Kia ora koutou,

I trust you are well.

Welcome back, Term 3 promises to be another very constructive and full term of learning, activities and events.  Hosting the Matariki Festival on the last Friday of Term 2 was a very positive way to conclude another challenging term.

You will have recently received access to students' reports (Years 7-10) and will receive within the next 2 weeks senior school students' (Years 11-13) 'Records of Learning'.  This data will provide the framework for conversations at the upcoming 'Academic Conferences' which will be held in week 4 of this term. 
Also in week 4, prior to the conferences, there will be an 'Information Evening' held focussing on subject choices and NCEA scenarios at NCEA Level 1.
In 2024, the college will be offering semesters (half year course) in some subject areas.  This will create more flexibility and choice pertaining to NCEA Level 1.

In week 5, the Term 3 'Achievers Evening' will be held, acknowledging the highest performing students, from years 7 to 13, in all core areas of the college, both curricular and extra curricular.

The continuation of winter sports competitions, school production 'Legally Blonde' and a range of other activities/curriculum events, ensures that we will all quickly regain the momentum lost over the term break.

As always, if you have any particular queries, please let me know.


Ngā mihi

Greg Pierce
Principal

Showquest 2023

Congratulations to our 2023 Show Quest team who took out 3rd place at the Auckland regionals senior division on the 28th of June.
Orewa College also took home the ZM soundtrack award for best music and the best use of props. This is an awesome achievement especially as Orewa was the only school competing with middle school aged students.

Our team of 59 performers was led by Miss Pinder & Miss Woodroffe as well as a team of 10 senior choreographers; Madeline Russell, Cameron Gibson, Holly Briggs-Lynne, Grace Brand, Summer Johnson, Melissa Ramlov, Emma Searle, Lachlan Buckley, Megan Postlewaight & Sarah Postlewaight.

The 2023 theme was Obliviously Evil - 'Were they really all that bad? Our performance embarks on a journey through the eyes of some of the evilest of villains and shows life from their point of view.
Each character embodies their own unique brand of villainy and is so consumed by their own desires that they are oblivious to the harm they cause. The show challenges the audience to empathize with the villains. Come with us as we give the spotlight to the underdogs and lighten up their story, as to why they are obliviously evil.'

The performance showcased stories from Dracula, The Joker, Hades, The Wicked Witch of The West and The Grinch in a light hearted, fun and comedic performance. 

The team began planning and rehearsing at the very beginning of Term 1 - putting on an epic performance. Every single student involved should be very proud of their Mahi and well deserved bronze.

Thank you to all the parent helpers for their ongoing support, the mammoth task of putting this show together couldn't have been possible without you all.

We are delighted to share with you the news regarding two of our concert band students from Rosemary Johnson, Band Manager of NZYSW.
"I was delighted to learn that two Orewa College students, Aston Sadgrove Year 12 (Oboe) and Natalie Sou Year 12 (Bassoon) who both study music with David Popper, Head of Music, will be joining the band this year. 
They successfully auditioned for this national concert band and will be joining young musicians (14-18 years old) who come from all over Aotearoa, Northland to Invercargill for this year's development programme.
I also had the pleasure to meet another student of Orewa College, Samuel Currin (Year 13), at the First Foundation awards ceremony, an organisation very dear to my heart and for which I am both a scholarship partner and student mentor.
Congratulations to Samuel on this tremendous achievement".
Orewa College had the pleasure of hosting this band on Thursday 13 July.

Sports Only Co-Curricular Hoodie Order

A "Sports" Hoodie order will be placed this term. Cost is $75 each and is available to students who qualify.  To order CLICK HERE. The criteria information is at the bottom of the form.
Order will close on Friday 28 July at 4pm.
Please ensure payment is made online at the time of placing your order, before the closing date. 
Orewa College Bank Account Details - 12 3109 0012666 00 - Reference: Hoodie + Student ID Number.

Careers Hub

This term will see many students making decisions that will influence their first step out of high school, whether it be what or where to study next year or what type of work they wish to do as they leave their formal education behind. The Careers staff are here to assist with decisions for all students and there are various opportunities in and out of school for students to experience too.

Over the next 4 weeks Careers staff will be in Year 11 & 12 ILT classes to present and assist with their ideas about their future pathway. Year 12 students will be asked to make appointments for a one-on-one career conversation with Careers staff and other year groups will be invited to pop in at Morning Tea any day to ask any questions regarding their subject choices for next year.

Year 13 students who are heading to university are encouraged to begin to apply if they haven't  already. If they are wanting to apply for a scholarship or accommodation they will need to follow the process outlined on the Year 13 Careers Google Classroom.
They are also encouraged to come along this Wednesday at 2pm to a university led workshop to help write scholarship personal statements. This will be held in the Careers Hub.

Next Wednesday in the ILT slot we will have 3 different training organisations (Electrical Engineering, Tourism, Motor Industry) to speak for 20 mins to interested Year 11-13 students. Students are encouraged to register at the Careers Hub this week.

Upcoming Events
Wed 19th July - University-led Scholarship workshop - Careers Hub
Wed 26th July - Job Opportunities introductions
Wed 9th August - Vocational & Pathways Careers Evening

Coast Physio

A must read article from Coast Physio for Coaches, Managers and sport's participants on the importance of warm ups and cool downs in injury prevention.  CLICK HERE 

Learning Support Centre - Pens Required

The Learning Support Centre is in need of donations of used pens, highlighters, vivids for a  zero waste wearable arts project.  Any items gratefully received and may be dropped off at the centre.

Level 1 and Level 3 Drama 

A big congratulations to Level 1 and Level 3 NCEA Drama students this term on producing two productions ("Treading the Boards" and "Love and Information " respectively), which ran during week 8 and week 10.
The evenings were the culmination of a term’s work towards credits which demonstrate the student's ability to create and sustain a role on stage, to varying degrees and complexities. 

Host Families Needed for International Students

We are enrolling more International students in the second half of 2023 and for 2024 and would like to hear from families who are interested in hosting a student for a term or longer. 
Please contact Paddy O'Grady for more information.

Family Emergency Plan

At enrolment, we ask for every family to have a family emergency plan should the school need to close suddenly.  
Can you please discuss your family emergency plan with your children to remind them of what they must do if the school needs to close suddenly. 
If your child catches a bus, you need to have an alternative plan, in case we are not able to arrange for buses to come early.   For further information CLICK HERE

Enviro Tip - Plastic Free July Did you know that it can take up to 500 years for plastic to decompose? and even then, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.  This month is Plastic Free July. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the small changes you can make to your everyday life to avoid single-use plastics. Take a look at this short clip and challenge yourself to one small change.

Did you know? ... Our school canteen has recently made some changes and is now serving food from cardboard packaging and using wood utensils. We think this is a small step in the right direction. 

Community Notices

Parenting / Mentoring courses which may be of interest:

Parenting for positive self worth: LINK
Heart for Youth Trust (free) Youth Empowerment & Mentoring: LINK