Another successful year for Burnside High School

Dear Parents and Caregivers

On all fronts: academic, cultural, performing arts, sport, leadership, service, 2019 has been another very successful year for Burnside High School. The year closes with NCEA examinations for seniors, school examinations and a collaborative learning week for juniors, plus prizegivings for all year levels.

We have so many students who take responsibility for their learning, who get themselves to school on time, wear their uniform well, work to the best of their ability, and who participate in the life of the school. These are the students who enjoy success; and we recognised and celebrated many of them at recent prizegivings. Prizegivings also provide me with the opportunity to publicly acknowledge those who work for the Burnside High School community.

At Prizegivings this year I reflected on 15 March 2019. On this day, the Mosque Attack occurred, while students gathered in the city for the first School Strike for Climate Change. These two events redefined our Kiwi values of inclusiveness, kindness, compassion for our fellow human being; and our desire for a sustainable environment. Values that fit comfortably with our school’s values: be respectful, have pride and strive to excel. As a learning community, we want to be the most caring and compassionate people we can be. We care for each other and we care for our environment. Yes, we can wait for political decisions to guide us, but Mahatma Gandhi said “let us be the change we want to see in the world”.

What are the small changes we can make? First and foremost, we can control our attitude. We can be kind, tolerant and respectful of others. We can consider our environment and know that our actions contribute to the shape of the future. We can all do our bit, but it takes courage to care.

Master planning

During 2019, architects have worked with us to create a development plan that will span the next twenty years. This is an important and exciting prospect for the school and comes with huge responsibilities. The project team has made good progress so far, and it is anticipated that the Ministry of Education will sign off on the plans early in 2020, so that we can begin the design phase for Stage 1.

Staff Farewells

Four loyal staff are leaving our community after significant service. Mrs Joan Small from the Social Science Faculty, who was instrumental in introducing Legal Studies into our school curriculum, leaves after thirty years. Mr Des Duffy, Social Sciences, leaves after seventeen years of service. Mrs Diane George, our International Student Homestay Manager, leaves after twenty years. Mr Richard McBrearty leaves after twenty-one years in the Burnside High School community, five as a student and sixteen as a teacher of Social Sciences. Long serving staff are important and valued, as they pass on the ethos and values of our school. I acknowledge and thank Joan, Des, Diane and Richard, for everything they have done for our school. They will all be sorely missed.

Korowai and Oral History videos

During Term 4, two very special and significant ceremonies occurred. The first was to lift tapu, and accept into our school, our new Korowai (cloaks) and Piupiu. Under the prow of the waka in the Aurora Centre Foyer, and in the shadow of Tī Kōuka, the whakamānawa was led by Robbie Ahuroko Cave (Counsellor) on behalf of Reverend Maurice Manawaroa Gray, Te Upoko o Ōtautahi Rūnaka.

Korowai are worn on significant occasions, with the wairua of the whānau and ancestors present when the cloak is worn. Korowai are passed down through generations, gathering history and knowledge; they denote a person’s mana and achievements. They are held in the highest regard, and worn with the highest of respect and mana. The wearer is under the protection and love of the person or whānau that has gifted it. In having our own Korowai at Te Kura o Waimairi-iri we build identity, strengthen tikanga, and demonstrate our commitment to Te Ao Māori.

The second ceremony was the official handover of the sixth and final video in the series representing our oral history, a project which began in 2014. Vanessa Gray, from Hiwa Media, stood in for Reverend Gray at the mihi whakatau, which recognised Waimairi-iri as the kaitiaki of the narrative. The introductory video is narrated by Lizzy Harrison, former Head Girl and Māori leader, and tells the stories of our pōhatu (memorial rock), tī kōuka, and our pūkaki (local springs). It will be shown to our new Year 9 students at the beginning of their time at Te Kura o Waimairi-iri. All new staff will also view this as part of their induction programme.

The videos provide a montage in which authorities from Ngāi Tahu discuss values and histories pertaining to our area. The clips are designed to help viewers gain a greater understanding of the land, the people, and of themselves within that context. Ngāi Tahu and their history, are embedded in the area, and all people have a connection to one another and the land they occupy. Tihei Mauri Ora!

These important events – receiving our piupiu and korowai; and becoming the kaitiaki of the Ngāi Tahu narrative, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to Te Ao Māori.

Junior School’s Collaborative Learning Week

The normal school timetable was collapsed from 28 November to 4 December to allow groups of Year 9 and 10 students, plus teaching staff, to work together on project-based topics of their choice. In total twenty-seven separate collaborations occurred. Although staff and students were a little apprehensive about how such a large scale approach might go, it did provide opportunities to work together in a new and interesting way, and initial feedback was extremely positive. I thank the Collaboration Team for their work leading, organising, and coordinating the programme; and especially to the staff involved, at what is an extremely busy time of the year, for their energy, time and commitment to make it a success. I believe in the power of collaboration and think this approach can only enhance teaching and learning at BHS. A full review, with input from staff and students, will be undertaken to consider options for 2020.

Phil Holstein, Woolf Fisher Trust Fellowship in 2020

I am delighted to receive this significant educational award, which enables me to study and travel in North America, the United Kingdom and Europe over an eight week period in 2020. I will focus on ‘leadership of very large secondary schools’, including a course at the Harvard Principals’ Centre in Boston, USA. My wife Sue will accompany me. I am currently organising my itinerary, school visits and travel arrangements.

Junior Musical Showcase

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Showcase, held on 20 November in the Aurora Centre. This wonderful event included high-class performances from our choirs, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Orchestra, guitar and percussion groups.

Performances by music ensembles from Westburn School are also a regular feature of the programme.

Thank you to Mr Cain Hood, Mr Chris Petch, Ms Helen Renaud, Mr Cameron Oswin and Mrs Emma Summers for organising this outstanding event in what has been another outstanding year for the Music Department.

Best Wishes

Our school continues to function very well and successfully and I look forward to 2020. Thank you to everyone who supports our school, as we endeavour to provide the best possible education for the young people in our care.

As this is the final newsletter for the year, I take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable, restful, family holiday season. Please look after yourself and each other.

Phil Holstein

Principal