Kia ora koutou,

It is hard to believe but we are nearing the midpoint of Term 1.

As we all know and have experienced, the unprecedented series of weather events have created significant challenges for both the college and our community.

I am very pleased with how our Orewa community has responded and from my perspective, students and staff alike have displayed a positive and focussed attitude throughout.  Attendance rates and standards of behaviour remain very impressive.

A number of important activities and events have either recently occurred or about to happen.  This includes bike/road safety education for Year 7s, zone days, netball trials for Year 8's, Athletics for Years 9-13, a range of summer sports, senior History trip to Northland, music band camps and the International Students' programme.  These all combine to reflect the range and diversity of options and activities for students at Orewa College.  This cannot occur without your support including the annual school 'donation'.  This is crucial in order for Orewa College to continue to offer the current amazing range of opportunities, both, inside and outside of the classroom setting.  Please continue to consider this 'donation' if you have not already done so.

I look forward to seeing you at the 'Achievers Celebration' on Thursday when we acknowledge those students who achieved an 'Excellence' endorsement in NCEA Levels 1 and 2 in 2022.

Stay safe and well.


Ngā mihi

Greg Pierce
Principal

Manaaki Orewa Winners

As the school year came to a close in 2022, nominations were made to find the Orewa College people that best demonstrate our Manaaki Orewa Values.
As the coordinator of this part of our values system, I can tell you that it was very difficult to narrow the 150+ nominations down to just ten recipients.
Each of the winners shown below were nominated by people that wanted to recognise their efforts to make our college a better place.
For their efforts, they each gain a certificate and a voucher from three local businesses that seek to reward the contributions.
A big thanks to the Beach House Eatery at the Orewa Surf Club, the Northern Union in Silverdale and Hoyts Whangaparaoa.
Nominations to seek out the term one Manaaki Orewa Awards winners will be open in early April. I hope to have another hard job sifting through the excellent candidates then.
Paul Tucker

Mathematics Tutorials

These will start on Tuesday 28th February in S18 .  
(Please note this is a change from the past Wednesday after school tutorials.)
All year 9 to 13s are welcome to drop in with  a mathematical problem, to complete work from class or set homework. 
Students may leave when they have completed the work they want to do.  Generally the tutorials will end approximately at 415pm.
Tutorials will end Week 5 of Term 4 

Spirit of Adventure Trip

What an incredible 5 nights on the Spirit of Adventure in the Hauraki Gulf. 
We were very lucky with lots of sunshine and light sea breezes.  Wake up swims in the morning, raft races and lots of sailing!  We also got to be part of a kiwi release on Rotoroa Island.  It was such an amazing experience.

Cyclone Fundraiser - Non Uniform Day

Ka pai and thank you for supporting the cyclone fundraiser day on Friday, $2,734 was raised which will be given to the Red Cross.

Te Matatini 2023 - Herenga Tangata, Herenga Waka

Celebrating its 50th year, Te Matatini 2023, described as ‘the Olympics of kapa haka’, showcased the cream of kapa haka. This year’s performances surpassed the highest expectations.
The uniforms were exquisite, the atmosphere pumped, the people were amped, and the performances were out of this world! Te Kapa Haka o te Whānau-ā-Apanui were the overall winners but really, they were all winners. What an exciting and exhilarating experience!
Ten senior students from Orewa College spent 4 days helping at Te Matatini as Hāpai Ō (volunteers). Hāpai Ō played an important role in the festival particularly with crowd control given that on a daily basis, festival numbers were in the thousands. 
They began lining up at 3am. When the doors opened, it was like a huge game of bullrush. People ran in carrying rolled up mats, chilly bins of food, some had a baby under one arm and a chair in the other - it was incredible to experience. Kaimahi (workers) had to stand to the side so they didn’t get bowled over.
One woman had a television drone tangled in her hair. She was in such a hurry to get a prime spot in front of the stage, that she snatched it out of her hair and threw it into the grandstand. Absolute dedication to the kaupapa, I say.
As Hāpai Ō, our students rose early to depart OC between 4.30am and 5am. They returned at 2.30pm after a seven hour shift. Two students, Hinewai Te Whata-Faauli and Simone Best worked an eleven hour shift on the final day.  “We want to stay because they really need all the help they can get,” said Hinewai. Ka pai kōrua!
To all our Hāpai Ō - you did yourselves, me, and OC proud, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!
Nā Whaea Marara.

Mountain Bike National Championships Congratulations to Levi Gear (Year 9) who had his first podium of 2023 at the Torpedo7 Mountain Bike National Championships at Coronet Peak Queenstown yesterday, with a 2nd in the Male Under 15s.  A great result on what was a tough course with plenty of climbing on really steep hills! If you know the M1 on Coronet Peak, this was the first long climb of many at the start of each of his three laps.  It was an amazing experience for him competing in his first National Championships and then to watch NZs Elite riders race on the same course a few hours later.

Host Families Required

For 20 students from Seiko Gakuin Junior High arriving March 18. 
This private school has been visiting Orewa for more than 20 years, most recently in 2019.
The boys are aged 14-15 and are invariably polite and easy to host - top kids from a top school in Yokohama.
Board required is 13 nights @ $60 per night, individual placement. 
If you can help please contact (Paddy O’Grady) [email protected] or 021 620 276.

House Party Day Friday 03 March - School Finishes 1.30pm

School will finish at 1.30pm
Students who need to wait to be collected or catch a bus will be supervised.

Remember to apply and pack sunblock, a substantial lunch, plenty of water, a hat and a change of clothes.

• The canteen will be closed and it is a device free day (do not bring any valuables).
• Students may dress up in their house colour (no body paint).
  
• Whanau may visit but must sign in at main reception.
  
• If the event is changed due to the weather, an email and alert to the OC app will be sent on Thursday evening.
  

Please click on the links below for all details regarding this event.
PARTY EVENTS  | RULES  | TIMELINE

NZ Experience - Pakiri Camp

Camp for International students was held at Pakiri Beach last week. The weather was amazing and the students enjoyed kayaking on the river, swimming and surfing at the beach, sleeping in tents and cooking on camp stoves. They were wowed by the NZ night sky.
A real kiwi experience for our students from Argentina, Japan, Germany and Italy. 

Sports News - "Off the Bench"

Please CLICK HERE for all up and coming sports events, registrations, draws, results, tournaments and zone day information. 

Careers Hub

This week Year 13 students are beginning their Career appointments as we look to see where they are at in regards to their first steps out of school.  If they are unsure what they will do, then they should look to make an appointment in the next few weeks. 
All Year 11-13 students should be joining the Careers Google Classroom (frapsx6) to ensure they can access various documents and links to assist with their future pathway.

If you want to know more about overseas High School Exchanges from Your Education, register your interest for our next online Information session on Tuesday 07 March at 7.00pm OR Wednesday 22 March at 6.00pm.   
All interested parents and students Y10–Y13 welcome.   An experienced staff member and returnee will share information about the destinations we are offering in 2023.
RSVP on our website http://www.youreducation.co.nz/next-steps

Parking - School Drop Off & Pick Up

It has been brought to the school's attention that there are issues with parents parking in such a way as to impede the school buses.  Please help keep our students safe by abiding with the below restrictions.
Hatton Road 
NO STOPPING on the western side of Hatton Road even to just drop students off during 7 - 9:30am so that this route is clear for the buses. The same applies for the afternoons between 3 - 4pm.