Taihape Area School
Monday 11th August, 2014
Term 3 – Newsletter Number 4
Phone 06 3880130
Website http://tas.spikeatschool.co.nz
“Leading me to lead my Learning”
Tena koutou katoa
Welcome back after the weekend. We are entering a very busy period of the term, indeed of the entire year. Unfortunately weather has forced the postponement of the Room 6 Ski Camp, planned for today and tomorrow. However there are a large number of other events and activities scheduled. Over the next few weeks we have Practice Examinations (for year 11-13), the Year 12 Leadership Camp, the New Zealand Secondary Schools Winter Tournament Week, the Wearable Arts, Book Week, the Tough Kids Challenge, and a Celebration Assembly.
Next week all Year 11-13 Students will be taking part in practice examinations. This is a very important opportunity for them to test themselves in examination conditions, and identify any areas they need to work on before the external examinations (term 4). For most people preparing for, and sitting, examinations is a stressful and nerve racking time. People all react differently to the pressures of examinations, one of the main reasons why the NCEA assessment structure has been implemented.
On Saturday 9 Students will be exhibiting their designs in the Annual Wearable Arts Competition, to be held at the Manfeild Events Centre, in Feilding. This is a very prestigious event, and each year the quality of exhibits is better than the previous year, with our entries no exception. Head of Arts, Andrew Yates, has once again inspired a group of students to push the boundaries and produce work of the most amazing quality. We wish them all the very best for a successful competition.
I embrace the concept of the Area School with a relish, and feel privileged every day, to observe first-hand the benefits and unique character of a Year 1-13 School.
As one example, last week (at interval and lunchtimes) the turf was alive with soccer players ranging in age from Year 2 and 3, to Year 12. Boys and girls of all shapes and sizes were involved in a fantastic game that roared from one end to the other. The predominant sound was that of laughter as the students pitted their skills against each other.
Quite a few had obviously watched the World Cup and took the opportunity to showcase their (new) football skills. The older participants were particularly impressed with the dribbling skills of a number of Room 5 boys who more than held their own.
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These games were all about inclusion – boys and girls, big and small, young and old – and kids having fun as kids. The students involved were self-monitoring, there were few formal rules, and they were hugely encouraging, in particular the older students of the younger boys and girls.
Things like this happen every day, and more than dispel the misconceptions some people feel about 5year olds and 18year olds sharing the same space.
Have a great week!!
Richard McMillan
Principal
The TAS School Wide Behaviour Expectations are: -
Rangatiratanga:
We are Learners
We show Rangatiratanga
Whanaungatanga:
We are Caring
We show Whanaungatanga
Wairuatanga:
We are Reflective
We show Wairuatanga
Manaakitanga:
We are Respectful
We show Manaakitanga
Tall Poppies
The following Taihape Area School students rose above the crowd last week as outstanding achievers, and members of our learning community: -
Asya Grant (Room 1) - for showing manaakitanga (caring) in Room 1.
Shontae Bennett & Kierah Hay-Martin (Room 9) – for showing manaakitanga by always keeping our environment spick and span;
Morgan Nathan (Room 4 – for going above and beyond when completing classroom tasks;
Te Huinga Chambers (Room 6) - for actively leading her own learning;
Caryse Clark (Room 6) - for being focused on her learning all the time;
Grace Baxter,Tyra-Lee McClay and Justina Vaoga (Year 10) - for top the 3 scores for their reports onNZ renewable Energy Resources.
John Geraghty, Samuel Troon, Meryne Hirst, Kale McClay (Year 9) - for being the highest achievers in the Astronomy Unit;
Gina Swanson - for showing Whanaungatanga for her Year 11 classmates, and stepping up to lead Senior Hui-a-ata.
Tall Poppies from Learning Street for Week 3
Visitors
Last week we hosted Labour Education Spokesman Chris Hipkins, and the Labour Candidate for Rangitikei, Dr Deborah Russell. They were here to have a look at our new School, and to speak to staff and students about the forthcoming elections.
