06 388013026 Huia Street Taihape, 4720www.tas.school.nzTAS Radio - 88.1FM

Principal: Richard McMillan rmcmillan@tas.school.nz Lead Me to Lead My Learning

Taihape Area School

Monday 4th September, 2017 Term 3 – Newsletter Number 7

Important DatesThis Week Sunday –Friday Senior A to Lower North Island Netball Championships (New Plymouth)Friday 8th Ohingaiti Cross Country Hockey Team to Taupo

Next WeekMonday 11th Teacher Only DayWednesday 13th Nominations Close for Student TrusteePhotosPlease return envelopes a.s.a.p. Photos are on 26th September

Tena koutou katoa

Welcome back after the weekend. We are entering a very busy period with a number of major events scheduled, including the Lower North Island Netball Tournament, the Ohingaiti Cross Country, the Hockey Team trip to Taupo, A Teacher Only Day, the Year 13 Quiz, the North Island Ski Championships, Mid-Year exams for NCEA, the Rangitikei Youth Forum, and the Tough Kids Competition.

This week is Winter Tournament Week for New Zealand Secondary Schools. Secondary Students are participating in a variety of sporting codes, and in some very prestigious tournaments, right across the Country. This Year we only have one Team participating, with the Senior A Netball Team involved in the Lower North Island Netball Tournament in New Plymouth. We wish them well for a fantastic week.

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We live in a time of rapid, and in some cases monumental, change. As an educator, parent, and now grandparent, I spend a fair amount of time reflecting on the impact of this change on the lives of our young people. Growing up in the mid-20th Century, life was very different. It was a more naive age, and we didn’t face the challenges young people face now growing up in this dynamic, technologically advanced, and media driven age.

In my day we were obviously very easily pleased, and our recreational options were virtually on our back doorstep. We played lots of sport, we made huts, we swam, we went fishing, climbed hills, and biked everywhere. We lived by a simple code – “behave and be home in time for tea”. Life was more relaxed, and our childhood was to be savoured.

Now days however, our youth seem to be in a mad rush to grow up and experiment with the more adult/grown up aspects of life.

I write this because of concerns that have arisen recently regarding the choices a number of students are making, the risks they are taking, and the compromising situations they face. Children as young as 13 and 14 going to parties, drinking, smoking, involved in intimate relationships - the whole 9 yards - is a massive concern. In a sense they are bypassing their childhood, and the opportunity to grow up free of the encumbrances and responsibilities of adulthood.

As well they are simply not mentally or developmentally equipped to deal with the emotional turmoil of relationships, and the baggage that can bring. Children are children, and over time they slowly morph into adults. This is a gradual and (sometimes) painstaking process, and as part of this they experiment, take risks, and make mistakes - we all did. However it seems that this generation is in such a rush, they miss some of the important checks and balances that naturalise the process.

As adults we can choose to ignore this, or we can our accept responsibility as parents, monitor where our kids are going, who they are associating with, and crucially what they are doing. It is our duty to keep our children safe at all times. By ignoring some of the things that are going on before our very eyes, we are abdicating this responsibility.

Have a wonderful week.

Regards Richard McMillan

Please remember that School will be closed next Monday for a Teacher Only Day.

Farewell2

The Lincoln family left on Friday to begin a new life in Timaru. Andy and Caroline, and their children, have been here for a term short of three years, and have made a very positive contribution to the School during that time. In particular, Andy made his mark in the area of IT, while both were excellent Teachers.

As well we have enjoyed having Harry (Year 13) and Olivia (Year 6) at School, and they will certainly be missed by their peers.

We wish them all the very best for a successful transition into their new life in the South Canterbury.

