Principal's Welcome 

9th July 2021 (Friday)

Tēna koutou katoa

Cultural Celebration Evening

On Tuesday 29 June, we had a most wonderful evening with performances from a range of cultural groups within the college. Similar cultural evenings were a regular occurrence in the 1990s, but it’s been about twenty years since the last one took place. It was great to reminisce with former students from that era who were present at the evening. The evening was a real celebration of the cultures within the college and students showed a genuine pride in who they are and in their heritage. One staff member said the evening was ‘joyful’ and I think that is an apt description.

Special thanks to the members of the community, staff and students who supported the performers both in preparing for the event and on the night. The initiative was largely student-led, but the organisation and enthusiasm of Ruth Richardson, the school Kaiārahi, must be acknowledged.

Vaping

At both the recent SPANZ (Secondary Principals) Conference and the latest Auckland Principals’ meeting, the main topic of conversation was the explosion of vape use among students, the impact it has on student health and the disciplinary actions schools are taking. Vaping has been promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, but smoking has ceased to be an issue in schools. A 2019 ASH survey of Year 10 students at Glendowie College showed that only 2% smoked or had tried smoking. Smoking had become uncool.

The Ministry of Health has not actively pushed that vaping is still harmful to health and we are seeing increasing numbers of young people addicted to the nicotine in these vaping products. This is both frustrating and disappointing as schools and many parents are seeing the impact of this Ministry decision on young people.  These are young people who would not have considered taking up smoking. I have attached a couple of links about the impact of vaping. If your child(ren) is/are using vapes or potentially might, please discuss the impacts with them.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-know-about-vaping

https://dontgetsuckedin.co.nz/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318260

Glendowie College is a smoke-free and vape-free school. Disciplinary action will be taken against any student caught vaping or with a vape in their possession.  If students have an addiction problem and want to stop, our counsellors are available to suggest ways this can happen and alternatives. Any meetings with the counsellors are kept confidential.

End of Term 2

It is great to get to the end of term without schooling being disrupted by lockdowns. However, the uncertainty has had an effect on wellbeing and behaviour. Students and staff have worked hard this term on their learning and assessment programmes. With two weeks of holidays, it is the right time for students to recharge their batteries and take a break from academic requirements. However, it would still be useful if they took an hour or so each day to ensure that their assessments are up to date and to review work already covered this year. Next term is going to be full-on, especially for senior students, so being refreshed and up to date are both important.

Ngā mihi nui 

Gordon Robertson

Principal

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