A warm welcome back to all of the Year 10 ākonga and whānau.  I hope you have taken the time to rest, reflect and reset following a busy and challenging Term 3.  This year-group continue to flourish and rise to each new challenge.  

The COVE value for Term 3 was Opportunity with many challenges both inside and outside of the classroom being embraced by our Year 10s.  A primary focus last term was the NCEA co-requisite examinations for Literacy and Numeracy.  Passing these is now required in order to achieve an NCEA qualification.  I was pleased to receive a lot of positive feedback about our student’s effort preparing for these and their conduct during the examinations.  Well done to everyone who sat these and tried their best. 

Over time, the choices made each and every day by our Year 10s are building a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and character.  Whenever I walk through classes I am proud to see students making good choices to support their learning and create a positive and safe environment for us all.  These choices include arriving on time with all equipment, listening attentively, attempting all tasks and participating positively.  Term 3 Graduation results reflect this effort with 92% of Year 10 students achieved over 80% in graduation and 88 students achieving a perfect 100% score.  Congratulations and keep up the excellent effort!   

Year 10 students are excelling academically and taking up opportunities beyond the classroom.  In particular, I want to congratulate the following students:

• Regional Science Fair Award Winners:   

  Graduate woman of Canterbury, best female junior exhibit: Pieta Bennett, Heidi Taylor and Mia Spencer-Morgan, Lola Harris

  NZ institute of Chemistry 2nd place:  Ned O'Neill & Neve Ferguson

  NZ institute of Agriculture and Horticulture science award: Joris Lukosch, Ben Nelis and Charlie Thomas

• iSAY Junior Speech Competition Winners:  1st Place: Maia Bealing, Runner-Up: Pieta Bennett

• Finley MacFarlane who placed in top 30 students in the Otago Mathematics Competition.

At Cashmere High School we are committed to “developing both the intellect and the character of our students.”   COVE awards are given to students who epitomise this vision by displaying the values of Citizenship, Opportunity, Vibrancy and Excellence.  In Term 3 COVE awards were presented to Mia Spencer-Morgan 10WLZ and Quinn Clarke 10COL.

The Year 10 Student Council has again been busy organising opportunities for students to connect, compete and have some fun together.  Thank you to Miss Millar for her ongoing work in guiding this group of leaders.  In Term 3 the main activity organised by the council was a Multisport Tournament.  This was well attended during lunchtimes and won by 10TNE.  The leadership group run by our Youth Workers have also developed projects to build community.  This included a competition organised by Hannah Watson, Lucy P Moore, Zoe Meeten, Emma Reedy, Cayla Digan and Mila Hubbard in which students submitted a short video of themselves doing something they love to celebrate the diverse range of interests and abilities within our year-group.     

There were many outstanding sporting and cultural achievements to celebrate last term.  This includes:

• Teams and individuals who were involved in Winter Tournament week. There were a number of Year 10s who went away and represented our school with pride and distinction in everything from Rugby, Basketball, Hockey, Football and Netball to Golf and Rock-Climbing. Congratulations to those who made it to finals.  This success is a great sign for the strength of our teams in years to come.

• Congratulations to the Boys 1st XI hockey team including Year 10 students Cameron Fairhall, Samuel Cook, Toby Gilbert and William Pooch,  winners of Boys Division One Secondary Schools League! 

• Leo de Monchy who came 3rd in U16 Boys 4km race at NZ Cross Country Championships (representing Canterbury).

• Torun Joergensen, Greta Prince, Anna Wright who were selected to represent NZ in orienteering.

• Silas Jones who was a member of the U20 boys team in Canterbury South Island Road Cycling Team Time Trials finishing 3rd place.

• Pera Gordon who was selected for the Step 7 Canterbury Team heading to Nationals Gymnastics Championships.

• The Adventure Racing Team Whero; Pieta Bennett, Quinn Clarke, Grace Daunton, Ned O’Neil, George Smith, Hannah Watson as well as year 9 students Louise Brown and Louis Van Keulen.   This team won the regional Hillary Outdoors Get2Go competition and will now represent Canterbury at the National Hillary Outdoors Get2Go competition in December, in Tongariro National Park.

• Oscar Pitts and George Smith who were members of the Cashmere Funk Band awarded Gold at Southern Jam Jazz Competition in Blenheim

• Dylan Wright: Finalist for the National Year 9-11 School Songwriting Competition 2024

• Members of the Kapa Haka who recently performed at Pō Whakangahau and Tūhono.

These results are the product of countless hours of work and practice.  Well done to you all!

Term 4 brings on more opportunities for Year 10’s to excel, display vibrancy and citizenship.   Junior Examinations will be held during Week 5. These examinations will be an opportunity for students to demonstrate the progress they have made and help them identify areas for improvement before taking on the challenge of NCEA Level 1.  We also have Junior Activities Day, Noho Marae, Summer Sports and our end of year Prizegiving to look forward to.  I look forward to working with you over your final term as junior students.  As always please feel free to get in touch if there is anything you would like to discuss regarding your child’s learning or wellbeing.  

Johanna Stewart
Year 10 Head of School

syj@cashmere.school.nz
Phone (DD): 337 4726