Maroon and gold are more than just colours on a uniform.

At our school, maroon and gold are more than just colours on a uniform. When founding Headmaster Terence McCombs chose these colours, he drew inspiration from the colours of Canterbury University, with a vision to build a school known for its academic excellence.

Our school colours have deep meaning, which we have highlighted in our recent junior school assemblies. Maroon represents the perseverance needed to overcome challenges—the courage to work hard and never give up. Gold symbolises achievement, earned only after the effort and persistence symbolised by maroon.

The old Latin saying "Per aspera ad astra" — Through difficulties to the stars — perfectly aligns with our colours. It reminds us that greatness and lofty goals are achieved through hard work, even when faced with challenges.

The colour Gold also shines a light on a timeless principle: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” This calls us to show the same kindness, respect, and fairness to others as we expect for ourselves. It is a foundation for empathy—imagining ourselves in someone else’s position and acting with compassion. Practising this rule is easy with friends, but its true impact is in how we treat those beyond our immediate circles.

Gold is more than a symbol of academic achievement—it represents the values that strengthen our community: empathy, respect, and inclusion. Let’s ensure that maroon drives our perseverance in learning and that gold inspires us to treat others with kindness.

Achieving great results requires hard work, and so does being considerate to others—it’s something that takes intention and effort. Let’s commit to working equally on both: our academics and our character.

Ngā mihi nui
John Stradwick
Principal

Korfball

Cashmere's junior Korfball teams had an impressive finish to the Term 4 season at Ngā Puna Wai. Highlights include the Junior B team’s outstanding achievement, securing 1st place in the B grade after a remarkable improvement from 11th place earlier this year. The Junior A and C teams also performed well, placing 5th in the A grade and 7th in the B grade, respectively, showcasing the growth of Korfball at Cashmere.

Junior Tūhono Rōpū

Our Junior Tūhono Rōpū delivered an outstanding performance over the weekend, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our ākonga. The group won 1st place in the Haka category, earning the prestigious Wero Trophy, and placed 3rd in Waiata Tira, securing an overall 2nd place finish. Dressed in vibrant house colours, they created a stunning and memorable display of talent and unity.

Volleyball

Congratulations to our Junior Girls Volleyball team on their bronze medal at the South Island Junior Champs held in Christchurch last week! Cashmere had five Year 9 and 10 teams entered in the tournament. They had a great few days of volleyball, playing teams from throughout the South Island. The Junior South Island Volleyball Championships concluded with beach volleyball on Friday. Congratulations to Year 9 students Arthur Diefenthaler and Rupert Nielsen 1st Year 9 Boys and Levi Weston and Felix Martin 2nd Year 9 Boys. Thanks to the staff and coaches who supported the teams!

Outstanding Giving

We asked the Year 9 and 10 students to consider donating money or presents for our upcoming Senior Citizens Christmas Party (an annual Cashmere High School event since 1956). The response was phenomenal with 50 gifts and $486 donated so far by our wonderful juniors. Thank you for your generosity.

Fortnight Ahead