T O R R E N T

I O I A D: EV N S D N O A N R n —Doct ’ A p n nt Free   doctor’s   appointments   for  all   Ruawal   College   students   —    Every  Monday   from  12:45pm   to  1:15pm.   Contact   the   office   to  make  an  appointment. Also,   the   Public  Health  Nurse   is  available   for   students   every    Monday   form   10:45am   to  11.30am.  Confidentiality guaranteed. H v l Members   of   the   Ruawai   U16  Aussie  Tour  2015  are  available  to  pick   up   hay.   Phone  Des   Bickers  09  439  2142  /  021  277  0081

Term  4,  Week  7  

28th  November,  2014

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Principal’s  Report 2

Homework  Help 2

Drugs-free  zone 2

Breakfast  Anyone? 3

Art  Display 3

Junior  Reading   4

New  Facebook  Page 4

Internet  Safety   4

Inside  this  issue: L AR AT S:

28th   Nov:   Northern   Wairoa  Athletics  Day 29th   Nov:   BNZ   Condors      Tournament   1st  Dec—12th  Dec:    Swimming  pool   keys   on   sale   at   reception  (see  notice  above) 9th   Dec:   Year   10   Diploma   &    Junior  Prizegiving  

Y U H— D W AT S A S TH Y ARE! In   recent   years,   three   Ruawai   College   students  have  done  exceptionally  well  on  the  touch  rugby  scene.   These   students   are   passionate,     skilful  players  whose  hard  work  has  placed  them  in  im-­pressive   tournament   teams.   Brad   Crosbie   (Year  13),  Holli  O’Sullivan  (Year  12),  and  Sade  Lang-­don  (Year  11)  are  members  of  the  Galaxy  Touch  Whangarei  Club  under   the  mentorship  of  Rugby  League   Northland   Development   officer   and  coach,  Joe  Rau.   The  Galaxy  Touch  Club  originated   in  1987  as  a  men’s   team.  The   success   of   this   team  prompted  others  to  be  involved  and  as  the  club  grew,  more  teams  were  introduced  under  the  Galaxy  banner.  Galaxy’s  founder,  Peter    Walters,  also  known  as  “Mr  Touch,”   is  well   known  as  his   foresight  and  vision  helped  establish  a  network  for  touch  rugby  here   in   New   Zealand   that   is   recognised   world-­wide.   On   22nd   November,   Holli   and   Sade   played   for  the   Galaxy   mixed   team   in   Galaxy’s   Shoot   Out  Tournament  at  Otaika  Park,  Whangarei.  The  day  commenced  with  a   “Pre  Shoot  Out”  where   their  team  was  successful  in  winning  all  rounds.   Galaxy   then   went   on   to     compete   in   the   main  tournament  of   the  day,  participating   in   the  Open  Grade   with   none   other   than   Peter   Walters            himself.  Holli  and  Sade  both  felt  very  privileged  to   play   alongside   the   internationally   renowned  touch   rugby   star   who   offered   them   advice   and  tactical  plays  to  help  them  improve  their  game.   The  team  was  unbeatable  and  won  all  four  games  including   the   well   contested   final   against              Mahurangi  College  with  a  score  of  6-1. On  29th  November,  Brad  will  play  in  the  Galaxy  Men   and   Women’s   Tournament   for   the   men’s  team  at  Otaika  Park,  Whangarei.  We  wish  him  all  the   best   and   hope   his   successes   are   as   grand   as  his  fellow  club  mates.   Progressing  from  these  two  tournaments  all  three  of   our   students   will   play   in   the   Maori   Touch    Nationals   on   6th   &   7th   December   at   Puarenga  Park,  Rotorua.  The  players  will  represent  the  Tai  

Tokerau  region  as  Holli  and  Sade  play  for  the  Te  Tai  Tokerau  Under  21’s  women’s  team  and  Brad  in  the  Te  Tai  Tokerau  open  mixed  team.   As   if   these   events   were   not   superb   enough,   the          following  months  for  these  three  are  very  busy  as  they   participate   in   the   2015   Whakatane   Touch  Tournament.   Sade   will   later   compete   in   the        Junior  National  Championships  for  the  Northland  U17   team   as   well   as   the   Master’s,   Youth   and  Open  Nationals  alongside  Holli   in  the  Northland  U19  team. Congratulations   to   these   students   for   their            impressive   sporting   endeavours   and   we   wish  them  well  in  their  upcoming  competitions.  

