|
WGP College Te Reo Māori Bilingual Unit 2023
We are excited to let you know that Whangaparāoa College is opening the very first Te Reo Māori Bilingual Unit on the Hibiscus Coast next year, 2023. This has been an aspiration of ours for a long time.
The Bilingual Unit will operate as a Wānanga for senior learners, which will be open to all in Years 11-13. We will also offer a Year 10 Bilingual class. Spaces are limited in the first year.
The main focus of this opportunity will be to provide learning that is designed, delivered & disseminated from a Te Ao Māori paradigm. This will include;
-
The foundation of our curriculum, its content and the methods used to deliver it.
-
The teaching and learning environment and spaces.
-
Our values, priorities, expectations and principles.
In the Wānanga, learners will continue to achieve NCEA, University Entrance, Endorsements and future pathway opportunities, all while being immersed in Te Ao Māori. We understand that this approach to teaching and learning at Whangaparāoa College is relatively different to past years. However, this addition to our teaching and learning programme seeks to further establish a richer experience of Te Ao Māori, especially for Māori. For many whānau, knowing our school is offering an authentic pathway that is immersed in Te Ao Māori, will bring excitement and also questions.
Thus, on Wednesday 16 November we will be holding a whānau information evening for all that are interested in hearing about this amazing opportunity. This will allow us to present the Bilingual Unit to those interested, to answer questions and to begin the application process.
Details of the hui are as follows:
Date: 16 November
Time: 5.30 pm onwards
Venue: Whangaparāoa College in Te Kauika Parāoa (TKP) opposite the main office.
Please RSVP to [email protected].nz by Monday 14 November for guest numbers and catering purposes.
Paid Union Meeting (PUM)
There will be a PUM for union member Teachers on Friday 2 December so school will close at 11 am for Year 9 & 10 learners. It will be a normal day for Year 7 & 8 learners. Buses will run at the normal time of 3.20 pm.
Kaitiakitanga
Teachers and learners have been learning more about kaitiakitanga as part of our Āhuatanga Whangaparāoa characters.
Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and protection. It is a way of managing the environment, based on the Māori world view. A kaitiaki is a guardian. Our role as kaitiaki (guardians) is to have guardianship of and to care for the mana (presence), the tapu (sacredness), and the mauri (life force) of our environment.
Year 7 to 10 learners are working on projects to promote kaitiakitanga at Whangaparāoa College and beyond in their Wednesday whānau hui time.
Kaitiakitanga - Learner I statements
I respect and care for school property and the environment.
I look out for my peers and seek support when needed.
I encourage positive choices and behaviour for the benefit and safety of all.
Hauora - GoodSpace Schools
Whangaparāoa College continuously seeks ways to improve the well-being of our learners. Since well-being has many facets, improving learner well-being in schools requires a whole-school approach and takes into account emotional, physical, social and societal needs. Hauora (holistic well-being) is one of our top strategic priorities. With support from the Ministry of Education, we started using GoodSpace Schools to complete the HEeADSSS (Home, Education/employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide/Depression, Safety.) assessment with our Year 8 learners earlier this year, with most now completed. This has proven a very useful tool, and we move now to our Year 9 learners. GoodSpace Schools uses evidence-based screening frameworks or tools such as HEeADSSS and WHO-5 to enable schools to assess youth well-being and identify risk. We cannot rush the surveys, as we need our nurse and counsellors to respond appropriately, as only they can see survey results. Approximately 10-15% of young people usually present with critical needs across populations.
Please see our Good Space Parent Letter and www.goodspaceschools.com for more information.
ERO (Education Review Office)
Last week we received our confirmed ERO Profile Report. This report has been constructed in conjunction with ERO and our Board and reflects aspects of our strategic priorities. This report will be public in the next few days through the ERO website.
Over the next 3 years we will undertake a self review process against this report, and there will be a public facing report stating how we are going.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
In this link you will find 3 confirmed documents: The profile report, Board Assurance Statement, and Provision for International Students Report.
Haere ra (farewell) Year 13's
In Memory of Penny Eustace
On Wednesday 2 November, a memorial was held to acknowledge and remember our founding Head of Art, Mrs Penny Eustace, with family and friends. Art created by Penny now hangs in our Art department, along with a plaque in her honour.
