Term 1 Issue 2

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Tena koutou e te whānau o Whangaparāoa,

It gives me great delight to share more information about our 2024 NCEA results. They are record results and we are so proud of our learners and staff. Again, we cannot do this without your ongoing support, so thank you too.

It has been so good to see learners fully engaged in school life, particularly this early in the school year. Last Friday I visited a number of lessons throughout the school and I saw learners actively connecting with the curriculum, engaging in critical debate, and meticulously working through complex calculations. Having the ability to walk through lessons and see firsthand, what our learners are doing is one of the best parts of my job.

I love seeing learners achieve their potential, inside and outside the classroom. The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is our national qualification and the way our learners' academic knowledge is measured and judged. As Principal, I have the opportunity to advocate for all New Zealand learners, but I also have a responsibility to ensure you, our local community, understand NCEA and support our learners to achieve their potential. Tonight, we have our whānau NCEA information evening. It is open to all parents and learners, but will specifically be aimed at those new to NCEA. We would love to see you all here to understand NCEA and hear how you can support your learners to achieve their NCEA. If you can’t make it tonight, look out for a copy of the presentation in the News section of the school website, in due course.

There are so many amazing opportunities for our learners in school. This week we would like to promote the opportunity for one learner to become the Whangaparāoa Youth Member of Parliament. The chosen candidate will join a four-month programme to engage with the community, connect with other Youth MPs, and prepare for Youth Parliament on 1-2 July. They will sit in Parliament, take part in debates, join working groups, and advocate for the issues that matter to them and youth. If you’re 16-18, live in the Whangaparāoa electorate, and want to apply, please see our social media posts for details, applications close Monday, 24 February.

We also have a welcome update for you if you are awaiting a school tie on back-order through New Zealand Uniforms. Tomorrow, Thursday, NZU will have a popup ‘swap’ shop for those who are awaiting their tie. Please come to the main office before school or between 11 and 11.30am. Once this process is completed, a friendly reminder that all learners in the new shirts are required to wear the school tie.

At Whangaparāoa College, we are committed to providing our learners with opportunities to grow, achieve, and lead. Whether it’s through academic success, leadership roles like Youth MP, or upholding our school values through uniform expectations, every step forward is a step toward their future. Thank you for your ongoing support in making our school a place where every learner can thrive.

Ngātahi, Whakapono, Together - Together, Believe, Achieve

February

19 NCEA Information Evening
20 Class and I.D. Photos
21 Class and I.D. Photos

March

10 Year 8 HPV
24 Staff Only Day

April

01 Opening Evening

Recent News

2024 Level 2 Excellence Endorsement

This morning we hosted a breakfast to honour our incredible 2024 Level 2 Excellence Endorsement recipients. It was a wonderful morning to share this special occasion with their whānau, and our Senior Leadership Team celebrating their hard work and impressive academic achievements.

Congratulations to all!

Auckland Writers' Festival

Meet NZ's Top Authors!
Aspiring writers and avid readers at Whangaparāoa College are invited to attend the Auckland Writers Festival at the Aotea Centre in Auckland City.
Hear from renowned authors, including Lee Murray, who was recently recognised with an Order of Merit for her contributions to New Zealand literature!

Two trips are available:
Years 7 & 8 on Tuesday, 13 May
Years 9-13 on Wednesday, 14 May.

Express your interest and learn more by following this link: Auckland Writers Festival

Voices of Hope

Voices of Hope will be visiting our school next week and providing a talk to the learners. See the picture attached for more information regarding the talks and the topics covered. If you have any concerns regarding your child attending the talk, please discuss this directly with the school. If you would not like your child to attend the talk please let their teacher know.

Whangaparāoa’s 2025 Youth MP

Mark Mitchell is looking for Whangaparāoa’s 2025 Youth MP. This is a great opportunity for a young leader on the coast and here’s what you need to know:

The chosen candidate will join a four-month programme to engage with the community, connect with other Youth MPs, and prepare for Youth Parliament on 1-2 July. You will sit in Parliament, take part in debates, join working groups, and advocate for the issues that matter to you.

If you’re 16-18, live in the Whangaparāoa electorate, and want to apply, send me a short video about yourself, your passions, and the issues you care about.

Grab an application form from the school reception and send it to [email protected] by 24 February 2025. Applications will be shortlisted and and selection will take place in March and the successful applicant notified in April.

Te Whare Hauora Tips

This year the Te Whare Hauora (Wellness Centre team) aim to share health and wellbeing tips with the community via the school newsletter and learner daily notices.

These tips are to aid learner wellbeing and engagement in education.

Protecting hearing
Every year we offer a free hearing test to our year 9 learners.
The national foundation for deaf and hard of hearing (who conducts our testing) has provided national results.

12,000 NZ year 9's were screened.
42% reported listening to personal devices at unsafe levels.
23% reported tinnitus ( ringing in the ears). Tinnitus can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Please have a chat you your child about safe listening practices.

Ear pods/ ear buds
Learners sometimes ask us about using ear buds to listen to music to reduce distraction in class.
Ear buds and phones are to be put away during the day ( as part of our phone policy, and, in support of protecting young peoples hearing).
We recommend ear plugs for learners who find classroom noise distracting.
Ear plugs will need to be removed whilst the teacher is providing instruction.

Badjelly - TVNZ

One of our very talented Year 8 learners regularly offers her voice to Mukpuddy Animation and its characters in television series shown on TVNZ.

Lexi has voiced a small character in the highly anticipated new animated TV show, BadJelly, which premiered on TVNZ New Year's Day!

The show is based on Spike Milligan’s beloved children’s book Bad Jelly the Witch, the show features an incredible cast, including renowned actors Rhys Darby and Miriam Margolye.

You can watch online at TVNZ

Appointments during the school day

To ensure learner safety and accurate attendance records, please inform the school via SchoolBridge if your child will be late due to an appointment or needs to leave during the school day. We cannot release your learner without parental / caregiver notification.
We understand appointments are sometimes unavoidable, but we encourage families to schedule them outside of school hours whenever possible. We also ask that travel and holidays be booked during the school holidays. Your support in prioritising your child's education is greatly appreciated.