Kia ora koutou

This time last year, we were still struggling through rāhui and all the associated stress that came with it.  We are so lucky and privileged in this country to be able to, now, go about our lives in almost total normality. We know that is not the case around the world.

Every day, when I walk into the kura, I look up at the building and try to remember to be grateful. In this building are over 1000 young people. Most of whom do the right thing all of the time. All of whom deep down want to do the right thing. There are about 100 Avonside staff who work tirelessly to provide schooling for our students, from the caretakers and groundspeople, to the library staff, reception and admin, our learning support assistants and our teachers. They are all here because they believe in what we are doing and the importance of working for the empowerment of young people. 

I’m grateful too for this building. Though we didn’t get to choose a lot of it, and of course there are things we would change – it is a warm, dry building. The teaching spaces are spacious and full of light. The sound proofing is better than many of us hoped it could be. We have fantastic resources available to us.  

I saw a photo the other day of a school under a motorway bridge in New Delhi. 200 children attend this school. There are no walls, no tables, no chairs. Few teachers who are volunteers. Yet every day children are so desperate to get an education they go, and work sitting on the dirty ground. 

Recently, at our first assembly for the term, I spoke to our ākonga about the importance of gratitude and acknowledging our privilege.

I asked them to be grateful for what we have here, and to make the most of what is available.

We have an outstanding group of young people at this kura and I very much value the opportunity to work with them to continue to make Avonside Girls’ High School amazing. You will see many of their successes in this newsletter, and these are fantastic and should be celebrated. However, I also want the students to focus on the small but significant acts of gratitude and leadership that create a school culture. Holding doors for others, greeting people, taking responsibility for your mistakes, thanking people for what they have done for you; these can all seem like small things but they are impactful.

I believe all members of a school community have a responsibility to contribute to making the school a place of respect and contribution, and I encourage the students to take action in making this happen.

Noho ora mai

Tanya Clegg
Acting Principal