OUR VALUE: Kia Kaha – Stand Strong
Improving Road Safety Near Schools
Tauranga City Council has resolved to reduce speed limits outside school gates following a review of the safety risks and strong community support for lower speed limits.
They’re reducing speed limits outside Tauranga schools during drop-off and pick-up times to make it safer for people to move around.
Speed is a critical factor in whether a crash is avoidable or, if it does happen, how serious it is. Speed limits have a key role to play in keeping people safe, especially people walking and cycling.
As our roads become increasingly busy, the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and children is of increasing concern. The roads outside schools are often perceived as dangerous for children, with school communities concerned about the speed of vehicles travelling past their school, drivers not stopping at zebra crossings, or insufficient gaps to enable school patrols to put out signs.
Introducing variable speed limits
They’ve developed a speed management plan that will see a 30km/h variable speed zone outside school gates during school drop-off and pick-up times. This is a change from our original speed management plan which proposed a 40km/h variable speed zone and follows a Ministry of Transport amendment for the setting of speed limits in late 2024.
They’ll activate the new 30km/h variable speed limit on a rolling basis between late May and June 2026. All signs are planned to be operational by July 2026. You can read more about the speed management plan here.
In the Bellevue School, Ōtūmoetai Intermediate and Ōtūmoetai College zone (see map below), the new 30km/h variable speed limit will apply between 8.10 to 8.55am and 2.45 to 3.30pm. Outside of those times, the variable speed limit will revert to the normal permanent speed limit.
Thank you for helping keep our children safe on our roads. If you have any questions, please email saferspeeds@tauranga.govt.nz
Creative Arts Week
In week 3 of this term Ōtūmoetai College held its annual Creative Arts Week organised by the Creative Arts Committee.
The week consisted of an event everyday, some highlights being the toilet paper fashion show on the Friday and the teachers’ band on the Thursday.
Across the whole week hundreds of students participated and watched these events all celebrating the amazing creative arts at the college.
Big Thank you to the Creative Arts Committee, Mrs Pengelly for the planning and running of the week and the Music Department teachers for performing for the first time in 2 years.
Year 11 Market Day Success
The Year 11 Market Day on Thursday 30th April was a massive success, turning the quad into a vibrant hub of 25 student-run businesses. From burgers to cake pops, slushies to dumplings, each group put their classroom theories into practice by managing real budgets, marketing strategies, and customer service.
The event was a high-energy lesson in entrepreneurship, requiring students to adapt to heavy competition and long customer lines in real-time. The practical experience of Market Day will now be transferred to a 5-credit assessment focussing on price determination.
We have our second Market Day of the year (Year 10’s) on Thursday 21st May.
Techy Wednesday Outreach to The Bayview Retirement Village
Members of Ōtūmoetai College’s Student Volunteer Army (SVA), accompanied by Mrs Strauss, recently had the wonderful opportunity to support residents at The Bayview Retirement Village through one-on-one technology assistance sessions.
Students helped residents with a variety of digital tasks, including setting up Gmail accounts, sending group emails, sharing and backing up photos and files across multiple devices, and much more.
The experience gave students the opportunity to develop patience, empathy, and effective communication skills while sharing their digital knowledge with others.
It was heartwarming to witness the meaningful connections and mutual learning that took place throughout the afternoon. “Techy Wednesdays” will continue once a month, and any SVA members interested in joining next month are welcome to register using the form on the SVA Google Classroom or speak to Mrs Strauss in G8.
SVA Committee – Microwaves & Hot Water Service
The SVA Committee volunteers help provide this service to our students during Terms 2 & 3.
Open 1.35pm-2.00pm in the kitchen between Pav 1 & 2: Access via the tennis court.
Attendance – When to Keep your Child Home
As the winter months bring a natural increase in seasonal illnesses, it can be tricky to decide when to keep your child home. According to Health guidelines, students may attend school if they have tested negative for COVID-19, are fever-free without medication, and appear generally well enough to focus on learning. Children are also clear to attend with non-infectious conditions like hay fever, eczema, or minor coughs and sneezes caused by changes in air temperature.
Matariki Art Competition – Registration
If you are interested in entering the Matariki art competition, please fill in this form.
The competition is on the 1st of July so you have AGES to plan and execute an awesome artwork that could win you maunga points AND cash prizes.
We will have a senior and junior section, as well as a People’s Choice Award.
The Ruamano Kōmiti
Takitumu Homework Hub
Our Takitumu Homework Hub launched on Wednesday 6th May, 3.30pm- 5.00pm in the Matuku Room, Okohanga.
This Homework Hub is focused particularly on our Māori and Pasifika learners to give them the opportunity to experience success, build confidence and stay connected within their learning environment.
Please see poster below for more information.
Academic Mentoring Programme
At our kura, we offer a free of charge academic mentoring programme where senior students support younger peers to become more confident in their subjects and achieve success.
Mentoring will be starting at the beginning of Term 2. If you are interested in getting mentoring for your student, please fill in this form.
This form stays open all year, so even if your student does not need mentoring right now, they can sign up at any time in the future.
Feel free to contact mentoring@otc.school.nz with any questions.
Collective Hope Night – 16 June
The school community has been invited to an Eating Disorders & Youth Mental Health Night for students & families in Tauranga. Tuesday 16 June, 7.00pm – 9.00pm, Equippers Church, Tauranga.
This event will be led by trained speakers with lived experience of recovery and aim to provide hope, education, and support around eating disorders, body image, anxiety, and youth mental health.
The event is suitable for students, parents/caregivers, school wellbeing staff, counsellors and health teams.