The TAS School Wide Behaviour Expectations are:- Rangatiratanga: Whanaungatanga: We are Learners We are CaringWe show Rangatiratanga We show Whanaungatanga

Wairuatanga: Manaakitanga:We are Reflective We are RespectfulWe show Wairuatanga We show Manaakitanga

Tall PoppiesThe following Taihape Area School Students rose above the Crowd last week as outstanding achievers, and members of our Learning Community:

Ella Hernando (Room 1) - for joining in classroom activities and discussions, and Ardijah Rewai (Room 1) - for always being helpful an keeping our classroom neat and tidy;

Naylene Hahn (Room 3) for effort in story writing, and Chloe Jensen (Room 3) for improved listening skills;Neihana Wikitera (Room 4) - for huge improvement in writing, and Chanel Hepi (Room 4) for showing TAS values every day and being a fantastic role model;

Tyson Hurinui (Room 5) - for displaying an outstanding passion for Jump Jam;

Cyrus Steward-Graham (Room 5) - for his awesome effort with his painting skills and retelling his weekend highlights;

Adam Tweeddale (Room 6) – for awesome work in completing Number Knowledge Levels;

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Kenny Hart (Room 6) - for fantastic Procedural Writing;Harmony Lucas (Year11) - for showing Rangatiratanga, working diligently, and achieving the assessment with Merit in Visual Arts;Erika Elers (Year 11) - for showing Rangatiratanga, working diligently, and achieving the assessment with Excellence in Visual Arts.

Year 1-8 CertificatesFor personal academic success in Term Three: Kenzie Pilato, Hailyn Hetaraka, Liam Sime, Cruz Coles-Teepa, Sophie Larson, Kingston Cane, Jhai Anderson, Ziarna Marsden, Nicole McCann, Hannah WaghornFor personal sporting success in Term Three: Riley Hart, Nina Hernando, Cruz Wirori, Aiden Lamb, Cruz Coles-Teepa, Carlos Hay-Martin, Khrome Rameka, Taylor Hay-Martin, Hone Morice, Te Ngore WitikaFor displaying our TAS Values in Term Three: Chloe Jensen, Louise Collings, Jhodi Hopa-Cribb, Katie Williams, Matene Thompson, Amelia Shaw, Sophie Smith ,Mac Hart, Jahna Pekamu, Harrison Smith, Malachi Taputoro-Thomason

Tall Poppies from Learning Street – Week 6

Senior A Netball Team Raffle ResultsFather's Day Basket - Number 9 Hine KingLotto Scratchies - Number 81 Te Puawai Chambers

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HockeyLast Week Taihape Area School had a 4-5 loss to Dannevirke High School. The TAS Team was slow out of the blocks, and played poorly to start. The first half ended with the score 0-3.

However an inspired second half almost turned the tables. As well as scoring 4 goals, they created more than enough opportunities to win the game from what was a seemingly impossible position. David Frankham scored a hat trick in his last game, while Sam Troon scored the 4th.

It was encouraging that at the end of the game, one of the umpires, and the Dannevirke Coach, both congratulated the TAS players on the quality of their second half, and also for their outstanding sportsmanship and Team spirit.

The hockey season is now over for another year. 2017 has been a bit of a mixture, with 3 defaults, on top of a wash out, disrupting our flow. This was by far our most inexperienced Team, with only David Frankham having played more than two seasons. However a number of players have shown promise, and there are encouraging signs for the future.

The final placing was third with 8 wins from 15 games.In his last year at School, David was the standout with his mature skills, and considerable ability. Others to play consistently well were Jack Eames, Sam Troon (until injured), Aden Tapu, Jack Inwood, and Samantha McGhie. They will be back next year, and along with Josh

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Hammond, Phoebe Emerson, Tom Fleury, Renee Linton, Jason Squires, Peita Law, will form a solid nucleus.Newcomers Caden Trunbull, Madison Tapu-Grant, Jessica McGhie, and Paddy Fleury will benefit from the opportunities this year.

A special thanks to James Beattie who has assisted through-out the season with coaching, managing, and driving.

Rugby RepresentativeCongratulations to Tyreese Adams who has been selected in the Wanganui Under 16 Rugby Team. Tyreese is a rare talent, and has the physical attributes to go a long way in the game.

