Kia ora e te whānau o Whangaparāoa

As we move deeper into the term, there continues to be a great deal happening across the college. Last week, many of our learners undertook the Literacy and Numeracy Co-requisite examinations. These assessments are now the foundation and gateway into the NCEA qualification pathway, and for many of our Year 10 learners, this represented their first experience of a formal examination environment. It was reassuring to see so many learners approach the examinations calm, confident, and well prepared. We now eagerly await the results and are hopeful their hard work and preparation will be reflected positively.

This week also marks the beginning of our school production, Footloose, being held in our Auditorium. The excitement around the show has been building for months, and it promises to be an outstanding showcase of the talent, commitment, and passion of our learners and staff. Tickets are available through our school website, although the Friday night finale has already sold out - fortunate for those who secured tickets early! Productions like this remind us that education is about far more than just the classroom. The confidence, teamwork, creativity, and resilience developed through the performing arts are incredibly valuable experiences for our young people.

This Friday is a Ministry of Education Staff Only Day. Across the country, schools are continuing the significant work of planning for and implementing the refreshed curriculum for Years 7 to 10. There has understandably been considerable media attention and public discussion around education recently, and at Whangaparāoa College we remain focused on ensuring our learners continue to receive the high-quality education they deserve. Our staff will spend the day engaging deeply with the new curriculum documents, assessment methodologies, and implementation planning that will support the best possible outcomes for our learners in the years ahead. We appreciate having this dedicated time for professional learning and development as we continue to strengthen our teaching and learning programmes.

This week we also held our first “half-school” assemblies. As our college continues to grow rapidly, we have made the decision to separate whole-school assemblies into two groups. While the tone, expectations, and key messages remain consistent across both assemblies, this approach also allows us to tailor messaging more appropriately to the different year levels and stages of schooling. The growth of our school is both an exciting opportunity and a challenge that requires us to continue thinking differently about how we operate. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to ensuring that every learner is known, supported, and connected within our school community.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our college, staff, and learners. With the upcoming King’s Birthday public holiday approaching, I hope our learners, staff, and whānau are able to take the opportunity to refresh, recharge, and spend valuable time together. The remainder of the term is always a busy and important period, and returning rested and focused will help ensure we continue to make the most of the opportunities ahead and finish the term in a positive and successful manner.

Ngātahi Whakapono Tutuki | Together Believe Achieve

Steve McCracken
Tumuaki | Principal

May

27 - 29      Production - Footloose
29             MOE Staff Only Day (School closed for instruction)

June

01             King's Birthday
17             Whole School Assembly
18             Loves Me Not (Year 12)
20             School Ball