Holli  O’Sullivan  and  Sade  Langdon  with  team  mates  at  Galaxy’s  Shoot  Out  Tournament  

G L K S Our   swimming   pool   will   be   available   to   the  community   over   the   summer   period   and   keys  can  be  purchased  from  reception  from  Monday,  1st   December   until   Friday,   12th   December.    Keys  cost  $70,  which  includes  a  $10  refundable  deposit.    Keys  will   only   be   sold   to   adults  who  must   also   sign   a   Conditions   of   Use   contract  when  purchasing  the  key.    Please  note  there  are  limited   keys   available   and  no   further  keys  will  be  sold  outside  of  those  dates.

What   was   the   best   present   you              received   for   Christmas   last   year?     I  wonder   if   you   even   remember   what  you  were  given?     It  was  Thanksgiving  Day  in  the  United  States  this  week,  a  time  when  families  pull  out  all   the  stops  just  to  get   to  see  each   other,   celebrate   and   give   thanks    for  what  they  have,  and  for  each  other.    There   are   traditionally   no   gifts   given  on   this   day,   except   for   the   gifts   of        time   and   caring.     It’s   probably   worth  remembering  that  as  we’re  all  about  to  rush   into   the   madness   we   generally  call  Christmas  shopping.   I   used   to   live   in   Aberdeen,   in                Scotland,  and  it  always  drove  me  nuts  that   the   first   Christmas   tree   would  appear   on   the   roof   of   the   largest          department   store   there   before   the   end  of  October.     It  was   as   though  Christ-­mas   commercialism   had   gone   mad.    Mind   you,   in   Aberdeen   at   Christmas  time,   it   was   usually   dark   and   raining  in   the   afternoon  by  3.30   so   there  was  no   danger   of   anyone  missing   the   dis-­play  of  Christmas  lights.     At   this   time   of   year,   madness   sets   in  and   we   forget   that   we   don’t   have   to  actually   spend   a   lot   of   money   on        people   to   show   how   much   we                appreciate  and  care  about  them.     We  all  know   that  part  of   the  pleasure  for   children   opening   their   presents   is  to  tear  off  that  wrapper  and  see  what’s  there.     There’s   no   question   of   them  stopping   to   check   out   the   gift   before  moving  on  to  the  next  one.    Of  course,  at   the  end  of  it  all,   there’s  a  huge  pile  of   paper,   ties   and   bows   we’ve   just  spent   a   fortune   on.     The   gifts   are  strewn  around,  and,  in  some  cases,  the  boxes  themselves  have  become  just  as            interesting  as  their  contents.     One   gift   we’re   much   more   frugal  about   giving,   however,   can   be   time,  and   this   is   one   gift   we   don’t   give  

enough   of   as   we   get  caught   up   in   our   busy  lives.     As   compensation  for  that  busy-ness,  people  rush   to   the   shops   and  spend   way   beyond   their  means   on   presents,   cards,   and   wrap-­ping   paper.     We   buy   food   as   though  the  supermarkets  are  going  to  close  for  a  month—just  look  at  the  supermarket  trolleys  on  Christmas  Eve!    No  matter  how   much   we   buy,   however,   no  amount   of   material   things   will   ever  substitute   if   we   aren’t   able   to   spend  time  with  our  friends  and  family.     I   had   the   sad   task   a   few  years   ago  of  clearing   out   my   mother’s   house   after  she  died.    Part  of  that  clear  out  was  to  go  through  the  cabinet  where  she  kept  various   ornaments   and   ‘stuff’   she’d  been  given  over  the  years.    Most  of  it  ended   up   going   to   charity   shops   and  the  only  thing  I  kept  was  a  little  paper-­weight  which  she’d  inherited  from  her  grandmother  and  which  had  sat  on  our  fireplace  hearth  when  I  was  a  child.    It  now   sits   on   my   own   hearth.     The        reason   I   kept   it   was   because   of   the  memories   it   evokes   and   that’s   what  tends  to  be  special  for  us. Material   possessions   come   and   go,  and   we   rarely   remember   those   gifts,  but  we  do  remember  the  places  we  go  with   people,   and   the   memories   we  make.    My  gifts  to  family  now  tend  to  be  more  about  making  those  memories  and  spending  time  with  one  another. So   before   you   rush   headlong   towards  those   shops   in   the   next   few   weeks,  taking   part   in   the   commercial   frenzy,        take  a  moment  to  think  about  Thanks-­giving,  and  what  it  means.    Take  time  to  think  about  your  best  gift   last  year,  and   why   it   meant   so   much   to   you.      After   all,   you’ve   nothing   to   lose,   and  you   might   end   up   saving   yourself   a  fortune  this  Christmas  season.