Cultural Arts Awards Evening
On Thursday 27 October it was wonderful to be able to get together and celebrate our Cultural Performing Arts groups. We have many awesome and talented learners who are sure to become stars in the future. Congratulations to everyone!
Outstanding Contribution to DANCE: Jemma Day
Outstanding Contribution to DRAMA: Courtney Shearer
Outstanding Contribution to MUSIC: Jessica Harrison
Outstanding Contribution to KAPA HAKA: Angel Raj Campbell
Outstanding Contribution to PASIFIKA PERFORMANCE: Kirk Vaha
Outstanding Cultural Achievement: Ben Fereday
Overall Cultural Excellence Junior: Kyra–Lynn Barclay
Overall Cultural Excellence Senior: Rosie Risbrook
WGP & GHYC (Gulf Harbour Yacht Club) Music Evening
A lovely musical evening on Friday at the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club!
Members and guests were treated to performances by our school bands and singers
Year 7 New World Little Garden Project
Our Year 7 learners have been inspired by the New World Little Garden promotion. Each learner has been lucky enough to plant their own seedling which has been the beginning of questioning, researching and learning about the nutritional and well-being benefits that eating fruit and vegetables provides.
Learners in 7WINK have been researching how to care for their plant, when to replant it, when to harvest it and the nutritional benefits. Some learners have also been researching recipe ideas to try when their vegetable is ready to harvest!
Thank you to New World Whangaparāoa for supporting our learning and promoting the importance of healthy eating habits.
Year 7 Maritime Museum
Year 7's visited the Maritime Museum where learners discovered the knowledge and innovation used by our Polynesian ancestors to conquer the mighty Pacific Ocean long before the time of celebrated European maritime explorers. The hands-on workshop explored the knowledge and innovative technology used by Aotearoa's tūpuna. The learners examined waka and learned of the ingenious use of materials from across the Pacific as they learned how to make a simple lashing. We were all lucky enough to sail on the historical sailing boat, the Ted Ashby.
Year 12 Girls Wānanga
We held a special day for our Year 12 girls just before they headed off on study leave and return to our school next year as our Year 13 leaders. In coalition with our amazing CYC Youth Workers Hannah and Kezia, and the financial support from CYC Trust, we were able to provide the girls with a goodie bag each, yummy food and some very cool art activities. Thanks to so many very generous sponsors we were also able to give away lots of fantastic spot prizes. The whole idea behind the day was to make the girls feel special and know how much we value them.
There were four speakers who shared personal stories to inspire our girls to be brave wāhine who know their worth. Some incredibly supportive staff were behind the scenes providing baking and helping wherever possible in too many ways to list them all. Miss Fromont and Ms Grech were part of the organisation and it was such a privilege to spend the day with a group of fabulous young women.
A wonderful day with lots of laughter, love, singing, and connecting. Kia kaha Year 12 Wāhine, we are proud to be on this journey with you.
A HUGE thank you to all our sponsors: Brin Wilson Boats, Drifter Coffee, Ethically Kate, Isometrics, Pak n Save, Peter Salter Hair Design Ltd, Ricoh, Unichem Orewa, ‘You Are’ Charitable Trust, 719 Café.
Year 12 Action Ninja World Trip
After missing out on camp due to Covid constraints, the Level 2 PE class made the trip to Action Ninja World in Matakana as part of their Social Responsibility Achievement Standard. The learners supported and encouraged each other to step out of their comfort zone and experience some very challenging activities.
Activities included, flying trapeze, climbing wall, high wires and a full ninja warrior course.
Personalised Learning Pod Presentations
Our 2022 Year 11 Personalised Pod learners recently shared their Pod learning from the year with friends, whānau, and Whanagaparāoa College staff members. Each learner created a display about their projects and process to show. There were also opportunities for guests to take part in some interactive activities at the display stations, examine some of the final products close up, and give feedback to the learners.
Thanks so much to all that attended, the Pod class loved speaking with you about their learning journeys.
