Tēnā koutou katoa ngā whānau,
This week Ngā Amorangi, Ethan Speers and Jonte Stevens lead our celebration of Aotearoa NZ’s Indigenous language, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Māori Language petition, which asked for active recognition of te reo Māori in Aotearoa, and for the language to be taught in schools. Ākonga spoke Pepha and and challenged each other to speak the longest place name in the world; “Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapikimaunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu,” learners and staff also competed in Rakau game ‘maui matou’ and ‘ka ki a haimoana’ (Simon says). We look forward to our continued learning and use of Te Reo in our daily speak within the College.
Ko tōu reo, Ko tōku reo, Te tuakiri tangata, Tīhei uriuri Tīhei nakonako
Your voice, my voice. It is an expression of identity, Behold the message and the messenger.
As we head into NCEA derived grade senior exams next week, I commend our students for their commitment to their preparation for their exams. I remind them of the importance of balance between study, exams, breaks, healthy food and water and good sleep. Let those digital devices be turned off an hour before sleep and allow themselves the best opportunities for success in the exams. I thank and acknowledge the mahi of our teachers and staff in the preparation of our learners for these assessments. The assessment results our learners receive will provide them with a focus for learning as they prepare for their external exams from week 4 next term.
Last week Deputy Principal Mr Marshall and I were pleased to meet with our year 9 and 10 learners in our year level assemblies. Our focus was to share key messages and expectations we have for learners to support a learning focused culture within the classroom that is built on lived Garin Values – Generosity, Aroha, Rangimarie, Integrity, New Life.
Among many expectations the following are key ‘being ready for learning with books, pen, charged laptop’, attempting all learning tasks to the best of their ability and ‘speaking kindly and politely to teachers and other learners’. We also emphasised the expectation that students place their cellphone and earpods in their bag, turned off during all lessons. We look forward to celebrating Blue and White like the photo above in all Y9 and 10 classes for the remainder of the year, where learners are expected not to wear jackets and hats in class.
I wish our four candidates standing in the Student Trustee on the Board of Trustees election this week 21 September. We thank all 5 candidates for demonstrating their willingness to lead and to serve the students of Garin College on the board. All students were encouraged to vote, we look forward to the announcement of the duly elected candidate in Week 10.
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki – May God be with you
Ngā mihi nui
John Maguire
Take a moment: –
Te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere; te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōna te ao.
(The bird who partakes of the miro berry owns the forest; the bird who partakes of education owns the world.)