Welcome back to school for term 2.
Kia ora te whanau ō Neirana! It is my pleasure and privilege to welcome students back to school for what promises to be a busy and exciting term 2. Many of you will know that Mr Wilson is away this term on a sabbatical break. I’m sure you will agree that Daniel has worked extremely hard for the school over a number of years and that this opportunity for him to step back and take a breather for a term is well deserved. Mr Wilson plans to visit other schools around the country and to attend some professional development to gather inspiration and new ideas to bring back to Nayland College. We wish him an enjoyable and restful term and look forward to seeing him back in term 3.
Meanwhile at school, life continues apace. Academically, students are now well settled into their courses. Senior students should be making progress towards their NCEA goals and working through assessments. Junior students have adapted to college life and are making positive gains in their learning. An important opportunity to support your young person’s learning is coming up with our Achievement Conferences in weeks 2 and 4. I strongly encourage you to make an appointment to discuss your child’s goals, future pathway and progress with their house tutor. Feedback from parents who last attended these conferences in 2019 was overwhelmingly positive and the evidence suggests that strengthening the partnership between home and school is a powerful way to improve outcomes for students. Further information can be found in a separate article in this update.
While most of us were relaxing over the holidays the students and staff involved in the upcoming production were working hard on rehearsals and preparations for what promises to be an amazing performance. If you haven’t yet booked your tickets for ‘Carousel’ at the Theatre Royal in week 3, I urge you to do so. The show is shaping up to be up there with the best of Nayland College productions.
Many winter sports begin this week and it is fantastic to see so many students participating in such a wide range of sports. Some teams are still seeking coaches or managers so if you are able to contribute and support with this please get in touch with our new sports co-ordinator Eloise van Velthooven (eloise.vanvelthooven@nayland.school.nz) who will welcome you with open arms!
Also, next week on Thursday, Nayland College’s Kapa Haka group Pūaha Te Tai are honored to be taking receipt of a new set of piupiu. These will be presented to the school by their creator – master weaver Karl Leonard.
During the holidays several of our staff demonstrated the Nayland value of ‘Success’. Eloise van Velthooven has been selected to play for Northern Moana in the new National League for Volleyball, Brendan Crighton has been selected as a coach for the National League for Volleyball and Deputy Principal Jane Townsend won a silver in the recent long distance Waka Ama Nationals held in Picton. Congratulations to them all.
I look forward to seeing you at some of the exciting school events in the near future and to updating you throughout the term on more of the amazing achievements of our students and staff.
Ngā mihi nui,
Hannah Banks
(Acting Principal – Term 2)
By Hannah Banks
