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Window Into Our Lives Wed May 18th

Join us next Wednesday in celebrating select works from the Faculty of Creative Industries in the brand new Whare Toi. This is a great opportunity to see some of the awesome things happening in Visual Art, Junior Technology, Photography, Painting and Building and Construction. Whare Toi will be open from 4 – 7pm on Wednesday and works will be on display until the end of term if you happen to be on campus and would like to have a look around.

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UNIFORM SHOP January 2022

 Year 7 and new students who are purchasing full uniform – fittings are by appointment only as per enrolment confirmation letter.
● School Uniform Shop opening hours for all other students are:

Monday 24 Jan – 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Tuesday 25 Jan – 9:00 am to 12:00 noon

Wednesday 26 Jan – 2:00 pm to 4.00 pm
Thursday 27 Jan – 9:00 am to 12:00 am

Alternatively, all uniform can be purchased from Out There Surf Shop (Belgium Street).  Prices are the same as the school uniform shop but second items are not available.

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Year 7 – 10 Students returning to School

On Wednesday, 10 November the government announced that students in Years 1 – 10 can return to school.  This is our plan for the return of our Year 7 – 10 students, if you have any questions, please contact the school on 09 371 9000.

Term 4, Week 5
Wednesday, 17 November – Years 11 -13 students only, final day onsite before starting Study Leave.
Thursday, 18 November – Years 9 and 10 students only, learning at school.
Friday, 19 November – Years 9 and 10 students only, learning at school.
Term 4, Week 6 onwards
Starting Monday, 22 November:
Years 7 and 8 only, learning at school on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Years 9 and 10 only, learning at school on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
This will be the pattern until further notice. When students are not learning at school, they are expected to continue with their online learning from home.
When students are learning at school, they will need to bring their own facemask, a drink bottle and lunch. The tuck shop is also open. Facemasks are required on the School Bus.

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Important information regarding NCEA Examinations 2021

Tēnā koe,
Below are links to three documents related to the upcoming NCEA Exams.

1 – Key information for Parents regarding the NCEA exams
2 – Exam Rooming Timetable
3 – Information about the Digital Exams (if students are sitting Digital Exams) – One of the key points for the Digital Exams is that the students MUST have an NZQA login.
Students have been given all this information.

NCEA Examination for parents

Digital Exams – What you need to know

WHS Exam Rooming Timetable

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2021 Report into Youth Vaping

Alarming results from NZ’s biggest ever youth vaping survey

The results of a major survey looking at the vaping habits of secondary school students have been released today (Monday 1 November). The survey found that:

  • 26% of students reported vaping and 15% reported smoking cigarettes in the past week
  • Nearly 20% of students are vaping daily or several times a day, the majority with high nicotine doses
  • Over half of those vaping were vaping more frequently and at higher nicotine doses than last year.

The report was initiated by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation (ARFNZ) in partnership with the Secondary Principals’ Association of NZ (SPANZ). The survey was carried out in response to growing concerns raised by parents, teachers and schools around the epidemic of teen vaping. Over 19,000 students in years 9-13 were asked about their vaping and smoking habits. Participation was anonymous and voluntary.

“The results show a marked increase in vaping rates compared with surveys which collected data two years ago,” says Letitia Harding, Chief Executive of ARFNZ and co-author of the report. “While vapes can be a useful tool to help adults quit smoking when combined with behavioural support, this survey makes it clear that many young people are picking up high nicotine vapes without ever having smoked a cigarette and swiftly becoming addicted to nicotine.

“It’s also really worrying how easily young people are accessing vapes, with the majority buying their vapes at dairies. Given that sale to under-18s is prohibited, and the vast majority of students surveyed are under 18, this is really concerning.”

It is hoped that the recent regulations around limiting flavours that can be sold by general retailers such as dairies will help to curb this trend.

ARFNZ runs the vaping education website Don’t Get Sucked In (DGSI), which informs and educates young people about the risks of vaping and encourages them not to try it in the first place. The site has seen a surge in page hits and new users this year, as students, schools and parents, both here in New Zealand and in Australia, search for reliable information on vaping and e-cigarettes.

“Education is so important, and DGSI is a vital part of that,” says Letitia. Professor Scott Harding, cardiologist and co-author of the report, agrees. “We are seeing new evidence emerge all the time about the harms caused by e-cigarettes,” he says. “While they might be less harmful than combustible cigarettes, they still expose users to toxic substances that have been shown to adversely affect the heart and lungs.”

There are also specific risks for adolescents, whose brains and bodies are still developing. “While vaping is often perceived as harmless by young people, there is increasing evidence showing significant health risks,” says paediatric respiratory physician and co-author Professor Philip Pattemore. “For example, vaping with nicotine has been consistently associated with depression, ADHD and conduct disorders in adolescents, and nicotine exposure has been shown to impact learning and memory.”

ARFNZ has made several recommendations to curb the rise in teen vaping, including limiting the nicotine content in vaping products to a maximum of 20mg in line with the EU directive 2014/40; raising the legal age to purchase vapes to 21 years, and banning in-front-of-store window advertising and product display by retailers. They also recommend preventing the sale of vaping products within a 1km radius of schools.

FINAL ARFNZ Vaping survey 2021 A 2021 report into youth vaping

A 2021 report into youth vaping

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