Dear Parents / Caregivers,
Teenaa koutou ki te whaanau o taatou kura,
Our junior students are certainly enjoying the additional space that they have at this time of year. It is an opportunity for them to spend more time on the field, playing games and enjoying the warmer weather.
For us, this time of year also presents an opportunity to review some of our processes, and to trial options we may want to consider when looking to improve the learning environment at CHS.
One such trial is an adjustment to the school bell times. We have found that our interval time and lunch breaks may not be fulfilling their objectives, in that the longer break (lunch) precedes only one period, and the shorter break (interval) does not necessarily give enough time for all to recharge in the late morning.
We have also noted that students who have final period classes in venues far from the main entrance have struggled to get to the bus bay on time. Whilst we are in discussion with the bus company about this, we believe that a minor adjustment may assist in the short term.
From Monday 18 November until Friday 6 December, we will adjust our times to make both interval and lunch 30 minutes long. Additional staff will be on duty at both interval and lunch to assist students during the trial.
Over this three-week period, school will end at 3.10pm, five minutes earlier than usual.
We will also trial changes to our Form Time allocations by removing Form Time from a Thursday and shortening Wednesday Form Time back to 20 minutes. Form teachers will communicate this to students this week. Note that junior exams happen in periods 1 and 2 of Monday-Thursday next week.
A summary of the school bell times from 18 November (timetable Day 6) to Friday 6 December (timetable Day 10) appears below. Feedback on the trial from both parents and students is welcome using this link. The link will remain open until 9 December.
A further reminder that school will close at 12:30 (end of period 3) on Friday 22 November for the previously notified union meeting.
Ngaa mihi
Kind regards
Paul McAvoy
Deputy Principal / Tumuaki Tuarua
