Principal's News

Enrolment Scheme: A reminder that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is currently working with the Board of Otamatea High School to implement a new enrolment scheme, to be put in place for 2023 student enrolments. This has become necessary due to the rapid roll growth we are currently experiencing. Enrolment schemes are needed to help manage the risk of overcrowding at schools. It will mean that only students living in the defined 'home zone' will have an automatic entitlement to enrol at Otamatea High School. A clear and transparent process is then followed for any additional out of zone enrolments. Before a home zone is implemented, the MOE is undertaking a consultation process with our communities. Please click on this link to have your say on the proposed establishment of this new enrolment scheme. Consultation closes today, the 17th June.

GRIP: On Thursday Mrs Cotching took all the prefects to the GRIP (Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, People) student leadership conference in Auckland. It was a very entertaining day and our students learned what leadership was about and how they can become better leaders themselves. Some of the ideas they came away with were: How to involve more students in school events e.g. inter-iwi competitions, and how to improve the effectiveness of something already important at school e.g. Open Day. I am looking forward to seeing our prefects put what they've learned into action over the coming months.

Academic Mentoring: Thank you to all those parents/caregivers who attended our 20 minute parent/student/teacher academic mentoring meetings earlier this term. These proved to be very valuable in helping understand your child's NCEA progress and as well as progress towards meeting their goals for the year. We have now completed the prize draw for those families who completed the feedback forms. Congratulations to Angela Denton and Rikki Beazley for winning the parent and student prizes respectively.

Staff Only Day: Please make a note in your diaries that Thursday 23rd June is a staff only day. This is the day before the new Matariki public holiday on the 24th June. 

Attendance: I am pleased to see that our attendance rates are rising towards the 80% mark, after so many students were away sick last week. There are still large numbers away, however, so it is important that students make the effort to catch up on missed school work upon their return to school. 90% is the minimum average attendance target we aim for, and many of our seniors in particular are well short of this mark. The Matariki long weekend is an opportunity to get back on track with their studies for those who are behind. Students and staff are encouraged to continue wearing masks when at school. Remember all students 12 years and over need to continue wearing masks when travelling on the school buses.

Cross Country: Well done to all students who participated in our annual school cross country event on Wednesday over the road at the Maungaturoto Country Club course. The weather certainly looked promising in the morning, but the heavens soon opened, giving our students the added challenge of negotiating mud and puddles as they ran. Congratulations to all our winners.

Open Day: Our annual Open Day is coming up quickly next term - the 11th August. We are starting to promote this day to our feeder schools so please mark this date in your calendars if you have children intending on coming to Otamatea High School next year. Open Day is a fun, interactive day that showcases many of the exciting subjects that we offer here, and is very popular with our visiting primary school students.


Duke of Edinburgh: Last Saturday Robyn Bruce attended the latest DOE gold award ceremony in Auckland. A huge congratulations to our Otamatea High School students, past and present - Cassidy Allen, Summer Ford, Cody Brunt, Kieran Fergus, Natalia Orchard, Billie Le Mesurier-Cowbourne and Fiona Howard who were presented their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award Certificate from Sarah Hillary, daughter of Sir Edmund Hillary at a formal ceremony held at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre at Epsom Girls' Grammar School.The Governor- General, Her excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro spoke at the Award Ceremony and met the recipients afterwards. The students were supported by their very proud parents, Robyn, and Ken Hames. The Award Ceremony marks the end of a five year journey through the bronze, silver and gold levels. Robyn does an amazing job with these students and it is always incredible to see just how many of the national gold award recipients are from our relatively small school.

Ngā mihi
Dirk Smyth