Dear Parents, Caregivers, students and supporters of the College,

A warm welcome back to the final term of the year.  I trust that the students had a restful and relaxing break and returned refreshed and ready for Term 4. This is a short but very busy term.

At the first assembly this term I reminded the students of the importance of the next few weeks and that we have a focus on our Touchstone of Scholarship.  For us this means enabling each student to do the very best that they can in whatever academic challenges they may face.  In welcoming the students back into class at the start of the term it was important to re-establish routines and expectations for all students.  Senior students obviously have their programmes and preparation for external NCEA exams to complete in the first few weeks of the term.  Years 9 & 10 students have their internal school exams and assessments to prepare for. These occur around the time NCEA exams get underway.  Our Year 7 & 8 students continue with their programmes and the assignments/assessments that are part of this. The completion of their portfolios will continue through the term.

Reports for senior school are currently being completed and will be distributed in Week 4 of the term.  Junior reports will be completed and distributed towards the end of the term. We wish our students all the best for the term, and in particular to our NCEA and scholarship candidates.

Staffing Changes

There are several staff changes that have occurred last term or are occurring this term:

• Matt Dalton has been appointed to the position of Principal starting in 2018.  I am sure Matt will be warmly welcomed to the college.
• Janet Reddy joins us as our Digital Technology teacher, replacing Andy Garner from the beginning of Term 4.  Welcome to Janet who was previously at Tauranga Girls College.
• Cathi Fourie has been appointed as Director of international Students.   We welcome Cathi who takes over the role from Melissa Gillingham who has taken up a position with Education Tauranga.
• Carmen Kleinsmith has been appointed as Business Manager for the college.  She started in the role on Wednesday 25^th October.  Welcome to Carmen.
• Joanne Macown returns from her leave when she worked with the Royal Society.  A warm welcome back to Joanne and a thank you also to Jacq Burrell who has covered Joanne’s classes extremely well in her absence.
• Ange McManaway has been appointed as Head of Science faculty, starting in Term 1, 2018.  Our congratulations go to Ange.
• Vince Shaw has indicated that he will finish in his role as Director of Special Character at the end of term 1 in 2018.  Vince has been at the college for 11 years, 4-5 years as HOF Mathematics, and since 2011 in the role of Director of Special Character. He has contributed significantly to the development of Aquinas College and we will be sorry to lose him from the staff.  We wish Vince well for the remainder of his time at Aquinas, and all the very best for his retirement.
• Ronel Cloete has resigned from her Physics/Science position at Aquinas College.  She has accepted a position at Bethlehem College from the start of 2018. Our congratulations go to Ronel.  We will be very sad to lose Ronel, who has given excellent service at Aquinas for close to eleven years, but wish her well in her new role.
• Anna-Marie Barrett, our lay chaplain, has indicated that she will finish in her role at the end of the year.  Anna-Marie has done great work with our students in her two years in the role and we will be sad to lose her. However, she has decided to attend university to study for a Social Science degree and we wish her well.