5 October 2023
Kia ora tatou ngā whānau, parents and caregivers,
We look forward to welcoming all learners for term 4, Monday 9 October. I trust the well deserved school holidays have been a positive and restful time for all. It is pleasing to be experiencing the warmer weather and fresh spring growth in the trees, gardens and lawns here at Garin.
We congratulate ‘Shave for a Cure – Team Garin’ (made up of seventeen students and two teaching staff) for their incredible commitment to raising funds to support those impacted by leukaemia & blood cancer. On the last day of term 3 this wonderful group along with family and supporters gathered in the library to have their head shaved by a professional team of Barbers. We thank all who participated and those donating money and time to raise $15,339.37 for ‘Shave for a Cure’. I am sure those with shaved heads will be feeling the cold a little at this time, however your gift and service is greatly appreciated.
Following the successes achieved for learners across terms 1,2 & 3 this year, we look forward to term 4 with great anticipation as our Senior students focus on completion of NCEA internal assessments and prepare for the NCEA external exams that start on the 6 November. We also encourage our senior students to continue to engage in their tertiary and career pathway planning. For our year 9 and 10 students we look forward to their ongoing engagement in learning and wider school participation, I know Market day on the 19 October will be an exciting highlight for all. I encourage all learners to engage proactively with their teachers and the opportunities offered through peer tutoring and subject tutoring. As you will see below our event calendar is comprehensive and we look forward to you as Parents and Whānau engaging in and celebrating many of these events with us. I encourage you to access these dates throughout the term via the Garin College calendar.
I would like to express my gratitude to all of you, as parents, caregivers and whānau who engage so willingly with your student’s learning and for the way you support each of them and us in a true learning partnership. We look forward to a wonderful term of learning and engagement.
Important dates Term 4:
- Mon 9 Oct – Term 4 commences – 8.40am students attend Whānau
- Thur 19 Oct – Year 9 / 10 Market day
- Mon 23 Oct – Labour Day – school closed
- Tues 24 Oct – Board meeting 5.30pm
- Wed 25 Oct – Club Garin Colours, 12pm
- Wed 25-27 Oct – Senior Noho Marae trip
- Wed 1 Nov – End of Year Mass – Parents and Whānau please do celebrate this wonderful celebration with us.
- Wed 1 Nov – Study leave commences Year 11 – 13 students
- Mon 6 Nov – NCEA Exams start
- Mon 6 Nov – Y9 Careers Education week
- Fri 17 Nov – Orientation Day – All new entrant Y9 students and other year levels to the college attend this day
- Mon 20 Nov – Teacher Only Day: school closed
- Thurs 30 Nov – NCEA Exams end
- Friday 1 Dec – Garin Prizegiving – Junior 11.20am – 12.30pm, Senior 7pm – Parents and Whānau invited.
- Tues 5-10 Dec – YCL Student Leaders, Ōtaki
- Wed 6 Dec – Christmas themed day
- Thurs 7 Dec – Hauora day
- Mon 11 Dec – Last half day (Fri 8 Dec most students finish)
- Thurs 14 Dec – Board meeting 5.30pm
Opening Soon! – Te Wharemaru O Garin (Garin College’s place of Shelter and Protection Protecting our story, our curriculum) Construction of our Whare is now in its final stages with the completion and installation of the facade and panels to be completed in the next few weeks. We look forward to the blessing and opening of the Whare in week 4. Timing and details of the opening will be sent out to parents, whānau and community next week. It will be wonderful to see once again the gathering of our students in the front of our College- each day and accessing the shade and protection Te Wharemaru will provide.
Attendance – ‘Every School Day is a Big Day’ is a nationwide attendance campaign within the Ministry of Education Attendance and Engagement Strategy which aligns perfectly with our Garin College policy forstudent attendance. Our Garin target is for all students to maintain a minimum of 90% in their attendance (9 days out of 10). We seek your support as parents and caregivers to encourage your student/s in their attendance and remind them that ‘Every Day is a Big Day’ – with improved attendance and engagement in schooling our learners will have the greatest opportunity for success in learning and achievement outcomes. Should you have concern about your child’s attendance we invite you to contact the college for support.
Arriving for the School Day
Garin College school day starts at 8.40am. Learners are required to be at school by 8.35am ready for the first bell at this time.
- If a learner is late to school or arrives during the school day, they must report to the school office to sign in, they are required to have a valid reason for their lateness, a supporting note from a parent or caregiver is appreciated.
Absences
Our timely and accurate recording of learners’ attendance is essential.
- If a learner is going to be absent, parents are required to phone the school office and leave a detailed message on the phone, including the learner’s name, whanau class and reason for absence.
- Parents wishing to take a learner out of school for non school events e.g. holiday – you must communicate your intentions by email for the attention of the Principal. Such approved absence may be deemed explained, however unjustified.
Contacting your learner during the school day
Please be aware that learners are not to use cellphones in class or during class time. If you need to make urgent contact with your learner during class time, I ask that you phone the school office. The office staff will ensure your learners receive a message and/or any necessary support. We wish to avoid disruption to learning. Opportunity to contact your student during the school day on their cell phone is during break times of 10.40am-11.05am and 12.50pm-1.30pm. Your support with this is greatly appreciated.
Uniform
At Garin College we value our learners’ appearance and for them to take pride in their uniform. If for any reason your learner is unable to wear part of their correct uniform then they will require a day pass issued by their Whānau teacher. Parents are encouraged to support their learner by providing a note when your learner does not have the correct uniform.
Summer uniforms may be worn in term 4. The Senior Blazer is optional in Summer apart from formal assembly, mass and other formal occasions.
For all formal occasions at school including our end of Year Mass and Prize Givings, senior students are required to wear their formal school uniform (Winter uniform) at these events and Juniors are required to be in full and tidy uniform.
A black puffer jacket is only acceptable to be worn to and from school and at morning tea or lunch but not in classrooms.
Non-uniform items, for example; sweatshirts, hoodies caps and excess jewellery are not part of the uniform, learners are not to arrive at school wearing such items. Garin College Uniform
As always, our teaching staff and Year level Deans are available to discuss learning or any concerns you may have at school. I wish you all a happy and successful term ahead. I look forward to reconnecting with our learners and staff next week and sharing in the positive energy each brings to the life and energy we celebrate each day at Garin College through our lived values – Generosity, Aroha, Rangimarie, Integrity, New Life.
Ngā manaakitanga
God bless
John Maguire
Principal