Kia ora parents, caregivers and students of Coastal Taranaki School,

As we count down to the holidays it is important to acknowledge the many ways you are supporting your children’s education at Coastal. Thank you to:
- All parents and caregivers who set up their children to succeed (for example: with a good night’s sleep; a good breakfast and food for the day; with a clean uniform; with an interest in what learning has occurred that day; with a quiet insistence that home learning routines have a priority)
- All parents who attended the Student-Led Conferences or Individual Development Plan day on July 5, or at another time
- The coaches, managers and providers of transport who enable Coastal kids to experience a very wide range of sporting and cultural experiences
- Friends of the School who are ever on the lookout and seeking input for the essential ‘extras’ that help staff and students
- All who engage in healthy conversations as we strive for ways to do things better

We warmly welcome the following students who have recently enrolled at our school:
- Ron O’Brien, Year 11
- Madison Hospenthal, Year 9
- Zoey Doyle, New Entrant

Reporting Day
On balance this was a very affirming and empowering experience for students, parents and teachers. If you were unable to attend and have not yet been contacted to do so, can I urge that you make every effort to arrange a time with your children’s teachers (early next term is not too late).

Not only are students demonstrating how they are leading their own learning, but it is also a golden opportunity for parents to appreciate the complexities of the learning process today. I think we are all intrinsically disposed to helping our children, but the ‘how to’ can be difficult unless this close connection with school is happening. So, thank you everyone – well done.

School Lockdown
You will all be aware of the incident last Friday which led to the Police requesting a school Lockdown from 12.30 – 1.30pm. I wish to commend your children on the wonderful way they responded to this procedure being activated. All took the situation seriously and maintained calm and purposeful throughout. Thank you to staff who helped ensure this state, and also the older students who were able to step up and support younger students during the Lockdown and later in the afternoon.

The Health and Safety committee will review this procedure and incorporate any new lessons into future practice. One item for discussion is that not all cellphones were surrendered. This procedure is to minimise the potential of raising anxiety and distress. It is important that parents, for example, communicate through the school and stay away until the ‘all clear’ is given. The response is understandable, but parents coming to school to collect students exposes both to potential harm.

We will keep you informed of our review and of any changes we think should be made.

Congratulations to many students who have achieved academic excellence credits with distinction:
- Level 1 PE – Daniel Downes, Ariarna
- Level 2 PE – Crystal Baker, Rikihana Burwell-Hikaka, James Connell, Matthew Goble, Rebecca Winter
- Level 3 PE – Britney Rameka
- Level 1 English – Jaydene Ransom, Jake Van der Poel
- Level 2 English – Ataahua Shortland-Toimata

Coastal Sporting Successes
Congratulations to Ann-Maree Harris, Carys Pullar, Blake King and Daniel Phillips who gained 3rd place in the Year 7 & 8 Indoor Bowls competition last week.

Michael Winter and Jonathan Adams did extremely well in gaining 2nd place in the TSSSA 8-Ball competition in Stratford recently.
CTS is the regional secondary schools champion 10-pin Bowling team thanks to the brilliant efforts of Miyu Inoue, Crystal Baker, Jurnee Brown and Rebecca Winter.

Showing the value of Coastal Taranaki School’s strategic international import policy, Miyu Inoue was the top performing bowler in the competition.

Coastal has effectively cornered the market in the Bowling arena with earlier success in Lawn Bowls with Hamish Kape crowned TSSSA singles champion, and in Indoor Bowls when the boys’ team of Hamish, Brook Gray, Barney Doyle, Stanton Brown, Ben Brophy, Daniel Doyle and Joseph Doyle reigned supreme.

I am sure you are all looking forward to your winter break. Let’s hope it isn’t as wet as Term 2 has been. With only 12 school weeks until NCEA examinations, it is important that our seniors use some of their time revising and completing.

Keep safe and well,
Allan Miles