Annual Report
CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2009
Cambridge High school continues to mature under the academic leadership of the Principal and staff. Huge steps have been made in the last 5 years and 2009 was the proof that all that had been put in place over time has come to fruition.
The Board continued to fine tune the Strategic Plan for the school, we have not wavered from our original plan developed in 2004 but have built on it as we have been exposed to new ideas.
Our NCEA results showed that the policies put in place during 2008 showed fruition. On a straight comparative scale we were the 5th placed school in the Waikato region and the top state Co-Ed school. A result which showed the amazing work the school community had put in during the year.
A challenge during the year was the high number of returning students, which for one reason or another could not find employment outside school; they have stretched the resources of the school.
Considerable work was also done during the year on the implementation of the new curriculum; we are in a strong position to implement this in 2010. It promises to be challenging for both students and staff. One of its strengths is the defining of pathways for students and preparing them for life outside school, it is hoped our selection as a school for the Trades Academy in liaison with Wintec will enable us to be strongly placed to prepare our students for life outside school.
Our state of the art facilities continue to improve with spending on IT for the classroom environment and more monies being set aside for 2010.
The Community Gymnasium was completed in December 2009, and will be opened officially in April 2010; a huge effort from the school and community has enabled this project to come to fruition at no cost to the Ministry. I have been disappointed with the lack of support we have had from the Ministry of Education in this project both from our regional office and Wellington. I must thank Stanley Construction, Waipa District Council and my fellow Board members for their patience during this project. Special thanks must go to Waipa District Council, Mayor Alan Livingston, John Mills and Colin Windleborn, for their support of this concept which has been inspiring. The Gym is a community project and special thanks must also go to Kevin Monks, Tim Ross of C & R Developments, Bruce Wallis of Wallis Quarries and Langsford Contractors who made major contributions to the project by undertaking the ground works.
Our new Technology Block was also fast tracked by Government in 2009, this building will be complete in 2010 and will replace a block which has stood the test of time but is truly dated and will enable us to add real value to our selection as a school for the Trades Academy program.
To all of the Cambridge High School community I thank you for all your input in whatever form it took.
We welcomed Bobbie Matsuda and Andrew Bateman onto the Board late in 2009, and Glenys Bichan stood down. The Board of Trustees elections are due this year and I and a number of other trustees will be standing down.
2009 has been another successful year for Cambridge High School, I am confident the standards and success that have been developed during our tenure will be maintained.
GREG LIDDY
CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL