J O Mathewson, Principal

Term 1 Issue 1 5 February 2016

Tuesday 9 February is Day 4

We do hope you have had some special family time over the holidays.

The beginning of a school year is always exciting! Our school is now

alive with enthusiastic, expectant, youngsters, ready for a challenging

year of learning.

A special thanks to our excellent staff who have ensured a smooth, well

organised start.

New Students

A warm welcome to new parents and students. We believe

communication is vital to ensure your son or daughter gains the most

from their time here, so we have enclosed a list of important phone

numbers for you.

International Students

We welcome a number of International Students from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Cambodia, China,

Korea, Vietnam and Japan. We are delighted to have them here, they enrich our school so much.

This Term we also have 10 students from Kyoto Nishi, Japan. We value our long 18 year relationship with Kyoto Nishi,

and thoroughly enjoy these wonderful, well-mannered, students.

Outstanding students

Simran Rughani (2015) was selected to join the Sir Peter Blake,

Young Blake Expedition to the Southern Ocean & Sub-Antarctic

Islands and is having a fantastic time to date, cruising down the east

coast of New Zealand on board the navy ship HMNZS Otago, en route

to the Sub-Antarctic. What a fine young leader.

You might like to share her journey via the website http://

sirpeterblaketrust.org/sub-antarctic-voyage-2016.

Jake Howe (2005) Dux, Head Boy, winner of the $25,000 Sir George

Elliot Scholarship, NZQA Outstanding Scholar, BSc(Hons) fir st class

majoring in chemistry, has now completed his PhD at Cambridge

University in the UK and graduates in Apr il. Jake will make a

significant contribution to science in the future.

Head Students 2016

Head Girl Head Boy

Rebecca Percy Ollie Beere

Very Impressive 88% gained Level 1 NCEA

95% gained Level 2 NCEA

Congratulations students! Be proud of your school.

Dep. Head Girl Dep. Head Boy

Grace Tawhai Naua Manavahetau

Student

Council

Ollie Beere

Naua

Manavahetau

Rebecca Percy

Grace Tawhai

Luke Mower

Frankie Sturny

Christian

George

Ben Celebrin

Sistine

Bayangos

Sarah Earle

Julie Ilagan

Hadassah

Moreton

Careers Corner

Mrs Morris (Careers Advisor) and Mrs Jenkin

(Gateway co-ordinator) are based in R2. If any

current or ex-students, or parents have questions

about option choices, employment skills or

university information, please contact the careers

office on 483 9039 x 819 or email

mr@birkenhead.school.nz jk@birkenhead.school.

nz

School leavers from 2015 should contact Mrs

Morris or Ms Purdie pd@birkenhead.school.nz if

you have any concerns about your results or future

pathways.

Watch this space for listings of university

presentations this term. Students in years 12 and 13

are strongly recommended to attend these talks.

Notes from the Sick Bay...

Medical Information: If you

would like to discuss any

medical needs or concerns

regarding your children, you can

phone Mrs Eberly between

8:30am and 3:00pm on

weekdays.

Phone: 483-9039 xt 836.

School Counsellor: If students or parents would like to meet our new

counsellor Mrs Needham please feel free to

make an appointment - Call: 483-9039 xt 805 or

email: nh@birkenhead.school.nz. Students may

book appointments through Mrs Eberly at the

Sick Bay.

Correct Uniforms:

All students (Years 9—12) are required to wear

the correct uniform every day, this includes

shoes.

Second Hand Uniform:

There are several skirts available in various sizes,

the blouses and polos in stock are larger sizes

only. See Mrs Eberly at the Sick Bay for uniform

enquiries.

A day of friendship!

Valentines Day Friday 12th February. Roses & chocolates

Place your orders at the Accounts office.

Ex student news…

Lucy Irwin (2011) has completed her BA 1st

class Hons in History at the University of

Auckland.and is taking a gap year before going

on to do a teaching degree. She wishes to work

shadow some of our teachers:

“As a former student at Birkenhead College, I

know the standard of teaching there to be

exemplary and would like to learn from the best.”

Student ID cards, Class and Individual Photographs

All class and individual photos to be completed on Monday February 15

These photos will be used for the ID cards which are compulsory for all students. The card is vital for

printing, photocopying, borrowing library books, purchasing cinema and travel tickets. Year 13 students

require them to use the library laptops.

Cost: $6.00 (to be paid to Form teachers)

Bonus: Each card is pre-loaded with $5.00 worth of free printing, photocopying!

Further information will be made available as to how to order the individual and class

photos once Photolife have sent the information through.

How you can help your school

Anyone taking out a home loan at ASB please select our school, or inform us so that we can let ASB

know.

Sports news…

A number of sports are signing

up players right now! This

includes senior touch,

volleyball, tennis and waterpolo.

Please see Mr McKeown, Ms

Hurring or Mr Alderman.

Music

Enrolments are now being

taken for itinerant music

lessons. Enrolment forms

are available at the school

office, or the Music

Department. Forms are due

next week. Don’t miss out!

Shrek is coming …

Auditions have begun for the

school production for students at

any Year level. Interested

students should see Ms

Eichstaedt.

Students will also be needed to

help with the production set and costume design.

Interested students should see Ms Smith.

School Fees / Donation

NZ schools are simply not funded to provide important

resources to ensure our students gain a high quality,

relevant education. Paying the school fee / donation

helps us to do this. We would appreciate payment as

soon as possible - it really makes a difference. Thank

you.

School Fee / Donation

$265 - first child

$95 - second child

(Max of $360 / family)

Don’t forget that your school donation qualifies for a

33% tax rebate. You can claim this rebate by

completing a form IR526 - “Tax Credit Claim Form”.

These forms can be downloaded from the IRD website

(ird.govt.nz). Pay before 31st March to claim your

rebate for this tax year.

PHONE EXTENSIONS: BIRKENHEAD COLLEGE

Main office: 483 9039, FAX: 483 4094 EMAIL: office@birkenhead.school.nz

Reception / Absences Mrs Logan 800 Sick Bay Mrs J Eberly 836

Deputy Principal Mr Page 802 Assistant Principal Mrs Plummer 803

Assistant Principal Mrs Nightingale 807 Executive Officer Mrs Lubbe 804

Principal’s Secretary Mrs Alexander 832

Accounts Mrs Johnson 809 International Students Mrs Baker 806

School Counsellor Mrs Needham 805 Careers Advisor Ms Morris 819

Year 13 Dean Ms Purdie 919

Year 12 Dean Mrs Place 823 Year 11 Dean Mr Rotheray 822

Year 10 Dean Mr Alderman 826 Year 9 Dean Ms Mexted 824

Music Department Ms Cuizon 812 Drama Department Ms Eichstaedt 831

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2016

TERM 1

Week 2 Mon 8 Feb WAITANGI DAY

Week 3 Mon 15 Feb Photo Day

Wed 17 Feb Meet FormTeacher/ NCEA Evening

Fri 19 Feb Swimming Sports

Week 4 Thur 25 Feb Athletic Sports

Fri 26 Feb Nga Peka Hou camp

WEEK 5 Mon 29 Feb OPC trip

Week 8 Thur 24 March Progress Reports Home

Fri 25 March EASTER (Good Friday)

Week 9 28 & 29 Mar EASTER HOLIDAY

Week 10 Wed 6 April International Day

Thur 7 April Report Evening

Week 11 Tue 12 April Report Evening

Fri 15 April Last day of Term 1

TERM 2

Week 1 Mon 2 May First day of Term 2

Bank Account details:

ASB A/c no. 12-3107-0077677-00

Payments to reference student’s name & I.D.

number

School Publications - if you do not

wish your child’s image to be used in any school publication, please advise me of this in writing.

Renée Lubbe - Privacy Officer

Traffic Alert

It is not necessary for students to be dropped off

and picked up in the school grounds unless they

have a medical condition which prevents them

from walking into the College themselves.

PLEASE NOTE:

Drop off in Birkdale Road or in the bus

stop area.

Be alert - look out for pedestrians

Do not double park.

Do not speed - speed limit in school

grounds is 10kph.

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