It seems like only a few months ago we were getting underway for 2011, now we have students sitting NCEA and teachers are putting the final plans in place for many of our students to be back at their regular school in 2012.

Looking back, 2011 has been a busy one. The roll is higher than ever before with it peaking at 214, CRHS – City has gone from strength-to-strength, major property redevelopments at Lower North Youth Justice,  the health teachers working long hours with increased workload due to the high roll numbers and the establishment of a new site in Horowhenua.

Behind the scenes we have had a major IT infrastructure upgrade and have started using eTap as the school’s Student Management System. Parents and students are unlikely to notice many changes with the move to eTap - maybe some alterations to the Individual Plan layout. It will reduce teacher paperwork and allow for the collection of data that will give the Board confidence that the school is achieving its goals.

We have also relocated offices in Palmerston North and Lower Hutt. Ministry of Education policy requires us to use surplus education property so we are on the sites of Horowhenua College in Levin, Queen Elizabeth College in Palmerston North and Naenae Intermediate in Lower Hutt. All the sites are stand-alone and operated independently of the host school.

The number of students on the roll with mental health conditions has increased to around 50 %. CRHS has already been responsive to this change with the establishment of CRHS – City. In the longer term there are implications in the other areas so we are working on ways to ensure the needs of all students, irrespective of geographic location, can be adequately met.

In May, 2012, one of our foundation teachers is hanging up her CRHS laptop to retire. Cathie Trotter was a Hospital Teacher before the establishment of CRHS. Cathie has been a highly dedicated teacher and has been a driving force behind the innovation and commitment to quality programmes and outcomes across the school. In addition to her role as a teacher Cathie also served 6 years on the Board as staff trustee. We all wish Cathie a long and happy retirement.

Thank you for being part of CRHS in 2011.

My very best wishes to you all for a Merry Christmas and for 2012.

Kind regards

Ken