Year 18 Issue 15 of 40 22 May 2020

Public Office Hours

8.15am - 3.30pm Monday - Friday

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From our Principal, John Maguire Tēnā koutou katoa ngā whānau,

Monday was a most exciting return to school for students and staff. Students arriving, meeting friends, and renewing acquaintances with their classmates was electric. Staff were also out and about amongst the students as they gathered, there was a true sense of joy in the air. I have been absolutely impressed with the positivity and energy of students throughout the week as they have settled into physical activities and embraced the new hygiene routines needed at this time. Throughout the week students and their teachers have engaged in wellbeing activities and allowed time in class to review online learning and discuss their experiences. Overall, student engagement in online learning has been very successful. We have much to learn from each students experience, this information will inform our approach to our teaching and learning programs well into the future. The success of student learning through online teaching can be attributed to the strong commitment from staff, students and parents.

Throughout the COVID-19 Alert Levels, many frontline workers have been celebrated and thanked for their dedication and ongoing service in our communities. The thousands of frontline workers throughout Aotearoa have made great sacrifices to maintain essential services and to care for those who are sick or vulnerable. It is truly a blessing that we have people of such service and compassion in our communities. We do not have to go too far to recognise within our own Garin community the many parents, caregivers and students who served as essential workers throughout this time, thank you to all. This week I particularly wish to acknowledge and thank our Garin Hostel staff, Mrs Eugenia Stephenson, Mr Bob Stephenson, Ms Mary Sands who have worked tirelessly throughout the 7 weeks of school closure, without a break, to maintain a safe bubble for our international hostel students. I also thank our international student home stay families, for your love and care for our students at this time. It is your work that enables each family across the world to be peaceful, knowing their children are in safe hands and able to continue schooling at Garin. Thank you to you all.

On Monday next week we welcome Mrs Rachel Cookson, our newly appointed Head of Faculty and Teacher of Mathematics. Rachel joins us having previously taught at Marlborough Boys College. Our students are well prepared for their transition to their new teacher and I know they are looking forward to having Rachel as their teacher. Rachel, we wish you well for a successful career in Garin College and every enjoyment as you settle into living here in Richmond with your family.

Have a restful weekend, Ngā mihi nui, John Maguire Principal

Take a Moment:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

As we returned to our College site this week we have focused on four key areas for Garin College learners:

Faith - Our purpose as a College and the strength we can draw from God at this time

Wellbeing - Checking in and supporting learners

as they re- enter classes Continuation of Learning - Learners continue

elements of their Online Learning and work together in partnership with their teacher to let them know how/ where they are placed

Relationships - Relationships with their peers and

their classroom teachers No Garin College learner should come to school feeling behind. They are exactly where they are. We see it as our role to move Garin learners forward. We have asked each learner to check in with their teachers and discuss where they are up to in each of their subjects. Garin College staff are working in partnership with you, reaching the goals that you have set for yourself in 2020. For Senior Learners, we don’t want you to think about letter grades. You and Garin College are defined by what we do from here and what we do next. The word I left Garin learners with is to be relentless. Relentless is to be constant, non - stop and persistent. We have called them to be relentless in their learning. Our staff believe in each and every learner and their ability to be amazing. Jesus Christ calls us to be saints. Saints are those people who are the very best versions of themselves that God has created them to be. We ask Garin learners to be the very best version of themselves in terms of their participation, effort and ownership of their learning.

NCEA EXAMS 2020

Due to the Covid - 19 situation NZQA has shifted end of year exams back by ONE WEEK. Please re-view the end of year exam timetable here with your son/ daughter

Teaching & Learning @ Garin College

Garin’s Exam Timetable

ASCENSION SUNDAY

This Sunday is Ascension Sunday: ‘Go to the people of all nations’ Acts 1:8-11, Ps 47, Ephesians 1:17-21, Matthew 28:16-20.

Jesus’ eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. They saw him and worshipped him, but some of them doubted. Jesus came to them and said: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.”

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 25th - 31st May

Next week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and the theme for this year is “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28.2), which refers to the reception given to Paul and his companions when they were shipwrecked on the island of Malta. There is much to reflect on in this theme in the light of our experience during Covid-19. We have been consistently urged to ‘be kind’ and to ‘stay united’. The pandemic has been the equivalent of a shipwreck for many people, and ‘unusual kindness’ is needed as never before. Over centuries the Christian churches have moved from hostility and aggression towards one another to working together on the many things we have in common, especially our assistance for those who are vulnerable. Kindness can unite us as Christians. We have already seen how it can unite us as Kiwis. Everything you do towards Christian unity counts. From Cardinal John Dew

The following prayer is taken from the Day 1 Reflection of the Eight Days of Prayer for the

Week of Christian Unity: E Te Atua,

Set us free from painful memories of the past. Lead us to reconciliation, so that, through Te Wairua Tapu we may overcome

hatred with love, anger with gentleness, and suspicion with trust. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus.

Amen.

“Faith Facts" week 6 - Term 2

Wellbeing Corner

Kia ora e te whanau I hope that you are all settling back into life routines that existed before COVID-19. Although our lives are beginning (in some ways) to look more like they used to, remember that it is still okay to still be suffering the effects of isolation and/or becoming part of the community again. For some the transition has been simple, for others extremely difficult. Everything is an okay response. It is now more important than ever to practice self care, and be kind to yourself as well as others. I have attached an awesome graphic that has some great tips for how you can be kind to yourself. This is a great video about how you can help yourself if you’re struggling with lack of motivation or energy to get into your normal routine. Look after yourself, and please come and see me or one of our student counsellors if you are finding things challenging. Ngā mihi, Kate the Counsellor

From the Music Department

Instrumental Lessons in school

We are delighted that instrumental lessons will be starting again for most instruments next week, under Covid 19 restrictions.

Please check with your instrumental teacher. There may be room changes to accommodate everyone safely, so students should please check the daily notices and the music rooms for information.

Music groups

Just a reminder to get involved in our Garin music groups

Monday lunchtimes : Singers

Tuesday lunchtimes: Flute group

Wednesday morning interval: Guitar group

Wednesday lunchtime: Orchestra

Thursday lunchtimes: Singers (changed from after school)

Friday morning interval: Jazz group

Rockquest bands at intervals and after school by arrangement. See Mrs Hunt to book.

We are really looking forward to making some live music again. See you there!

The uniform shop is open Tuesday and Wednesday 1pm - 4 pm

Due to COVID-19 - Second-hand uniforms will not be accepted at the office or the shop until further notice. Please email me with details and I can get in touch if required. Email: heathertonk@cloud.garincollege.ac.nz Thank you for your patience in these trying times.

Nga mihi / Kind regards, Heather Tonk