Taihape Area School

Tuesday 9th February 2015Term 1 – Newsletter Number 3

Phone - 06 3880130Email – rmcmillan@tas.school.nz

office@tas.school.nzWebsite - http://tas.spikeatschool.co.nz

Tena koutou katoa

Week three already, and the school year is well underway. It has been a very positive start to the year. Classes are already working co-operatively and well, and there is a fantastic positive tone right through-out the school. The students in this school really are a pleasure to work with – they enjoy new challenges, are accepting of individual differences, and generally go the extra mile to ensure our School is a happy and productive place.

Undoubtedly a highlight of last week was the visit by the 5 Junior (Year 1-8) Classes to the Taihape Museum, as part of their Inquiry into Relationships. This was an excellent learning opportunity. The Taihape Museum is a truly wonderful resource, with a wide range of exhibits and artefacts that depict the history of this special place.

The Museum also showcases the efforts of the many volunteers and enthusiasts who work so hard to maintain and develop important local organisations.

This week the Year 9 Camp at Mangaweka is a bonding, TEAM building opportunity for the students in this cohort.

An interesting topic of debate is the categorization of the teaching profession – is teaching a job, or a life style? I strongly argue that teaching is a life style and a fantastic one at that.

In my formative years I debated whether to pursue teaching or accounting as a career. In those days my friends all seemed to be following the accountancy option as a career path, with my decision to opt into teaching contrary to the views of a few others, and possibly logic, as accounting was one of my strongest subjects at High School. My father was less than impressed with my choice – he considered that male teachers were “all old aunties!!” And I suppose in some cases he may have been right.

I certainly don’t question the choice of my friends who are now very successful accountants. A couple are extremely wealthy, one a millionaire several times over - a major land owner and property developer, and owner of a vineyard and camping ground in Central Otago. And of course he has all the “toys”.

While teaching provides a reasonable income, and a much more realistic standard of living than previously, we are nowhere near in the same league as accountants, doctors, lawyers etc. The gulf is enormous.

However, the overall rewards in many ways are much more significant. Teaching provides the opportunity to work with positive people (teachers are a different breed!!), and to make massive differences to the lives of young people. Teaching has many other benefits as well – we have fantastic holidays, we are able to take part in a huge range of activities and pursuits, and although we are a professional group, we don’t need to wear a tie to work each day (i.e. dress can be relatively casual).

“Leading me to lead my learning”

In the normal course of a year we have the opportunity to go on camps, be involved in a range of sport and cultural activities, be entertained by visiting artists and performers, meet a range of people from an assortment of backgrounds, as well as teach a wide array of subjects, skills, or topics. We have access to an increasing range of modern tools and equipment. We have the unique pleasure, and privilege, of watching at close hand your children grow as people, develop as personalities, and expand their range of life skills. In teaching no two days are ever the same, which is one of the major pluses – as they say, variety is the spice of life!!

Of course there can be negative features such as dealing with behaviour issues, or battling with parents who have unrealistic expectations of their children, or parents who provide little or no support, but the positives certainly make teaching a superb life-style option.

In a school as well resourced as ours, and with such a committed, enthusiastic group of state-holders, the rewards are huge.

Have a great week!!

RegardsRichard McMillanPrincipal

Student Interview DayThis is early notification that school will be closed on Friday 6th March. Organisation for this day:

School will be closed for normal instruction;

Year 9-13 Students will be Timetabled for Goal Setting Interviews with Deans;

The Junior School (Year 1-8)

Teachers are taking part in a Professional Development Day.

Tall PoppiesThe following Taihape Area School students rose above the crowd last week as outstanding achievers:

Makere Gregory (Year 9) and Gina Swanson (Year 12) - for aiming to complete their tasks fast in the Science/Biology class;Nico Cowley (Level 1) – for demonstrating whanaungatanga in L1 ScienceLiam Fellingham and Shelby Inwood (Year 12) – excellent effort in Physics;Michaella Simpson (Year 13) – excellence in practical Physics;Rachel Conlon (Year 13) – for stepping up as Sports Leader at the School Swimming Sports.

Mufti-DayThis Thursday we are holding a mufti-day to raise funds for the Heart Foundation.

The cost is a gold coin donation.

Please wear something RED.

“Leading me to lead my learning”

Touch RugbyTouch rugby is going from strength to strength at TAS with four students making Manawatu representative honours in 2015.

Manawatu Under 17 BoysDylan Sincock and Warren Cooper -

Manawatu Under 15 GirlsGeorgia Adams

Manawatu Under 17 GirlsBrooklyn Walker

They are off to Papakura this week to play in the New Zealand Youth tournament and we all wish them the very best to shine on the national stage.

We will have to keep our fingers crossed for Brooklyn whose team (Manawatu) has unfortunately folded due to injuries and unavailability. As a New Zealand development player in 2014, she is a hot commodity, and already Taranaki and Canterbury have shown interest in picking her up. Let's hope NZ Touch will agree to a dispensation and she'll get to show off her talents.

All four have worked very hard at training over the Summer holidays and this should pay off in the weekend.

