I would like to wish all our students and their whānau a Happy Easter and a relaxing and enjoyable term break.
Students should take stock of their progress after the first term and set some goals and targets for their return to school after the holiday. Engagement reports will be sent home on Tuesday morning and will give a clear indication to parents of the level of effort that their students have made over this term. Subject parent teacher meetings are in the calendar for week 4 of next term.
It has been good to see students involved in summer tournament week and in trialling and practising for winter sporting codes. Our music students were able to compete in the Tauranga Jazz festival. We were delighted with the senior student response to the NZ Blood Drive recently – blood donations from PHS students could save up to 105 lives.
Congratulations to Mahmoud Moussa who has been declared the new Board of Trustees Student Rep for 2023.
A reminder that school is open for all students on Monday 24 April but closed on 25th for ANZAC day.
Next term, unfortunately, we may see further industrial action from PPTA members if the pay settlement is not agreed with the government in the meantime. This could begin as early as the second week of next term and I will be in contact as soon as the details are clear.
Over the last few weeks of this term, uniform standards have slipped. From day 1 of next term, our Deans and other senior staff will be on the gates as students enter the school and students not wearing proper uniform will be told to go home and change. We have achieved a consistent approach to use of mobile phones (which will remain banned during lesson times) and we need to adopt the same consistency with uniform. Please remind your student to use the term break to ensure they have full uniform, particularly as we head into the winter months.
We look forward to seeing all of our students again on Monday 24 April.
Ngā mihi,
Richard Barnett
