Kia ora e te whānau. In the last two weeks we have had the most amazing functions to celebrate the end of 2017 and look forward to 2018.

The Sports and Cultural dinner; the naming of the 2018 leaders; Prizegiving; the College Sport Wellington awards night; the Polyclub dinner; the Poroporoaki and then the Yr 9 2018 Parent Welcome Function have all been really special events that provide a fitting start or end to a student’s time at WGC. 

Now we just have the Leavers’ Function to go in early December and the year will be over. Congratulations to all the students who have received awards, accolades or jobs in recent weeks - it was lovely to be able to acknowledge your achievements so publicly. 

There is always a mix of emotions as we say farewell to the Year 13s and our leaving staff. We know you have exciting places to head to, but that doesn’t mean we won’t miss them being here. This year, from the staff, we farewell:

• Linda van Milligan who is retiring after 33 years teaching Maths and Calculus
  
• Juliet Kennedy who leaves to study for her PhD after 14 years teaching French, German andMandarin
  
• Julia Woods who heads to Onslow College as HOD English after 6 years here as Assistant HODEnglish, acting HOD English and a Dean
  
• Margaret Priest who finishes as HOD Maths to teach at Otaki College
  
• Jane Chisholm and Renee Marcelis who have resigned after their year’s leave
  
• And Nicola Blacklaws, Paul Chapman, Kirstyn Hatton, Anna Lunch, Malia Tu’amoheloa, Tessa Richards, Genevieve Small who are all moving to new jobs
  

We have been very fortunate to find good replacements for all of these staff and we look forward to welcoming them and our 308 new Year 9 students in late January next year.

2017 has been a year without the second Gym, with standing assemblies, with scaffoldingeverywhere, with 2016 earthquake damage still unrepaired as we wait on the Ministry of Education’s insurers … again … We’re looking forward to things getting back to normal next year.

For those of you ending your contact with WGC, best wishes. For those of you staying, please note the 2018 dates carefully and we look forward to seeing you and your daughters next year.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and summer break.

Ngā mihi nui

Julia Davidson