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Kia Ora Tatou
Once again in assembly this week we finished celebrating the students success in NCEA for those who were awarded an indorsement for their certificates in 2024.
A full list of recipients is published elsewhere in this newsletter. We are very proud of our students who have achieved not just an endorsement but also persevered to ensure success in 2024.
Recently I reflected upon student achievement for students over the last 8+ years. It is worth noting that we have seen the numbers of students staying beyond the compulsory schooling age increase. When they do exit high school education they are departing with higher levels achievement than their predecessors in earlier years. This is particularly true for Maori akonga who have been a national priority for many years.
From school leaver data we also see that for many students their destinations have also changed to include more entering into not just employment but also employment with training as well as tertiary study.
Taieri Interchange
On Wednesday a significant number of students travelled to Mosgiel to participate in the Taieri Interchange. These opportunities for students to participate in a range of sporting and cultural activities is very important and I appreciate the time taken by staff to support students to provide these experiences for students.
Whilst not all of the results went South Otago High School way I do know that the students had a great time and report backs on student efforts have been very positive.
Student attendance and whanau planed absence.
Since the start of the school year we have had a number of students away on family holidays. I would like to remind whanau that taking a student out of school should be preceded by a letter/email to the principal requesting leave for your child prior to departure. This should be at least one week prior to leaving. This is so that there is the chance for students to talk to teacher and manage assessments. This is particularly important for senior students and may jeopardise the opportunity to sit an assessment.
Whanau are encouraged to use the school holidays for trips rather than term time. Time out for family holidays or hunting trips etc is putting your child’s achievement at risk. The student will be expected to make up for any missed work.
Health and wellbeing
As we head into winter it is the time when we start to see the winter illnesses occur. If your child is genuinely unwell please do keep them at home rather than sending them to school where others may be susceptible to picking up infections. It is also important that we work to protect the health of everyone within school.
As in previous years if we start to see high rates of illness amongst teaching staff we may be forced to postpone or cancel some activities. This was nearly the case on Wednesday with high numbers of staff at the interchange and also staff unwell on the day too.
We do not want to roster year groups home as we had to last year but this is a potential solution if we cannot staff the school safely but will always be a last resort.
In the next couple of weeks we will be reminding and reinforcing the importance of hand washing as a means of reducing the risk of spreading infections. I would like to take this opportunity to remind our community that there are soap dispensers and warm water in all of our toilet facilities. We ask students to report to the office if a dispenser is empty so that they can be refilled promptly.
Board of Trustee vacancy
Earlier this term a Parent Board Member stepped down and this has created a vacancy on the Board of Trustees. There is now a process to be followed to fill this vacancy which initially requires the publication of the notice below. If 10% of eligible voters request, an election will be held then this will take place after the 28 day notice period.
Anyone interested in being a parent representative should contact the Presiding Member of the Board at the email address in the notice below. If no election is called then the Board will select a replacement parent representative.
South Otago High School Board
Casual vacancy for a parent representative
A casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.
If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.
Request for a by-election should be sent to:
Bronwyn Campbell, Presiding Member, South Otago High School Board of Trustees
[email protected]
OR
In writing and delivered to the South Otago High School office.
by: 3pm, Friday 4 April
Finally
This is the end of week 8 of a long, 11 week term. We are fortunate Friday is the start of a long weekend with Monday being Otago Anniversary. I hope that the extra day off will be an opportunity for many of you to have time to take a break and take the time to forget about work for an extra day!
Have a good weekend
Ka kite ano |
Recent News
Endorsements 2024
Congratulations to all of the students who gained an endorsement. In assembly we celebrated their achievement and talked about setting goals for as many students as possible to aspire to crossing stage to receive recognition for their efforts. | |  |
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100 Year Celebration of South Otago High School
In 2026 South Otago High School will celebrate its centenary and planning is underway for this event. It will be held in Easter 2026 at the High School. | |  |
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OSS Athletics
What a good day at the Otago Secondary Schools Athletics!! Such strong fields and the South Otago students performed well. Congratulations to Aniva and Summah Gouman who qualified for South Islands. | |  |
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Transport Assistance
Transport assistance to attend South Otago High School | |  |
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Taieri Summer Interchange
We held our annual summer interchange today against Taieri at Taieri College. Many thanks to our staff Mrs Tuhega, Ms Hasanbegovic, Mr Matsas, Mr Russell and Mr Carroll. There were some very close results today. | |  |
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Year 13 PE Leadership Trip
On Monday & Tuesday the year 13 PE class went to Queenstown to complete an amazing race challenge for their Leadership assessment. | |  |
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Year 9 Students Learned the Physical and Chemical Changes
My Year 9 students learned the physical and chemical changes through some everyday examples - Mrs Devanaboina. | |  |
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Tertiary Open Days
The 2025 Dunedin Tertiary Open Days will be held on Sunday 4th May and Monday 5th May in Dunedin. | |  |
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