10 March 2024

Term One is now in full swing, with many senior students engaged in their first internal assessments of the year, final touches being put on preparations for Polyfest, student led activities getting underway, and some Summer sports coming to a close.

Deputy Principal Jen Triggs has spent this week at assemblies clarifying the Literacy and Numeracy requirements for our students undertaking NCEA this year and how they fit into the overall qualification. As you are aware, NCEA Level One is markedly different this year to what it has been in the past – there will be consistent support provided to our students in Year 11 to ensure that they are best prepared to submit assessments and prepare for their external assessments which are now a mix of submissions and examinations.

Our groups competing at Polyfest this year will be performing at FiaFia night on Thursday 14th March. Non-competition cultural groups will also be performing on the night. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the diversity at Massey High School, if you haven’t had a chance to attend ensure that you do this year. 

Our groups that will be performing at Polyfest are our Tuvaluan Group (Wednesday 20th March), Kapa Haka (Friday 22nd March), Tongan Group (Friday 22nd March), and Samoan Group (Saturday 23rd March). My thanks to tutors, teachers in charge, and of course to families who have supported our young people engaged with these groups – the commitment and effort to each group is enormous.

Our Sports Leaders Alec Death and Willow Rissetto, supported by House Leaders and other Prefects presented the outline of our upcoming Tabloids Day to staff this week – they will roll out the schedule to House Assemblies next week. It is wonderful to have a full school event that is organised and run by our students, for students. Tabloids Day takes place on Thursday 21st March. As a full school House Competition event, it is an opportunity for students to dress in their House colours and lay the foundation for the year long House competition that lays ahead. All events throughout the year are organised and run by our student leadership group, events encompass sports, arts, cultural activities, trivia competitions, and others – ensuring that there are events for everyone to participate in.

On the subject of Houses – one of our House Patrons will be at school on Monday 11th March. As you may be aware, all of our House Patrons are people who have significant links to Massey High School – with three of the four being ex-students. Oscar and Bafta winner Philippa Boyens MNZM (class of 1985), patron of Kārearea House will be with us for the day – attending her House assembly before engaging with students at a series of workshops. Philippa Boyens co-wrote the screenplays for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong, The Lovely Bones, and the Hobbit Trilogy (which she also co-produced).

Congratulations to our Junior Boys Cricket Team who finished top of their grade in the Junior Boys T20 – as mentioned last week, it was great to see cricket back at Massey High School and great to see it return so successfully.

Phones ”Away for the Day”

Our Deans will be presenting the procedures that will come into play in the next few weeks in response to the new Government regulations. As mentioned, we have been having conversations with students at break times about the use of their phones and the regulations that are coming in. Our Deans, led by Deputy Principal Jon Taura have formulated a robust procedure around the requirements for phones to be off and in bags for the day. The procedures range from conversations with students in the first instance through to confiscation of phones by Deans or SLT and contact with parents and caregivers if necessary. Following presentations to staff, the procedures will be presented to all year levels, and be sent to all parents and caregivers. They will come into effect before the end of this Term.

Unjustified Absence and Lateness to School

We ask that you please continue to monitor the attendance and punctuality of your child, using the weekly attendance report to support conversations. Should there be issues arising that impact on the ability of your child to attend regularly or arrive at school on time please contact the appropriate Dean to discuss. We run after school Principal’s detentions for those students who arrive late for school without valid reason, such is the importance of not missing class time given the impact that has across the course of a year. As a reminder to our senior students, the starting point for determining an invite the School Ball and Graduation is no more than 5% unjustified absence.

Property

As you may be aware, we have a number of major works scheduled for this year – as yet, we have not been affected by works being put on hold as some schools have. This week saw a number of science labs on the third floor of the Science Block return to action. Works are scheduled for B Block and the Admin Block. The Massey High School Foundation has also confirmed that they will fund the refurbishment of the Jack Adam Gym floor (which will take place later in the year), the floor is approximately 20 years old, and it will have a complete overhaul, essentially returning it to near new condition. Our thanks to the support of The Massey High School Foundation.