Your AJHS eNewsletter has arrived – Week 5

Newsletter

School of Opportunity

Kia ora koutou parents, caregivers and students,

It was my deepest joy and honour to be formally welcomed as your Principal yesterday, with a very special powhiri. Becoming a Principal is the realisation of a lifetime goal for me. It has always been a dream to serve our community, to love our community and to give to our community as an educational leader.

Yesterday I told our AJHS whanau that we are in a good place. Although we have had many challenges and uncertainties over the last few years, which have brought disruption and challenges, we have each other. We enjoy our wonderful school and we live in a community full of care and enrichment. I reminded our whanau that we need to treasure what we have, and find our way back to engage more with motivation to learn, to strive, and to achieve the best outcomes for life’s pathway. Together, we will make this happen.

This week, after 5 months of consultation and process, we finished our new strategic plan. Our focus is to engage more with our community in partnership, to begin reviewing and clarifying our identity and culture, and to bring clearer understanding to our teaching, learning and culture for the needs of our learners through our current societal conditions.

During periods of constant change, we need to come together and forge ahead to sustain and continue to build Albany Junior High School as a place of rich learning and opportunities. Our strategic plan and annual plan will be available on our website next week.

As your Principal, if there is a legacy I would like to create, it is one of love, understanding, and whanaungatanga –the people, the people, the people. A quote from Maya Angelou says: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thank you for your support everyone.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your ongoing support, and have an enjoyable long weekend.

Take care whanau.

Cushla Shepherd, Tumuaki (Principal), Albany Junior High School

Welcome Powhiri

On Wednesday we formally welcomed Cushla Shepherd and new staff and students from the last 12 months with a welcome powhiri.

What a special event it was!

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Registered Nurse – AJHS Vacancy

We have a vacancy at AJHS for an experienced Registered Nurse. The position is permanent and is for 32.5 hours per week (8.30am- 3.30pm), term time only. The pay rate is negotiable dependent upon experience and credentials.

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Wharenui Arrival

Last Friday we witnessed a very special moment for our school and community – the arrival of our much awaited wharenui! It is the realisation of a community project that is going to make a real difference to our tamariki and community.

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Seeking a Guest Speaker on Refugees

Our Year 10 Humanities Classes will be learning about Refugees later this term, and we are seeking someone from our community who has experienced life as a refugee or who has worked with refugees to come and give a talk and slide show to our Year 10 students.

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AIMS Games Frozen Pies & Savouries Fundraiser

AIMS Games is an interschool sports competition across NZ and the South Pacific, and our AJHS AIMS Teams are fundraising to assist families in meeting travel and tournament expenses. Please support us by purchasing some delicious winter pies and snacks.

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Online Safety @ Home

Do you want to know more about the risks, challenges and complexities young people face online? AJHS and Linewize are hosting an information evening on June 20th which will give you practical tips and strategies to support our young people’s online experience.

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Becoming an International Student Host Family

We are very excited to soon be welcoming international students back to AJHS. If you are interested in becoming a host family, please click below to find out how.

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Understanding the Impact of Device Use on the Brain Session

There are positives and negatives of using technology. Come along to AJHS on June 7th at 6.30pm and hear Kathryn Berkett explain the neuroscience behind the complex world our children are living in.

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SchooI Board Parent Election 2022

AJHS will be undertaking a parent election for 3 School Board vacancies.

This process will start with the issuing of nomination papers to our caregiver community by Friday 15th July 2022.

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Physio services on hold

Proactive physiotherapy is unfortunately unable to provide physiotherapy services at AJHS for the near future due to staff shortages. The last clinic will be on Monday June 27th until further notice.

School Sports Highlights

AJHS Students and staff have been busy at the North Harbour Boys Football Zone Days, Orienteering Individual Championships, Year 9 and 10 Sports Camp and the National Diving Champions.

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AJHS Triathlon

On Monday 23rd May the Year 10 Sports Academy competed in the annual AJHS Triathlon.

This included a 3km bike, 3.5km run and 100m swim, starting at AJHS and finishing at Albany Stadium Pools.

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Youthtown National Songwriting Competition

The results for the Youthtown National Songwriting Competition run by Play It Strange for Year 9 to 11 students were announced this week. Some past and present pupils have been recognised.

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ASHS Update, & a showcase with an Impact

Ella B will be hoping her semester one Impact Project, remains in the running for Impact Project of the Year after next week’s IP Showcase. This week we look at a few amazing projects – oh and an exciting update on the Commonwealth Games!

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