – approximately
nine weeks away. The NCEA external assessments are 11 weeks away. The All Blacks have been
planning and preparing for this event for a long time. They have a clear goal and are focused on
achieving it. The planning, practice and analysis will hopefully lead to success. The same is true for our
students as they approach their finals. Senior exams are in Week 5. These are very important as part
of the build‐up. They provide an opportunity to practice the skills and knowledge required for success,
then to reflect and analyse the outcome. As parents we need to be like an All Black’s fan; supporting
our students, cheering them on and backing them to win. As a coach we must have rules and
expectations as we guide our students to perform to their potential.
The school is doing everything it can to ensure our students succeed. The combination of teacher,
parent and student working together makes success even more likely.
Year 9 to 12 students will soon be issued with their option sheets for next year. It is vital that students
select the subjects that best serve their goals and take the time to talk to their teachers and parents
before finalising their course of study for next year.
The NZQA recently undertook a full review of our assessment policies and practices. They confirmed
that the school has excellent processes of assessment, moderation and reporting. Staff have worked
hard to ensure we have confidence in our marking and that our students are given the same
opportunities to succeed as their peers in other schools.
We are also working to improve student punctuality and attendance. There is an obvious correlation
between high levels of attendance and high levels of student achievement. Please ensure your son or
daughter is at school every day ready to work, unless there is a very good reason to be away. If we get
the basics right everything becomes so much easier.
Bernard J. Taffs
Principal
August 2011
www.kamohigh.school.nz