Brent Simpson

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.

Year 7 – 10 Students returning to School Read More »

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

Important information regarding NCEA Examinations 2021 Read More »

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

2021 Report into Youth Vaping Read More »

Further Changes to NCEA for Auckland Schools

These additional changes to NCEA for students in Auckland are to recognise the 13 days of classroom time lost during the recent Alert Level 3 lockdown. These changes will help ensure all students have a fair opportunity to achieve NCEA this year.

Extra Learning Recognition credits

Learning Recognition (LR) credits were introduced this year to recognise the classroom time lost during the nationwide lockdown earlier this year. Extra LR credits are now available to students in Auckland because of the additional COVID-19 disruption in August.

NCEA LEVEL 1
LR Credit maximum: Up to 16 LR credits
LR credit earning rate: 1 for 4 credits achieved
Total number of credits required from assessment: 64

NCEA LEVEL 2
LR Credit maximum: Up to 12 LR credits
LR credit earning rate: 1 for 4 credits achieved
Total number of credits required from assessment: 68 (48 + 20 from another level)

NCEA LEVEL 3
LR Credit maximum: Up to 12 LR credits
LR credit earning rate: 1 for 4 credits achieved
Total number of credits required from assessment: 68 (48 + 20 from level 2 or higher)

These changes apply to all the credits achieved in 2020, including credits earned before the recent lockdown, and cover internal assessment, exams and portfolios.

Changes to certificate endorsements
Instead of 46 credits, students will now need 44 credits to earn Merit or Excellence Certificate Endorsements.

Preparing students for success

If another COVID-19 disruption prevents students from sitting end-of-year examinations, there are steps in place to ensure they can still receive a grade. Teachers have been gathering assessment evidence from the course work students have been doing that shows whether they have met the requirements of the standard.

Changes to University Entrance (UE) were announced in June, meaning students need to achieve 12 credits, rather than 14 credits, in each of 3 University Entrance Approved Subjects. There are no extra changes to UE, but universities and other tertiary education providers are also taking the unique circumstances of 2020 into account in their discretionary entry requirements for 2021.

Further Changes to NCEA for Auckland Schools Read More »

Confidential Parent Survey – Distance Learning under Lockdown

We are seeking parent feedback regarding how well we did as a school communicating with you as parents, teaching practices we used during lockdown and our student pastoral care.

We will also be surveying the students and teaching staff over the next week.

We value your opinion and we are always keen to improve our practice as a school. Please take the time to complete the survey which will be available until 1st June.  This survey has also been emailed to all parents on Friday, 22 May 2020.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TCGQBPK

Confidential Parent Survey – Distance Learning under Lockdown Read More »

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