Welcome back to Term 4 but in Alert Level 3. I hope that you had a restful break with the improving weather. Once again, thank you for the work you are all doing within your bubble, keeping each other safe and taking the chance to get a vaccination.
An individual with a double vaccination reduces the chance or need of hospitalization by 90%. So please take advantage of the Nationwide Super Saturday Vaxathon (tomorrow) to get your 1st or 2nd vaccine.
As you know, all staff within the College are now mandated to be vaccinated by the end of the year, and will do weekly Covid Testing if not fully vaccinated, so we can assure you that the College will be a safe place for learning for our tamariki and mokopuna when we do get to return.
LEARNING
In Alert Level 3, Online Learning From Home continues in its current form, as the College remains closed with the exception of Year 9 and 10 students, children of essential workers who can not be looked after at home.
Year 9 & 10 Children of Essential workers.
The College is open this week for any Year 9 or 10 child of essential workers to have a supervised classroom in which to do online learning. Students attending must be in school uniform, bring a packed lunch, a water bottle/drink, online learning device, and a face mask. No school buses operate under Level 3. The supervised classes are from 8:30am - 3:00pm and students can enter the College through Gate 1 by the staffroom/bikebay.
Monday 18 October, 2021 lessons will be outlined on Google Classroom (GC) for each subject for the week ahead.
The Learning-from-Home-Panui will be sent out at the end of week 1. This will outline the first two weeks of Term 4.
Weekly Report Cards will still be issued on Saturday. The Year 9 option subjects for week 1 and 2 will not be reported on whilst there is a changeover in options at the end of week 1.
NCEA Update and External Exams (External Standards)
For senior students in Year 11, 12 and 13 doing external exams, it is important that you realise that any work you are sent by your teachers, that is related to the external standard, will now be used as evidence to support a Derived Grade for that External standard.
If we return to school in Term 4, we will still hold our Internal School Practice External Exams, which will also be used as practice, but also evidence to create a Derived Grade. Derived Grades will be used to replace the External Exams if they do not occur in Auckland as they were used in the past during the Christchurch Earthquakes.
So, do all the work that is sent out. Work with your teacher, do the mahi and the rewards will follow.
Year 13 students and Year 12 leavers at the end of this year.
Your pathway into employment, tertiary Institutions, Universities and high end Trade Apprenticeships is our priority. All these organisations want you. So rest assured. They will look at the mahi you do now and during this year so you can get into the next step.
The Learning Recognition Credits (LRC) have been adjusted for you.
Level 2 & 3 NCEA now have 1 LRC for every 4 Credits achieved. Up to a maximum of 12 of the total of 60 credits needed. (Students will only need to achieve 48 credits).
University Entrance (UE) students have to achieve 12 credits per subject including Level 3, alongside Literacy and Numeracy requirements.
A Merit/Excellence Endorsement now only needs 44 credits.
Do the mahi and you will get there.
Year 11 and 12 Students returning in 2022
You’ve got this, because we’ve got you next year. In 2022 we can recover and reset good academic pathways for you. You still need to do the mahi, gain the credits over this term, despite the disruption, but we can manage and plan good journeys for you and your whanau.
For Year 11 students the criteria are Level 1 NCEA now has 1 LRC for every 4 Credits achieved. Up to a maximum of 16 of the total of 80 credits needed. (So students will actually only need to achieve 64 credits).
CARING & HAUORA
The ‘Tips from Waitak students for Waitak students’ is now on our websiteHERE. Check it out.
Once again I refer you to Our College counsellors who are available via email [email protected]and I include the Youthline number 0800 376 633 for your reference, or text 1737 for any guidance needs that may occur.|
Flexibility is the key to how you and us all operate at this time. So students, please use your Online Learning Planner to manage your workload as you go through each week and manage breaks with physical walks and activities away from learning. Take regular breaks.
Individual and class photo orders
You will receive an email link from PhotoLife Studios which will enable you to access their portal to order your class and individual photos. PhotoLife uses this email only once as it allows you to order during Alert Levels, they do not retain the email addresses.
Our Celebration Events such as Sports Awards, Arts and Culture Awards, Mana Maori Awards, Pasifika AwardsandSenior Prizegiving will still be held in some form and will be confirmed as we go through Alert Levels. The Senior Dinner has been shifted to 18 November, 2021.
FOODBANK ACCESS
With so many of our community in self isolation, it is important to know some of our local agencies who can, at present, provide support for contactless drive-in food pick up. Some that we use as a College are:
Waitākere College's Out of Zone Ballot may close on Wednesday 1st September. Any out of zone enrolments applicants who had not enrolled with us before lockdown, will need to fill in this form before 5pm on Wednesday 1st September, to show their expression of interest to be considered for our OOZ ballot.
Enrolment Procedure For New Zealand Citizens And Permanent Residents
Note: There are different procedures for International Students. You should contact the International Department on 838 6097 and visit the International Student pages HERE to find out more.
You will need to contact our front office staff on 09 836 7890 ext 0 to make an appointment.
In zone enrolments are welcome. To make an appointment to find out about the College please contact the office for more details. Parents or caregivers who wish to enrol your child at Waitakere College, please bring the following:
Bring:
The student! We cannot do enrolments unless both student and parent/caregiver are present.
Either a birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age and identity
Evidence that you live in the school zone e.g. a phone or power bill
A copy of a recent school report for the child
Emergency and medical contact details
If you want to know about any of the following, check out the information in the Prospectus and mention your interest when you make the appointment:
Shine - Our Enrichment for excellence programme for gifted and talented students (application form available)
Performing Arts option programme for students with performing talent and enthusiasm (application form available)
Inclusion Support Centre - Physical Disabilities Unit (contact the HOD Ext 868)
Learning or ESOL support (Please make a note of any learning needs on the enrolment form)
Financial assistance (Note that it is important to apply early).
Out of Zone Applications
Full information about our school zone is available from the school office or CLICK HERE for an A-Z list of street names in our zone.
Please call reception should you have any queries regarding zoning. You are welcome to make an appointment to find out more about the school and to complete enrolment.
Out of zone enrolments for the following year: Your name will go into a ballot for available places.
Uniform: The approved uniform is sold and supplied through the school’s Student Centre. Uniform items can be purchased on any school day between 8.30am - 3.00pm and also on a number of days prior to the start of the school year. More Uniform information can be found HERE
Waitākere College
42 Rathgar Rd
