Dear Whānau,

I hope you all enjoyed a bit of a break and had some relaxing and special time with your family and friends over this Christmas season. We’re looking forward to 2024 and trust you are too. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to new families joining us at Freyberg High School this year.

Our results from last year show significant improvements across level 2, 3 and University entrance and we are pleased with progress that has been made. We will be sharing these results with you in the near future.

Below is some important information relating to the start of 2024:

School Day

As many of you will be aware we have altered our timetable this year. In 2024 every school day will begin at 8.50am with a short time in wā ārahi before our teaching timetable begins.  Every day apart from Wednesday will finish at 3pm. Wednesday’s finishing time will be 2.10pm

Daily period times for 2024

First few days of 2024

Kaiārahi hui

We will send out information about our kaiārahi hui from Tuesday 23 January.

This email will include all information students and whānau need to book in their kaiārahi hui, including the website, kaiārahi code and log in details.

2024 Year 9 students: all Year 9’s and their whānau need to attend. This will be the first opportunity to meet the kaiārahi (similar to a form teacher), make sure that all student information is correct and answer any questions students and whānau might have.

2024 Year 10 — 13 students: All students should attend and whānau are welcome. The purpose for this hui is to check in with kaiārahi about 2024 goals and to confirm timetable and option choices, along with other important information.

Parent Portal

All parents have access, via the Parent Portal, to a range of school information such as timetables, invoices, reports and results. The Parent Portal can be accessed here: https://www.freyberg.ac.nz/ (on front page of website)

If you already have an existing login, you can use this. If you don’t yet have a login, this will be emailed to you in the next few days.

Cell phones

In line with the governmental edict around mobile phones at school we will not be allowing mobile phones to be out during class time (including between classes) during 2024 unless teacher directed. Students will only be allowed to use their phones at intervals and lunchtimes. Any cell phones being used during class will be confiscated to the Student Centre until the end of the day.

Devices

FHS is a BYOD school. All students should bring their laptop and charger to school every day to be able to access their learning.

Head of School/Deans for 2024

Kāpiti - Gerard Harrigan and Steven Needham

Manawatū – David Lochhead and Erin Thomas Bryant

Ruahine – Kelsey Brosnan and Jack Padega

Tararua – Kieran Collier and Daniel Clark

Senior Council

The following learners have been selected as our Student Leaders for 2024.

Teacher emails

Our email format is the staff member’s surname followed by their first initial (e.g. williamsg for Graeme Williams) followed by @freyberg.ac.nz – so the full email is williamsg@freyberg.ac.nz

You can expect regular communication from teachers during the school year, particularly from your child’s kaiārahi.

Covid-19

We are currently in the midst of the 5^th wave of Covid and therefore this is a good opportunity to give reminders about hygiene, mask wearing if required and keeping your child at home if they are unwell.

Please remember to call or email the school in the event of all absences.

Information on our Website

Please have a look at our website where you will find a range of information, including information on:

Devices -  https://www.freyberg.ac.nz/School-Information/byod---device-information

Uniform -  https://www.freyberg.ac.nz/School-Information/Uniform-1

Stationery Lists – The only stationery required is a laptop, pen and paper. In the senior school, if stationery is required (e.g. camera for Photography) then a list of items required will be emailed out to parents/students

Parent Portal - https://portal.freyberg.ac.nz:8443/index.php OR https://www.freyberg.ac.nz/ (on front page of website)

More important dates

Thank you for the strong support you give our kura. We look forward to a happy and successful year and to seeing you along the way.

Ngā manaakitanga

Graeme Williams

Tumuaki/Principal

Article added: Wednesday 24 January 2024