Weekly Wrap - 17 May 2024

Kia ora koutou

Senior College Ball

The ball is always an annual highlight and this year was no exception! Saturday 11 May saw over 400 students dress to impress and head to Southwards Car Museum for the College Ball which carried the theme of ‘Gatsby Underground’. Thank you to all parents and caregivers who helped arrange a fabulous array of transport options or who came out and watched the arrivals. There are a few photos below to give you a flavour of the evening, with a further selection as well as the winners of the ‘best dressed’ categories following on our Facebook page soon.

Youth Week next week

Youth Week is on all of next week and there will be various activities taking place throughout the week. These include dodge ball, basketball, Kāpiti Youth Support bbq, bake sale, Milo, games, bouncy castle, quiz and prizes. We are looking forward to a great week celebrating our PC rangatahi!

Toilets

Parents and caregivers may recall a newsletter item from 23 February regarding the potential use of cameras in block bathrooms (common areas only). This was in response to feedback received from our students and school community about student safety and that some students were vaping in and around our toilet facilities. The Board has received no concerns regarding this change in policy.

The Board has now made the decision to install cameras in our block bathrooms to ensure all students continue to feel safe and that they can access all bathrooms freely. Any cameras installed will be positioned to provide better visual coverage of only the common spaces, whilst maintaining appropriate levels of privacy for students. Cameras will not have a view of urinals or cubicles. Signage will also be in place before the cameras are operational.

We do have clear privacy rules around who can access any information collected, what it can be used for, how it is stored and how long it is retained for, so these rules will still apply.

If you have any further questions about this change in policy you can contact the board by emailing board@pc.school.nz.

Support Staff Week

We have all enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate and thank our amazing support staff over the past week, as part of a nationwide recognition by NZEI Te Riu Roa. Our support staff work extremely hard to keep our College running smoothly and to ensure the young people they work with get the very best support. As part of the celebrations we enjoyed a full staff morning tea on Thursday complete with raffle prizes, in addition to personal recognitions throughout the week. A really enjoyable week all round!

Rugby 1st XV Promotion to Premier 1 Division

I was lucky enough to be pitchside to see the Gulls win an absolutely fabulous game against Rongotai College last weekend which now sees them heading to Premier 1! In his match report on the Paraparaumu College First XV Facebook page Mr Tim Mcmillan writes that the boys displayed good team defence, sound exit strategy, clean lineout ball and dangerous backline play - all of which helped the Gulls control the match. We believe this is the first time since the late 1980s that a Paraparaumu College First XV has played in Prem 1, and it is a fantastic achievement for all involved with the team: players, coaches, parents, caregivers, supporters and volunteers. As Tim continued to state in his match report, a huge thank you to the ex-players, coaches and supporters who continue to get around Gulls footy either in person at the games or from afar. These connections with the team are so important as we continue to learn and grow through the season.

Finally, a massive congratulations to Les and the rest of the coaching team. The team culture and positive belief was so good on Saturday, and there is no doubt we are in for an exciting season.

International Student Homestays

Become a host family - Paraparaumu College is looking for host families for students for 10 days and up to two terms. We are excited to be welcoming International Students!

Why host?

Hosting a student is an enriching experience for both families and students. You’ll experience a true cultural exchange, sharing knowledge of your culture whilst learning about the many different cultures represented by our students. Many of our host families build lasting relationships with their students.

What is expected from host families?

Involve their student in their life, treat them as a member of the family
Be caring, understanding and patient
Provide three meals a day and snacks (including a packed lunch during the school week)
Provide a furnished bedroom
Provide bed linen and towels
Provide wifi

What we provide

The International Department provides you with ongoing advice and support
Homestay families are paid $301 per week.

For more information about hosting a student please email international@pc.school.nz

Upcoming Dates

Friday 31 May - Staff Only Day

Staff only day on Friday 31 May. This is the Friday before King’s Birthday Weekend. There is no school for students on this day.

Monday 17 June - College Open Evening

Save the date for our open evening for prospective students to Paraparaumu College for 2025. Information will be made available shortly.

A reminder that we use our School App and Facebook page for any urgent messages and to highlight student success and we would love you to follow us. You can find the links at the bottom of this newsletter along with a link to our Instagram page and Youtube.

Hei konā mai

Mark Robinson
Tumuaki | Principal