NCEA Handbooks
All students in Years 11, 12 and 13 will be issued with an NCEA handbook over the next week or so.
Please insist on seeing your child’s. It has an information section for parents on what NCEA is and how it works; it also details the school’s policy and procedures around assessment and there is a tear off section for both student and parent to sign. This must be returned to school by Friday 5 March. If you have any queries regarding this booklet or NCEA in general, please contact Deputy Principal, Mrs Walker at school.
Missing
The English Department would appreciate everyone checking for books and returning them to us ASAP. No questions asked and a chocolate fish for each book from past years that is returned.
Pam Grant, HOD EnglishLibrary Disasters
The library suffered a major flood, so it has been out of action for the first week of term. The difficulties have been compounded by a flaw in the issuing programme. This has meant that although we have dried out, we cannot issue books. Students will need to bring books from home for compulsory school-wide SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) until we rectify the problem.
Such attention to detail—we have washed all the carpets and all the books in time for the new term!
Jane Ogilvie, Teacher i/c of LibraryMathematics Department
Congratulations to all those students who enjoyed NCEA mathematics success last year. At Level 1 Wairarapa College achieved a 91.8% numeracy success rate (that is for 8 credits or more) – the National average was 85.6%. My thanks to all the staff who contributed to such fine results.
I would like to make particular mention of the students who worked a year level ahead of their cohort. Adrian Blomfield, Courtney Dew, Charlotte Mawson and Liam Jolliffe, all Year 10 students, passed with flying colours. They gained 19 Excellence and 11 Merit grades between them (from a possible 32 grades). Special recognition must be made of Liam’s talent – he secured straight E’s in all 8 of his standards, including a Level 2 Statistics paper. Joel Farley, Roydon McDermott and Ben Ravenwood, Year 11 students, impressed at Level 2 passing all their standards. Nicholas McNeil and Nick Shields performed creditably at Level 3 Calculus and will repeat the course this year with Scholarship in mind.
Another note-worthy performance came from Jayden Wales, Year 11, who scored straight E’s in his Level 1 exams. Well done to all !!
- Calculators are an essential tool. Basic models suitable for junior school can be purchased from most stationers now for under $20. Graphical calculators, most helpful at senior school, are available from the Maths department for just $80 purchase and $40 hire.
- Homework books are strongly recommended. These are paid for at the college Office and collected via the classroom teacher. Prices range from $15 - $18 and these represent a significant saving on the recommended retail price.
- Payment by instalment. If there is financial pressure, as there generally is at this time of year, and calculators and homework books can NOT be afforded in one lump sum then, please, contact me on 3700400 ext 775 and we can arrange to have the product right away and to pay by instalments.
- Tuition is available on a regularly rostered basis every Wednesday and Friday up in Room 1. Other days can be arranged as necessary. Please encourage your son/daughter to seek help early ! Bring a friend, bring your lunch – the problem could be sorted with just 10 minutes of extra, FREE tuition.
Now a few house-keeping matters:
If you have any concerns about mathematics, please call me on 3700400 ext 775.
Mike van Woerkom HoD MathematicsHealth News
HPV
All year 10, 11 and 12 female students will be given the opportunity to have this vaccination at school this year. The first round commences on March 25. Further information will be given out to the students over the next few weeks. Consent forms have been given out to the students and should have reached your home by now. If not, please ask your daughter where it is. It is important to fill this out even if you do not choose to have the vaccination. There is a section for this on the form.
Healthy Food and Drinks
Please ensure your child has adequate food and drink to cover them over the school day. With the change in the school timetable, lunch is later and it is important that they have morning tea packed. Now that summer has finally arrived, water bottles are a must.
Blood Donor Day
This is scheduled for Wednesday the 24 May. It is for year 12 and 13 only and the student must be over 16 years of age. Wairarapa College has been a Donor College for 6 years.
Julie Booth, Youth Health Provider