Read the latest news from Rutherford College
Kia ora te Whānau o te Kōtuku.
Welcome back to term 4. Only 13 teaching days before our Year 11-13 are on leave and heading to external exams.
Facing up to the truth
Sometimes the truth is staring at us in the face, but we cannot see it. When our assumptions are challenged, we need to face reality and, if necessary, adapt to the way things really are instead of trying to hide from the truth. We have to change when change is inevitable.
There is a story about a battleship that had been at sea on manoeuvres in foggy weather. Visibility was very poor and, shortly after dark, the look-out reported a light flashing on the starboard bow. The light was steady, meaning the battleship was on a collision course.
The captain of the battleship sent a signal: “We are on a collision course. Change course 20 degrees.” Back came the signal. “Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees.” The captain sent another signal. “I’m a captain. Change course 20 degrees.” “I’m a seaman second class,” came the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.” By this time the captain was furious. He signalled, “Change course now. I’m a battleship.” Back came the flashing light. “I’m a lighthouse.”
The battleship changed course.
It is at this stage of the year that we face the truth. Have we made the effort with the things that we say were important this year? If we have, then the remaining part of the journey can be covered with confidence. It must still be completed fully. For those with extra to do then it is simple, do more. You can always make a change to be on the right course, better late than never.
Kua tawhiti, ke to haerenga mai, kia kore e tonu
He nui rewa o mahi, kia kore e mahi tonu
You have come too far, to go not go further, you have done too much to not do more. Make the most of the time left in class to ask questions of your teachers and prepare fully for your high stakes end of year external exams.
Award Ceremonies
On Tuesday evening October 14 we have our Pasifika Awards. Pasifika students will be acknowledged for living by our school motto of Tohea -striving for personal ‘academic’ excellence.
On Thursday night it is Cultural Awards and on Friday October 17 we have the Senior Sports Dinner. We will be hosting a Junior Sports Awards ceremony later this term for our year 9 and 10 students during school time.
Policy Reviews for Term 4
Our school works with SchoolDocs to provide a website for maintaining, updating, and reviewing our school policies. Different policies are under review each term and our school community can submit feedback. Follow the instructions below to contribute to the review.
- Go to the SchoolDocs site for our school by clicking on this link: https://rutherfordcollege.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
- This will take you to Current review and review instructions.
- Enter the username (rutherfordcollege) and password (kotuku).
- The policies listed here are the key policies under review this term. Click on the policy you want to review.
- Click the “Start your review” button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Follow the prompts to submit your review.
Note that you can review any policy that has a “Start your review” button, not just the key policies listed in Current review and review instructions. There will be other related policies in that section of the site open for review.
The policies being reviewed this term are Bullying and Harassment, Behaviour Management, Searches, Surrender and Retention of Property, Minimising Physical Restraint, Stand down, Suspension and Exclusion and Staff Wellbeing and Safety. You can view and make comment on any of these policies by clicking the blue review tab and and clicking on any of the policies mentioned in the review list.
What's Coming Up?
30 October - Senior Prizegiving 6.30pm School Hall and last day for Y11-13 students.
04 November - NCEA Exams commence
21 & 24 November - Junior Exams
05 & 08 December - Wider Living Days
10 December - Junior Prizegiving and last day for students.
