Kia ora koutou katoa
This term seems to have gone by very quickly. There has been plenty happening and I do hope students who are new to the school are now well settled into classes and routines, and enjoying the range of activities Horowhenua College has to offer. Winter sports are beginning again and the school production practices are well underway, our first school production in 7 years, so definitely something to look forward to in Term 2! It is with great sadness that we learnt of recent events in Christchurch and it has been a reminder not only to ensure our Health and Safety procedures are robust, but of our responsibilities as a Board of Trustees to support the health and wellbeing of our staff and students. As a board we are well aware of some of the challenges our young people face. Our support of Gumboot Day to raise funds for counselling for young people, and of Mr Congdon’s ‘0 for 3’ social media challenge to our students, is part of taking our responsibilities in area this seriously.
We also take our core responsibility of lifting student achievement seriously too! Just recently, we held a meeting with all the Heads of Faculties. Each year they provide for us a report on achievement in their faculties and a reflection of what is and isn’t working well. This enables us together to compile a list of priorities which the HOFs will report back on later in the year. Flagged at this meeting were the potential changes which will come as a result of an extensive review of the teaching curriculum at Horowhenua College “Curriculum 2020”. Thank you to those of you students, parents and staff who completed the recent online questionnaire on this – all of these responses will help inform this review of the curriculum influencing the form and nature of our teaching in the future. This in an exciting area to be developing – we want our students to be well equipped for employment, training and further education in the 21st Century, and to be able to embark on meaningful and relevant learning pathways as they transition though and out of College.
Just a few thanks to round off the term: To our Senior Leadership team, and all our college staff – our most grateful thanks for all your commitment to our College and our young people. Thank you to our students, parents/whanau – we so appreciate you engaging with us during the years you are associated with Horowhenua College. Finally my most grateful thanks to our Board of Trustees: Garry Good (Deputy Chair), Dylan Kiriona, Nikki Simpson-Tukapua, Bob Slade, Sam Anderson (Student rep), David Tate (Staff Rep) and our Tumuaki (Grant Congdon). I feel so privileged to serve our school community alongside this amazing group of people (whose expertise and skills are extensive!) and whose absolute commitment to growing successful young men and women is evident at every board meeting I attend.
Have a wonderful holiday everyone.
Noho ora mai
Juliana Mansvelt
Board of Trustees Chairperson