Principal's Pānui
14 August 2023
As we move into week 5 of the term, our senior students should be aware of the time they have left before their external examinations. Our Year 13s in particular have only 10 weeks of class time left, so preparation for externals (as well as submission of internal work) should be well under way. Feedback from past Year 13 students has been pivotal in the ongoing development of our ‘Next Steps’ option that will be available to Year 13 students in 2024, an option that will incorporate planning, structured study, and managing deadlines. All students though should be regularly reviewing work, as well as looking ahead to which assessments are due and how much time is needed for each.
For our parents and caregivers, we are aiming to provide further information to you on a regular basis which will provide you with the tools to assist with your child’s planning. Coupled with this will be a regular update on attendance.
Cellphones
Cellphones are again in the news. I’d like to re-iterate the position of Massey High School on this front. A total ban on cellphones at school does not account for the important part that they play in everyday life when used correctly. Collecting phones at the start of the day is not an efficient use of time or resources. We would rather work with our students and whānau, implementing the practice that we currently have in place - a practice that acknowledges the importance of phones for managing self with the need to ensure that classroom time is preserved for teaching and learning.
Our students are responding well to the consistent approach across the school – cellphones being required to be on silent and in bags when entering the classroom. In the first instance of a student contravening this, a conversation with the subject teacher will ensue – often this being enough to see the student meet the expectations. However, should the behaviour repeat, follow up will be conducted by a Dean – with contact home being made to keep parents or caregivers informed.
Our whānau can support their children with this practice by ensuring that they do not phone them during class-time. Remember, should your child need to be contacted urgently, a call to our reception is your first port of call.
Futures Week
A reminder that our students from Year 9 to 12 have a very important fortnight ahead. Our focus is on providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions about their subject selections for 2024. It is vital that students engage fully in the events of Futures Week. Our Year 12 students have a special assembly on Monday 21 August.
Sporting Success
Three of our teams have finished their seasons as champions of their respective grades – all three also finishing their seasons undefeated.
On Wednesday, our Girls Football First XI beat Mount Albert Grammar School be the first of the three to sweep their season. This is a team that I have watched on a number of occasions this year, and they have grown in confidence and cohesion through the course of the season. The team comprises a remarkable group of young women who epitomise the best elements of playing sport – they are competitive but play fair, they support each other and simply enjoy playing the sport. Thanks to Tina Chisholm for her role as team manager and to Tim and Sam for their coaching.
Later that day our Senior Boys Basketball team beat Waitakere College to finish their season undefeated. Despite having several key players out with injury, they dug deep and played with real grit to take the win. Special mention to Marley Kerlin whose play on the court is made all the more impressive when you realise that he is still in Year 10. Thanks to Alumnus Marvis Pauli for the great work coaching this team.
Finally, on Saturday morning – our Year 9A Netball Team finished their season as undefeated champions after accounting for Waitakere College. This is another team that have played sport for all the right reasons and have grown through the season. Their victory was well deserved. Thanks to Callandra Field and Carolyn Dower-Cruden for their work with the team.
On the same morning, our Year 9B also played their first/second place final. Whilst they ultimately fell to Kelston Girls College, this team can be incredibly proud of their efforts this season. They were moved up a grade and faced some very tough games, yet still fought their way through to be in the position to play-off for first place.
Unfortunately, our First XV finished their season slightly earlier than planned. Despite being ahead at the half-time break, they finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard against Rosmini in their semi-final. Thank you to those members of the team who are in Year 13, they have served as role models and mentors to younger players in the team and have contributed much to the development of the culture within the team. Whilst they will understandably be disappointed, the lessons they have learned will serve them well as they progress beyond Massey High School. Thank you to Duwayne Toko, Rob Short, and George Pisi for their work with the team this year, also thanks to Madison Golightly for managing the administrative side this year.
For all our other Winter Codes that are coming to the end of the season – a huge thank you from Massey High School to those members of our community that have given their time to coach or manage teams. Similarly, a huge thank you to parents and caregivers that have supported their children in their engagement with sport – from funding equipment, to transporting, to getting them to trainings and games, it is a big commitment – thank you again.