F M THE P N L

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TE M AT S 2015

Term  One:  Tuesday  27th  Jan-­uary  —Thursday  2nd  April Term   Two:   Monday   20th  April  —  Friday  3rd  July Term  Three:  Monday  20th  July  —  Friday  25th  September Term   Four:   Monday   12th   October   —  Thursday  10th  December  (to  be  confirmed)

Struggling   with   an   assignment?   The  teacher   just  won’t   believe   you  were   ab-­ducted   by   aliens   and   couldn’t   do   the  homework?   Not   sure   how   to   do   the  homework?   Students   may   need   a   quiet   space   to  work,   access   to   computers   and   other  library  resources  or  help  from  a  teacher. Next   year   on   Tuesday   and   Thursday  afternoons,   beginning   in   Week   3,   the  school  will  run  a  homework  centre  from  3.15pm-5pm  for  students.

The   teachers   are   very   keen   to   provide  their   help   and   have   decided   to   have   at  least   one   staff  member   in   the   library   to  help   students   with   their   homework   on  these   scheduled   afternoons   —   students  can   also   ask   a   specific   teacher   to   come  and  help  them  with  more  complex  work.    Teachers   are   hoping   that   students   will  take   a   more   planned   approach   to   their  homework   and   in   particular   focus   on  completing   assignments   which   take   a  long   period   of   time   by   breaking   them  

down   into  manageable   portions   and   not  leaving  work  to  the  last  minute. Although  it  will  be  a  trial  in  Term  1,  we  anticipate  students  will  make  use  of  their  teachers’   help   and   that   it  will     continue  throughout  the  year.         Jenny  Joynt

M O K H P

D S FR E NE! In  she  came,  bouncing  along,   tail  wagging   furiously,  olfactory  sensors   in  overdrive.    Orla,  Northland’s  new  narcotics  dog,  was  with  us   this  week.      There  were  many  things  of  interest  to  her  in  our  classrooms:    one  student  obviously   had   a   particularly   tasty-smelling   lunch   (but   she   didn’t   eat   it),  one   bottle   of  water   looked   almost   too   tempting   (drugs-sniffing   is   thirsty  work),  and  one  furry  pencil  case  looked  like  it  would  make  a  great  toy  for  her  to  throw  around.    

Drugs  dogs  are  trained  to  sit  down  the  moment  they  smell  any   type  of  narcotics,  and  not  once  did  Orla  even  pause  and  think  about  doing  that.     We  took  a  collective  decision  to  keep  drugs  out  of   our   school   and   we’re   obviously   doing   just  that.    Well  done  everyone!

Term  4,  Week  7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Page  3

BR K ST NE? The   Breakfast   in   Schools   programme   is   about  

providing   a   nutritious   breakfast   of   milk   and  Weet-Bix  to  children  of  all  ages,  in  schools  of  every  decile  across   New   Zealand,   and   which   the   Government  backs  with  resources.

Ruawai  will  begin  KickStart  breakfast  in  week  3  of  Term  1  next  year.

Fonterra  and  Sanitarium  provide  the  Anchor  Milk  and  Weet-Bix.

Each  KickStart   Breakfast   Club   is   independently  run  by  the  school.

Every   student   at   the   school   is   entitled   to   come  along  and  have  a  free  breakfast  each  day.

