The extra week in term one because of the Rugby World Cup, may have created a few irritable teenagers, but it also meant there was more time to get things done.

Otumoetai College principal Dave Randall says students were starting to suffer in the last week of school and were ready to finish.

Otumoetai College Year 13 student Jeremy Burns and Year 11 student Georgia Wilson are ready for a holiday after going to school for an extra week in term one. Pictured with principal Dave Randall.
Photo by Tracy Hardy.

'Our young people are tired, they're irritable,” says Dave.
'I think my staff are ready for a break just to catch up and get focussed.”
Dave says students somehow sensed their holidays were overdue and that was reflected in their behaviour.
Though the misbehaving was limited to a small number of students, it proved stressful for teachers and students alike.
'They're tired and they're looking forward to a good break.”
Tauranga Girls' College principal Pauline Cowens says the term had gone relatively quickly and put it down to keeping busy.
She conceded, however, it had been a big effort.
'It's gone well and I think it's been tiring for staff and students to have a little bit of extra time,” says Pauline.
'We're such a busy school that the extra time allowed us to fit a few more things into term one.”
A Year 9 social was held near the end of the term which usually does not happen until term two, says Pauline.
Both Pauline and Dave feel the impact of the change in the school year will be felt more at the end of the year, when time is short. Seniors will only have two and a half weeks of term four before going off for study leave.