3 November 2023 Newsletter

Kia Ora Tatou
 
This week has seen the farewell to the senior students as most depart for study leave. As usual the school and teachers are available to senior students who need help or support as they prepare for external assessments in the coming weeks. Senior students who want to time with teachers are advised to email to ensure that teachers are available as some staff are covering for absent colleagues.
 
A small number of senior students are still required to attend school regularly so as to complete assessments in order that they can be assure of attaining their NCEA certificate. The support of whanau in this work is appreciated.
 
Mana Pounamu
Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the Mana Pounamu Awards evening in Dunedin to see Zara Lee Tuhura receive the senior award and Jorja Andrews the junior award. Both students were well supported by a number of our students.
 
Senior prize giving
On Tuesday evening we held our senior prize giving event at the new town hall. As I remarked in my address it was the first opportunity for whanau, community and students to come together, face to face since 2019. It was a pleasure to see so many senior students go across the stage to receive their awards. Special congratulations to our Dux recipients:
Ryan Williams
Jethro Ware
This is the first time since 2015 that the school has been unable to split the top students. Also worthy of a mention is our outgoing Head student, Alec Mills who was the third placed top academic student.
 
We wish those senior stude4nts who are moving onto further study or employment all the best for their future. I hope that they will look back on their time at South Otago High School with both pride and joy.
 
Head Students 2024
During the senior prize giving we also announced out Head Students for 2024. This year we had a 15 applicants for the top four leadership positions and it was a real challenge to select four students from such high calibre applicants. The head students for 2024 are:
Jessie O’Hara
Oliver Shore
 
And their deputies:
Jack Newport
Zara Upston
 
Teach only day Monday 13 November
On Monday 13 November the school will be closed for instruction as teachers will be attending the final professional development day for the NCEA changes for 2023. A letter will be sent home to Year 9 and 10 students early next week. The school will remain open for students who are sitting NCEA exams but teachers will not be available with most travelling to Dunedin for the day.
 
Junior Warriors
Late this week we have heard that Kairus Booth (Y12) has been selected to play/train with the Junior Warriors team. This is a significant achievement and we wish Kairus well with this fantastic opportunity.
 
Changes to Fridays for 2024
As part of our consultation process we have listened to the feedback on the late start on a Friday and also the one and half hour lessons which we have had for the last few years. This combined with curriculum developments mean that we will be changing our Friday timetable with effect from the start of the 2024 school year.
 
The day will start for students slightly later than Monday to Thursday but earlier than the current timetable. The first lesson will start at 09:15 and the school day will finish at 3:10pm. During the day there will be four, one hour lessons. A start at 09:15 will still allow teachers to engage in important professional development but will reduce the opportunity to go into Balclutha before the start of teaching and learning time.
 
The revised timing for the day will be provided at the start of 2024 and will be printed on student timetables.
 
Finally
During the last couple of weeks there have been cause for me to reflect upon what South Otago High School offers and where our students may end up. This started when I attended the Otago and Southland principals conference and heard from former Head student Kereyn Smith who presented a workshop on leadership. Kereyn had been the chief executive and general secretary for the New Zealand Olympic Committee and is currently working towards a senior position within the Commonwealth Games community. It was an honour to thank Kereyn, as former student for her work and presentation of the leadership workshop at the conference.
 
More recently our two top students for 2023, Ryan Williams and Jethro Ware have attended international science conference in London. I have also heard from former students who are making their mark in their chosen fields of work both nationally and internationally.
 
As a parent remarked after the senior prize giving; ‘There is no need to move from South Otago High School to achieve great success’. I believe that we are able to offer opportunities comparable or better than other schools and that our students have the same or better chances to succeed at an elite level if they have the drive to succeed.
 
Ka kite ano

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