Term 2, Issue 4, 19 June 2019

A Word from Natasha

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa, warm greetings to you all,

Our students are involved in so many wonderful activities and I know that I am constantly amazed at the amazing events our students are exposed to both locally and nationally. Our teachers, support staff and often community volunteers work really hard to provide enriched learning that is authentic and connects to life beyond our school. We have some pretty big and amazing events coming up that have involved preparation, challenging our mindsets, persistence and resilience in many cases. In the upcoming weeks we will have students:

• Representing RHS in the Smokefree Rockquest

• Holding their first ever RSHS school ball

• Participating in the biannual Tainui Regional Kapa Haka competition

• Participating in  various sporting events

• Planning and preparing for our school show

Here at Rototuna Senior High School we think that involving ourselves in activities beyond the classroom help us to grow and develop Ourselves As Learners. I ask that we continue to support our young people to be involved either as participants or supporters at events such as those mentioned above so that our young people have the opportunity to explore their talents and to celebrate the talents of others in their school whānau.

Ngā mihi

Natasha

Paid Union Meeting

PAID UNION MEETING - LATE OPENING FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Tuesday 25 June 2019 - As you may have heard in the media, the PPTA (the teachers' union) has reached a settlement with respect to the Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement. They notified our school yesterday, that on the morning of Tuesday 25 June 2019 there is to be a paid union meeting for members to vote on the offer.

Therefore on Tuesday 25 June 2019 school will start for Senior High students at 12:15 pm. We will have some non union members on site so if your child needs supervision please complete the following google form below so we know to expect them.

Important Dates

Open Evening

Rototuna Senior High School

Enrolment for 2020

At the end of this term, enrolments will open for Rototuna Senior High School. All Year 10 students who attend RJHS will need to complete a short enrolment process for the Senior High School (as it is designated as a separate school). All students intending to enrol at RSHS must live in the Year 9-13 Enrolment Zone, and provide current proof of address. More information on how to complete the enrolment process will come out later this term.

Tutorials

Semester 2 Tutorials have started. These are an opportunity for students to gain support, extension or to pursue interests.

IMPORTANT: In Semester 3, we will not be offering a ‘full’ timetable of exam revision for students. Some exam revision time will be available during normal timetable, however a student will not be able to do exam revision only. Students completing exams have a reduced internal assessment workload to compensate and will be given ample time in class, with support in Tutorials to prepare for end of year exams. This means, that students should be utilising Tutorial opportunities now to prepare for the end of the year.

Whilst Tutorials still remain optional, in some cases, students will be required to attend as an extension or support for their learning. The Module teacher will inform you if your child is required at a Tutorial session.

Updated options have been added to our student website, www.tehinaki.rhs.school.nz and www.rhs.school.nz 

2019 Senior High Ball

Night Under The Stars

Pick Up and Drop Off

We are seeing an increasing amount of unsafe behaviour at the pick up zone at the end of the school day. If you are picking your child up in a vehicle at the end of the day, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Please enter one of the 2 pick up zones at the correct (inwards) entry, and drive through into the pick up zone as far as you can - DO NOT stop at the entry point to pick your child up (especially the pick up zone at the junior high end of the school) - you hold up the queue behind you onto the road

• Please DO NOT allow your child to enter your car while you are waiting in the queue on the road, this is illegal, and very unsafe in such a high traffic area

• Please do not attempt to pull a U-turn on Kimbrae Drive.

On most days, traffic is completely cleared within 10 minutes of the JHS school day ending, so please be patient of other road users and pedestrians at this time. You could always consider picking your child up on Bourne Brook Ave or Borman Rd and have them walk to you, delay your pick up time to closer to 3:30pm, or encourage them to walk, scooter or bike to school if that is feasible.

Further to this there are some parents that are stopping in their cars for students at the end of the road (near the bike track). This is not a crossing it is just a speed deterrent and we ask that people do not give way to students. We have reminded students that they should be riding up to the lights and crossing at the controlled crossing.

A Message to all Cyclists

Please DO NOT ride your bikes through Rototuna Primary before or after school. The staff are happy for you to take a short-cut through the school but you need to walk your bikes through. There have been some near misses with people riding through at speed! I think this is really reasonable of Rototuna Primary so please respect their request.

We also want to remind students and families that the NZ law expects all cyclists to wear a helmet, we encourage that this is done up on a students head and not on their handlebars.

Parents and caregivers if you could give a reminder of this that would be brilliant.

Peer Mediation

Exciting news……….. Peer Mediation is now available for students at RHS

How does Peer Mediation work at RHS?

• The trained Peer Mediators always work in pairs, mediating between 2 students.

• Peer Mediation provides a safe, confidential setting where students can sort out conflicts with their peers.

• Students can request a mediation themselves OR a staff member can request one on their behalf.

• Peer Mediation is voluntary.

• The Guidance Counsellors receive the Mediation requests and arrange for the Peer Mediators to meet with the students.

• Peer Mediation encourages the students to talk things through.

• The Peer Mediators DO NOT GIVE ADVICE or ‘SORT OUT’ problems; they give the 2 students in conflict the opportunity to come to an understanding so that they can move on.

• Peer Mediators DO NOT make decisions for the 2 students involved.

• Peer Mediations are carried out in Kahui Rangatahi (Student Services) during the school day.

Some examples of disputes that are suitable for mediation include: gossip/rumours, name-calling, friendship issues, teasing, annoying behaviour by another student, a student using another student’s gear without permission.

NB: Instances of serious harm will NOT be dealt with through Peer Mediation.

Message From Our Nurse

Winter is well and truly here and with that comes an influx of students attending our Nurse Clinic and Sick bay. Please ensure your child remains at home if they are unwell - this will help us to keep the spread of winter bugs at bay and also support your child as they heal and recover.

Just a reminder to please let me know of any change in your child’s medical condition or if they may require extra support from me while they are at school. It may be a short term illness/accident or a long term condition; either way I will work with our teaching staff to ensure your child is supported while here at school.

If your child requires any medication other than paracetamol or ibuprofen during school hours (that you have previously given permission for us to administer) we require a Medication Authority form to be completed and returned to me along with the medication stated. This will ensure that medication is stored and administered safely and correctly. These forms can be emailed to you or collected from Student Services if required.

Please do not hesitate to email me if I can be of any assistance to you or your child -

Stay safe and warm,

Kind regards,

Catherine

RHS Nurse

catherinecharles@rhs.school.nz