Kia ora koutou and welcome back to Cashmere to all the parents, caregivers and students in Year 10. This year is a foundation for the senior school as the students head towards NCEA. As I eluded to in my end of year speech at Prizegiving, it is time for all students to make sure they challenging themselves and their learning. It is important to be setting aspirational goals as we look towards the near future and what NCEA will bring in 2023.

Year 10 is the time to make the right choices and decision in terms of work ethic and study habits. While it will be a busy and hectic year with both academic and co-curricular pursuits it will also be a challenging one in the face of the evolving impacts of COVID-19. For this reason I have chosen the following whakatauki as our guide for Year 10.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa
Let us keep close together, not wide apart

This whakatauki speaks to the importance of keeping connected, of maintaining relationships and dialogue so that we can keep moving forward together. With the restrictions and changes to our environment brought by COVID-19 it is more important than ever to keep connect with each other.

In order to aid the connection between School, students and the Year 10 Pastoral Team we have created a new Facebook and Instagram page. These pages will be used to distribute information, celebrate student success and publish key event information. These pages are designed to continue to be used over the coming years through to Year 13

Facebook Page Search for Cashmerehsclassof2025

Instagram search for @cashclassof2025

I encourage all whanau and students to connect with one or both platforms. It is important to note however that these platforms are for the distribution of information not communication. Please email or phone us with any questions or queries and remember that school wide information can be found on the school app, website and Facebook page.

Over the summer break we had some very busy Year 10 students who have had some wonderful sporting success. Congratulations to Isla Cook and Alice Vetcher who were part of the Get2Go Team who placed 2nd at the National Finals. This is an amazing achievement for both girls. We also had a number of students who were involved in rowing over the summer both training hard and competing in competitions, our best of luck for the future events.

I would also like to acknowledge the academic success of all students who worked hard in Year 9 and were awarded prizes at our Year 9 Prizegiving. It was heartening to see the large number of students achieving to ther personal best. A special mention to our premier prize-winners.

• Thomas Lyall – Graduation Cup
• Louisa Chrétien – Leadership Cup
• Auraeyah Harris – Citizenship Cup
• Isla Cook - All Round Excellence Cup
• Niamh Cooper – Academic Cup for Top Year 9 Scholar

Congratulations to our premier prize-winners on their outstanding dedication and commitment.

As the term evolves please feel free to make contact with me if you have any questions at all.

Nāku iti noa, nā

Tom Wilkinson
Year 10 Head of School