Let us take this moment to reflect on everything you’ve achieved this term. Subjectively, we can state that it has been a delight to work with you so far this year. You have been polite, generous and mature in your interactions with us. Your teachers have frequently commented on your determination and self-discipline. The local community tells us that you are making a real impact through your voluntary work and your engagement with your sport and your cultural life.
There are some numbers we’d like to share with you that underpin this. None of this good reputation comes easily. So far, collectively you have conquered:
49,170 Hours of Learning
11 Year Level Meetings
812 Level 3 Credits
44 Whanau Periods
189 Full-Time Days of Volunteer Work
As we often say to you, it’s the small things that matter – and these aggregates just might illuminate that point. The good feedback you are getting, the results you are achieving and the difference you are making comes from the accumulation of hundreds and thousands of good decisions. We can’t deny: we are proud.
Year 13 Attire and Self-Representation
Charlotte and I have been developing a document that outlines our proposed approach to this contested area for some weeks now. We’ve received some feedback from some individual students, and passed this document past the powers that be, and now seek your feedback before it’s formalised. Please take the time to read it and let us know to what extent we speak for you – and if not, what you would have us say.
Please be invited to either comment on this document at the bottom of its website page – or to email us directly with your response.
Look After Yourself
Last week we discussed the importance of taking care of yourself. No doubt you’ll already be glazing over as you read yet another self-evident statement, but trust us, as you progress through this year (and those to come) the pressures are going to pile up. You’ve got your school workload, which comes in surges. You’ve got an expanded social life. You have the added complication of a drivers license. You have changing relationships with your family. Your volunteer work. Your part time job. On top of all this you have your exciting future looming, and all manner of decisions imposed upon you as to what direction you’re going to take yourself. It’s big.
We encourage you to focus on three things and promise us one thing:
Focus on eating well
Focus on getting enough sleep
Focus on organisation. Write down your plans
Promise us that you will seek help if everything gets too much. We are here. You pay us through your taxes so we can be here to help. Use the service. Whoever went to a buffet, paid the charge, and didn’t eat?
Get Out Of Jail Free
At the beginning of Term 2, as promised, all students who have a perfect attendance record, a Fortnightly Grade average over 3 and some Students in the Community hours registered from Term 1 will be given a Get Out Of Jail Free card. This will entitle those students to exempting themselves from all supervised study classes for the entirety of Term 2.
Our fortnightly system will still operate next term, so be assured that your strong, if not perfect, records will still be recognised – and you can always try for a card in Term 3!
Weekly Notices, Diary and Opportunities:
Firstly remember the trio of sites that have been designed to support your needs this year:
You can subscribe to these sites individually (use the follow button at the bottom right of every page) and then you’ll receive notifications when new information is added.
Job Opportunity: Looking for one or two students to set up desks in classrooms and do some lifting at the College for the Wanaka Autumn Art School on Easter Monday. Two –three hours work. $20/hour. Please contact Robyn van Reenen 027 443 1812.
Free Tickets Available: “Her Voice” Public Lectures: https://theweavinghouse.nz/ – Contact Chris or Charlotte if you’re keen.
Kahu Youth ran a massive survey at MAC, asking all the students what they’d like to do during their holidays and in their free time. According to their most popular interests, they have put together a Holiday Program including activities like Wild Wire, Virtual Reality Outdoor Rock Climbing, Paintball, Horse Riding in Cardrona, etc. Check out their websitewww.kahuyouth.org to sign up online! Spaces are limited!
Diary Dates
Otago Tertiary Trip from 5th-6th May
Year 13 Hostel First Aid course Saturday 25th May
Ara Polytechnic Presentation Wednesday 29th May
School Formal Saturday 18th May
We wish you all the very best for a rejuvenating Easter break – and we look forward to seeing you all
Bronson spoke to everyone asking for your support in making this week’s mufti day something special. On the day everyone will be wearing white, yellow and/or orange (no red). It will set a really strong example if Year 13 comes to school in full mufti. There are a number of other events this week to extend support to people affected by the Christchurch terrorist attack – you’re invited to get involved in any or all of these.
Uniform
Chris communicated the developing ideas he, Charlotte and Liz want to present to the school at large. A document outlining these ideas will be shared with you all in the coming days and your feedback is invited.
