Year 11, 12 and 13 students are required to write NCEA standardized exams across the country during the last weeks of Term 4 to earn credits that are tracked towards graduation. These standardized tests are also used for entrance into universities. Each exam is written at a specific time. For example, the Probability Exam is written at 2:00 PM on Friday 24 November (format for date in NZ). Senior students have no classes during the last weeks. They are at home studying or visit the school to study in a study hall or meet with teachers for tutorial sessions.
Senior Prize Giving is scheduled prior to the seniors leaving school during week 4, prior to exams. The ceremony takes place during the day, in the Assembly Hall. Whanua (extend family) are invited and it's a big deal! Here are three students smiling after the Prize Giving.
Over the past 6 years, I was honoured to sit on stage, shake hands and congratulating all the students. This time, I sat in the audience. It was nice for a change to watch from the floor. I helped to organize the stage and all the awards. Many students received large sums of scholarship money for their achievements! To start the ceremony, the Kapa Haka group performed a traditional Maori welcome.
A Pacific Island tradition is the Lolly Lei. When students receive an award, their family and friends meet them at the stage and present them with one or more Lolly Lei (I think there are no plural words in Pasifica languages). These lei are made from plastic wrap, chocolate bars and streamers. They are quite colourful!
Sometimes, family members even walk right up on stage to present their lei to the award winner or the presenter as a sign of respect.
The jazz band performed a Ray Charles piece with Elijah as the lead singer!
Two times during the ceremony, students performed their haka to show respect and congratulate award winners. Our school has a Services Academy that supports students to train for a career in the NZ military. These two award winners were recognized by their peers for their outstanding accomplishments.
Overall the Senior Prize Giving was a fantastic event to witness and celebrate. Afterward an afternoon tea (snacks) were hosted in the gymnasium for all students and their whanau.
Junior classes continue until Tuesday 12 December. Year 9s and 10s continue to complete their studies. Year 10s have the opportunity to go "on Camp" for one week at the beginning of December. They would spend two nights and three days camping and take two other full day field trips during that week. I've volunteered to go camping for the entire week!
Senior exams are administered by the New Zealand Qaulifications Authority (NZQA). This arm's reach organization is like EQAO but they administer the exams too. So, teachers are not responsible for organizing or supervising the exams. We were told this morning that we need to stay far away from the hall during the exams so we do not interfere.
All the best to all of you,
Mike
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