Thursday, November 30, 2006

Where Did The Day Go?


Quite a full-on day today despite only juniors at school. The wahine did a lot of good work this morning mopping up the reluctanr participants for Year 10 Outdoor Ed next week. I met with the man from the ministry and was able to skite about our huge success in reducing suspensions from 64 in 2002 to 1 in 2006. This was followed by a lengthy meeting in two parts with my Network Manager to finalise budget requests for next year. We're moving closer to a 1GB backbone for the whole school! We had to break in the middle while I conducted a summative appraisal meeting for one of my staff which was very positive. Unfortunately, these meetings went most of the way through lunchtime as well so I missed the Bilingual Unit farewell luncheon for Heremaia. Immediately after lunch I booked 5 kids in for Saturday School after they were found dodging underneath a classroom! I now had the first piece of time in the day to try to tick off some of the tasks for the day. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of checking my emails so that was 15 minutes gone! I then met with a contributing Primary Principal and a visiting principal to outline the restorative approach we were attempting at our school. A newly appointed staff member had arrived around lunchtime and after he had met with departmental staff and checked out a school flat available I was able to catch up with him before he headed home. I then had a coffee with one of the wahine and went to start on the tasks for the day and discovered it was 6.00pm! so I thought I would go home. The tasks will have to wait for tomorrow's day in paradise! Looking forward to the Possum's MTB ride in the Blue Mountains on Sunday.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Orientation Day


Today was Orientation Day for the Year 8 students from our contributing schools who have enrolled here for their secondary schooling. Our day started magnificently on our Marae in front of Kura-ki-Uta with Mana, myself and Eddie speaking. All 121 students and their teachers and some parents then hongied and greeted all staff members. The students then spent the day with their tutor teachers being tested and familiarising themselves with the school.

At the same time our Year 9 and 10 students have been out in the community on workday raising funds for new picnic tables for the students.