Notices:
Gateway Health and safety course is Wednesday 20th of March
Canterbury University on Thursday 21st @ 1:15 pm in Room 23
AUT University talk on Friday 22nd March @8:30 am in “T-Town” Room 10
Trades Talk; Plumbing on Wednesday 28th @ 1:20 pm in the Library
Gateway Workplace First Aid course Tuesday 26th March at LWC
Queenstown Resort College Tues- Fri 26th March in L2 and 3 Tourism classes
Otago University Visit on 27th March 2:10 pm in the Science Break Out
Best wishes to everyone involved in the Relay for Life this weekend!
We’re very pleased to note that the list of students who have Home Study over the next fortnight has lengthened considerably.
Today’s Year Level meeting was characterised by the theme of communication. There have been some wonderful examples of this from Year 13s in the last fortnight; one of which was Kate’s initiative to communicate Year 13’s concerns about the lack of consultation around the loss of their common room space to the senior leadership of the school. She formulated a letter, consulted with the year level and hand delivered the letter to Mr Sheppard. He has agreed to listen to solutions. Others are communicating directly with us on matters of individual interest – and some of these will result in policy changes that will benefit the entire school. We salute every one of you who speaks up, using constructive channels, for what you believe is right.
Notices:
Students with special assessment conditions; please contact Mrs Bosley as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Please email bosleyd@mtaspiring.school.nz
Canterbury University on Thursday 21st @ 1:20 pm in Room 23
Trades Talk: a no-nonsense look at the pro’s and con’s of becoming a Tradie: Wednesday 27th @ 1:20 pm in the Library
Gateway Workplace First Aid course Thursday 28th March at LWC
Otago University Presentation 27th March at year level meeting
Otago Tertiary Open Day; this has been very popular this year. We’ll send information out during the next week to those who have signed up. Once the deadline for payment has been reached, if there are spaces, we will extend the opportunity to those who are on the Waitlist. You can view this list via the MAC Careers website
Queenstown Resort College visit to MAC Thursday 29th March for Tourism and Hospitality
Thanks everyone and have a great week Charlotte and Chris
Phew! Things are starting to accelerate – and today’s Year Level meeting reflected this with so many matters on the agenda.
Debra from the Electoral Commission visited and provided a rationale and opportunity to get yourself on the electoral roll. You can also do this online here. Remember you can register on the roll when you are 17.
Chris made a short announcement about his intention to improve the school’s handling of differences in opinion about the meaning of the term ‘appropriate’ in our policies about students’ clothing and personal grooming. The starting point for this conversation will come in the form of a position document from us as deans. If you’d like to help us write this position, please get in touch.
Liz will be in touch about her offer for you to get involved in supporting the electoral process locally.
Contracts – these were given out at the beginning of the year. There are a number of you who have not yet returned these to the office. If this applies to you, please go to the office and get a new one.
There continue to be many visits from representatives from a number of tertiary institutions. Remember you can check the Careers Website, the Year 13 Calendar and the Notices section of this weekly letter to ensure you don’t miss the moment that may define your future.
The Service Committee presented their plans for the Relay for Life. You can sign up here
Notices
The Upper Clutha Youth Council is looking for new members!
If you are interested in creating activities and having a positive influence on the youth of the Clutha Region, then this is the place for you. UCYC is a youth-run organization that runs fun and safe events.
The Upper Clutha Youth Council would love to have any new members from year 7,8 and 9 but anyone is welcome to join! Our organization helps the young people of our town have fun and safe activities and help give a voice to our peers.
Please email us or attend one of our meetings for we would love for all of the awesome young members in our community to join us!
For more information, you can email: uppercluthayouthcouncil@gmail.com or show up to one of our meetings on Tuesdays 3:45 pm at Kahu Youth.
University Presentations onFriday include:
Auckland Uni at 8:30am in the Careers Room (urspace)
Victoria Uni at Lunchtime in Room 23. All welcome.
First Aid Course #1 will be in the ECR on Saturday starting at 9 am. See you there
We continue to receive very positive feedback about you as a cohort. Your effort to engage in class, to support the ethos of the school and to encourage other students is not going un-noticed.
Quad Tournament is fast approaching. Talk to the Sports committee to find out more
First Aid Course on 9th March – hostellers should all have signed up already. Go to First Aid sign up sheet. You will be sent a link to complete half an hour of prior online course learning.
Letter of concern about common space
Kate Richards has drafted a letter to send to the Senior Leadership of the school about the shift of the Year 13 Common Space. You can read and comment on this before it’s sent, so she can be sure she’s representing everyone.
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