They were impressed with what they saw, and were very complimentary about TAS and the people they met here.
Mufti-Day
This Friday we are holding a Mufti-Day to raise funds to support the children and staff of Paraparaumu Primary School which suffered extensive fire damage over the Weekend.
The charge is a gold coin donation.
Knitting Club
We have 10 junior students wishing to learn to knit in the lunch hours. If there are any Nannies/aunties or mums that are knitters and would like to help teach these keen students please see Mrs Whale in Room 1.
We also require any spare 8 ply wool... it doesn't matter what colour and size 4mm knitting needles.
The students will be learning to knit piggy squares with the view of knitting poppies for the ANZAC quilts later in the year.
- Sue Whale
Basketball
This season a TAS Basketball Team has participated in the Friday night Wanganui Secondary School Basketball Competition. The Team is very inexperienced, both in terms of age and basketball nous, but has shown gradual improvement from week to week.
As with most sports Students from Taihape are extremely talented athletes, and our basketballers are no exception. They are enjoyed their season, and have improved - the encouraging fact is that over time they will undoubtedly become a real force in the future. As well next season they will have classy new uniforms.
A huge thank you to coach Lulu Simi, who was the driving force, and inspiration, behind the Team.
Hockey
Last week Taihape Area School played the Horowhenua College Junior Mixed Team, scoring a convincing 6-1 win. The score didn’t reflect the dominance of the TAS Team, and the score could have been much higher with more clinical finishing.
TAS dominated from the outset, and attacked continually. A combination of excellent goal keeping, and impatience in front of goal, restricted the score. Kerran Clark, Dylan Sincock, Josh Fellingham, Max Sage, Bailey Nathan, Gina Swanson, James Morrison, and Melissa Mete continued their good form. David demonstrates a real knack for scoring goals, while his wing partner Jonny Sage also put the defence under pressure. Michaella Simpson, Georgia Martin, Emma McCaughan, and Vidya Vijaykumar benefitted from extended turf time.
Summary
Taihape Area School 6 (David 2, Jonny, Kerran 2, and Josh goals) v Horowhenua College Senior Mixed 1
Draw - Tonight
TAS is playing Cornerstone Mixed on Turf 1, at 4.15pm (leaving from school at 2.30pm).
Next week
Next week TAS is playing the Horowhenua Junior Mixed Team on Turf 1, at 5.30pm (leaving from school at 3.30pm).
Football
Last Wednesday TAS played their Annual Football Match against the very strong St Bernard’s Team, from Lower Hutt. St Bernard’s make an annual pilgrimage north playing a number of annual fixtures against teams from the Central North Island. They are always very strong, and on a weekly basis play at a much higher level than is available locally.
This year however the TAS Team played extremely well, and competed with real determination, grit, and skill. The final score of 0-8 certainly didn’t reflect the effort of our players, as compared with previous years, it was a dramatic improvement.
Josh Fellingham was outstanding in both attack and defence. He was well supported by Shelby Inwood, Liam Fellingham, Max Sage, Rachel Conlon.
Rugby
TAS 32 – PNBH 4XV 17
Saturday 9 August 2014 and snow has closed down the main route into Taihape the roads have been closed for hours and 4 of our senior players are snowed out, time to have a melt down! Being of this area we are a resourceful if not patient people used to these minor inconveniences that Mother Nature places in front of us a trip which took these boys 1 hour 15 minutes to get through and some local knowledge the team assembles and heads to Ashhurst.
This is a do or die game for both TAS and PNBH 4XV team we are both playing for 2nd position on the leaders board the winner moving on to the finals to be played at Arena Stadium Manawatu next Saturday 16 August 2014.
Captain Kamryn Mosen has a lot on his shoulders today running his team out onto the paddock in front of a large group of home supporters who travelled from Waiouru, Taihape and surrounding areas to watch the team play we are also supported strongly by our Taihape Area School Senior A Netball team who also play in the Manawatu.
The first try of the game came from big prop Jesse Collings and would be an indication of how and where this game was going to be played today. Lock Kamryn Mosen was having a huge game with a massive work rate on the paddock working well with prop Jesse Collings.