Youth Authors Challenge 2022
Last term at a full school assembly, Demi Kinsella was congratulated on winning the top prize for the Young Author's Challenge. On 3 November, Demi was presented with her awards in front of her class, 7FTR.
EnviroGroup
Recently, the EnviroGroup has introduced bokashi bins to the Food Technology classrooms in our efforts to eliminate compostable food waste being sent to landfill (about 1.5 tonnes from the food tech classes alone!). Each classroom gets a small bin in which to put their food waste - the bin can take anything that isn’t liquid, large bones, or paper. The ‘bokashi’ part of the name comes from the microorganism that ferments all the food, turning it into compost over time.
The learners in these classes have been learning about the processes surrounding bokashi composting, such as composting, soil, and carbon. The classroom bins are emptied into a large wheelie bin that contains the bokashi zing. Eventually, the contents will be turned into compost and sent out to a local farm, which will use it to grow bananas. In return, the school will be sent some of the harvest to sell at the tuck shop. The aim is for the whole school to take part in this initiative so our food waste is zero.
If composting interests you, or if you’re keen about helping to improve the school and community’s environment, then perhaps you should give us a try. We meet on Fridays during lunch in S2 and new members are always welcome! That’s anyone from Year 7 to Year 13, and staff. An extra pair of hands is always appreciated.
Photo is of a classroom bokashi bin.
HCBA 2023 Senior Representative Trials
HCBA 2023 Senior Rep Trials
Registrations are now open for the 2023 Senior Rep season.
Join the Coast family and develop your skills further in the up and coming rep season.
Register https://membership.mygameday.app/regoform.cgi?formID=101202
Sports
Congratulations to Year 10 Learner Torbein Beauvais for his Rugby League achievements!
At the beginning of the year he was selected in the U16 Auckland North Shaun Johnson Shield and competed against Auckland East, West, South, Waikato and Northland
He signed a one year membership with Sydney Roosters up to October 2022.
Torbein was selected as captain of Auckland Invitational who played against the U15 Warriors at Mt Smart and won.
He was selected for North Auckland Region of Origin, winning all their games against South Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
Torbein was named in the Merit team from the Region of Origin tournament.
He was selected for NZ Māori Rugby League and won the Pasifika Youth Cup against Samoa, Niue, Tonga, and Cook Islands over a 3 day competition.
Torbein was also selected in the Pasifika tournament team to play against Sydney Roosters.
Torbein has signed a 2 year contract with the NRL Vodafone Warriors.
Well done Torbein!
Touch Zone Day
Congratulations to our Touch Zone Day players and a big thank you to our Deputy Principal Mr Warriner for coaching the boys to the final (Northcross getting the win over us) and Lexi Wiig for coaching the girls to 8th.
Nurses Notice
Recently 150 Year 9 learners received a FREE hearing test. 29% of those learners had abnormal results and a further 29% of learners reported ringing in their ears - tinnitus.
Unsafe listening habits mean listening to personal devices such as smartphones at higher volumes than recommended and for long periods. At Whangaparāoa College, 65% of learners that were screened are listening at unsafe levels, for a long period and therefore may develop hearing issues in the future.
Once your hearing is gone you cannot get it back.
The Make Listening Safe Education initiative is an important part of the Hearing Screening programme and aims to educate learners and their parents on safe listening practices. Available on our website are resources that parents and young people can read through to protect their hearing, https://www.nfd.org.nz/school-programmes.
Meningococcal vaccines available for learners going to university next year.
It is recommended for learners going into university halls and or flats to have a meningococcal vaccination. Please ring your family practice to arrange as they may need to order them in.
17 November - Consented Year 8's will receive their 2nd and final dose of the HPV vaccine.
Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy
We have a physiotherapist onsite 3 days per week to treat learners and staff. Under ACC and with a referral from the school nurse, the first treatment is free and further treatments are $10.
We have a hand therapist onsite 2 days per week. All treatment under ACC is free.
If the school nurse is referring a learner to the physio or hand therapist, she will get permission from parents/caregivers.
The number to call to make an appointment to see a hand therapist or physiotherapist at school or clinic is 09 426 6619
https://www.strongerwithin.org/
|