Supporting Your Child 1. For beginning readers, learning basic sight words is really important as it helps with fluency. See your child's teacher for lists of important words and flash cards. 2. At any level, listen to your child read and ask him/her questions about what they have read to check their understanding. 3. The following websites provide access to reading material. Please take the opportunity to use them: http://www.readingeggs.co.nz

https://www.theparentingplace.com/While on the one hand, being a parent is simply the most amazing and rewarding thing we can be, it is also hard work at times. The Parenting Place believes family is everything, and seek to see every child is raised in a loving, nurturing, and positive environment where a child’s potential can be encouraged, and developed. The link below provides you with access to information, support, and resources: http://www.theparentingplace.com

Prize Giving 2017 6

All students who received cups and trophies at last year’s Prize Giving are asked to return these to school by the end of this term.

Prize Giving is Thursday, 7th December, @ 1.00pm

School PhotosPhotos are on 26th SeptemberPlease return envelopes a.s.a.p.

Scholarship Bookclub The last day for ordering books is Friday 29th September.

You Tube/ Internet/ Facebook We strongly urge all parents and whanua to closely monitor what your child/ren are viewing on You Tube, and in fact the internet

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generally. It has become apparent to us that many children are viewing content that is totally inappropriate. It is also important that you monitor Facebook as well in particular the messages your young people write.

Year 7-9 ArtThe Year 7-9 Art option class went to Te Manawa last Friday.  Eleven students learned different landscape styles at the exhibition 'Golden Dreams'. The exhibition provided a glimpse into landscape art collected by Te Manawa. Students created A1-size landscape collage at the workshop.

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Stories from Room 1I went to my Dads house to play on the Computer – Ardijah.

I went to the adventure park with mum, dad, nina, and me – Ella Hernando.

On Saturday and Sunday. I went to hospital to visit my coursin Harrison. He was in bed. I gave him a Nintendo – Louise Collings.

Quotes of the Week

CAREERS CORNER What happened to work? When young people understand how the New Zealand economy is changing, they can make better study and career choices for the future. In this video from ‘The Spinoff New Zealand’, economist Shamubeel Eaqub takes a critical look at the issues and challenges facing the New Zealand economy and explains how and why jobs are changing.

You can read more about the future of work on the website www.thespinoff.co.nz/economy/18-11- 2016/hey-shamubeel-3-what-happened-to-work

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“Tis' better to live your own life imperfectly, than to imitate someone else's perfectly” ― Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love).

“No matter how long you train someone to be brave, you never know if they are, or not, until something real happens” ― Veronica Roth (Insurgent).

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TAS Behaviour Expectation

Rangatiratanga We co-operate with others. This looks like: -

We take turns; We help others and do our share of the work or

activity; We share equipment; We listen to others and share ideas;

We encourage others to take part and co-operate.

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National Standards – Mid-Year Reading Data 2017Reading80% of all Students are achieving at or above the National Standard for Reading (compared with 79.7% mid-year 2016).20% of all Students are achieving below, or well below, the National Standard for Reading (compared with 20.4% mid-year 2016).77.8% of Maori Students are achieving at or above the National Standard for Reading (compared with 79.7% mid-year 2016).22.2% of Maori Students are achieving below, or well below, the National Standard for Reading (compared with 20.3% mid-year 2016).83% of European Students are achieving at or above the National Standard for Reading (compared with 80.6% mid-year 2016).17% of European Students are achieving below, or well below, the National Standard for Reading (compared with 19.4% mid-year 2016).75.4% of Male Students are achieving at or above the National Standard for Reading (compared with 73.6% mid-year 2016).24.6% of Male Students are achieving below, or well below, the National Standard for Reading (compared with 26.4% mid-year 2016).85% of Female Students are achieving at or above the National Standard for Reading (compared with 85.5% mid-year 2016).15% of Female Students are achieving below, or well below, the National Standard for Reading (compared with 14.6% mid-year 2016).

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