Regular   breakfast   leaves   children   feeling   happier,  

with  more  energy. It   provides   a   fun   and   safe   environment   to   socialise  

early  in  the  morning. If  you  are  a  member  of  our  local  Police  Force  or  Fire  

Service,   you   are   encouraged   to   join   us   for   free    breakfasts  whenever  you  can  manage.

ART D AR M NT I X I N This   week's   feature   artwork   is   by   Year   8   student   Kaitlynn    Langton-Scott.   The   subject   matter   for   the   unit   was   animals,  which   were   not   easy   for   the   students   to   draw.   They   first  sketched   the   animal   as   basic   shapes   and   lines   to   get   the                proportions  right,  before  adding  the    details. The   students   studied   the   work   of   New   Zealand   artist   John        Bevan  Ford   to   gain   inspiration   for   the   patterns.   Inside   her   tui,  Kaitlynn  has  drawn  large  designs  which  are  heavily  outlined  in  ink  and  filled  with  finer  original  patterns.  She  has  used  the  dye  in  a  controlled  way  to  colour  sections  of  the  designs,  but  has  let  the   dye   run   and   create   its   own   abstract   patterns   in   the   back-­ground.  This  is  a  stand  out  piece  of  artwork  as  it  reinterprets  the  natural   textures  of   the  bird   into  original  geometric designs  and  patterns.    

D Upda C n e A  tablet  is  a  wireless  portable  computer  that  works  in  a  similar  way   to  a  smartphone,  with  a  touchscreen  and  down-­loadable  apps.  Smaller  than  a  laptop  and  bigger  than  a  smartphone,  it  is  perfect  to  take  with  you  on  the  go.    This  device  is  most  useful  in  the  school  environment  when  the  screen  size  is  approximately  10  inches  [or  greater]  and  when  it  has  a  separate  keyboard.      Some  possible  options  include….

Apple  iPad •  iPad  Air  and  •  iPad  Air2 All  iPads  come  with  wi-fi  [wireless  connectivity].  The  minimum  specifi-­cations  of  16GB  of  storage  is  okay  depending  on  how  many  apps,  songs,  games,  etc  you  will  be  storing  on  the  

device.      The  iPads  use  an  Apple  mobile  operating  system,  IOS  8.  

Windows  8  Tablets •  Microsoft  Surface  2   •  HP  X2  Hybrid  [which  has  a  detacha-­ble  keyboard] These  tablets  run  Windows  8  Pro  op-­erating  system  and  are  compatible  with  Microsoft  office  applications.                                                                                                              

Samsung  Galaxy  Tablets All  have  reasonable  specifications  and  run  the  Android  mobile  operating  sys-­tem.     The  model  shown  is  a  Samsung  Gal-­axy  Tab  4  10.1  Wifi  16GB  [10.1  inch  screen,  wireless  internet,  and  16GB  HD]

 Term  4,  Week  7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Page  4

Please  support  our  school  sponsors

In   last  weeks  edition  of     the  Torrent  

we  outlined  some    important  information  about   internet   safety  and  how   to  protect  yourself  while    browsing  online. This   week   we   will   advise   you   how   to  protect   your   online   reputation   and   how  to  polish  your  professional  reputation.   Act   online   in   a  manner   that   reflects   the  reputation   you   want   to   earn—whether  you   are   building   on   an   existing                    reputation,  discarding  an  old  persona,  or  creating  a  new  one.   Think  before  you  share Before   you   put   anything   online,   think  about  what  you  are  posting,  who  you  are  sharing  it  with,  and  how  this  will  reflect  on   your   reputation.   Would   you   be        comfortable   if   others   saw   it?   Or   saw   it  ten  years  from  now? When   you   choose   photos   and   videos,  think   about   how   others   might   perceive  them.   Talk   with   your   friends   about   what   you  do  and  do  not  want  shared.  Ask  them  to  remove   anything   that   you   do   not   want  disclosed. Treat   others   as   you   would   like   to   be  treated Be  civil  in  what  you  say  and  show  on  the  web.  Respect   the  reputation  and  privacy  of  others  when   you  post   anything   about  them   (including   pictures)   on   your   own  pages  or  on  others’  pages  or  public  sites.  Remove   anything   that   does   not   honour  this. Stay   vigilant   about  what   the   Internet  