Flanker Joseph Cowley was to put down the second try for TAS unconverted. PNBH came back at TAS and slipped through to place a try down unconverted. This game was being played in the forwards today and it’s a spectacular sight to see your power house boys or grunts busting through and scoring points something often left to your back line or the glamour boys as some refer. A physical game and also one that had PNBH penalized time and again for lack of discipline and this I feel happened because TAS had put their stamp on this game from the start. Before the half time whistle PNBH gave away a penalty which TAS capitalized on through the boot of flank Joseph Cowley. Kelly Lowery playing at full back crossed the line for a try, converted to meet the half time whistle.
TAS 20, PNBH 5.
Second half saw PNBH pick up their game and they put down 2 tries one converted unfortunately for them the frustrations from the first half continued and their discipline let them down once again, TAS had them rattled, TAS places down 2 more tries and both come from young centre Leo Wiki converted by TAS flanker Joseph Cowley.
A game played with passion and conviction TAS now moves on to the finals where it gets the chance to meet again Wairarapa.
Tries: Leo Wiki 2, Jesse Collings 1, Joseph Cowley 1, Kelly Lowery 1
Conversions: Anthony Hanson 1, Joseph Cowley 1 and penalty kick.
Players of the day: Captain Kamryn Mosen and Centre Leo Wiki.
NCEA Mock Exams
Mock Examinations for NCEA Levels 1, 2, and 3 are scheduled for next week. All students should be working hard to prepare for these.
Supporting Your Child at Home: Maths
Click on the following sites and watch videos on how you can help your child with math’s at home: http://nzmaths.co.nz/families
http://mathsbuddy
While driving in the car, try this activity with your child: as you drive in the car or walk beside the road, write down the numbers you see on vehicle license plates.
Add up each of the digits to give a total. For example if the license plate has the
numbers 5682, the total of the digits is 5+6+8+2=21.
Who can spot the car with the highest total? Add or subtract the digits to get as close as possible to zero. For example, if a license plate has the digits 3726, you might say "7+2-3-6=0".
Quotes of the Week
“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life”― W. Somerset Maugham, Books and You.
“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses” ― Brian Tracy.
Prize Giving Cups and Trophies
Please can all students who received cups and trophies at last year’s prize giving return these to school before the end of this term. Thank you
2014 School Prize Giving Friday 5 December
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YUMMY…...YUMMY……
It’s that time of year againJ Collect your Yummy fruit stickers and bag labels to help TAS get some new sports gear.
http://www.yummyfruit.co.nz
Uniform
Correct school uniform is a compulsory requirement at TAS. When you enrol your child at TAS you and your child agree to abide by the uniform regulations of the school and these can be enforced by Board of Trustees as a requirement for attendance.
Uniform Shoes
Canvas shoes are not acceptable
It is the policy of the school that students wear polishable black shoes. This deliberately allows a wide range of styles.
Should your child not have the correct footwear the parent should contact the office to establish when the child will be provided with the correct shoes.
Students who do not have the correct shoes are provided and expected to wear shoes provided for them by the school until parents have contacted the school office.
With regard to the hygiene aspect of this, the students should have their own pair of socks or tights to provide a barrier inside the shoe.
PE Uniform
Track pants and PE Shirts
It is the policy of the school that all students wear the correct school uniform every day.
Navy blue track pants or shorts are deemed as sportswear along with our logoed sport shirt.
Students who arrive at school in track pants and/or PE shirts will be provided and expected to wear the correct day to day uniform
Sweatshirts and Hoodies
It is the policy of the school that all students wear the correct school uniform every day.
Sweatshirts and hoodies are NOT to be worn to school
Students who arrive at school in in sweatshirts or hoodies will be asked to remove them and may have them confiscated.
TAS Practice Exams
Monday 18th – Friday 22nd
Students who have an exam on a given day can wear mufti (eg on the Thursday the L2 History, Level 3 English and Level 1 Science students only will be able to be in mufti).