Kia kaha, kia manawanui Sharyn Adams

Senior Swimming Sports

Swimming Champions 2015

Junior Girls1st – Te Huinga Chambers2nd – Harmony Lucas

3rd – Ari HallJunior Boys1st – Jason Squires2nd = Tyresse Adams & Kalani Grant

Intermediate Girls1st – Georgia Adams2nd – Peita Law3rd – Brooklyn Walker

Intermediate Boys1st – Jordan Grant2nd – Harry Randall3rd – Thomas Goodman

Senior Girls1st – Millie Law2nd – Rachael Conlon3rd – Nicola-Mary Geraghty

Senior Boys1st – James Morrison2nd – Cully Noble3rd – Yuki Inoue

Thank you to all the parents / staff and volunteers who help make this a successful day for our students. It was a pleasure to see so many participating, encouraging and supporting their fellow peers. Well done to all those who entered an event, you can be very proud of yourselves

New Records BrokenJason Squires – 16.78 25m Free Jnr Boys replaces Ryan Donne-Gregory record of 17.03 since 2007Mille Law – 15.97 25m Free Snr Girls replaces Karli George Stoney record of 17.28 since 2006

Well done to you both, amazing swims.

“Leading me to lead my learning”

House T-ShirtsWith the change in House Structure to whanau based (siblings), we realise that some students may now have House T-Shirts that they can no longer use.  If you would like to on-sell any tops please feel free to phone the school office, or email Richard McMillan (rmcmillan@tas.school.nz), or Janice Hawira (jhawira@tas.school.nz), with the details (House/size/price/contact name and number) and we can advertise them in our newsletter for you.

TAS Web-siteThe TAS web site can be accessed at: http://tas.spikeatschool.co.nz Any feedback, suggestions or modifications would be appreciated, particularly as to the information you would like available on the website. Also if you note any errors or outdated information (it’s really staggering how quickly things change).

Facebook Do you know what your children are doing on Facebook ???????

Internet Safety Next week John Parsons is returning to run Internet Safety Workshops four our students.

Background Information John is an Internet Safety and Risk Assessment Consultant to schools the private sector and the health sector, providing specialist advice and direction on the safe use of Digital Communication Technology.

Specialist Training He works alongside Police, Children Young Persons and their Families (CYF) and Health Professionals delivering training in child protection to attendees who come from a wide range of professions. The focus of this work is the reduction of child abuse in New Zealand.

Presentations and Community Workshops He delivers cyber safety workshops to those who work with young people in areas of health, education and safety. John also delivers parent/caregiver cyber safety workshops through school or community based initiatives.

Working with children and Families He works with individuals, young people and families who have become ensnared by predatory adults across digital networks, those who have been cyber abused and children and youth who abuse others using online technologies.

Resource Provider John is the co-developer of cutting edge cyber safety Internet Heath Safety education now being delivered in Schools and to adult learning groups.

Editor Nelson Crime Watch Newsletter He is the editor of the Nelson Crime Watch newsletter, a collaboration between Simulate 2 Educate Limited, Nelson Police and SeniorNet Nelson.

The rights of children He promotes the rights of children to be judged fairly recognising their rights to use communication technology safely and with respect for themselves and others. This is the foundation upon which he delivers his

“Leading me to lead my learning”

classroom workshops to students of all ages, as summarised below:

Resilient children and youth understand what is theirs by right:-

To be respected; To be valued; To be supported; To be listened to; To be protected; To learn.

Empathy is introduced in student workshops In my workshops with children and teenagers we debate the power of support and the role empathy has in influencing positive behaviours. Information technology connects us with the world and at the same times separates us from others. Now, more than ever before, empathy, the ability to think about how another person is feeling, should be the foundation upon which we educate children on matters of judgment whether in the home, in the school or in the community.

Empathy is a gift children share between themselves every day, so when we see it we should acknowledge it, and when possible, reward it….John Parsons

John Parsons BIT, DipIct6 Cyber Safety and Risk Assessment Consultant www.s2e.co.nz

AllergiesAs well as notifying the School regarding any changes to home circumstances, please ensure that we are aware of any allergies, or health issues. These may be new, or recently discovered, and it is essentail the School is aware of these.

Mufti-DayThis Thursday we are holding a mufti-day to raise funds for the Heart Foundation.

The cost is a gold coin donation.

Please wear something RED.

Quotes of the Week“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage” ― Anaïs Nin. “If you can't change your fate, change your attitude” ― Amy Tan.

“Leading me to lead my learning”

“Leading me to lead my learning”

This Terms CalendarFebruaryThursday 12th Heart Foundation Mufti Day Thursday 12th – Friday 15th Year 9 CampTuesday 17th Touch in Palmerston North BeginsTuesday 24th – Friday 27th Year 10 CampFriday 27th Junior Swimming Sport

MarchMonday 2nd Junior A Netball TrialsThursday 5th Senior AthleticsFriday 6th Wanganui Secondary Schools Swimming

Student Interview Day Wednesday 11th Wanganui Secondary Schools AthleticsThursday 12th Nga Tawa EquestrianThursday 19th Wanganui Secondary Schools TriathlonFriday 20th Junior Interschool SwimmingMonday 23rd Junior AthleticsFriday 27th Junior Swimming SportsFriday 27th Art BusTuesday 31st Junior Interschool Athletics

AprilThursday 2nd End of Term 1

“Leading me to lead my learning”

“Leading me to lead my learning”