is  saying  about  you Sign  up  for  personal  alerts.  Some  search  engines  will   automatically  notify  you  of  any  new  mention  of  your  name  or  other  personal  information.   From  time  to  time,  search  for  yourself  to  see  what  additional  information  has  been  catalogued  in  search  engines.   Periodically   reassess   who   has   access   to  your   pages.   Friends   change   over   time,  it’s  okay  to  remove  those  who  no  longer  belong. Publish   positive   information   about  yourself To  be  your  online  best,   create  what   you  want   others   to   see.   Link   anything   you  publish  to  your  name.   Join   a   professional   network   such   as  LinkedIn   or  CareerBuilder.   Put   together  a   robust   profile   and   make   connections  with   colleagues   there.   Ask   for                      recommendations   from   those  who  know  your  work  well.   Comment   on   professionally-oriented  blogs,   participate   in   online   forums,   and  review   books   on   subjects   in   which   you  have  expertise.   Start  a  blog  or  register  a  website  through  your  own  name.   Publicise   yourself   through   clear  

writing,   straightforward   design,  and  high  quality  images.

Write   regularly   (at   least   twice   a  month)  on   a   subject   about  which  you  are  knowledgeable.

Invite  visitors   to  make  comments  to  create  a  conversation.

Consider   separating   professional   and  personal  profiles   Use   different   email   addresses,   screen  

names,   blogs   and   websites   for   each      profile.   Do  not  link  your  real  name  (or  sensitive  personal   information  such  as  your  home  and   email   addresses,   phone  numbers,   or  photos)   with   other   profiles   that   you      create. Add   personal   information   to   your            professional  profile  judiciously  and  only  as   it   reflects   well   on   that   image.   Avoid  cross  references  to  personal  sites.   Some   social   networks   let   you   build      separate   friends   lists—for   family,   your  sports   team,   work,   and   so   on—so   that  you   can   manage   what   you   share   within  one  profile.   Look   for   Settings  or   Options   to   help  you  manage  who  can  see  your  profile  or  photos,   how   people   can   search   for   you,  who   can   make   comments,   and   how   to  block  unwanted  access  by  others.   Restore  your  online  reputation   If   you   find   information   about   yourself  that  does  not  fit  the  reputation  you  want,  act   quickly.   The   longer   it   stays   public,  the   greater   the   chance   that   it   will   be  spread  or  archived.   In  a   respectful  way,  ask   the  person  who  posted  it  to  remove  it  or  correct  an  error.  If   it   is   a   correction,   ask   him   or   her   to  include   a   notice   (CORRECTION   or    UPDATED)   right   next   to   the   original  (incorrect)  material.   If  the  person  does  not  respond  or  refuses  to  help,  ask   the  website  administrator   to  remove  the  digital  damage.   If   you   feel   a   public   correction   is                necessary,  present   your  case   simply  and  politely  without  attacking  the  person.   R n e r Mi ro .

KE A GE OF UR NE R U A N!

P Y N ST D ME? WE N H P! Kids   flown   the   nest?   Finding   yourself  bored  with  nothing  to  do  in  the  middle  of  the  day?   Here  at  Ruawai  College  we  would  like  to  offer   you   the   opportunity   to   help   our    younger   students   reach   their   literacy            potential.   We   are   actively   looking   for  adults   who   are   willing   to   read   to   our    junior  students  on  a  weekly  basis.   If   you   are   interested   in   assisting   our      

students   with   improving   their   reading   skills   please   contact  the  school    office.  

Ruawai   College   has   launched   its    official   Facebook   page   to   promote  the   school   and   our   upcoming   news  and  events. This   page   will   be   used   as   an   exten-­sion   of   the   website   and   the   weekly  Torrent  newsletter   to  keep   the  wider  community  well   informed   through  an  effective  and  easy  to  use  network.     You  can  find  Ruawai  College’s  new  social  media  page  at  www.facebook.com/ruawaicollege Don’t   forget   to   “Like”   and   “Share”   our   page   to   ensure  you’re  kept  up  to  date.

N W I C L GE A K GE N H D